Read Between The Frets: The Philosophy of Rock Music

Philosophy and Greatness

For a Rock Song to achieve timelessness it must have an underlying philosophy. Without a universal theme that all men can relate to, a song will not be able to remain popular for generations. Certain songs have this quality; hence they transcend time among them…

1. Like a Rolling Stone- Bob Dylan
2. Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin
3. Imagine- John Lennon
4. Satisfaction-The Rolling Stones
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit-Nirvana
6. Hey Jude- The Beatles
7. Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple
8. Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen
9. Sweet Child O’ Mine- Guns ‘n’ Roses
10. What’d I Say-Ray Charles

These songs are among the greatest Rock Songs ever composed since Rock ‘n’ Roll was created.¹ Of these pieces Imagine is the most politically potent. Furthermore, it has lasting appeal because of the song’s fundamental message of a perfect world.

Background

The author of this piece was John Lennon, the former Beatle, English rock musician, agitator and peace activist. This song epitomizes the Lennon’s personal ideals. He composed this piece as a statement of what he believed this world could eventually become. “Lennon combined pungent social argument - imagine a world without artificial divisions of faith, politics and greed - with a solace and promise in his voice and piano that could cut through utter gloom.”⁶

Imagine Philosophy

Imagine’s theme is built upon the idea of utopia³, but for this utopia to succeed Lennon believes that there also must be anarchism. The song is a call for anarchism because”…he calls for a unity and equality built upon the complete elimination of modern social order: geopolitical borders, organized religion, economic class.”⁶ Then there is also the communist philosophy embedded in this song.

 John Lennon himself said:

“Imagine” — an absolute equality created by the dissolution of governments, borders, organized religion and economic class — was “virtually the Communist Manifesto⁴.”²

Despite this,”…the elementary beauty of his melody, the warm composure in his voice and the poetic touch of co-producer Phil Spector — who bathed Lennon’s performance in gentle strings and summer-breeze echo — emphasized the song’s fundamental humanity.”²

This humanity combined with the yearning for a perfect world, guarantees that this song will remain immortal, even though the composer perished almost three decades ago.⁵ Truly, this song is “…an enduring hymn of solace and promise…”²

Enduring and Lasting Impact

After the attacks on the Twin Towers in September 11, 2001 Imagine became a song of consolation and hope. The song gave people a sense of sanity in an insane world. “Ultimately, “Imagine” is a call for mutual responsibility - “A brotherhood of man” - and a condemnation of the hells we continually bring on ourselves”⁶

Even decades after its debut Imagine continues to comfort and inspire listeners. The scope and effect this song has makes it one of the greatest rock songs ever made. The philosophy behind it, the solidarity of man and responsibility for each other, resounds with the audience. All Lennon asks us to do is imagine a better world and that imagining will set us on a course for a better world.

Sources

1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/201458/The-Rolling-Stone-500-Greatest-Songs-of-All-Time
2. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6595848/imagine
3. ^ More, Thomas (2002). in George M. Logan and Robert M. Adams (eds.): Utopia, Raymond Geuss and Quentin Skinner (series eds.), Revised Edition, New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-81925-3 (hb); ISBN 0-521-52540-3 (pb).
4. http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html
5. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/12-8-2005-83469.asp
6. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/johnlennon/articles/story/5920167/imagine
7. http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/imagine-whirled-peace.jpg