This month’s LA Music Scene post is Hey “Jude” Dude and Darling Cruel’s Darling Dude via News from the Front (NFTF)
Julian Lennon released his seventh album on Friday, September 9, 2022 and its branded “Jude” after the famous Beatles’ song “Hey Jude.” In promoting this celebratory release, Lennon appeared on KTLA’s Morning News with Sam Rubin from a remote location.
Actually seeing a project come to fruition such as “Jude” is like giving birth and a bit of pride comes along with that. NFTF has been hearing about this project from the mega manager Vicky Hamilton as her client Gregory Darling has been working with Lennon on the “Jude” project and then some. Wink, wink.
Rubin did a nice job on this interview which, to be honest, NFTF was a bit concerned since he had compared Taylor Swift to The Beatles a while back and we had told him to stick with TV and film and let us handle the music…LOL. NFTF had heard a few things in their conversation that stuck in our craw and lasted long enough to be written about.
Lennon inserted into the interview a bit of candid coyness which was refreshing and interesting. The part that had our jaw drop was when Lennon told Rubin that he had his name legally changed to Julian in 2020 and our jaw hit the floor. Say what? Your first name wasn’t legally Julian until 2020?
Lennon also put forth that he wasn’t planning on recording again “But then here we are,” Lennon shrugged.
“Jude” is very stylistic and flows like a gentle river winding its way to other uncharted territories and the progressions are perfection as well as the structure of the composition, which segues flawlessly as Lennon’s cool and crisp voice blends beautifully with all of the musical layering that’s woven together in “Lucky Ones” and “Save Me.”
Compositional masterpieces that bring home the fact that Julian is John Lennon’s son musically as well as biologically. These tunes give NFTF the sense that this is the natural transcendence that would have occurred had John Lennon lived longer. There is not one doubt in NFTF’s mind on that.
“Save Me” was co-written by former Darling Cruel’s singer Gregory Darling who is currently working in Prague, Czech Republic. “Lucky Ones,” which Darling co-wrote with four other songwriters, has debuted on Billboard at #37, which is a testament to the weight of this project…”Jude.” Gotta tell you all that both of these songs gave NFTF goosebumps…goosebumps are the highest compliment, just ask Hamilton.
Darling has also recently co-written “Beautifully Cruel” with a breakout talent known as Echlo and coincidently she is Julian Lennon’s step-sister. Echlo has a very smooth and contemporary voice that sizzles much the way that Sade has been known to do with her vocal stylings. In addition, Darling has been working with Hamilton on a project tentatively labeled “Triggered” which will be released on her label Dark Spark Music. Darling is accompanying the song with violins as well.
Anyone or anything that stays under NFTF’s roof has to love music as much as NFTF does and our cat Tonto is no exception. While playing Lennon’s “Jude,” Tonto stopped playing around the place with a bottle cap and laid down by where the music was emanating from and listened. A couple of times he made “eek eek” sound which he does when he sees something that gets him excited. When NFTF put on the headphones and cranked it Tonto got mad and started meowing and took a swipe at us.
NFTF hopes that this is an indication as to how well received “Jude” will be.