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Imagine Comparative Analysis Shelly's Input So Far
Imagine Comparative Analysis Shelly's Input So Far
IMAGINE
COMPARITIVE
ANALYSIS
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................... 2
John Lennon Imagine........................................................................................... 2
Musical Scene of the 60s...................................................................................... 2
A Perfect Circle and Kids United............................................................................. 3
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 3
Reference List........................................................................................................ 4
Appendix................................................................................................................ 5
Appendix A......................................................................................................... 5
Appendix B......................................................................................................... 5
Appendix C......................................................................................................... 6
Appendix D......................................................................................................... 6
Appendix E......................................................................................................... 6
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Introduction
This comparative analysis aims to provide a detailed musical examination of the
song Imagine. Originally performed and recorded by John Lennon and later
reimagined in 2004 by A Perfect Circle and again in 2015 by Kids United. The
structure, lyrics, instrumentation and stylistic indicators which place each version
of the piece within their eras will be investigated. Also to be discussed is a brief
background on each of the performers and their place on the music scene at the
time of recording. Further inspection will shed light on the social trends shown by
the artists with regards to appearance, presentation and promotional material
such as album covers.
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that it was not the range of individual artists or demographic changes such as
the generation of baby boomers that created the opportunity for rock n roll to
emerge in the United States, as is often claimed. Rather, it was a consequence of
systematic changes in the structure of mechanisms and assumptions of the
culture industry. ("Why 1955? Explaining the Advent of Rock Music on JSTOR",
2016)
In Britain the changes took longer to emerge than the United States and it did
not end the monotonously consistent nature of the popular music industry. There
were only two major recording companies in Britain at that time, Decca and EMI,
which dominated the music distribution and was tightly controlled by the state
owned BBC.
The sixties gave the Western world a sense of rejuvenating freedom and it had a
lot had to due with pop rock dominating the music scene at the time. Before
1955, the music scene in Brittan had been mostly about preserving classical and
jazz music and the breakthrough of pop that the Beatles heavily influenced
helped paved the soaring optimism that sparked the hippy culture of the late
sixties. However, although there was lots of talk about social change there were
many who pointed the finger and called the social upheaval of the sixties as
nothing more than a fashion parade. John Lennon, in particular was an advocate
for social and economical change and in 1970 talking to Rolling Stone he said
Everyone dressed up but nothing changed To Lennon, the sixties and The
Beatles seemed to have been divorced from reality: middle-class daydreams
funded on unprecedented affluence and fuelled by delusive drugs. Now, insisted
the therapised and detoxified ex-Beatle, the dream was over. ("Why 1955?
Explaining the Advent of Rock Music on JSTOR", 2015)
After separating from the Beatles, adopting a different style fashion and
musically John Lennon aimed to strive for more than happy go lucky lyrics. He
wanted his songs to question social structure and spark an uproar for political
and economical change. Thus, Imagine was created in 1971 which has become
an anthem for world peace across generations.
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(Appendix D) depicts the artists Carla, Erza, Gloria, Esteban, Gabriel, Gloria and
Nilusi each standing in front of a plain, pastel coloured background. Unlike
Lennons album cover which was quite blurry, the singers are all in high
resolution, when taken into account, this small detail truly highlights the
difference in eras. Its fascinating how the same song, with the same lyrics can
be painted to emote such a differing state of mind from the listener. The
arrangement of Kid Uniteds Imagine wills the listener to envision a safer world
for children in need which differs to the much broader audience which Lennon
aimed for when he targeted breaking down walls for issues such as racism and
religious bigotry.
Who are perfect circle 150 words
A Perfect Circle is a group originating from Los Angeles, California in the United
States of America. They are greatly known for their contribution to the genres
alternative rock, alternative metal and hard rock. The band formed in 1999
before taking a hiatus in 2004 after the release of their third album Emotive. The
album was released on Election Day in the United States, the 2 nd of November,
2004 and features many anti-war songs, one of which was a reworking of
Lennons Imagine.
Key, instrumentation, Presentation, appearance, promo material, album covers
for each
Conclusion
Shit happened.v
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Reference List
https://monoskop.org/images/2/2a/Ono_Yoko_Grapefruit_A_Book_of_Instructions_
and_Drawings_by_Yoko_Ono_S_and_S_edition_excerpt.pdf
Yoko Ono cloud poem
John Lennon Imagined. (2016). Google Books. Retrieved 12 May 2016, from
https://books.google.com.au/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=HESlHkg_pRoC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&ots=u9PRIzhcCv&sig=5Xx52Mb
lxTgHspy6eMVb54vl43Y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Revolution in the Head. (2016). Google Books. Retrieved 13 May 2016, from
https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7SFeU_cRP4C&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=the+beatles+influence&ots=lW4A1GiuOC
&sig=_TWAsvTP6RS1zCaWRSxfy2lLkhU#v=onepage&q=the%20beatles
%20influence&f=false
Why 1955? Explaining the Advent of Rock Music on JSTOR. (2016). Jstor.org.
Retrieved 13 May 2016, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/852886?
seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
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Appendix
Appendix A
"Imagine" Lyrics
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...
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...
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
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
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 live as one
Appendix B
John Lennon Imagine album cover
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Appendix C
A Perfect Circle Emotive Album Cover
Appendix D
Kids United Album Un monde meilleur Cover
Appendix E
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?
&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5
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