TIL: Today I Learned... (17 Viewers)

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Mr. Blue Sky said:
TIL that the Dakota building in NYC, in front of which John Lennon was killed by a deranged lunatic (is there another kind ?) and where Yoko Ono lived for literally over 50 years, until a few months ago- that same building’s HOA/board rejected as tenants- Madonna, Cher and Billy Joel….. i guess i can kinda understand rejecting the first two (though I wouldn’t mind them as neighbors).. but how ya gonna reject Billy friggin Joel ?? Was it some kinda Long Island bias ? It’s not like he hailed from Staten Island or something .. i dont get it .
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I don't know who their other tenants are, but maybe they don't want the kind of attention those superstars would bring. Paparazzi, constant news reporting, traffic, etc, etc. No idea tho. Just spitballing.
 
Mr. Blue Sky said:
TIL that the Dakota building in NYC, in front of which John Lennon was killed by a deranged lunatic (is there another kind ?) and where Yoko Ono lived for literally over 50 years, until a few months ago- that same building’s HOA/board rejected as tenants- Madonna, Cher and Billy Joel….. i guess i can kinda understand rejecting the first two (though I wouldn’t mind them as neighbors).. but how ya gonna reject Billy friggin Joel ?? Was it some kinda Long Island bias ? It’s not like he hailed from Staten Island or something .. i dont get it .
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NYC co-op boards, the original cancel culture.

Noise didn't seem to be a worry for them when approving the Lennons considering Yoko's penchant for screaming.
 
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DaveXA said:
I don't know who their other tenants are, but maybe they don't want the kind of attention those superstars would bring. Paparazzi, constant news reporting, traffic, etc, etc. No idea tho. Just spitballing.
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It’s mostly this from what I remember- if you’re spending Dakota money you have expectations
 
Mr. Blue Sky said:
TIL that the Dakota building in NYC, in front of which John Lennon was killed by a deranged lunatic (is there another kind ?) and where Yoko Ono lived for literally over 50 years, until a few months ago- that same building’s HOA/board rejected as tenants- Madonna, Cher and Billy Joel….. i guess i can kinda understand rejecting the first two (though I wouldn’t mind them as neighbors).. but how ya gonna reject Billy friggin Joel ?? Was it some kinda Long Island bias ? It’s not like he hailed from Staten Island or something .. i dont get it .
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You likely already know this but Lennon was photographed signing some autographs several hours before his death to some fans in front of the Dakota which included Mark David Chapman (allegedly, later on one of the Dakota security men remarked Chapman seemed "spaced-out" and said rhetorically, "I wonder how the rest of world would handle it if John Lennon wasnt alive anymore" or something to that effect). This quote got the doorman's attention and he aggressively asked Chapman, "WTF do you mean by that" but Chapman sort of just bluffed it off. Today, there's a halfway decent chance a creep like that gets arrested for vagrancy. Chapman reportedly didnt say anything to Lennon once he was done signing his autograph before driving to the studio to continue working on what was left of Double Fantasy.

Given how lax and less-vigilant security measures were 44 years ago compared to today, it's not too terribly surprising a weirdo like Chapman was permitted to keep circling around the Dakota Building as if its some demonic, possessed trance because even back then, it wasnt uncommon for major Hollywood celebrities or rock stars to have massively obsessed, stalker types following them. They were perceived as problematic, but not necessarily violent, dangerous psychopaths. Then Dorothy Stratton's murder occured, then most tragically, Lennon's death. Even Madonna had a demented stalker causing her major emotional problems skulking her L.A. mansion in early-to-mid 90's.

Could it be that maybe some on Dakota's HOA are a bit elitist or snobbish or don't like certain celebrities, or entertainers due to some perceived negative aspects of their personalities? Back in the day, Madonna could come across as a bit of a egocentric, self-centered diva whose attitude and antics could rub some people the wrong way. I've heard some stories about Cher having a bit of an entitled "diva complex" back in the 70's and early 80's though not on Madonna's level, if she didnt get her way sometimes, like not being let into Studio 54 one night she told the doorman, "Do you know who I am?" Other stories I've heard about her is that while she can be demanding and pushy at times, she's actually a very candid, brutally honest person who's very nice and considerate when not on-tour.

The Dakota has long had an eclectic mix of different celebrities as tenants. It's had former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, John Madden during NFL seasons, Michael Douglas, David Bowie IIRC, all having residences there at some point or another. But its kind of a upper-class, posh version version of the Chelsea Hotel back from the 1940's-60's where Beat poets, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen and rock stars from the Byrds, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix all lived their at some point. I've heard stories on T.V. from former residents like Michael Imperioli that some areas at the Chelsea are haunted and considering its roguish past with maybe a few less-then-desirable types who hung out there like drug dealers, pimps and murderers, it doesn't seem too far-fetched.
 
TIL the bald eagle won't officially be the national bird until biden signs the bill just passed 😲
 
TiL that the guitar solo in Beat it (not the riff, the solo) was composed and recorded by Eddie Van Halen at Quincy Jones request and NO credit on album
 
efil4stnias said:
TiL that the guitar solo in Beat it (not the riff, the solo) was composed and recorded by Eddie Van Halen at Quincy Jones request and NO credit on album
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Lots of ambiguity around that. Eddie did the solo, but, apparently Steve Lukather (of Toto fame) had to come in and clean it up due to recording and production issues.

Mild language warning…

 
til the two coldest super bowls (vi and ix) were played in tulane stadium
 
Yatman said:
til the two coldest super bowls (vi and ix) were played in tulane stadium
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Sb VI is still the coldest at kickoff ( 39 ) . The one held in NY didn't drop below that until near the
end of the 3rd quarter.

edit- Sorry I misread your post. SB 6 is still considered the coldest SB.

I was lucky enough to attend SB 31 between NE and GB back in 97. Before the game I was talking with
some GB fans on the concourse. I asked the obvious question . How are you enjoying this weather? One
of them said dude I froze my arse off last night. We don't have humid cold where I live. I went to
Bourbon street and only made it an hour before I went back to my room.
 
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