"Imagine" By John Lennon: 9 Facts About The Song

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John Lennon

"Imagine" by John Lennon is one of those universal songs that, thanks to its composition, message and simplicity, has become a classic that will never go out of style. But let's take a look in detail at why this 1971 Lennon solo track is and always will be a timeless classic.

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John Lennon

A hymn to unity

Clearly, the message at the heart of "Imagine" is one of its strongest points. Throughout the entire song, Lennon sings of a single world and society, a message translated into an ideal world of peace and union.

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John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Created by an iconic couple

Though John Lennon wrote "Imagine," he recognized Yoko Ono as an important influence on the track's creation. He even said the song should be credited to "Lennon-Ono," as he was inspired by Grapefruit, a book of poetic compositions written by his wife. In addition, "Imagine" was also inspired by a Christian prayerbook that Dick Gregory had gifted to John and Yoko.

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John Lennon

Lennon's most popular song Since "Imagine" was released in the early '70s, it's sold around 5 million physical copies as a single. As expected, it topped the charts in various countries around the world, and is considered the most successful song in Lennon's solo career.

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John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Music greats have covered "Imagine"

Many musicians and bands have covered Lennon's iconic song in their careers. However, these versions have not been by just any musicians. Some of the greats in music history have sung "Imagine," including Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, Elton John, and Lady Gaga.

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John Lennon

Awards and recognitionThe song won a Grammy Hall of Fame award, in addition to making the list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Yoko Ono

The lasting legacy of "Imagine"

Despite being released in 1971, "Imagine" continues to accumulate millions and millions of listens on platforms such as Spotify and YouTube, which keep the song alive and introduce it to new generations.

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John Lennon

"Imagine" in the Guinness Book of World Records

In 2002, survey book Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles crowned "Imagine" with an impressive title. It earned second place on their "best singles of all time" list, trailing only "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

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John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Memorable music video

In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono created a feature-length promo film titled Imagine to accompany the album. For the song, filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczyński created a music video—based on the Lennon-Ono film—which in 1987 won the Silver Lion at the Cannes Film Festival.

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John Lennon

Unforgettable album cover

Even the album cover of Imagine, sharing its name with the single, is a classic! It was a photograph taken by artist Andy Warhol. For it, Lennon's face was captured in an overexposed image, along with a steam effect and sepia tonality.

John Lennon's body of work with the Beatles and as a solo artist has left a lasting impression on the worlds of pop, rock, avant-garde, and activist music.

But out of his many Beatles-penned tracks and solo hits, one particular song tends to stand out above the rest: "Imagine," from his 1971 solo album of the same title.

"Imagine" by John Lennon: Why the song has so much meaning

While there are Lennon songs that could musically surpass "Imagine," the 1971 track goes further with its message of empathy. Plus, it's continued appreciation nearly 50 years later is an accomplishment met by very few songs throughout music history.

Click through our gallery to learn why "Imagine" is and always will be a timeless classic. Enjoy!

Music runs in the family

John Lennon's Sons Julian and Sean Today