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The slogan of [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]] is "Above Us Only Sky."
The slogan of [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]] is "Above Us Only Sky."


A scene in the movie ''[[Forrest Gump]]'' in which Gump and John Lennon appear on ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'' makes it appear that it was Gump's description of people in the third world that gave Lennon the inspiration for the lyrics.
A scene in the movie ''[[Forrest Gump]]'' in which Gump and John Lennon appear on ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'' makes it appear that it was Gump's description of China that gave Lennon the inspiration for the lyrics.


In 2008 [[Ben & Jerry's]] offered a brand of [[ice cream]] called "Imagine Whirled Peace," which contains chocolate peace symbols.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/05/28/2008-05-28_ben__jerrys_new_flavor_a_salute_to_john_.html|title= Ben & Jerry's new flavor a salute to John Lennon|first=Stephanie|last=Gaskell|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location= New York|date=27 May 2008}}</ref>
In 2008 [[Ben & Jerry's]] offered a brand of [[ice cream]] called "Imagine Whirled Peace," which contains chocolate peace symbols.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/05/28/2008-05-28_ben__jerrys_new_flavor_a_salute_to_john_.html|title= Ben & Jerry's new flavor a salute to John Lennon|first=Stephanie|last=Gaskell|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location= New York|date=27 May 2008}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:07, 13 July 2011

"Imagine"
Song
B-side"It's So Hard" (US)
'"Working Class Hero" (UK)

"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" at #3 in its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."[1]

Charts

"Imagine" was issued as a single a month after the album in the United States, catalogue Apple 1840, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached number one in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, remaining there for two weeks,[2][3] and was Lennon's only solo Australian number one single, spending five weeks there. 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.[4] 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. Rolling Stone ranked "Imagine" the third greatest song of all time in their editorial The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1]

Background and composition

The song's central theme was inspired by Cloud Piece, a three-line instructional poem that appeared in Yoko Ono's 1964 book Grapefruit. The words were reproduced on the back cover of the Imagine album.[5] Similarly, in 1963 Lennon opened the Beatles song "I'll Get You" with the verse "Imagine I'm in love with you, it's easy 'cause I know", three years before meeting Ono.

In a 1980 interview with David Sheff for Playboy magazine, Lennon remarks on the message of "Imagine":

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.[6]

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."[4] 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. Also, inspiration for Yoko's Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland came from words in the second verse: Imagine all the people living life in peace.

In the book Lennon in America, by Geoffrey Giuliano, Lennon commented that Imagine was an "anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic [song], but because it's sugar-coated, it's accepted."[7]

Promotional film

Directed by Lennon and Ono, the accompanying film begins with a view of them strolling through the garden of their London home, Tittenhurst Park. As they walk to the front door, they enter the house by disappearing outside and appearing inside. The camera pans up to see a window with the line inscribed "This is not here." The film then consists primarily of Lennon playing on a white grand piano in his white livingroom, while Ono opens the shutters, bathing the room in sunlight.

Another music video for the song, made in 1986 by Zbigniew Rybczyński, was released. In 1987, it won the "Silver Lion" prize for Best Clip at Cannes.

Later release

"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 murder 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.

"Imagine" was the sole John Lennon track included in a promotional-only various artists compilation album issued by Capitol records entitled The Greatest Music Ever Sold, catalogue Capitol SPRO-8511/8512. Distributed to record stores during the 1976 Holiday season, it was part of Capitol's "Greatest Music Ever Sold" campaign promoting 15 "Best Of" albums released by the record label. The song was also included on a six-disc boxed set commemorating Capitol Records' sixtieth anniversary that was issued in 2002. Imagine, along with the entire John Lennon catalogue, was remastered and re-issued in 2010, to celebrate what would have been his 70th year.

Legacy and 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 of all-time in the UK.[8]

Following the September 11 attacks, the song was included on the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum "do not play" list.

