“Imagine”
Writers: John Lennon
Original Release Date: October 11, 1971
Over forty years later, John Lennon’s “Imagine” is still incredibly relevant to our world, which is pretty depressing when you think about it.
The best-selling song of Lennon’s solo career, “Imagine”, is an enduring ode to peace, a world without borders (or walls…), a world where people aren’t divided by religion or race; in Lennon’s own words, it was based on the concept of “positive prayer”. The simple, soothing piano melody, wistful lyrics, and Lennon’s melancholy vocals make “Imagine” a peace anthem that is often used in times of grief or tragedy, such as the attack at the Bataclan in November 2015. On a lighter note, it’s also often performed before the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York City, to kick off the new year with a touch of positivity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s21y74URFBI
There are literally hundreds of covers of “Imagine”, but one of the more recent ones was done by You Me At Six at BBC’s Maida Vale studios in November. Rather than the soothing piano of the original, their guitars provide a soft backdrop for Josh Franceschi’s mellow vocals. There’s a haunting quality to the song—YMAS is normally such a bold, boisterous band, so it’s a total switch to hear them stripped down and laidback like this.
Both versions are beautiful and bittersweet, so it really comes down to whose vocals you prefer: John Lennon or Josh Franceschi.
