Los cubanos recuerdan a John Lennon

Se cumplen 25 años de la muerte de John Lennon.

Hundreds of Cubans attended a concert on Sunday to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Lennon's music, and that of the Beatles, remains very popular in Cuba, but it was disapproved of by the island's communist leadership in the 1960s.

This report from Stephen Gibbs:

For some in the crowd, this was an extraordinary event, a reminder of just how much things can change. As the fans sang along to some Beatles classics performed by Cuban musicians, many remembered the days when such an act would have been considered almost counter-revolutionary.

CUBAN WOMAN:

It was prohibited, said this woman, who says she well recalls secretly listening to Beatles recordings in the 1970s.

Just how much the times have changed could be seen from the setting of this concert. It was held in Havana's John Lennon Park, in front of a statue to the former musician which was unveiled five years ago. In the crowd was none other than Ricardo Alarcon, president of Cuba's national assembly. He says he's been a lifelong Beatles fan. He insists that the group was never banned in Cuba, just misunderstood by Cuban officials.

RICARDO ALARCON:

"As time passed by, Lennon's dimension has grown, not only here but everywhere and I think that today, he's a real symbol of a better world."

Beatles classics
los clásicos de los Beatles

considered almost counter-revolutionary
considerado casi contrarrevolucionario

prohibited
prohibido o ilegal

well recalls
recuerda claramente

the setting
el escenario o el local del evento

unveiled
En este caso, la estatua del ex beatle fue develada hace cinco años

none other than
significa 'ni más ni menos que' - en este caso quieren dar énfasis a que se refieren a alguien famoso o importante

just
solamente o simplemente

dimension
reputación o importancia

he's a real symbol of a better world
Es un verdadero símbolo de un mundo mejor

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