Premium Essay

Imagine- John Lennon

In:

Submitted By charudh
Words 571
Pages 3
Imagine – John Lenon

Imagine is a song written and performed by John Lenon. This song belongs to the category of soft rock which became the best selling solo of his career. Imagine was released in 11th October 1971 and it was recorded at Ascot sound studios New York. The length of the song is 3.03. One month after the release of this song, the song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and the LP reached number one on the UK chart in November and later it became the most commercially successful song of John Lenon’s career. Although not originally released as a single in the UK, it was released in 1975 to promote a compliation LP and it reached number 6 in the chart that year. This song earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and an induction into the Rock and Roll of Fames 500 songs that shaped up Rock and Roll.
John Lenon who is the singer of the song, is one of the greatest singers that made an impact in Rock music industry. He is an English rock-star, guitarist, and the songwriter that wrote most of his music for the Beatles. He was also well known for being a character that was not afraid to express his feelings and opinions. Often expressed in his songs, his feelings can be clearly understood by just listening to his wonderful lyrics and the music as well. He lived in 1940-1980 dying at the age of 40 by assassination in his own apartment. This brings along one of John Lenon’s most controversial songs “Imagine”. Both Beatles and strictly John Lenon fans would label this particular song, a masterpiece.
In this song “Imagine” he promotes the idea of peace among humans with no religion, possesions, or countries “nothing to kill or dies for”, but just to live for today. The Piano is used as the main instrument while chords used in the song were simply yet moving, not at all like the techno-electric, auto tuned sounds that we put in our music nowadays.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

John Lennon

...musician. For other uses, see John Lennon (disambiguation). "Lennon" redirects here. For other uses, see Lennon (disambiguation). John Lennon MBE Lennon rehearsing in 1969 Born John Winston Lennon 9 October 1940 Liverpool, England Died 8 December 1980 (aged 40) Manhattan, New York City, US Cause of death Murder by shooting Resting place Ashes scattered at Central Park, New York Occupation Activist artist record producer singer songwriter writer Years active 1957–75, 1980 Spouse(s) Cynthia Powell (m. 1962;div. 1968) Yoko Ono (m. 1969–80; his death) Children Julian Lennon Sean Lennon Parent(s) Alfred Lennon Julia Stanley Website JohnLennon.com Musical career Genres Rock pop experimental Instruments Guitar piano vocals Labels Apple Capitol Geffen Parlophone Polydor Associated acts The Quarrymen The Beatles Plastic Ono Band Harry Nilsson The Dirty Mac Yoko Ono David Bowie Elton John Notable instruments • Rickenbacker 325 Epiphone Casino • Gibson J-160E • • Mellotron Signature John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer and songwriter who co-foundedthe Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. With fellow member Paul McCartney, he formed a lucrative songwriting partnership. Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle...

Words: 486 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

John Lennon Impact

...During the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon administration the society was at a state of anger and unrest. John Lennon took a stand against the government and society by writing music and performing physical acts of protest. Immediately, he was faced with a deportation scandal, and many people were rallying for change on his behalf. His long-term impact is shown even to this day, through his song “Imagine” and other political songs that were screaming for someone to take a stand. As many already know, John Lennon was part of the ever-so popular group, the Beatles. During the time he spent with the group, his “voice” and his stance on the world was not shown much, as it was overpowered by Paul McCartney’s drippy and love-like lyrics. His...

Words: 744 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Bars

...John Lennon-Imagine Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today… Heaven and hell, like all other opposites in this world, occur only in the human mind. God is oneness, and when your mind is free of attachment to this world, and you experience oneness with everything, you are in true Heaven, and there is no hell. To reach this oneness, you must also live in the moment. Time is an illusion. When we see things in this world change from one appearance to another, and use our memory to notice this change, we believe that time has passed. But when we are one with the Universe, time does not exist. Eternity is not endless time, it is no time. Oneness with everything means the constant state of bliss, nirvana. Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... This is much easier to interpret and come to grips with. Again it deals with separation. Humans suffer because they feel alone or separated. Having enemies makes them feel better about themselves, but this comes from fear. Feeling oneness with all God's creatures, with the Universe itself, is the only one true happiness and piece. You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one… If everyone joined John in the dream of this song, the world would truly be as one. We may be evolving...

