inspired by my recent discovery and obsession with this song, which i'd somehow never heard despite finding a copy of Mister Heartbreak in my parents' basement when i was 18 and playing it over and over. i looked it up because of a post in the Imagine vs. Walking on Thin Ice poll, where shakey was insisting that Imagine was one of the most subversive massive pop songs ever released, and moka said
How is Imagine a weird pop hit? Not being facetious. Like if you say O Superman is one of the weirdest pop hits ever that makes instant sense for me but Imagine sounds like a standard, straightforward piano ballad.
and then i heard it & watched the video for the first time. i started crying on the street thinking about the song & video the next morning.
i've read every thread on ilx about this song & laurie anderson and am still desperate for analysis, i think this one is decent, but i always like what posters here have to say. it's become one of my top 10 favorite songs ever in 4 months. i have a favorite, or one that moves me the most, but will wait, would rather hear what others think first.
Poll Results
Option | Votes |
'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice. And when justice is gone, there's always force. And when force is gon | 19 |
In your automatic arms. Your electronic arms. Your petrochemical arms. Your military arms. In your electronic arms. | 17 |
Well, you don't know me, but I know you. And I've got a message to give to you. Here come the planes. | 9 |
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. | 7 |
Here come the planes. They're American planes. Made in America. Smoking or non-smoking? | 6 |
This is the hand, the hand that takes. This is the hand, the hand that takes. | 5 |
Hello? This is your Mother. Are you there? Are you coming home? Hello, is anybody home? | 5 |
O Superman. O Judge. O Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad. | 4 |
And I said: OK. Who is this really? And the voice said: | 2 |
So you better get ready. Ready to go. You can come as you are, but pay as you go. Pay as you go. | 2 |
And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of the | 2 |
Hi. I'm not home right now. But if you want to leave a message, just start talking at the sound of the tone. | 2 |
― flappy bird, Thursday, 22 February 2018 01:31 (six years ago) link