In 2002, "Imagine" was named the second best single of all time behind Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", in a UK poll conducted by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book.[9][10]

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".[1]

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). In Australia, it was selected the greatest song of all time on the Nine Network's 20 to 1 countdown show on 12 September 2006 and voted eleventh in youth network Triple J's Hottest 100 Of All Time on 11 July 2009.[11] The song was named number one on Australia's MAX channel's 5000-song countdown that went through the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In 2006, 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."[12]

On 25 February 2009, the Supreme Court of the United States quoted the lyrics to the song in footnote 2 of Pleasant Grove City v. Summum,[13] a case dealing with the messages of monuments:

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.

On 9 October 2010, John Lennon's 70th Birthday, the Liverpool Signing Choir performed 'Imagine' along with other Lennon songs at the unveiling of the John Lennon Peace Monument in Chavasse Park, Liverpool England.[14][15]

The slogan of Liverpool John Lennon Airport is "Above Us Only Sky."

A scene in the movie Forrest Gump in which Gump and John Lennon appear on The Dick Cavett Show makes it appear that it was Gump's description of China that gave Lennon the inspiration for the lyrics.

In 2008 Ben & Jerry's offered a brand of ice cream called "Imagine Whirled Peace," which contains chocolate peace symbols.[16]

Cover versions

"Imagine" has been frequently performed by a wide range of artists.[17] Notable examples include:

  • Andy Williams recorded the song for his 1972 album Love Theme from "The Godfather".
  • Nana Mouskouri recorded the song for her 1973 album Spotlight On Nana Mouskouri, and performed it in concert in 1982. It is included on her 2005 box set Complete English Works; on The Singer, 2008; and on Ballads and Love Songs, 2010.
  • Susan Cadogan recorded the song for her 1975 album Doing It Her Way.
  • Elton John sang "Imagine" for his 1980 September 13 free concert, released as the album Live in Central Park, New York. He sang it as a duet in 2005.
  • Dana recorded the song for her 1980 album Everything is Beautiful.
  • Patti LaBelle performed the song on her Thanksgiving television special in 1981. She did a joint performance of it in 2004.
  • Randy Crawford performed the song with the Yellowjackets included on the 1982 album Casino Lights. She sang it with Zucchero in 1991 "Live at Kremlin" included on her 1992 single "Who's Crying Now",[19] and she sang it in 1993 at the Vienna "Off Opera Jazzfest Wien". It is included in her compilation albums of 1984, Miss Randy Crawford: The Greatest Hits;[20] 1994, The Very Best of Randy Crawford; 1996, Best of Randy Crawford; 2000, Best of Randy Crawford & Friends;[21] 2002, Hits; and 2005, The Ultimate Collection.[22]
  • The children bands Timbiriche of Mexico and Parchis of Spain performed "Imagina" in Spanish for a joint TV appearance in 1982. Timbiriche recorded the song for their 1983 album En Concierto.
  • Mia Martini recorded the song for her 1983 album Dal vivo – Miei compagni di viaggio. She sang it with Dee Dee Bridgewater on the 1990 broadcast "Europa, Europa".
  • Beyonce Knowles sang "Imagine" in 1988, at age seven, for her first talent show, which she won with a standing ovation.[25]