Words: 419 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

My Mommas a Dumbass

...John Winston Lennon was born October 9th 1940, at the Oxford Street Maternity Hospital in Liverpool. As a child he was cared for by his aunt and uncle. Since as a child his father left home being away at sea. In 1945 he attended school at Dovedale Primary. During his years of schooling he decides that in 1957 he wanted to make a band called “The Quarry men” which included 16 year old Paul McCartney and 15 year old George Harrison. In 1958 Johns Mother was hit by a car by an unlicensed driver. However August 12th John, Paul, George and Stuart were joined by Pete best and set off for performances in the nightclubs of Hamburg, Germany. Under the new name, The Beatles. When they return Stuart stayed behind but as they kept on playing the bigger they grew. Under new management, Pete best being replaces by Ringo Starr, John married long-term girlfriend Cynthia Powell. They finally get on TV as their first regional television Appearance. October 5th their two first original songs “Love me do” backed with “PS I love you.” Reaching top 20 it was the first of Beatlemania. The start of a crazier life for John Lennon which is why this book was created so you can see how his personal life was out of his crazy short life. John lived his life as a father and a peace maker. John released two books “In his own write” and “A Spaniard in the making” with two movies which The Beatles star in “Help!” and “A Hard day’s work.” In 1966The Beatles make Sgt. Pepper’s lonely heart. John spent most of...

Words: 659 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

John Lennon

...To start with I’ll talk about John Lennon as a member of the Beatles. Then I’ll move on to his solo career, his political and peace activism and after getting the general idea of his work I would like us to have a look on his influence upon his generation and maybe ours too. John Lennon became famous as a member and founder of the widely known band: The Beatles. Together with Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they managed to become the most commercially successful band of the 20th century. During the 1960s, there was even a term used to describe their fans’ intense frenzy towards them: The Beatlemania (photos). All members contributed to the band. But at the time, Paul overshadowed the rest of the members. According to the fans, Paul was the cute one, Ringo was the funny one, George was the quite one and finally John was the intelligent one. The Beatles achieved mainstream success in the UK during the beginning of 1963 and in 1965 they received recognition from the British Establishment when they were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours. The USA VS John Lennon: By that time John and the rest of the Beatles had already become idols due to their musical geniuses. But being an idol is not only being adored but also being hated by people. I don’t think is possible for any idol to only be adored. When your face, your ideology is exposed to the world you are vulnerable to criticism, therefore to love but also hatred...

Words: 1353 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Essay on John Lennon

...expect Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan or John Lennon or Yoko Ono or Bob Dylan or Jesus Christ to come and do it for you. You have to do it yourself. That's what the great masters and mistresses have been saying ever since time began. They can point the way, leave signposts and little instructions in various books that are now called holy and worshipped for the cover of the book and not for what it says, but the instructions are all there for all to see, have always been and always will be. There's nothing new under the sun. All the roads lead to Rome. And people cannot provide it for you. I can't wake you up. You can wake you up. I can't cure you. You can cure you." (Lennon) John Lennon was known best for his music, but in addition to that he was a philosopher, artist, visionary, social leader and most importantly a common man with a dream. John Lennon was born October 9th, 1940 in the town of Liverpool, England (De Curtis). His father abandoned him at the age of two. Three years later he was also abandoned by his mother. He was raised primarily by a woman John affectionately called, “Aunt Mimi.” Later in his life, John reestablished a relationship with his mother only to lose her again when she was killed by a drunk off-duty police officer. As a teen, John formed a band called the "Quarry Men" with boys from his High School (Giles). After a performance, one of the members brought his friend Paul McCarthy to meet John. After hearing Paul play he immediately...

Words: 2048 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

John Lennon Nihilism

...Imagine is a song by John Lennon which I believe talks about a specific worldview; Nihilism. Today I'm going to prove why. From reading the song lyrics, I believe that John Lennon is a Nihilist, which means John doesn't believe there's a heaven or hell. The lyrics say "There is no heaven, it's easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only the sky." With worldviews like Nihilism, there's this thing called "7 big questions about worldviews" One of the questions are "What do you believe happens after death?" Referring back to my evidence: "There's no heaven it's easy if you try no hell below us, above only just the sky" that's where this quote fits in perfectly to answer that specific question. I shall continue proving & expanding my evidence...

