Imagine by John Lennon analysis with comparison to the cover by A Perfect Circle | The Daily Doug
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- Опубліковано 18 січ 2024
- #imagine #johnlennon #johnlennonimagine #aperfectcircle
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm diving into John Lennon's classic song Imagine. We first hear the original before listening to the cover version offered by A Perfect Circle. I found the similarities and differences amid this versions fascinating. I hope you enjoy!
Reference Video: • IMAGINE. (Ultimate Mix...
Reference Video: • Perfect Circle - Imagi...
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I was 16 years old when John Lennon was tragically taken away from us. A man of peace, cut down by a senseless act of violence. He was a very, very special human being and the world will not see his like again. Peace, everyone.
Being an 8-year-old who first saw him on the Ed Sullivan show while lying on the floor on my stomach...the day we lost him is still the saddest day of my life. Rest sweetly, special man.
We are probably around be the same age. I was a teen working in fast food when word came that a John had been shot and killed here in NYC where he had made his home. It was gut-wrenching news. As if Hope had died.
The sheer look of bliss in your eyes when John played his piano intro& strarted to sing, are the reason why I watch reaction videos. The power of music never ceases to amaze me :)
Thank you Doug. You’re an Angel in disguise❤.
Honestly, I haven't watched this yet, but seeing the subject matter, I'm saving this for later this evening, like dessert. My late husband adored APC (as do I) and absolutely worshiped Lennon. When APC put out that covers record, we played it about 4,000 times. And that was just the first year. I watch most of your videos and rarely comment. This one is gonna be special. Thanks, Doc.
Sorry for your loss
@@poppajoe11 Thank you kindly.
Wowwwwwww ..... what I could feel is that Lenon's version is hopeful, joyful and that potentially those wishes could come true ...... a Perfect Circle made me feel like, after all this time, human's haven't done much to achieve those goals and have proven to be very far away from it. The chords played, sound (to me) like it will always be an Utopia or like asking ourselves ¿Could that be possible someday? Are we willing to reach such an Imaginary and ordinary World? Nice and interesting analysis Doug. Loved it.
Hurt by Nine Inch Nails and John Cash is another interesting comparison
Or "wish" by Nine Inch Nails and Linkin Park
AMEN to your commentary on the news and it's long lasting, lifeforce draining effect in this day and age. Totally agree that this cycle began post 9/11 and amped up in the last eight years. Love your commentary, both musical and societal. Keep the faith!!
What an amazing cover! Wonder what john would have made of it? Loved both versions.
Share! Absolutely, Doug. Never heard A Perfect Circles cover before.
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too....
That describes a perfect world is so few words. Genius.
It's actually a song about socialism, quite dystopian
So this is just the way I interpreted it, but John Lennon tried to make it positive, and he tried to spread a message of peace. And when a perfect circle did their version it is, though we still refused to do it, so why are we refusing to do? It is what a perfect circle is asking. We didn’t listen, and we are still not listening. Also, fun fact the version that is on the live DVD here is heavier than the studio version. In the studio version you only hear the electric guitar at the end of the chorus line with a little bit of a feedback loop playing which makes you think that it’s going to go into something heavy, but it doesn’t. And I’m surprised that they actually added the heaviness live and didn’t take that same approach..
Years ago, many of my family and friends passed around a questionnaire on Facebook, and one of the questions asked: “If you were stranded on a deserted island, what song would you want to listen to for the rest of your life?” This song is always my choice. It’s my absolute favorite song ever. Such a beautiful message, amazing vocals, and a great melody.
While this cover is okay, the original is by far the superior version, IMO.
Love this episode....thank you !!!
George Harisson and Alan White recorded the Imagine album with John, not just the title track. Long time Beatles mate Klaus Voorman played bass. Voorman was an artist who also designed The Beatles Revolver album cover!
