PARIS:John Lennon's career was cut short 40 years ago when he was shot dead in New York -- but he lives on in the songs and attitudes of other artists.<br /> <br /> Many sing his tunes, some mention him in their lyrics, while others question his legacy or even admit... they really prefer his songwriting partner Paul McCartney.<br /> <br /> <strong>- 'Roll on John' -</strong><br /> <br /> Perhaps the greatest tribute to Lennon in recent years came from Bob Dylan, the US folk-rock giant who was a personal acquaintance.<br /> <br /> The closing track of Dylan's 2012 album "Tempest" was titled "Roll On John". The seven-minute dirge recounts Lennon's murder on December 8, 1980, and early life as a touring musician, "From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets".<br /> <br /> Among the countless direct cover versions of Lennon's solo and Beatles songs, Ozzy Osbourne's 2010 tribute stood out: a version of "How?" from Lennon's classic album "Imagine".<br /> <br /> The ex-leader of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath strolled through New York streets in a black leather trench coat and laid a wreath at Lennon's memorial in Central Park.<br /> <br /> <strong>- Rolls Royce rebel -</strong><br /> <br /> For all the nostalgia, Lennon was a divisive and contradictory figure. Sceptics questioned his status as a counterculture icon and the sincerity of his positions on gender equality and capitalism.<br /> <br /> "Lennon had a 'teddy boy' side to him," said Stan Cuesta, author of a book about The Beatles, referring to the Liverpool musician's slick-haired, working class rebel beginnings. "He once had a Rolls Royce. He was complex."<br /> <br /> Former Animals frontman Eric Burdon has said Lennon came up with the surreal lyrics to "I Am The Walrus" after the two took part in an orgy in London.<br /> <br /> "John was always the provocateur of the group. He caused a terrible scandal when he said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus," said Cuesta.<br /> <br /> "But he only got political and started going to art galleries with Yoko Ono," the Japanese artist he married in 1969.<br /> <br /> <strong>- Favourite Beatle? -</strong><br /> <br /> Even Lennon's undisputed musical legacy leaves room for discussion.<br /> <br /> As a songwriting partnership, Lennon and McCartney changed the face of music through their harmonies, singer Sharleen Spiteri of British band Texas told AFP.<br /> <br /> Even so, the "who's your favourite Beatle" debate is as old as the group itself.<br /> <br /> "Lennon had a rather surreal artistic side to him. He was more political, rebellious, intellectual," said Laurent Voulzy, a French rocker of The Beatles' generation.<br /> <br /> "But as a guitarist and bass-player myself I have always liked Paul's graceful arrangements, the sensitivity of his melodies and lyrics."<br /> <br /> Cuesta highlights another track from the "Imagine" album: "Jealous Guy", a wistful ballad -- notably covered by Bryan Ferry with Roxy Music.<br /> <br /> Lennon "was a natural musical genius, more intuitive than the other Beatles," Cuesta said, citing also the band's psychedelic hit "Strawberry Fields".<br /> <br /> Like Che Guevara, Lennon's face ended up on souvenir T-shirts -- sometimes inscribed with the title of his song "Working Class Hero".<br /> <br /> That anthem sums up Lennon's legacy for Yves Bigot, a television executive and former rock critic and record producer.<br /> <br /> "It tells you to think for yourself," he said.