An Analysis Of 'Imagine' By John Lennon

After listening to the song, I can automatically tell what the message of the song is that Lennon is portraying, and that is world peace. Lennon does an amazing job establishing his credibility in this song, thus creating credibility within his audience, credibility is part of Ethos. Throughout his musical career right up until his death in 1980, Lennon was heavily involved in peace activities. During his musical career he was part of the world famous Beatles, and this gained him world fame and allowed for his messages to be heard across the world. Lennon created even more Ethos for himself in a controversial album, where he posed naked with his wife, Yoko Ono, in there bed. This showed his fan base and the world that he was truly devoted to peace and love. Without his famous involvement in the Beatles, Lennon would never have gained his spotlight in the world allowing for his messages of peace and love to be heard. His ethos was within his people, not where he got his ideas. Lennon felt what the world felt, and thus his credibility.

In “Let Prisoner’s Take College Courses”, John Lennon argues the concept of online educational programs for inmates. In this article, Lennon explains how workers in prisons support and allow the use of TVs in cells because TVs reduce the amount of time to create violence. Though, the televisions could have a much better use, such as free, pre-recorded university lectures to help the prisoners learn. Years ago, educational programs for inmates were a key component, but legislation squashed out the ability for prisoners to learn. Currently, very few prisoners are able to participate in these classes, though, the prisoners rarely are reincarcerated because of taking these courses. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo attempted to create more educational programs

Next, Lennon asked his audience to imagine a united world with no borders, or religions, thing that could avoid wars and conflicts and lead the humanity to live in peace, the last verse was about imagining what people would be if they share everything, if they share the world. He ended up by wishing that one day the world will know

“Always do what you are afraid to do," Ralph Waldo Emerson once said this. This means that even though something is scary you should still attempt it even if it means that it is hard to do and this was an idea that transcendentalist agreed on. Transcendentalism was this philosophical an idea, that came from the 19th century, in New England. The people in this group thought that you could find a knowledgeable intuitive awareness that is conditional upon the individual if you had believed in transcendentalism and its beliefs. It was also, basically a protest against the state of culture and society in the 1800’s. These Transcendentalist had new forms of principles that they followed (like like the ideas of nature, individualism, and self reliance) and they based their live off of these ideas. The Beatles had connected to these same ideas through their many songs and albums for over a decade. This band formed in the 1960’s in Liverpool England, they built their fame by starting out playing at clubs and bars around Liverpool. There were four people in band which included: Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon they had studied transcendental meditation in India for a whole summer, they listened to many lectures. Transcendentalist had believed in nature, religion, and self reliance which you can find in many Beatles songs like: “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “Mother Nature's Son”, “Blackbird,” and “Tomorrow Never Knows”.

One of the most influential groups of the 20th Century—the Beatles revolutionized rock and roll into what we know it as today. Not only were they great musicians, they wrote and composed each of their songs. The band proved to be popular and exciting causing mass hysteria at each of their public performances. The “Fab Four’s” talent was so great that the phenomenon was termed “Beatlemania” in Britain and eventually erupted in the United States being called the British Invasion of the Beatles (Britannica Online, 2005).

On February 9, 1964, Over 45% of America (roughly 73 million people) watched the Beatles’ debut US performance on the Ed Sullivan show. By the next morning, they had become the next big thing in America. Celebrities and schoolchildren alike were wearing Beatles wigs so that they could imitate their new favorite musical act. They had brought a cheeky sense of humor, long recognizable hair, and a new upbeat pop sound that appealed to the general public. By April 6, they owned the top five hits on the billboard hot 100 list. At one point, the Beatles sang 14 of the Billboard top 100 songs in the country. On the Billboard top selling albums list, they owned the top two albums on the billboard charts at the same time. They won two Grammy’s for 1964: one for best new artist and one for best group performance. They toured in Britain, Australia, and a blockbuster North American tour. Women wanted them and men wanted to be like them. Their fame was completely unrivaled. And that was their success simply in the sphere of music. (Kaplan, 2004).

There have been many people, known as artists, who have tried to change the world through their art. “Art” can be paintings, music, dances, sculptures, literature, or photography. There are many ways to communicate and express ones feelings but The Beatles did it through their popular music. Although they didn’t focus on changing the world of politics or try to protest through their music they have songs that focus on those exact two things.

"Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," recorded in 1967, is to date the number one Rock and Roll album ever recorded. Sgt. Pepper's is considered to be the first concept album. There are many things that brought about the creation of The Beatles most influential album. Before The Beatles began the recording process of Sgt. Pepper's they had retired from touring. This gave the group ample time to experiment with different instruments, recording techniques and drugs. The album cover also sparked a revolution in itself. Many bands took notice of the creative elements of Sgt. Pepper's and learned from them.

The Beatles were one of the most influential music groups of the rock era. They were able to conquer and influence pop culture with their music. Initially they affected the post-war baby boom generation of Britain and the W.S. during the 1960s, and later the request of the world. Certainly they were the most successful group, with global sales exceeding 1.3 billion albums. During the sixties, The Beatles using revolutionary ideas in their music inspired a generation of young adults across the globe to look at life from their perspective.

The Beatles: Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) was born in Liverpool on 7 July 1940. Drums and vocals. John Lennon was born in Liverpool on 9 October 1940. He was shot dead in New York on 8 December 1980. Rhythm guitar, keyboards, harmonica, vocals. Paul McCartney was born in Liverpool on 18 June 1942. Bass guitar, keyboards, lead guitar, drums, vocals. George Harrison was born in Liverpool on 25 February 1943. Lead guitar, sitar, keyboards, vocals.

“Let me take you down, because I'm going to Strawberry Fields”, (Lennon,1966). Strawberry Fields is now a section of Central Park named after this song written by John Lennon. In 1985, five years after John Lennon was assassinated in front of his apartment building the Dakota, two acres of Central park now named Strawberry Fields were dedicated as a memorial to him. “Strawberry Fields Forever” was one of John Lennon and his band The Beatles, most popular songs. John Lennon was a singer and songwriter for The Beatles, a British rock band that was popular in the 60s and 70s.

And in the last verse he tells of how people have to be smiling as they kill to get to the top. Just like John Lennon’s killer did. Just like the killer did.

The song “imagine” was written in a period of war and more specific in the 70s when the war of Vietnam was taking place. John lennon pathos’ main concern is to show to the audience how the world will look much better if people live in peace and away from any crisis and conflicts as he said, “Imagine all the people living in peace”. He tried to take listeners in a journey plenty of imagination. Peace for john must everyone's priority because no one will like to live in war, this is why he called the

the Beatles. And they had to go to Germany to do it. In order to

INTRODUCTION “Everybody loves you when you’re six feet in the ground,” was once said by John Lennon. “The finest day I ever had was when tomorrow never came,” - Kurt. Though they died in the midst of their career, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain amazed people with their successes, obstacles, music.