“Imagine,” covered by David Bowie … (Rock / Pop – Music to Your Ears, Covers–1)

This tribute to Lennon becomes particularly poignant when Bowie sings “Imagine … nothing to kill or die for.”

David Bowie – “Imagine”

“Imagine” (1983 – original from 1971)     

Exactly 3 years to the day after John Lennon was assassinated, David Bowie sang Lennon’s anthemic song “Imagine”  at a concert in Hong Kong.    

Do the Best

Both Bowie and his guitarist Earl Slick had been friends of Lennon. Coincidentally, the final show of Bowie’s 1983 tour fell on the 3rd anniversary of Lennon’s death, so Slick suggested that they pay tribute to the fallen star by singing his song “Across the Universe.” 

Bowie replied that if they were gonna cover one of Lennon’s songs, they might as well do his most famous and best-selling song, “Imagine”.   _{(Image source)}

David Bowie

If there’s anyone who could do justice to both Lennon’s memory and one of his masterpieces, it was his good friend David Bowie.    

Bowie was always able to do fine covers of songs by other artists of different genres, imbuing them not only with the original meaning and message, but also with his own sense and moods. He did that so wonderfully on this evening in Hong Kong.

This tribute to his late friend is particularly poignant when he sings “Imagine … nothing to kill or die for.”  

Just 2 Guys, Travelling the World

To keep things in perspective, Bowie related an interesting anecdote about 2 guys travelling the world and exploring a local market in a far-off city. It reminds us that both Lennon and Bowie were regular guys. Brilliant artists and major rock stars, but nevertheless, incredibly decent, regular guys.     _{(Image source)}

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today ... Aha-ah...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace ... You...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world ... You...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

        John Lennon – “Imagine”   
          _{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}

Lyrics by John Lennon / Yoko Ono, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – YouTube.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"