HousingPANIC - The Housing Bubble Blog with an Attitude Problem, 2005

August 13, 2006

I think HP'ers need a bit of this tonight - enjoy. Imagine, by John Lennon

34 comments:

Anonymous said...: classic; August 13, 2006 10:57 PM
Anonymous said...: Stupid, little, commie song; August 14, 2006 12:37 AM
Anonymous said...: Lennon was a grown child, still living in Commie fantasyland; very dangerous and subversive to the American Way of Life, i.e., corporate-statism and "friendly fascism".

We now have a world increasingly influenced by the emergence of competing versions of fascism: US and British corporate-statist fascism (Mussolini's ideal type) versus Chinese socialist-statism-cum-corporate-fascism versus Radical Islamic theocratic fascism.

What do you get when you mix fascisms? A VERY fascist world. Most Brits, Yanks, Kiwis, Aussies, and Canucks don't even see it happening, so fascism is a foregone conclusion; it's here, so get used to it.; August 14, 2006 1:03 AM
Anonymous said...: Merle Haggard

Boys, Mr. Lennon was an American we all ought to be proud of (despite my earlier reference in a song to the Beatles). Let's do a little imaginin' and rebuild America first.

Merle; August 14, 2006 1:13 AM
Anonymous said...: John Lennon. An example of how rich people always make the best marxists.; August 14, 2006 2:24 AM
Anonymous said...: First of all, Lennon was British, not an American of English descent. There is a difference.

BTW, this is not a swipe on people from immigrant families. Bob Hope's parents were in England during his birth but he grew in America, had fully adopted the nation, and is is a part of our culture. Lennon, in contrast, will never be an American.

Next, Lennon wasn't a peacenik when he wasn't making money. Before the Beatles went big, he was another loose cannon and would beat up Stu Sutcliffe, his so-called best buddy, over stupid stuff. See the movie, 'Backbeat', for more on the peace and love guy.

Fine, Lennon's a musical sensation and deserves a lot of credit for his artistic contributions but political musings isn't one of them. If he was poor, he'd just be another person with a chip on his shoulder for not making the big time.; August 14, 2006 2:48 AM
Anonymous said...: Fine, Lennon's a musical sensation and deserves a lot of credit for his artistic contributions but political musings isn't one of them. If he was poor, he'd just be another person with a chip on his shoulder for not making the big time.

Yep, just like me.

Hags; August 14, 2006 3:12 AM
Anonymous said...: Worst song ever, and I say that a lefty peacenik.

"Imagine no possessions" just doesn't mean much coming from a man who bought an entire apartment in The Dakota so that he would have a place to store his fur coats.; August 14, 2006 3:17 AM
Anonymous said...: Only an American could find fault with those lyrics.; August 14, 2006 3:41 AM
Anonymous said...: John Lennon is an icon, so it's just not PC to say anything negative about his life or works. After a few years of really creative stuff, he settled down to a heroin-lubricated life of priviledged mediocirty.

There are plenty of American musicians who had more talent than any of the Beatles and IMO were just as pointed in their social commentary -- Laura Nyro, Jim Morrison, Curtiss Mayfield, Joni Mitchell, etc.; August 14, 2006 4:02 AM
Anonymous said...: "Only an American could find fault with those lyrics."

Which is why Bob Hope is ours and not England's.; August 14, 2006 4:02 AM
Anonymous said...: :Jim Morrison

And that's the real thing, a man who did go all out, in mysticism, poetry, and acid to try to experience 'the doors' of perception rather than muse about a Hari Krishna/Leninist utopia.; August 14, 2006 4:24 AM
Anonymous said...: I HATE John Lennon and peaceniks like him that would have us all enslaved by communists or Islamo fascists! Good Riddance!; August 14, 2006 4:31 AM
Anonymous said...: There are plenty of American musicians who had more talent than any of the Beatles and IMO were just as pointed in their social commentary -- Laura Nyro, Jim Morrison, Curtiss Mayfield, Joni Mitchell, etc.

Joni is actually Canadian, and she's a great favorite of mine.; August 14, 2006 6:53 AM
blogger said...: I think the vitriolic response by the fox news crowd to a great song by lennon shows the depth of their white male anger.

Must not be very fun people to hang around.; August 14, 2006 9:23 AM
Anonymous said...: I was a big fan of Lennon's and regret that, since he was agnostic, he will not be around to talk with in the next life.; August 14, 2006 11:37 AM
Anonymous said...: I could say the same for Morrison.; August 14, 2006 11:38 AM
Anonymous said...: Lost the Plot a little?; August 14, 2006 12:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Morrison is the Iconic Rocker.; August 14, 2006 12:30 PM
Anonymous said...: "think the vitriolic response by the fox news crowd to a great song by lennon"

Sorry, but I had suspicions of this faux man of peace even before 'Backbeat' came out. I don't think he's on some Buddhistic/Shamanistic path and found enlightenment to teach us mere full time workers on this side. That was more George Harrison but even he mainly kept it to himself since he knew that everyone was on a different *path*.
Remember, "Really want to be with you, Really want to see you lord,
But it takes so long, my lord" is more his own feeling (despite the unconscious plagarism of "He's So Fine"'s chorus) than some do-good bs of John Lennon.

