NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: The "Imagine" tile mosaic in the Strawberry Fields section of Central Park, created to honor John Lennon, is seen on October 9, 2014 in New York City. Lennon was murdered nearby in 1980; today would have been his 74th birthday. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
WCSX Classic Cuts
John Lennon: “Imagine”
The Hook:One of the 100 most performed songs of the 20th Century.
Album: Imagine
Year: 1971
Writer: John Lennon
Stats: Given its lasting global impact, it surprisingly didn’t top the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number-three. It did go to number-one in the U.K., though.
The Background: Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, tells us what they thought about the impact the song would have:
Yoko Ono on the enduring popularity of husband John Lennon’s “Imagine.” OC:…this big [chuckle]. :15
“When John wrote that song, I think he was very aware that it’s a song that would circulate very widely and would make a difference in the world. But we didn’t really think it would happen this big.”