George isn't on the title track. He plays on "Crippled Inside" . "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier"
"Gimme Some Truth". " Oh My Love" and "How Do You Sleep?".Half the album.😅
Did you know that the late ALAN WHITE before YES was on IMAGINE by LENNON
He was initially John Lennon's drummer on 'Live Peace In Toronto" (Plastic Ono Band, 1969).
Thank you Doug for this fascinating analysis! …also, I absolutely LOVE that you have Maiden’s Seventh Son album showcased in the background!
Lennon's song is a hymn of the hope of the 60s generation while APC reflects the reality of where we have brought ourselves. This song is more powerful if you are familiar with the original. The video is brutal, pairing images of war and brutality, wealth and poverty, gluttony and starvation. When I saw them live this song brought me to tears.
I was right. It was brilliant. How about a side by side of each song on that album? The differences are mind-blowing. Billy Howerdel did such an amazing job with (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding", it must be heard to be believed. He said he was trying to get Elvis Costello and The Cure to "shake hands". Well, to me, he got them doing more than that, but I won't go into that here. I think you would find the entire exercise vastly entertaining. Particularly with the original v. APC "Fiddle and the Drum". Shoot, the whole thing is brilliant.
I’ll never forget the day John Lennon died. I was in college and was driving to class that morning. This song came on the radio and at the end the DJ said “And that was “Imagine” by the late, great John Lennon - tragically taken from us today. He was shot just outside of his home at The Dakota in New York City. RIP John, you will be forever remembered and missed.” I proceeded on to class, in tears. No teaching was done that day. Everyone, teachers and students alike only had thoughts for John Lennon and the tragedy and senselessness of his death.😢
I really liked the A Perfect Circle version. I also like the fact that you are someone who Reacts! as well as gives his analysis. I really like The Plastic Ono Band's All We Are Saying - Is Give Peace A Chance.
Great great analysis, congrats on hitting 150K. Would love to see ur reaction to the Smash Bros Brawl main theme. Even tho it came out years ago in the Wii, it is still my favorite theme song in any video game, and I still get chills every time I hear it. Its still truly an iconic song
Isn’t there a studio version of this on _eMotive_ ?
I don't understand music, when you talk notes and key it's lost on me, and I certainly wouldn't consider myself a fan of John Lennon, but this song has touched me since I became aware of it on its release after his murder.
The Perfect Circle version lacks any kind of release. Interesting interpretation, but it kind of gets stuck and never goes anywhere. I think if Alice in Chains had taken on this idea, they would have turned it into something magical.
Doug please do journey to the center of the earth. Album or Buenos Aires rendition. Awesome Rick wakeman
Beste reaction of Doug, we see a giant Villa and he says:' I want john's boots' at 3:51
Hi Dr. Doug, If you really want to hear an interesting take of a John Lennon song, listen to Deep Purple's Mark1 version of Help. Totally different from the Beatles version, slow, mournful. John himself said that this is how he always imagined (!) how the song should have sounded like.
GOOD STUFF DOUG !!! FYI... "A PERFECT CIRCLE" NOT "THE PERFECT CIRCLE " , KEEP EM COMING !!!!
There's no dobro on the song Imagine but George plays it on the album on Crippled Inside.
a perfect circle covers/tributes hit like the real should in my opinion.... lyrics win a whole new meaning and somewhat more impactful
Like you said, this song is timeless. Liked you insight on the original music. John's vocals too have always captivated me ... "Day in the Life."
What a great idea - comparing Imagine by A Perfect Circle and John Lennon.
Daily Doug you should try Queensrique. Promise land.. is recorded on an island off Washington or Oregon and the natural organic sounds and the the music is great.....give it a try😊
Just an FYI, Gentle Giant's classic album "Missing Piece" has been remastered by Steven Wilson so I ordered it on vinyl ... I'm betting its great! Also A Perfect Circle are easily as good as Tool and manage to be unique!
You should check out "Ludwig, the Accursed, Holy Blade" from Bloodborne.
