Imagine (song)
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| "Imagine" | ||||||||||||||
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| Single by John Lennon | ||||||||||||||
| from the album Imagine | ||||||||||||||
| B-side | "It's So Hard" | |||||||||||||
| Released | 11 October 1971 | |||||||||||||
| Format | 7" vinyl | |||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||||||||||||
| Genre | Pop | |||||||||||||
| Length | 2:59 | |||||||||||||
| Label | Apple | |||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | John Lennon | |||||||||||||
| Producer | John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector | |||||||||||||
| John Lennon singles chronology | ||||||||||||||
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"Imagine" is a song written and performed by English rock musician John Lennon. It is among Lennon's best known and most influential songs. It is the opening track on his album Imagine released in 1971. "Imagine" was released as a single in the United States where it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. When asked about the song in one of his last interviews, Lennon declared "Imagine" to be as good as anything he had written with the Beatles.[1] The song is one of three Lennon solo songs, along with "Instant Karma!" and "Give Peace a Chance", in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
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[edit] Background and composition
The song's refrain may have been partly inspired by Yoko Ono's poetry, in reaction to her childhood in Japan during World War II. According to The Guardian, primordial versions of the song's refrain can be found in her 1965 book Grapefruit, where she penned lines such as, "imagine a raindrop" and "imagine the clouds dripping."[2]
In a 1980 interview with David Sheff for Playboy magazine, Lennon remarks on the message of "Imagine":
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- Sheff: On a new album, you close with "Hard Times Are Over (For a While)". Why?
Lennon: It's not a new message: "Give Peace a Chance" - we're not being unreasonable. Just saying "give it a chance." With "Imagine" we're asking, "can you imagine a world without countries or religions?" It's the same message over and over. And it's positive.[3]
- Sheff: On a new album, you close with "Hard Times Are Over (For a While)". Why?
Yoko Ono indicated that the lyrical content of "Imagine" was "just what John believed--that we are all one country, one world, one people. He wanted to get that idea out."[1] In addition, the content of "Imagine" was inspiration for the concept of Nutopia: The Country of Peace, created in 1973. Lennon included a symbolically mute "anthem" to this country on his album Mind Games.
In the book Lennon in America, by Geoffrey Giuliano, Lennon commented that "Imagine" was "a anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song, but because it's sugar-coated, it's accepted."[4]
[edit] Music video
Directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński
[edit] Awards
- 1987 - Rio de Janeiro - Special Prize
- 1987 - Cannes, "Silver Lion" - Best Clip
[edit] Legacy
"Imagine" was released as a single in the United Kingdom in 1975 (in conjunction with the album Shaved Fish) where it peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart. Following Lennon's death in 1980, the single re-entered the UK chart and was number one for four weeks in January 1981. "Imagine" was re-released as a single in the UK in 1988 (peaking at number 45) and again in 1999 (reaching number three).
[edit] Recognition
Since its release, "Imagine" has been included in a broad array of most-influential and greatest-songs-of-all-time lists. In 1999 BMI named "Imagine" one of the top 100 most-performed songs of the 20th century. "Imagine" ranks #23 in the year-2000 list of best-selling singles in the UK. In 2004, "Imagine" ranked #3 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, behind The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" and Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone".
On 1 January 2005, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named "Imagine" the greatest song in the past 100 years as voted by listeners on the show 50 Tracks. The song ranked #30 on the Recording Industry Association of America's list of the 365 Songs of the Century bearing the most historical significance. Virgin Radio conducted a UK favourite song survey in December 2005 and "Imagine" was voted into the top spot. It beat Beatles songs "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be" (both predominantly written by Paul McCartney, although credited Lennon/McCartney). The song was voted the greatest song of all time by the Nine Network's 20 to 1 countdown show in Australia 12 September 2006. The song was named number one on Australia's MAX (Channel) channel's 5000 song countdown that went through the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said, "In many countries around the world – my wife and I have visited about 125 countries – you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' used almost equally with national anthems."[5]
[edit] Cultural legacy
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- On February 25, 2009, the Supreme Court of the United States quoted the lyrics to the song in footnote 2 of Pleasant Grove City, Utah v. Summuma case dealing with the messages of monuments:
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- What, for example, is “the message” of the Greco-Roman mosaic of the word “Imagine” that was donated to New York City’s Central Park in memory of John Lennon? See NYC Brief 18; App. to id., at A5. Some observers may “imagine” the musical contributions that John Lennon would have made if he had not been killed. Others may think of the lyrics of the Lennon song that obviously inspired the mosaic and may “imagine” a world without religion, countries, possessions, greed, or hunger.