Words: 503 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Lennon and Politics

...John Lennon and Politics To write a piece on John Lennon such as this, one is likely to get their throat cut, regardless of the angle one takes. Any article on John Lennon is political non-stop unless you were one of the ‘Apple Scruffs’ (Beatles groupies) who came in through their bathroom window for a shot at one of the Fab Four. For one to understand Lennon: The Activist, one should first consider the formative years of his life. This essay will investigate the personal and cultural influences that led to Lennon’s activism – both political and for peace – as well as an in-depth analysis of four of Lennon’s most political songs. In September 1980 he talked about his family and his rebellious nature: Part of me would like to be accepted by all facets of society and not be this loudmouthed lunatic musician. But I cannot be what I am not. Because of my attitude, all the other boys' parents ... instinctively recognised what I was, which was a troublemaker, meaning I did not conform and I would influence their kids, which I did ... I did my best to disrupt every friend's home ... Partly, maybe, it was out of envy that I didn't have this so-called home, but I really did ... There were five women who were my family. Five strong, intelligent women. Five sisters. Those women were fantastic ... that was my first feminist education ... One happened to be my mother ... she just couldn't deal with life. She had a husband who ran...

Words: 2125 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Theoretical Perspectives of John Lennon

...Theoretical Perspectives of John Lennon John Lennon is world renown for being the founding member of one of the most influential bands of the 20th century, The Beatles. John Winston Lennon was born on October 9th, 1940, in Liverpool, England while German Nazis were raining bombs on the city for the third month in a row during World War II. John would grow up knowing very little about his parents, Julia Stanley and Alfred “Alf” Lennon. John Lennon’s early childhood was anything but stable. His father, Alfred, was a sea merchant who was rarely home. While he was at sea, Julia took a halfhearted approach to raising her son as well as to her marriage vows. She became well known as a “good time girl” in the local pubs and with the sailors who were in and out of the Port of Liverpool. She would often bring men home and sleep with them with John in the house, sometimes even in the same bed (Riley, 2011). John was often shuffled around between aunts and uncles. After a long series of unfortunate events that caused an extended time away from his family with no contact, Alfred was able to make it back home to Liverpool only to find Judy pregnant with another man’s baby. She claimed to have been raped and soon after birth, put the baby girl up for adoption. The marriage of Judy and Alfred Lennon diminished shortly thereafter and eventually ended. John was five years old at the time and was cruelly forced to choose between the two parents. Initially he chose his father...

Words: 3233 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

A Future to Imagine

...A Future to Imagine I grew up listening to the song “Imagine,” by John Lennon, and it wasn’t until I started writing this essay that it made me really wonder how the world would be and if we could actually live as just one. The first verse in the song “Imagine there’s no heaven It’s easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today,” (Lennon, “Imagine”). In my opinion without religion I don’t think we could be happy. Religion plays a huge part in our lives especially when we are trying to cope during hard times. We use it as a comfort zone during times of suffering but we also thank God in times of happiness. It makes you feel that you are always loved not only by God but by those who believe in the same religion as you do. If there was no religion where would we turn in order to cope with life’s tragedies? Religion in some ways gives us the answers to the ‘why ‘questions for instance, like death. First of all I do understand what message he was trying to spread. I feel that message he was trying to send to us, was for us to imagine a place where things like religion and countries for instance did not exist. He felt this would make a better place for all of us to live in peace.”Imagine all the people Living life in people” (Lennon, “Imagine”) I can relate with this statement. I remember when this song came out in the early 70’s. Times were tough during those years; the Vietnam War was still going on so there probably was a bit of a...

Words: 837 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Rock and Roll Final

... 2. The Beatles- Hey Jude 3. Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run 4. Rolling Stones- Gimme Shelter 5. John Lennon- Imagine 6. Bob Dylan/Jimmy Hendricks- All Along The Watchtower 7. Led Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven 8. The Beastie Boys- Fight For Your Right 9. Radiohead- Paranoid Android 10. Nirvana- Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Bob Dylan – “Like A Rolling Stone” Written in 1965, Bob Dylan’s most popular song is often cited as one of the most influential songs of the twentieth century with its accusing lyrical content delivered through Dylan’s nasally warble. While the ‘60’s are often remembered as a decade of free love and liberation, Dylan’s question of “How does it feel/To be on your own/With no direction home/A complete unknown/Like a rolling stone,” seems more menacing and sneering, as if implying that these places that this generation has idealized might have been a little harsher than many people are willing to admit. The layered composition of the song was an important stepping-stone of Dylan’s transition of acoustic folkie to world famous bandleader. The Beatles – “Hey Jude” The most popular song by the most popular band to ever exist is a slow-burning ballad written by Paul McCartney that was released in 1968 and stayed at Number One for nine weeks. The verses, which were supposedly written by McCartney to comfort John Lennon’s son Julian during his parents’ divorce, build upon themselves starting with just McCartney on piano and...