  • Richie Havens recorded the song for his 1990 album Richie Havens Sings Beatles & Dylan.
  • Scott Bakula sang "Imagine" on the 1990 September 28 Quantum Leap episode. It was included on the 1993 album Quantum Leap: Music from the Television Series.
  • Liza Minnelli performed the song for her 1992 album Liza Minnelli: Live from Radio City Music Hall.
  • Roberta Flack sang her rendition at the "Earth Voice Concert" in Japan on 1992 May 16.
  • Live played the song on the 1999 December 18 Rockpalace: Rocklife Rocknight German TV program.[29] Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk later performed the song with Slash in 2003 at "Peace on the Beach", a rally to protest the coming War in Iraq.
  • Etta Cameron recorded the song for her 2000 album I Have a Dream.
  • Our Lady Peace performed the song on 2000 December 8, the day marking the 20th anniversary of Lennon's death.[30]
  • Charlotte Church performed "Imagine" with the National Orchestra of Wales on 2001 September 18, released as the 2002 concert video Enchantment from Cardiff Wales.
  • Smoke City covered the song as a bonus track on their 2001 album Heroes of Nature.
  • The Persuasions recorded the song for their 2002 album The Persuasions Sing the Beatles.
  • Yolanda Adams and Billy Preston performed the song for the 2002 live album Come together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music.
  • Spanish actor Antonio Banderas recorded the song for the 2002 album Voices of Hope: Sabera Foundation.
  • P.J. Proby recorded "Imagine" for his 2003 album Memories.
  • Keb' Mo' recorded the song for his 2004 album Peace... Back by Popular Demand.
  • Madonna performed "Imagine" for the 2005 January 15 telethon "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope" released that year as the benefit album Q Lennon Covered #2. The song appears on her 2006 live album I'm Going to Tell You a Secret, recorded during her 2004 Reinvention Tour.
  • Łzy (Tears) performed the song for the 2005 Voluntarism Gala in Poland.
  • Rick Springfield recorded the song for his 2005 comeback album The Day After Yesterday.
  • Jordis Unga performed the song for Rock Star: INXS TV competition on 2005 August 31. It was released later that year on the compilation Rock Star: INXS The DVD.
  • Etta James performed the song for her 2006 album All the Way.
  • Blake Lewis performed the song during the "Idol Gives Back" benefit episode of the American Idol TV competition on 2007 April 24. It was included on the American Idol Season 6: The Collector's Edition compilation released online that year.
  • David Archuleta performed the final verse for American Idol on 2008 February 27 and again for the American Idol Season 7 Finale on 2008 May 20. He returned to the show to reprise his performance on 2010 April 7.
  • KC Concepcion recorded the song "Imagine" for her 2008 album "a.k.a. Cassandra".
  • Amber Riley (Mercedes), Kevin McHale (Artie), Lea Michele (Rachel) and Cory Monteith (Finn) performed "Imagine" with the Haverbrook School for the Deaf choir for the musical TV series, Glee's 2009 November 25 episode, "Hairography". It was released a month later, without the choir, on the album Glee: The Music, Season one, Volume 2.
  • Christina Aguilera performed "Imagine" at the 2010 September 12, MontBlanc "John Lennon Edition" pen, launch event.
  • Cher Lloyd performed the song on The X Factor TV contest on 2010 November 19 for the show's Beatles themed week, 7th season, 7th week.