- The song is referenced in George Harrison's song "All Those Years Ago". One of the lines is "You were the one who imagined it all, all those years ago."
- The song was used in the last sequence of the 1984 film The Killing Fields.
- In 1990 the song was featured in the Quantum Leap episode "The Leap Home" and is also on the soundtrack of the series. This version, however is performed by the show's star, Scott Bakula.
- The lyrics to the song were featured in the "Clean Up Radio Everywhere" episode of WKRP in Cincinnati, which dealt with censorship.
- When the Liverpool airport was named after Lennon, a phrase from the song, "above us only sky" was painted on the ceiling of the terminal.
- "Imagine" is the official song of Amnesty International.
- A humorous telling of this song's origin appears in the 1994 film Forrest Gump where the song is inspired by what Forrest Gump said about his trip to China. The main character Forrest Gump is a guest on The Dick Cavett Show alongside John Lennon. Forrest recounts his experiences playing ping pong in China; he claims the Chinese do not have much stuff ("no possessions") and don't congregate in churches or synagogues ("no religion too"). Dick Cavett responds, "It's hard to imagine," whereupon Lennon says, "It's easy if you try, Dick."[6]
- "Imagine" and other songs by John Lennon were used in the 1995 movie Mr. Holland's Opus.
- On 30 January 2003, the song was played to wake up the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia during their ill-fated mission.
- The song was included in the list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- In 2003 Bill Clinton joined Liel and 40 Jewish and 40 Arab children at the 80th birthday of Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv to sing "Imagine".[7]
- In the Iranian left movement, the song usually relates to Mansoor Hekmat and his Worker-Communist Party of Iran. The WPI plays the song in all of its meetings and demonstrations and in its TV channel. Within Iran the song is sometimes sung in protests and symbolises the left movement, especially the WPI[citation needed].
- Ben & Jerry's offers a brand of ice cream called "Imagine Whirled Peace," which contains chocolate peace symbols.[8]
- The song is played repeatedly throughout every episode of the Freedom from Religion Foundation's, Freethought Radio.
- The song is featured in the Miami Vice Season 3 Premiere Episode "When Irish Eyes are Crying."
- The song is referred to in Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion, as well as the line "Imagine no religion" being used alongside a picture of the twin towers in one piece of advertising for the book.
[edit] Cover versions
"Imagine" has been frequently covered by a wide range of artists. Notable examples include:
- Joan Baez included it on her 1972 album Come from the Shadows and often includes it in her concert set lists.
- Diana Ross covered the song on her 1973 album Touch Me in the Morning.
- Dana covered Imagine on her 1980 album Everything is Beautiful.
- Tracie Spencer covered the song on her 1988 album Tracie Spencer, released when she was 11 years old. The song did moderately well in the USA, hitting #31 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
- Blues Traveler recorded a version for the 1995 tribute album Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon, then played it during their tour that year (as heard on their double album Live from the Fall).
- Jeff Berlin covered the song on his 1997 album Taking Notes.
- Declan Galbraith covered the song for his 2002 album Declan.
- Eva Cassidy included a version of the song as the title track for her 2002 album, Imagine.
- Gilberto Gil covered the song on his 2004 live album, "Eletracústico".
- In 2004, A Perfect Circle covered the song on their third album, eMOTIVe. The song is performed in a minor key to add a darker tone to the song. In Australia, the recording was ranked #88 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004.
- Katie Targett Adams recorded "Imagine" on her 2004 album K:T:A.[9]
- Eric Burdon performed it at a German show with the Man Doki Soulmates in 2004. It was released on the album Legends of Rock.
- Allison Crowe included "Imagine" on her 2005 double album Live at Wood Hall.
