Happy Christmas everybody! War is Over – if you want it? This song reminds me of two things. Firstly the tragic murder of John Lennon some thirty years ago when I was a twelve years old and its subsequent re-release in time for Christmas which acted a further reminder to the futility of war and the fact that war will (unfortunately) never be over as too many people still want it and always will.
Secondly it reminds me of an excellent drama based on a book by Malcolm Bradbury entitled ‘The History Man’ which was shown on BBC 2 in 1981 when I was a thirteen year old. Looking back it was quite a racy piece of drama for a thirteen year old to be watching as the hero of the piece – one Howard Kirk – played by Antony Sher was a bit of a womaniser and was bonking Isla Blair and Veronica Quigillian as well as others in the first episode alone, but I distinctly remember that in the opening episode Howard and his wife are preparing for a party they are throwing at their house, and later in the episode when the party is in full swing we hear ‘Merry Xmas – War is Over’ playing in the background during a particularly engaging scene. I must admit to really having enjoyed that drama as it was set in the 1970s and as I have a bit of a thing for velvet and flares as I used to love wearing my own as a child during the period (as well as having long hair and watching ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ but that’s another story….) I found it fascinating.
For some reason the BBC did not repeat the programme for years but recently re showed it on BBC4 where I videoed it and watched the episodes on the train travelling to and from Newcastle. Unlike so many things it was exactly as I remembered it and there was ‘Happy Xmas – War is Over’ playing at that party again…
Merry Christmas….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnq699pesM&feature=fvst
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