Part 80 of the countdown continues with George Harrison’s charity rock performance of “Bangladesh.”  This is the second video I’m posting from the “Concert for Bangladesh,” the first being the incredible rehearsal video of Bob Dylan and George Harrison playing “If Not For You.” This song starts off really sad and maudlin, but kicks into boogie rock overdrive when he hits the chorus.  I love the way he sings, “Bang-a-la-desh, Bang-a-la-desh!”  It’s very funky and driving.  We all know that the concert was the world’s first charity rock show, but I got some real fun facts that you might not have known, and that will leave you begging the universe for “what-if” mercy!  First off, George got John Lennon to agree to perform with him at the show, with one condition, that Yoko Ono not appear on stage with him.  John actually agreed, but two days before he was to leave for the show, John and Yoko got in a fight about the stipulation, and she made John decline at the last minute.  On top of that George almost got Paul McCartney of all people to play as well, but Paul had a less impulsive reason for not appearing, stating in Rolling Stone that, “George came up and asked if I wanted to play Bangla Desh and I thought, blimey, what’s the point? We’re just broken up and we’re joining up again? It just seemed a bit crazy.”  Blimey indeed!  You’re telling me that George was trying to reunite the Beatles, and almost got it done in 1971?  Imagine if he did!  This would be one of the greatest moments in rock and roll history, and would have raised Bangladesh billions of dollars.  At the time, the concert only raised $234,418.51.  Not peanuts, but not exactly a world changing amount.  Anyway, forget the Beatle reunion fantasies as they exist only for crazy people like me and you. It’s just not healthy. Anyway, without further ado, “Bangladesh!”

Part 69 of my youtube countdown is a funny one.  I have Ozzy Osbourne wandering around New York City with a bouquet of flowers singing John Lennon’s “How?” from Imagine. Eventually he discovers Strawberry Fields at Central Park and lays it down for John.  It’s both touching and funny as bewildered tourists and New Yorkers furiously snap pictures with their ubiquitous camera phones as Ozzy vamps about in the way that only he knows how.  Ozzy of course, is a notorious Beatles fan, and he made this video for the charity Amnesty International as a tribute for John on what would have been his 70th birthday.  The sentiment, the video, and his performance are all spot on and in a spirit that reflects John’s humor and love, and its really good, so check it out.