I read online yesterday that the city of Liverpool is planning to rename its
airport "The Liverpool John Lennon Airport."
Overall, I am okay with this homage to Lennon because I can understand, on
one hand, how any city would want to rename municipal places for its most
talented and influential citizens. But then, on the other, more skeptical
hand, I know that economically, the Liverpool area has benefited a lot lately
from Beatles-related tourism. (To the tune of about 20 million pounds
annually, according to the online article.)
In any case, the idea of "The Liverpool John Lennon Airport" seems entirely
appropriate to me, even though I suspect that financial gain may have been a
motivating factor in the name change.
What really gets me is the airport's choice for a new tag line -- "Above us
only skies."
As an advertising copywriter, I have to admit that this would be a terrific
tag line for any airport. "Above us only skies." It does everything a tag
line should do -- it is succinct, it has shades of different positive
meanings, it positions the client well, and it's "catchy."
But what really makes me heave is the fact that this line has been basically
stolen from one of the greatest songs recorded in the last 50 years. What's
more, this line was never supposed to be about any airport, even one with
Lennon's name suddenly slapped on it. And it's from a song that is arguably
his signature piece.
Now we can expect to see "Above us only skies" featured in Liverpool Airport
advertising, on tote bags, trash cans and billboards all over the place,
which I'm absolutely sure is not what John had in mind when he wrote it. (For
what it's worth, the airport project has Yoko's support, and she is planning
to attend the dedication ceremony.)
So anyway, I naturally got to thinking about how Joni deserves to have an
airport named after her, too. (Hint, hint, LA and Saskatoon.) Then I tried to
come up with a line from Joni's repertoire that would make a good tag line
for her airport. You know, something that wouldn't embarrass or outrage us
too much, yet would still be a good -- even if stolen -- tag line. Here's
what I came up with:
Joni Mitchell Airport -- "The lights down here, that's where we land."
Have a great Fourth of July, US JMDLers.
And to everyone else in the world, have a wonderful week.
--Bob
