Fifty years of“Imagine”

John Lennon’s prescription for world peace turns 50 this year and we are still trying to imaginelivingwithno‘greedorhunger’.

Despite its worldwide fame, this mythical song has rarely been covered by other artists, perhaps because few singers have dared mess around with the sincerity containedinit.

Imagine may be considered a kind of poem withmusic,apoemthatbeginsarippleeffect which can ultimately change society, as Lennon imagined a world where we “live as one”.

After almost every violent tragedy since 1971, the world has turned toImagine for solace and collective comfort. Its words remain immortal: “you may say I’m a dreamer/ But I’m not the only one/ I hope somedayyou’lljoin us/and theworldwilllive asone”,asamessageof hopeandbelieving in humanity. Lennon wanted the listener to become his messenger and he achieved his goal.

The recording of the song took place at Lennon’s studio in his Ascot home (in Tittenhurst Park) in June 1971 and it must have been an effortless process. The writing was equally simple. It was all in a morning’s workathisbedroom whilehiswifeYokoOno lookedon.

John and Yoko couldn’t even dream up the magnitude of what they were creating,

Now listen to the cover song

byIsabel Blázquez

although he was particularly elated about it. He felt that it was really important for the world to hear that song and that’s why he wanted to keep it very simple and easy, so even children could sing and the message wouldgetacross.

Lennon composed the song when he was just 31 At that time, the couple was on the pacifist movement and they really thought that it was a sort of duty for them to denounce injustice and violence everywhere. Itwas alsothetime whenthebestof friends, McCartney and Lennon, were not talking to each other but, obviously, peace was an easy word to say but difficult to put in practice.

Imagine is far from being my Beatles’ favourite song. Nevertheless, I think it’s really so iconic and has such a powerful message that we can’t help remembering it onitsfiftiethanniversary.

Ana Cerezo