The piece is incredible, especially if you had been following the story. Ludwig, a once proud knight has been corrupted by the Old Blood and transformed into a Lovecraftian abomination, the song starts off dark and chaotic, like how a mindless beast would fight. Once you reach his 2nd phase, Ludwig regains a shred of his consciousness and stands on 2 legs, draws his sword and fights like a completely different boss. The song changes from a messy chaotic nightmare to a fast paced regal waltz, which perfectly fits Ludwig regaining a shred of control of his humanity and fighting as the proud knight he once was.
A lot of people have reacted to the song, but I feel in this case, knowing the lore of the fight makes the piece so much more powerful.
Doug, love your reviews and analysis! Please react and analyze the song Esther by Phish....You will love it. Lyrically awesome as well. Studio version from Junta.
To me the John Lennon version is much more hopeful while APC is more pessimistic. Funny how changing the tone gives it an entirely different feel and message.
First English is not my mother tongue, so if and you find some grammar mistakes you can keep them. I love Lennon's origin one, but what A Perfect Circle and the mastermind behind them Maynard James Keenan has done with this song is sooo hearthwarming. I love it.
Firstly*
Original*
With*
Heartwarming*
Hey man! Would leave to see your reaction to a Mojave 3 song like after all, bluebird of happiness, or my life in art. Super ethereal dreamy sound with meaningful lyrics.
Doug, a great compare and contrast… sticking with the Beatles theme here… The Beatles song, Help… and from the very first Deep Purple album, Shades of Deep Purple, their cover version…
If you love this song, listen to merry Christmas, War is over by John Lennon
Imagine is an anthem ... an evergreen song for us older generations and should be for future too
There is one song that I also love very much, it's a song Lie sang by a singer Jimin and dancer from a K-pop Korean group BTS ... if you are going to listen to it, please find lyrics video ... classical musicians and jazz musician were excited by this song
hey could you take a look at a band called king gizzard and the lizard wizard they do all sorts of poly rhythms and change up i think you would enjoy listening to them or at the very least find it interesting how they write their music
I don't know if it's just me, but A Perfect Circle's version felt like it had some similarities to Kashmir by Led Zeppelin during the verses.
Not sure if you’ve been asked before but is there any particular reason you choose live performances?
This one wasn’t too bad but I feel a lot of others are just lesser versions of the studio/album versions. Like I’d rather either be there live myself or listen to the album version cause a recording of the live just doesn’t give the same vibes.
Dunno, could just be a me thing.
That is a VERY good question. And Doug isn't the only one who does this. 99% of the time the live version is vastly inferior to the original studio version. The ONLY song I can think of where the live version is arguably better is "Fear of the Dark" by Iron Maiden, that is ONLY because of the audience participation, and nothing else.
The reason Doug and lots of reactioners on UA-cam use live videos is that they are much less likely to be taken down for copyright purposes. Some artists absolutely will not allow a studio recording to appear on anyone else's video.
Great analysis. Thanks so much!
I was 15 years old when John Lennon was Murdered.
He was my Hero.
What a sad day that was for me, my siblings, my parents, my schoolmates and millions of people around the world.
Sad and unnecessary.
Hope still exists.
I used to live on Hope Ave.
It's still there.
Let us All Hope for Peace.
Doug!!! How could you not also include Herbie Hancock's version in this video?? Very interesting cover
Please react to enigma machine by dream theatre
One of my favourites... 😊
Thanks! Please consider reacting to Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor :)
Chris Cornell's version is other worldly, and in 6/9. I think its a better version but that is my opinion.
Interesting point on your comment of there is enough to share, enough for everyone. Imagine no possessions was the line in the song which John received a lot of grief. A rich rock star dismissing possessions. I do not think John ever turned down a royalty check for his music. Perhaps a better line would have been imagine no fighting over possessions, there is enough to go around. I don't know if that line would have worked into the melody of the song without some changes. The world is a very compilated place and it is horrible that with all our resources and advance technology that some people are still condemned to a life of poverty and war. As you mentioned there is enough to go around for every human on earth to have a decent home, enough food and medical care, an education and a chance to earn a decent living. There is even enough to go around for the more ambition people to have even a higher standard of life without taking away from others. It is when the system becomes rigged so the poor remain poor and the rich gets even richer lies the problem. On the no religion line, change that to no division over religion. Another lyric line in the song which John was criticized for.