Words: 1259 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Globalization

...curiosity of human beings combined with our requirement to possess and discover more and more. The economy which is working with restricted resources aims to overcome this narrow pass. Virtual goods for our leisure time like games and cyber sex can already be consumed in an endless and global way. I could not deny that they may overlap many times with non-virtual goods. The second kind of general forces are forces which slow down the globalization process. Even if we can hardly realise their (or its: “its kind” , “their forces”) effects today. There are still a lot of problems waiting for a solution. There can be named: Different cultures, pollution and countries (yes, this is part of these forces!). I’m thinking of the song “Imagine” written by John Lennon. It is exactly this liberal and anti-authoritarian movement that is characteristic of globalization. However cause and effect must not be mixed up. This movement arose with the rise of globalization and not the other way round. The third general force came with the mental development of human beings,science and...

Words: 473 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Nayan

...curiosity of human beings combined with our requirement to possess and discover more and more. The economy which is working with restricted resources aims to overcome this narrow pass. Virtual goods for our leisure time like games and cyber sex can already be consumed in an endless and global way. I could not deny that they may overlap many times with non-virtual goods. The second kind of general forces are forces which slow down the globalization process. Even if we can hardly realise their (or its: “its kind” , “their forces”) effects today. There are still a lot of problems waiting for a solution. There can be named: Different cultures, pollution and countries (yes, this is part of these forces!). I’m thinking of the song “Imagine” written by John Lennon. It is exactly this liberal and anti-authoritarian movement that is characteristic of globalization. However cause and effect must not be mixed up. This movement arose with the rise of globalization and not the other way round. The third general force came with the mental...

Words: 478 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

The 882 4bh 1000 Best Songs of All Time Countdown (2012)

...969 968 967 966 Title Take A Letter Maria It's My Party I'll Never Fall In Love Again I Say A Little Prayer I Wanna Wake Up With You Nice To Be With You Pasadena If I Were A Carpenter Could You Ever Love Me Again Classic I Can Dream About You Different Drum It Never Rains In Southern California Moviestar Born To Try Rockin' Robin I Just Want To Be Your Everything Spirit In The Sky We Do It Drift Away Orinoco Flow She's Like The Wind Gimme Little Sign For Your Eyes Only Words Are Not Enough Perfect Bye Bye Love I've Never Been To Me Year Of The Cat If I Can't Have You Knock On Wood Don't Pull Your Love You've Got Your Troubles Romeo's Tune Blowin' In The Wind Artist RB Greaves Lesley Gore Bobbie Gentry Aretha Franklin Boris Gardiner Gallery John Paul Young Four Tops Gary & Dave Adrian Gurvitz Dan Hartman Stone Poneys/Linda Ronstadt Albert Hammond Harpo Delta Goodrem Henchmen Andy Gibb Norman Greenbaum R & J Stone Dobie Gray Enya Patrick Swayze Brenton Wood Sheena Easton Jon English Fairground Attraction Everly Brothers Charlene Al Stewart Yvonne Elliman Amii Stewart Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds Fortunes Steve Forbert Peter Paul & Mary 965 964 963 962 961 960 959 958 957 956 955 954 953 952 951 950 949 948 947 946 945 944 943 942 941 940 939 938 937 936 935 934 933 932 931 930 929 Zoom The Twist Song For Guy Miracle Of Love Kiss You All Over Hold Me Close Lady What's Your Name Forever Autumn Lotta Love Lily Was Here Celebration Up Where We Belong Chuck E's In Love Green Tambourine...

Words: 6514 - Pages: 27

Free Essay

Dreams

...falling down an endless dark tunnel. Perhaps you were awakened by a horrific dream in the middle of the night. If any of you are like me you experience vivid dreams. I would like to start by share one of my dream experiences with you all. About two months ago I had a dream that my boyfriend was cheating on me, now I know all you girls and guys can relate to this. I wake up in the morning with my dream still fresh on my mind and in a horrible mood. I am furious at my boyfriend, and for what reason? He hasn’t even done anything, but the thing is in my mind he has, because my dream is so vivid and real to me. So guys maybe this will help you understand that your girlfriend isn’t crazy and girls take it easy on them, it was just a dream. John Lennon once said, “I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” Indeed he’s not, because all of us experience dreams. You may have many question unanswered about dreams, like why you can’t remember all of your dream right after you wake up, or what your strange and wild dreams are really about. All of your questions can be answered once you are informed of the history of dream, the process of remembering dreams, and all the aspects of interpreting dreams. I have completed countless hours of research on dreams and what they mean, so today I hope to help answer some of your lingering questions about dreams. So let’s get stated by talking about the history of dreams. One cannot truly understand dreams unless they know the history of dreams, so first...

Words: 445 - Pages: 2