The death of icons?

So this is gonna make me sound like one of those crotchety old guys, but fuck it, I've come to terms with the fact that I am one of those crotchety old guys.

30 years ago, an icon was shot and killed in front of his apartment. John Lennon was not only a brilliant musician and songwriter, but he was a man of passion and ideals. A man who saw that the world needed changing and felt he could do something about it.

And he did. His music allowed us to imagine a world where people saw each other as human beings. A world where divisive groups and labels were unnecessary because we all felt united by a shared spirit.

Today, I look around and wonder who is our next John Lennon? I can't see one. Sure, we have musicians who are passionate about issues, like Lady Gaga for instance. But I do not hear this passion in her music nor do I expect that her songs will have any lasting resonance.

Musically, there are certainly quite a few artists putting out songs that will live on beyond today. I could easily see people listening to old Eminem or Jay-Z tunes 20 years from now. But I don't think either artist brings the kind of passion for ideas and ideals that Lennon brought.

Now, I'd love to proven wrong on all of this. Because I think now, more than ever, the world could use a couple of icons.