Instead of an uplifting song, they make it dark and depressing! I really like Julian Lennons version!!
Hey Doug, I know you most likely will not read this comment but, I figured that I would ask if you could maybe consider checking out some more Avenged Sevenfold. You have the song Afterlife up from maybe 2-3 years ago and if I were to recommend anything to you from them it would have to be either A Little Piece of Heaven or, Roman sky.
You should react to Ambrosia: Drink of Water!
This cover is basically saying "Yeah... Sorry John, mankind is still fucking up pretty bad..."
I saw the title for this and my first thought was: "He is not prepared for what he is about to hear."
Perfect Circle has a fantastic ability to reach into your chest and squeeze.
I first heard this years ago and I was playing Vampire the Masquerade at the time, I thought the song was perfect to be sung by my Vampire (Toreador) night-club singer. The creepy minor chord and added meaning of "I hope some day you will join us" (become a vampire too) was kind of darkly poetic.
high doctor .... U tube B on my case ... is it U .. who Super grassed me in G minor...
"and in your dreams you see yourself as a prophet saving the world, the words from your lips, I just can't believe you are such a fool" - Frank Zappa
The best song ever elevated to another level by A Perfect Circle; loved it thank you.
...the version is a bit dark, right?
Do more Dead plz!
I like the idea of comparing an original and a reinterpretation. Alice In Chains 'Rain When I Die' was reinterpreted by City and Colour (Dallas Green) for Museum of Pop Culture for their AIC tribute event. His is a raw acoustic lament, most fans loved that he didn't mimic the original but made made a loving tribute. Dallas In Chains!
There are many different versions of Imagine, but Herbie Hancock's is the one I like for being different.
ua-cam.com/video/mVAQl7qq-aI/v-deo.htmlsi=VgQF0FE52zvurOZY
Imagine, the original, used at the end of the movie The Killing Fields took me out hard.
Day 5 of asking for Dragon by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
unreal, right, you should dig a little deeper into A perfect circle
That. Was. Heavy, y’all. Needs uke, but bruh, take my money.
I like comparing it with Let It Be: one is pacifist and theistic; the other is activist and atheistic. Both are anthems of hope.
Lenon's version has hope
Pefrect Circle's version has grieve
It's probably hard to imagine (heh), but I discovered this song first through the APC cover.
That last chord by A Perfect Circle was too predictable and obvious. Someone give me an alternative you think is superior!
I think A Perfect Circle's version brings out the true, rather less optimistic, meaning of the song - Imagine what will never be.
I don’t like the second version. It’s cold.
Thank you for having this wonderful song on the channel today. I enjoyed your comments and analysis of both versions. If you haven’t heard it, you might be interested in the version performed by Julian Lennon, with his friend Nuno Bettencourt on guitar for Global Citizen in support for Ukraine. In the description, he says this song is “the light at the end of the tunnel that we are all hoping for.” It is the first and only time he has performed this song, and it was because of the extraordinary circumstances that led him to do it. Please check it out, and see his comments about the song in the description. It’s on his channel here ua-cam.com/video/NicWjYMPDG0/v-deo.htmlsi=wW4LhH8DMgN7Fg_h Have a great weekend! And Peace! ☮️
Thanks for sharing. What a tribute to his dad- I loved this. 💙
The chord progression and melody of the reworking seems funny to me, with these lyrics it doesn't really fit, I do see the optimistic lyrics are unrealistic and still seem unachievable but that's more meh than the almost desolation this cover sounds like lol
Perfect reharmonization... They surely know their business. 👍
This is one of those songs that aren't bad but have been given way more attention than it deserves. It's more or less a lullaby. You'll find books for children full of similar music. A lot of games too.
