[Borges]

You don’t have to be able to read music to be a musical genius. You can learn to read music in about an hour.

[Huck]

I agree that "genius" is an overused term. Was John Lennon on par with JS Bach? If anyone with knowledge of music had a gun to their head, and had to name one musical genius, surely JS Bach would fit the criteria. And surely, John Lennon was no JS Bach.

I would say that as a Beatle, John Lennon was a very good songwriter, with moments of brilliance (She's Leaving Home comes to mind.) But a genius? Nope. I believe Paul McCartney was the better songwriter. His songs seem to have a longer, stronger shelf life. What song does Lennon have to match Let it Be, or Hey Jude, or the Long and Winding Road? Or hell, even Birthday? But would you say McCartney was a genius? JS Bach? Hell no. A very, very good pop songwriter. Lennon? At times a good songwriter.