(The following is my character analysis/development of singer Maynard James Keenan when he covered "Imagine" by John Lennon.)
John Lennon's "imagine" had been etched securely in place in his heart the moment he heard it.
Whenever he felt troubled or frustrated with the world all he would have to do is to put on this song and turn up the volume, and he'd be reminded that he is not the only person who feels this way. He was about 11 or 12 when he first heard it, Lennon was performing the song live on some variety show, he didn't have any feelings towards the song then. But as he grew older and his life became more hectic and stressful, he found deeper meaning in the song's origins.
The song made him a very passionate child, yet only inwardly, he was passive to the world. Like most kids, he would get picked on. By people who just simply felt he was different, or at least that's what he thought. It made him wonder why people pick on others, why people tend to jump on people who they don't understand. In some ways all humans are slightly xenophobic and the song helped him eliminate that. The fear of what we cannot understand.
The song prompts listeners to imagine a world where there are no countries or religions, dividing humans. Although many may argue that religion and patriotism are essential, nobody can deny that these are the roots of most conflicts in the world in the first place. Be it any small insignificant difference, it gives someone a reason to find some sort of irrelevant conflict.
John Lennon's "imagine" had been etched securely in place in his heart the moment he heard it.
Whenever he felt troubled or frustrated with the world all he would have to do is to put on this song and turn up the volume, and he'd be reminded that he is not the only person who feels this way. He was about 11 or 12 when he first heard it, Lennon was performing the song live on some variety show, he didn't have any feelings towards the song then. But as he grew older and his life became more hectic and stressful, he found deeper meaning in the song's origins.
"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
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
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"
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"
The song made him a very passionate child, yet only inwardly, he was passive to the world. Like most kids, he would get picked on. By people who just simply felt he was different, or at least that's what he thought. It made him wonder why people pick on others, why people tend to jump on people who they don't understand. In some ways all humans are slightly xenophobic and the song helped him eliminate that. The fear of what we cannot understand.
The song prompts listeners to imagine a world where there are no countries or religions, dividing humans. Although many may argue that religion and patriotism are essential, nobody can deny that these are the roots of most conflicts in the world in the first place. Be it any small insignificant difference, it gives someone a reason to find some sort of irrelevant conflict.
"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"
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world"
You'd never see him at a place of worship, or jumping and singing the national anthem during his country's independence day, you'd never find him scrutinizing someone over how they look, dress or behave, you'd never see him yearn for some superficial product that he could definitely do without. He'd never ever, intentionally segregate himself, or others.
You would assume he is a stoic, boring person. But people always overlook the most important things. The things that fail to catch our attention, they're often the most interesting. Born in this age, with a mind far ahead. If only someone would just sit and listen to what he had to say, They'd find he is full of life, love and compassion. He doesn't need to go to some third world country and wash the feet of the poor, he doesn't need to protest in the streets of London against the Iraq war, he didn't need to raise his voice to speak out against political corruption. He understood that all that was needed of him, was that he had to adopt a new mindset about the world, about himself. That is what we all need to do, to move forward into a new era, where people can reside peacefully with each other.
You would assume he is a stoic, boring person. But people always overlook the most important things. The things that fail to catch our attention, they're often the most interesting. Born in this age, with a mind far ahead. If only someone would just sit and listen to what he had to say, They'd find he is full of life, love and compassion. He doesn't need to go to some third world country and wash the feet of the poor, he doesn't need to protest in the streets of London against the Iraq war, he didn't need to raise his voice to speak out against political corruption. He understood that all that was needed of him, was that he had to adopt a new mindset about the world, about himself. That is what we all need to do, to move forward into a new era, where people can reside peacefully with each other.
he was filled with optimism and hope when he first started listening to the song, but now all he felt is dread whenever the song is heard, as the world progresses further and further into ruin, he begins to understand he would never see the world he'd dreamed of, he would never see the world Lennon dreamed of. People were never going to change, once they acquire what they yearn for, they'd just want more and more while the rest of society in left in their dust. He found it upsetting that people just thought "imagine" was just another song about peace, when they had no clue of the actual message behind it. He once saw it being covered by someone on some variety show, and the moment the song ended someone started talking about being patriotic and showing loyalty to their country, and subconsciously he mumbled to himself, "they've completely, utterly missed the bloody point of the god-damn song.". Lets face it, its the very people who flaunt their self acclaimed intellectual superiority who are often the ones who overlook people whom they don't understand and misinterpret the meaning of things they probably will never be able to truly comprehend. He felt it was these people, with their overblown egos, who would be unable to adapt to this new mindset. These are the people who hold us back from reaching a new era of anti-segregation.
Marred by his self-enlightenment, he lived a slightly pessimistic, sheltered life, away from society, away from the people who would ostracize him. He had ostracized himself. Sitting in his small dimly lit bedroom, empty bottles and pizza boxes strewn all across the place, he'd sit on his unmade bed, eyes glued to the 9 o'clock news. Day after day, nothing changes, nobody gives a damn, soon, he decides not to give a damn either. In his cover of "Imagine", he doesn't hesitate to show his deep sadness. his final ode to Lennon, a man he'd looked up to all his life. A once optimistic, uplifting song, now dark, bleak, a whole new meaning is born from the same song. We will never see the world Lennon dreamed of.
Marred by his self-enlightenment, he lived a slightly pessimistic, sheltered life, away from society, away from the people who would ostracize him. He had ostracized himself. Sitting in his small dimly lit bedroom, empty bottles and pizza boxes strewn all across the place, he'd sit on his unmade bed, eyes glued to the 9 o'clock news. Day after day, nothing changes, nobody gives a damn, soon, he decides not to give a damn either. In his cover of "Imagine", he doesn't hesitate to show his deep sadness. his final ode to Lennon, a man he'd looked up to all his life. A once optimistic, uplifting song, now dark, bleak, a whole new meaning is born from the same song. We will never see the world Lennon dreamed of.
"You may say that 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"
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one"
IMAGINE COVERED BY MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN (A Perfect Circle)
No comments:
Post a Comment