Personnel

Notes

  1. ^ a b c RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. John Lennon, 'Imagine' Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 June 2011
  2. ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7536&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=ccntousk30frf6h4jsn237nm12
  3. ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7566&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=ccntousk30frf6h4jsn237nm12
  4. ^ a b "Imagine". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  5. ^ "The Beatles Bible – John Lennon: Imagine (song)". Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  6. ^ Sheff, David. "Playboy Interview: John Lennon and Yoko Ono". Playboy. Retrieved 3 December 2006.
  7. ^ Gilmore, Mikal (5 December 2005). "Lennon Lives Forever: John Lennon". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  8. ^ The UK's Best Selling Singles UK Charts. Retrieved 4 June 2011
  9. ^ Queen rock on in poll BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2011
  10. ^ Queen hit named Britain's best Daily Mail. Retrieved 4 June 2011
  11. ^ "Hottest 100 Of All Time".
  12. ^ Elliott, Debbie (5 November 2006). "Carter helps monitor Nicaragua presidential election". All Things Considered. Retrieved 3 December 2006.
  13. ^ Pleasant Grove City, Utah v. Summum
  14. ^ Liverpool Daily Post. "Peace monument unveiled in Liverpool for John Lennon's 70th".
  15. ^ Daily Mail (10 October 2010). "Imagine... if he was still alive: Sculpture of Peace unveiled to mark John Lennon's life on his 70th Birthday". London.
  16. ^ Gaskell, Stephanie (27 May 2008). "Ben & Jerry's new flavor a salute to John Lennon". Daily News. New York.
  17. ^ "Second Hand Songs – Song: Imagine". Second Hand Songs project. Retrieved 6 December 2010.; "A Perfect Circle cover of John Lennon's Imagine – WhoSampled". WhoSampled.com Limited. Retrieved 6 December 2010.; "Imagine a World With Only Good Covers". UpVenue. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Queen live concertography: The Game (Europe)". Queen Concerts. Mr. Scully. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Randy Crawford CD Singles and CDs". Matt's CD Singles. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  20. ^ "Randy Crawford Miss Randy Crawford The Greatest Hits UK LP RECORD". eil.com. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  21. ^ "Best of Randy Crawford & Friends". Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  22. ^ "Randy Crawford – Full Album Discography and Song Listings – VH1". MTV Networks. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  23. ^ "Serious Moonlight World Tour". Teenage Wildlife. Etete Systems. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  24. ^ "David Bowie – Alternative Biography". Discogs. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  25. ^ Abbey, Cherie D, ed. (2010). Biography Today. Vol. 19, No. 1. Detroit, Michigan: Omnigraphics. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7808-1058-7.; Janet Mock; Julia Wang (eds.). "Beyoncé Knowles: Biography". People: Celebrity Central. Time Inc. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  26. ^ "Another Link In The Chain Concerts". The Fleetwood Mac Legacy. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  27. ^ The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (1997). "The Official Report of the Centennial Olympic Games. Volume II" (pdf). Peachtree Publishers. p. 263. Retrieved 17 December 2010.; "1996 Atlanta Closing Ceremony Music List". Olympic Ceremography. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  28. ^ "MyTaratata.com – VIDEOS – GAROU/Patrick FIORI/Luck MERVIL/Julie ZENATTI/Rachid TAHA/KHALED/FAUDEL/Liane FOLY/Tina ARENA/Julien CLERC/Cheb MAMI : Imagine". Air Prodictions. 9 April 1999. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  29. ^ "Rockpalast Archiv – Rocknächte 1990 bis Heute" (in German). Rockpalast Archiv. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  30. ^ "Imagine A World With Good Covers". UpVenue. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  31. ^ "All-star telethon raises $150m". BBC News. 25 September 2001. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Operación Triunfo. Letras de las canciones". historico.portalmix.com. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  33. ^ "Collaboration with president Bill Clinton". Yodan Productions Ltd. Retrieved 4 December 2010.; "Bill Clinton sings with 40 Arab & 40 Jewish Children". Bob Hart. 21 September 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2010.; "Mideast Dispatch Archive: Celebrities fly in to salute Shimon Peres's 80th birthday". Tom Gross. 22 September 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  34. ^ "Collaboration with the Scorpions". Yodan Productions Ltd. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  35. ^ "Imagine Music Video by gilberto gil". i-CoverTunes. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  36. ^ "Redrock Park Studios Broschuere (2007)" (pdf) (in German). Red Rock Production. 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2010.; "Man Doki Soulmates". mandoki.net (in German). Red Rock Productions. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  37. ^ "Bobby w/ Mandoki Soulmates "Imagine"". TotoNetwork. New Media Broadcasting Company, Inc. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  38. ^ Isola, Laurie (7 April 2009). "Cyrus Records Imagine : SFGate: Daily Dish". Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  39. ^ "14 Anime Singers Record 'Imagine' to Fight World Hunger". Anime News Network. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  40. ^ "The Imagine Project". All About Jazz. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  41. ^ "John Lennon "Imagine" Cover Collab!". DifferentVideos. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  42. ^ "Internet Archive Forums: View Post: Garcia sings Imagine?". Internet Archive. 16 April 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.; "Merl Saunders: Heavy Turbulence". The Band web site. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  43. ^ "Jeff Berlin Taking Notes CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
Preceded by Canadian RPM number one single
27 November – 4 December 1971 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK number one single
10 January 1981 – 31 January 1981 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Imagine_(song)&oldid=439295282"