Changing the Words to John Lennon's IMAGINE

OnTheWayOut

Children were prompted to pay tribute to Nelson Mandella and sang John Lennon's IMAGINE. Whoever got this together changed the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=929XCb3PVKg

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/tribute-nelson-mandela-children-world-19410964

It's supposed to say instead of "Nothing below us," "No Hell below us."

Personally, such changes seem to miss the entire point of the song and negate any real meaning. It's like this tribute verified John Lennon's thoughts that such things had to be imagined because they are not reality.

Cee Lo Green did it too on New Years Eve. He changed the lyrics.

Charged with singing Lennon's famous solo-era tune on NBC's New Year's Eve show shortly before the ball dropped in Times Square , Green changed the lyrics from "Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too" to "Nothing to kill or die for, And all religion's true."

The change didn't go unnoticed, and to preempt criticism, he soon tweeted, "Yo I meant no disrespect by changing the lyric guys! I was trying to say a world were u could believe what u wanted that's all."

That did little to comfort angered Lennon fans, who lashed out over Twitter.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/01/cee-lo-green-changes-imagine-lyrics_n_1178313.html

I am just saying I feel the same as those fans who didn't like Cee Lo's changes. Such changes destroy the meaning behind those words and demonstrate that Lennon's thoughts are far from reality.

rip van winkle

Tomorrow is the 33rd Anniversary of John Lennon's death.

Simon

The point of the song is to imagine a world of people living in peace without the conflicts caused by nationalities and religion.

For people to change it to shove religion in their is low and despicable.

We can imagine life without you people. It would be wonderful.

cantleave

You just made me feel old Rip.

rip van winkle

We live in a politically correct world.

The word 'Hell' offends. "No religion too", also offends.

Kind of ironic as John Lennon loved to shake things up.

( Sorry dontleave , me too!!!)

bohm

That so many feel the need to change the song out of fear it will piss of some religious people proove john lennon was right in putting religion on that list to begin with.

Las Malvinas son Argentinas

I know I'll regret saying this, but Yoko needs to speak up and make a statement as the only one with sufficient credentials to defend his legacy. Changing those words makes the song meaningless. Imagine is one of the most well known songs, and not because of the music or that the structure of the song is so musically complex. It's not. It was one of the first tunes my piano teacher taught me. The song is notable for its message, and when you play around with the lyrics like that you destroy the meaning of the song. It would be like changing the chorus of The Who's "Won't get Fooled Again" to 'We won't get fooled again... by those nasty Democrats, vote Re-pub-li-CAN!'

Band on the Run

I wish people would not change the words. Some songwriters, such as Dylan, Lennon, and Townshend, are so deliberate with their words. Lennon always was candid about his religious beliefs. Another religious theme that drives me crazy is when Christians think "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison was written as a Christian song. If Harrison were an obscure figure I might understand it. How long does it take to Google Lennon or Harrison and find out the reasons for the words.

Such changes would drive Lennon crazy if he were still alive. I don't even have to Google to have John's image and voice in my mind. He could not have been more vocal about the meaning of Imagine.

Did anyone see Larry King's show shortly after September 11th when he gave permission to have "Yesterday"played? It was remarkable how a love song applied to the trauma of 9.11. No lyrics were changed.

Yoko should say something. I don't understand her most of the time. She does not seem consistent.

Satanus

Yoko is about money, period. If she can make more, she will say something.

S

Band on the Run

Satanus,

You certainly nailed it. I was looking for eyeglass frames online when I came upon John Lennon eyeglasses. They are not cheap. She appears at awards shows and plays model grieving widow. He wore those eyeglasses to show he was working class in origin. Of course, the rest felt he was middle class. They were welfare glasses. What annoyed me was that they were middle market. Not high end and not welfare glasses.

MoMA sponsors her shreiks and screams as high art. I was in the elevator and heard this bloody screech at a very fevered pitch. I wanted to get away or run towards the screech to help the person. No one else was upset so I asked why. It was a performance.

I was upset the first time I heard Beatles music used for commercials. They sold out a long time ago. Perhaps if he lived, John would have sold out. The memories of the 1960s are just so nice. The times seemed special. I am always surprised that so many young people today are into the music and times. When I tell them of some of my adventures, they look at me like I am a special envoy. I stumbled onto things.

They sold their music rights. I wonder how some people can move between being avant-garde and so high end at the same time. Warhol is one great example. I feel sorry for the regular people stuck on the Lower East Side-which is now high end.

Does anyone know how artists can change lyrics they cover?

Changing the Words to John Lennon's IMAGINE

Share this