Julian Lennon Performing Imagine
Julian Lennon is covering one of his late father, John Lennon's most iconic song for the first time, ever. He sang it during a Stand Up for Ukraine Campaign benefit for refugees on Saturday, April 9.
After a long-standing vow to never perform the tune, the 59-year-old singer-songwriter delivered a haunting performance of Imagine.
In a dark room full of candles, Julian Lennon did his version with only vocals and an acoustic guitar played by Nuno Bettencourt who would join to sing the final chorus in the arrangement.
In his Own Words, the Liverpool native wrote on YouTube.....
"Today for the first time ever, I publicly performed my Dad's song, Imagine. The song reflects the light at the end of the tunnel, that we are all hoping for. I had always said, that the only time I would ever consider singing Imagine would be if it was the end of the world. The War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy. As a human, and as an artist, I felt compelled to respond in the most significant way I could."
With a powerful and emotional vocal delivery, the former Beatles' lyrics encourage listeners to imagine a world of peace, without materialism, without borders separating nations, 'and no religion too'.
Peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song would go on to be John Lennon's best-selling single of his solo career. In the years that followed, BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) named Imagine one of the 100 most performed songs of the 20th century. It would also be ranked #30 on the RIAA's (Recording Industry Association of America) list of the 365 Songs of the Century, earn a Grammy Hall of Fame award, and be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.
Julian truly has his father's voice which brought tears to my eyes when he began singing the powerful lyrics to Imagine.
Imagine all the people livin' life in peace. 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
Pat Locke, Maestro Muse