And I don't watch fox.; August 14, 2006 3:15 PM
Anonymous said...: "white male anger" - LOL!

No way, the angriest people on the planet are black women Keith. White males are several steps down the list from there. John Lennon was a legend in his own mind. After his career was essentially over and given his great wealth, he never really did much to help others. My teenage daughter calls people like him "posers".; August 14, 2006 3:21 PM
Anonymous said...: "John Lennon was a legend in his own mind"

Yes! Let the truth be known.

Now, let's look at his other Beatle's counterpart, George Harrison...

Here's the concert for Bangladesh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Concert_for_Bangladesh

where he raised money for a starving country.

He also set up a movie company, Handmade Films, which had Python talents like Gilliam, Palin, and others.

And he created superbands like the Traveling Wilburys.

Harrison was the real man of peace as well as a very productive and talented human being.; August 14, 2006 4:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Keith's traditional right wing labelling ad hominem motion has been twarted by a Morrison/Harrison pick 'n roll.

And if I want to add some blues/folk and female support, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez. Baez, BTW, traveled around helping setup Amnesty Intl branches.

The moderates agree, Lennon's a fraud and was big as a Beatles and for a couple of years as a solo artist but in some ways, his solo career was as unremarkable as his son's, Julian Lennon.; August 14, 2006 5:20 PM
Anonymous said...: But how can you fault lyrics like 'sitting on a cornflke, waiting for the van to come..' and 'goo goo gajoob!'. Timeless prose; August 14, 2006 6:15 PM
Anonymous said...: What does your opinion of Lennon as a person have to do with the message in the song?; August 14, 2006 8:15 PM
Anonymous said...: :message in the song

It's a self-righteous passive-aggressive indignation.

"Imagine all the people, Living for today"

"No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people, Sharing all the world"

Ok, so he's alluding to a world similar to a collective farm/co-op, etc, however, he then assumes that he and his so-called dreamers are on the up and up,

"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us "

So, how can any of us join him? I mean I can't afford an apartment, nevermind a luxurious one, in Central Park West, NY. So it looks like he lives 'for today', and we do all the work on the farm for him. Hey, guess what? That's what the former Soviet Union was all about, the party members have it all and workers, a measley allowance for food and water.

Contrast that with a man on the search for God, George Harrison...

"Really want to show you lord, That it wont take long, my lord (hallelujah)"

"Really want to see you lord (aaah)
But it takes so long, my lord (hallelujah)"

You see, it's about his own path, he's not telling anyone to become a Hare Krishna. Next, he's discovered that the path of devotion take time, patience, and perserverance. It's not an overnight achievement. Those are lessons that any of us can learn in life and at the same time, he doesn't ram his faith down anyone's throat as the answer to finding communion with the lord.

Sorry, but I like what George has to say, by individual example, then what John wants us to believe that makes him appear to be for the betterment of humanity. Remember, the Buddha himself said not to make statues of him. On the other shoe, I think Lennon most certainly enjoyed being an icon with the truth in his palm.; August 14, 2006 9:05 PM
Anonymous said...: "I think Lennon most certainly enjoyed being an icon with the truth in his palm."

Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I've been everything you want to be
I'm the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I'm the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, a nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face on your t.v.
I'm the cult of personality
I exploit you still you love me

I tell you one and one makes three
I'm the cult of personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
I'm the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights a nobel prize
A leader speaks, that leader dies
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set you free; August 14, 2006 9:42 PM
InfidelSix said...: Anon seems to be hitting the mark today.

Great song though. One of the greatest ever. It's art above all else. HIs art in particular was never realistic. Strawberry Fields for example. His work often came from a very non-realistic point of view. Like a child's dream - simple, traighforward, colorful, and naive all at once. His art is not him and vice versa. They're not the same and the integrity of one should not affect the integrity of the other. IOW, he was a great artist regardless of his personal failings.; August 15, 2006 1:15 AM
InfidelSix said...: But Paul is the all-time King of melody.; August 15, 2006 1:15 AM
Anonymous said...: 'Goo goo gajoob!'; August 15, 2006 5:10 AM
Anonymous said...: I just don't believe 'Imagine'.

I've got to give the nod to George Harrison on this one. How can you beat the haunting beauty of 'My Guitar Gently Weeps'?

"I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps"

And I'm not even including the song's solo which is second to none but the licks that form the undertone of this Harrison classic.

This is the man who Lennon thinks he is. George Harrison is the unspoken spirituality of the Beatles whereas Lennon is its frontman.; August 15, 2006 5:42 AM
Anonymous said...: 'Imagine' that song just fading away forever!!!!; August 17, 2006 6:46 AM
Anonymous said...: .....and John too!; August 17, 2006 6:50 AM
Anonymous said...: ... along with Kurt Colbain and Layne Staley (Alice in Chains).; August 17, 2006 4:11 PM

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