Yoko Ono, a famous musician, recently shared a gentle and beautiful version of the song “Imagine,” which was originally sung by her late husband, John Lennon. She released this new version on what would have been John’s 78th birthday. The song will be part of Yoko’s new album called Warzone, coming out on October 19 through Chimera Music.
Yoko’s “Imagine” sounds simple but special. It starts with a soft, buzzing sound from a synthesizer, a kind of electronic instrument. This sound grows slowly while Yoko, who is 85 years old, sings with her honest and clear voice. About halfway through, the buzzing sound fades, and a twinkling piano takes over. This makes the song feel fresh and strong until the end.
“Imagine” was first sung by John Lennon in 1971 on an album with the same name. Last year, people who take care of music rights said Yoko should also get credit for writing the song with John. John himself said in the 1980s that he should have given Yoko credit from the start. He told the BBC in 1980, “A lot of the words and ideas in ‘Imagine’ came from Yoko, but back then I was too selfish and didn’t say it was hers too.”
Yoko’s new album, Warzone, is her first solo album since 2013, when she released Take Me to the Land of Hell. On Warzone, she sings 13 songs she wrote between 1970 and 2009, but in a new way. She keeps the music simple to let her voice and words stand out. Lately, she’s shared other songs from the album, like “Warzone,” “Children Power,” “Women Power,” “Now Or Never,” and “Where Do We Go From Here.”
Yoko’s new take on “Imagine” is a lovely way to celebrate John Lennon’s birthday and show how much she helped create this famous song.
