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rebelrebel
I loathe Imagine and always have. "John's gift to the world" said Yoko. Yuk. However, to be clear, I'm not Yoko bashing, not Lennon bashing and I love I Am The Walrus.
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pinkfloydthebarber
but the downside to the words are it's all just a figment of imagination. imagining such a world is easy; anybody can imagine, but getting it to happen is not, so in that sense the words are sort of ridiculous. there's no solutions offered here to get from point A to point B, from the mess lennon saw to the hippie utopia, other than to 'imagine' or fantasize about it, but not really do anything to accomplish it
maybe because that would inevitably require violence?
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flacnvinyl
StonesTod thems fightin words...
Not a fan of this song. Lennon wrote some great music but this isn't one of them. The other thing is that to think of the reality of the song is actually pretty depressing. I have talked to a few people about this but if you think about original sin, Adam & Eve, all that stuff... The ultimate question is 'Why allow evil into this world?' Great question. The answer is so that we would all be able to experience the human life we currently have.
Without the choice to do evil, there is no actual choice at all. So a world without anything to kill or die for, is infact a world filled with robots, actually. So Mr. Lennon's lyrics, on face value, are very peaceful and serene, but ultimately would usher in the most empty life possible.
Sounds great if you are into transcedenatlism and nihilism. Sounds horrible if you have a wife and kids and are aware of what is actually happening in the world. I pray for justice, grace, peace, love... not emptiness and nothingness.
My two cents. =)
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Edith Grove
I have mixed emotions about this thread.......
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SweetThingQuote
pinkfloydthebarber
but the downside to the words are it's all just a figment of imagination. imagining such a world is easy; anybody can imagine, but getting it to happen is not, so in that sense the words are sort of ridiculous. there's no solutions offered here to get from point A to point B, from the mess lennon saw to the hippie utopia, other than to 'imagine' or fantasize about it, but not really do anything to accomplish it
maybe because that would inevitably require violence?
Well, one would have to "imagine" it all first.
But it does appear he copyrighted the song which refers to no "possessions".
So, he is just imagining....
The "I wonder if you can?" line was pretty funny though.
Highly overrated and overplayed at this point, yes! But it is still a pretty song to my ears, if I can manage not to hear for it for a year or so. Easier said than done of course.
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24FPS
Imagine is just a good song to contemplate when it comes on. Many people are frustrated by this existence and are weary that nothing of any good will ever change. People were tired of war when Imagine came out in 1971. The powers that be learned to make it an almost corporate soldier war now, with no draft. Now the young people are barely aware there's a decade old war in Afghanistan. Things have actually gotten worse than when Imagine was released.
As for I Am The Walrus, what a turnaround for that song. I remember hearing it on the radio in '67 and thinking Lennon was daft. They played it a couple times because they had to play all Beatles songs at least a few times. Sitting on a cornflake? Then I read in Lennon Remembers that he was peeved that it was relegated to the B side of Hello Goodbye. In this case history has proven him right. I Am The Walrus is pure genius. Hello Goodbye was pure schlock.
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StonesTod
i don't recall anyone ever claiming walls & bridges was john's best; plastic ono band has always generally been regarded as his masterwork.
i loved imagine (album and song) then as i love imagine now.
these posts are so hurtful....
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Elmo Lewis
Am I the only one who doesn't think John Lennon's "Imagine" is the most wonderful song ever? Ditto "I Am The Walrus".
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Max'sKansasCityQuote
Elmo Lewis
Am I the only one who doesn't think John Lennon's "Imagine" is the most wonderful song ever?
No, you are not the only one.
That would just start a huge argument about what is number 1,Quote
StonesTodQuote
Max'sKansasCityQuote
Elmo Lewis
Am I the only one who doesn't think John Lennon's "Imagine" is the most wonderful song ever?
No, you are not the only one.
would you believe the 2nd most wonderful?
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stonesnow
I find the views expressed in this thread toward the song Imagine a very telling indication of how tastes have changed over the last 30 years. In the early 80s, Lennon was lauded and eulogized for the song, which was his most popular as a solo artist. But now, Imagine is almost universally loathed and despised, whereas Macca's album Ram has become the darling of critics and fans alike, who have both come to view it as among his best (which it is, especially in the form of its 2-CD deluxe package).
That brings to mind the question of what is Lennon's best solo album? Back in the day it was universally considered to be Walls and Bridges, but there are a great many lesser, even forgettable, songs on that one and the mid-70s production values have not worn well over time. Anyone give Sometime in NYC a listen lately? True, the topical political content is dated, but the production is raw, the songs edgy, and some of his finest melodies as a solo artist are captured on that recording.
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GravityBoy
I wish I had written Imagine.
You look at the lyrics from an ironic point of view - perfectly possible with Lennon.
It's been played to death though so people are sick of it.
I prefer listening to some of his other songs.
Instant Karma.
#9 Dream
Working Class Hero
"Love" is a great song too..........well ......I was extremely in love when this song was released
Skip the first 13 sec. .................
__________________________
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StonesTod
i don't recall anyone ever claiming walls & bridges was john's best; plastic ono band has always generally been regarded as his masterwork.
i loved imagine (album and song) then as i love imagine now.
these posts are so hurtful....
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StonesTod
why can't a song just stand on its own merit? who cares who wrote it or whether it was written sincerely. would imagine be a better song if the person who wrote it had no possessions?
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treaclefingersQuote
StonesTod
why can't a song just stand on its own merit? who cares who wrote it or whether it was written sincerely. would imagine be a better song if the person who wrote it had no possessions?
I imagine not.