No one understands what this song is. It was an experiment John played on all of us. He wanted to know if people actually listen to the words or if they were just in it for the melody, and so he wrote something pretty. Years later, he admitted that all this song is, is the communist manifesto. Everyone missed that. He notoriously had a strange sense of humor.
i now noticed
The hope is gone now because he was murdered. I think that is what the APC cover is saying.
A.P.C. Better, the song evolves.
I am sorry.... PERFECT CIRCLE does not express HOPE (the original message of the song) and sounds a bit 'soulless' to my unstrained ear.....it sounds to me like a must have filler in an album...
The studio version which he should have reacted to is very good. Johns version was optimistic "Imagine what we could be" a perfect circles version is more "imagine what we could have been" they are both beautiful in there own way but they definitely demand a different head space.
Unstrained ear?
Thankfully he didn't get Yoko to sing on it.
That version by Perfect Circle is horrible. They sound like they’re dead.
Julian Lennon just remade his father's song (Imagine) last year for Ukraine, it's ok, but not as good as either of these? But I like Julian's personality anyway!
I absolutely love, John Lennon, and ‘Imagine’ , anthat altered cover version was very cool-butdidyou know that Steely Dan -had the audacity to ‘dis’ -Imagine, as [politicallynaive] -on their very first album-‘Can’t buy a thrill’, and the song thatattack’sJohn call for world peace - in titled -‘Onlyafool would say that’, check it out[ilove muchSteelyDan music-but felt that this was an inappropriate message -to send to agreat songwriter/ artist--who probably was a early hero to both Fagen , and Becker-the primary songwriters of much of ‘Steelydan’swork!!!!!!!
A Perfect Circle did it better🤌🏼🔥🤘🏼😊
I'm not a huge fan of Imagine, or Lennon for that matter, but that version by A Perfect Circle is a just a tuneless mess.
While a appreciate analysis, the commentary during the music is soooooo irritating.
That version was nothing but painful to listen to. It was awful and non musical. The parts didn't fit together. I turned it off.
I don't understand when people are changing everything in a song. I think it's offensive! I mean, what's wrong with the original? If they didn''t like the original song, why playing it? If they think they have to change everything to make it good, why not just write a new song?
Do your oen material If you don't like my song, and keep your hands off my material! That's what I would have felt If I had been John Lennon.
Bad, bad, bad!
I think this comment really highlights the generational differences that exist in our society. APCs version of this song reflected the bitterness and pessimism many felt as the US used the global goodwill leftover from 9/11 to get entrenched in what turned out to be decades long quagmires in the Middle East.
John Lennon lived in a world where peace seemed possible. Maynard (and the Millennials that listen to him) were looking at the dawn of a new age of war.
I think calling it "non-musical" is just a statement about minor keys or dissonance. Everyone is free to have their own taste, but it's not non-musical.
Maybe this comment is just a long winded way of saying you're old and out of touch.
there's really nothing I like about this song, aesthetically or philosophically- once the overt Commie sentiments are realized you go "oh shit, gah".
You can’t imagine.
That A Perfect Circle cover? What a stinking pile of 💩
sheep
Perfect Circle cover is terrible. They turn a bright, gentle song of hope into something dark and loud. I've loved "Imaging" for almost 50 years and never expected anyone to ruin it so badly.
The communist utopia John Lennon described in his song Imagine is an unbelievably dangerous one. But then again, Lennon had a horrible sense of morality and an even worse view of humanity and the world, so that's no surprise. So yes, A Perfect Circle's darker approach to the song fits it way better.
Hi from Kyiv, Ukraine. I was 3 y o too (1977 born). Imagine so actuality and so match hopeful in this time
Did you know that the late ALAN WHITE before YES was on IMAGINE by LENNON
Yes, and he helped with the arrangement. Lennon played what he had to Alan and Alan recommended changing one section to the beginning, which he did, something like that.