- Dolly Parton included a cover of the song on her 2005 album Those Were the Days in a duet with David Foster. The video for Parton's cover of the song featured vintage footage of Lennon and Yoko Ono.
- Richard Cheese covered it in a snappy lounge style on his 2006 album Silent Nightclub.
- Mari Nallos covered the song on her 2006 album The Crystal Voice of Asia.
- Avril Lavigne, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson & Me'Shell NdegéOcello each recorded versions of the song for the 2007 benefit album, Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.
- Khaled and Noa released an Arabic and Hebrew duet cover of "Imagine", included on Khaled's album Kenza.
- Tommy Emmanuel did an instrumental cover version on his album Determination.
- Gregorian covered "Imagine" on their album Masters of Chant Chapter IV.
In addition, the song has been sampled and included in derivative works, including:
- In 1995, Oasis used a piano section from "Imagine" at the start of "Don't Look Back in Anger", from their second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
- Pitbull, Nas & John Legend created a rap music version by adding rapped verses to the original recording.
- A 2005 song RX featured George W. Bush "singing" a mixture of Lennon's "Imagine" and Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side".
- Jefferson Starship included the song as part of a mash-up with Redemption Song by Bob Marley, released on their 2008 album Jefferson's Tree of Liberty[10].
[edit] Notable live cover interpretations
The iconic nature of "Imagine" has made it a popular choice for performing at charity concerts and other notable occassions. Notable examples include:
- Queen performed this song a few times in 1980 right after Lennon's death. On 15 July 2005 Queen + Paul Rodgers performed the song live in Hyde Park as a tribute to the victims of the London terrorist attacks.
- In 1983, David Bowie covered the song in tribute during a concert in Hong Kong on the anniversary of Lennon's death.
- Elton John and Dolly Parton performed the song live at the 2005 Country Music Awards presentation at Madison Square Garden.
- Stevie Wonder performed "Imagine" on 4 August 1996 at the 1996 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. Almost ten years later (10 February 2006) Peter Gabriel performed the song at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Neil Young covered the song at the America: A Tribute to Heroes concert[11] on 21 September 2001.[12]
- On 15 January 2005, Madonna performed a live cover-version of "Imagine" for the NBC Benefit Telethon "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope". The song was also part of the setlist of her 2004 Re-Invention World Tour.
- Our Lady Peace covered the song on the day marking the 20th anniversary of Lennon's death.[13]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Imagine". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6595848/imagine. Retrieved on 2009-04-09.
- ^ Barton, Laura (2005-06-13). "Age becomes her". The Guardian. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1505281,00.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.
- ^ Sheff, David. "Playboy Interview: John Lennon and Yoko Ono". Playboy. http://members.tripod.com/~taz4158/playboy.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.
- ^ Gilmore, Mikal (2005-12-05). "Lennon Lives Forever: John Lennon". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/johnlennon/articles/story/8898300/lennon_lives_forever. Retrieved on 2006-12-02.
- ^ Elliott, Debbie (2006-11-05). "Carter helps monitor Nicaragua presidential election". All Things Considered (NPR). http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6439233. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.
- ^ "Memorable quotes for Forrest Gump". IMDB. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/quotes. Retrieved on 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Shimon Peres 80th birthday". http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-7724028215785561219&q=tel+aviv.
- ^ Gaskell, Stephanie (2008-05-28). "Ben & Jerry's new flavor a salute to John Lennon". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/05/28/2008-05-28_ben__jerrys_new_flavor_a_salute_to_john_.html.
- ^ "Katie Targett Adams". http://www.kt-a.com/.
- ^ "Jefferson's Tree of Liberty". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jpfyxz9kldae.
- ^ "All-star telethon raises $150m". BBC News. 2001-09-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1562007.stm.
- ^ "'Tribute to Heroes' Set for CD, Video". http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1450905/11122001/id_0.jhtml.
- ^ "Imagine A World With Good Covers". http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1027/imagine-a-world-with-only-good-covers.html.
[edit] External links
- John Lennon and Neil Young: Jammin' with Neil - covered on "Tribute to Heroes" (9/11/2001) by Neil Young
| Preceded by "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" by St Winifred's School Choir |
UK number one single 10 January 1981 - 31 January 1981 |
Succeeded by "Woman" by John Lennon |
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