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It was 31 years ago today that one of music’s greatest innovators was taken too early. JESS3 remembers John Lennon by sharing our favorite song by The Beatles as a tribute to his memory and to those that share his vision.

Bonnie: Not an aficionado, but “With a Little Help from My Friends” is awesome.

Lydia: I like “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer“, because it’s sadistic with a smile on its face. Just like me! (jk…..kind of)

Brad: “Band on the Run!” That was the Beatles, right? No, but seriously…”Blackbird.” I must have listened to it thousands of times.

Becca: Their version of “Blackbird”, so so so great. Also favorites: “Hey Jude“, “Octopus’ Garden“, “Something“, “Because.”

Kris: “When I’m Sixty Four.” It was one of the first songs i learned the lyrics to because my mom used to sing it to me in the car.

Leslie: “Yesterday“. I played the alto sax and soprano sax in middle school and loved jamming on both to this tune. Fifteen years later, I finally get what the song means.

Chris: “Saw Her Standing There“. My friends and I used to run a blog that fantasy drafted non-sports things. We did a beatles song draft.

Alix: Though I was previously traumatized by a college boyfriend who refused to listen to anything but the Beatles, I’ve recently been able to tolerate some songs without cringing. One of them I was partially named after: my middle name is an homage to a Beatles song my parents especially loved – thankfully it wasn’t “Eleanor Rigby” or “Dear Prudence” but simply, “Julia“.

Simon: I once played one of the Beatles in a school play in the first grade. We played “She Loves You“. I fake-played a guitar and I’m sure i was very cute doing it.

Lauren: I’ve “Just Seen a Face” is my favorite song as it reminds me when I first met my husband. It was almost our wedding dance song!

Jesse: I love the John Lennon songs “Imagine” and “Jealous Guy.”

Lydia Wallbaum is Production Coordinator at JESS3, follow her on Twitter @LydiaWallbaum.

Tags: anniversary, beatles, john lennon, music