I once described "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye as the dumbest protest song ever. But perhaps I spoke too soon, for there's certainly a lot of competition for such a title.
Perhaps "Imagine" by John Lennon should get that title. He sure impacted a lot of nonsense into just a few lines of song. Ol' Victor Lana brought this into focus for me with this sincere but wrongheaded defense of the song:
He was saying, "This is what the world could be like if you would all get yourselves together."What's so annoying about the song for you? A man calling for world peace? Man, especially in these times, I think we need more of that.
Religion? Possessions? War? Which of these haven't gotten us into trouble over the centuries?
Look, it's a damned pop song with pretensions to spiritual profundity. Basically, it's a Hallmark card for damned dirty hippies. Don't kid yourself into thinking that those words are any deeper intellectually or emotionally than a greeting card, cause they're not. "Imagine there's no countries." Yeah, well imagine if fishes had wishes. Wouldn't that be great?
Now, probably Lennon himself didn't think that much about it when he was writing it. He had a hook and a catch phrase, and developed a strong tune for it- though it is stiff, white English church music that sounds like you should be wearing a jacket and tie and sitting on a hard wooden bench while you listen. Still, it is admittedly a well crafted, pretty song.
But "Imagine" is a stupid, cheap lyrical sentiment. Elvis Costello famously cracked "Was it a millionare who said 'imagine no possessions.'?" Just imagine world peace and a commie utopia and you're halfway there.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mark Saleski
do you ever step outside of your own echo chamber?
cheap.
elvis costello.
commie.
stupid.
dump.
hippie.
foolish.
etc.
2 - Al Barger
Well no Mark, I'm not saying much if you just pluck out a half dozen random words one at a time. However, I presented them as actual thoughts in complete sentences. What am I saying that you specifically disagree with?
3 - kiddicus
your boring and trite commentary on this subject was directed to my attention via a website with some class. Your apparent lack of intelligence in this post more than proves that this particular song was written for people with open minds, open hearts, open ears and open eyes. You probably have none of the above, as you resort to name-calling and other third grade antics to convey your message. There should be some kind of blog police to keep garbage like this off the net.
4 - J. P. Spencer
Is "Imagine" even a protest song?
I think of "Imagine" as more of an expression of sentiment than a dyed-in-the-wool protest anthem. "Give Peace A Chance" is probably a better example of a protest song.
For my money, "Eve Of Destruction" is the worst protest song ever. Written by P. F. Sloan for nothing more than commercial, Tin Pan Alley profit, it stands as one of the most unimportant expressions of mock rage ever played to death to a wide audience. Most of the performer profits of this song went to Barry Maguire's drug habit before he converted to born-again Christianity. Is "Imagine" really worse than this?
5 - kiddicus
JP- point. While I'm not a big fan of John Lennon or the Beatles, Imagine is not a the worst song in any category, unless you place it in the category of songs named Imagine. Even then I'm sure there is some other stinkfest of a song that trumps Lennon's.
"eve of destruction" would get my vote for worst protest song, simply because i can't think of a better (worse?) example of one at the time. i had completely blocked that horsepoo from my memory until you brought it up.
6 - Al Barger
JP, you've got a point. Like I said at the start of the column, there's a lot of competition for such a title.
"Imagine" is obviously a much bigger, more prominent song to win such a title- "Eve of Destruction" ain't real philosophy either.
7 - Zach
How often do you deal with Osama Bin Laden?
8 - Temple Stark
You covered this same false "outrage," supposed counter- ground and attack of "Imagine" in a post a long time ago. Oh wait ... yesterday.
Poor diddums didn't get enough attention for your tantrum then?
9 - Al Barger
For the record Temple, I'm not "outraged" by this silly song. Where did you get that from what I actually wrote? Rolling my eyes and turning the radio dial when the song comes up does not constitute being outraged.
Then again, there's no sense in you missing out on an opportunity to be spiteful.
Still, that does not constitute even a bad effort at answering my point about the song.
10 - Richard
Interesting. I was searching for a music blog, just for the heck of it and came across this site. Before bookmarking it I wanted to read some to see if it was worth the effort. This was the first post that I read and I was completely surprised.
I thouroughly enjoyed this article and was surprised by the common-sense logic and simple, yet astute analysis of the topic.
It's also interesting to read the comments. The only valid point made, in my opinion, was by JP. I'm not insulting anyone else, it's just that no one else presents any specific arguments against the opinions presented in the post.
11 - Mark Saleski
common-sense logic?
since when has that phrase been coopted to mean "stuff i agree with"?
12 - uao
I'm still receiving hate-postings for picking "Imagine" as most overrated song on Robert Burke's list 5 months ago (which was meant as a compliment to Lennon, who has many songs --even on the same album-- that are much better.) So you might be in for some fun, Al.
And I agree with the person who pointed out it isn't a protest song. And it isn't even a bad song, although I still think it isn't one of his better ones.
Assuming it were a protest song, it still wouldn't be worstby a million miles.
"Imagine" is what it is; a joyless piano dirge with lyrics that share some key ideas with the communist manifesto.
But it does express its point of view articulately, dull melody and borrowed theme or not.
What about "The War Song" (The one that goes "War, war is stupid; And people are stupid") That's a dumb 'protest' song. I always found "One Tin Soldier" pretty shrill. "Unknown Soldier" gets kind of confused.
This isn't one of your best shake-'em-up picks this time
13 - Mark Saleski
look, anybody is more than welcome to dislike any song they want.
wan i don't like about this post is the intentional timing to the anniversar talk of death of John Lennon. and not that it doesn't show respect for Lennon but that it was flung out there just to piss people off. and, as temple alluded to, to get attention.
no, wait...CHEAP attention.
14 - Temple Stark
why should I engage when you're just trying to get attention? Same subject, twice in two days just to say you hate a song. You love to be hated, but there's no reason to indulge that
"Dumbest protest song ever" - that's outrage to me.
The rest is just using strong words to piss people off; not because you care either way.
15 - Christopher Rose
heck yes!
16 - Al Barger
Howdy Richard, welcome to Blogcritics. Glad you stopped by. I'm glad you noticed that there's been precious little said about my actual point. One of the top signs that I've made a point well is when they are reduced to attacking me.
UAO, the Culture Club song is not a particularly sophisticated lyrical sentiment, but I don't see how it's any dumber than "Imagine." Personally, I'd much rather hear the Culture Club song at this point, just on musical grounds. It's got a beat, at least, and it's just as catchy as the Lennon song.
Subjectively, I'd consider "The War Song" a far less egregious offense against geometry and theology than "Imagine." Basically, it's much more humbly presented. No one would take it as representing Deep Philosophy. You don't see people lighting candles for big earnest Boy George singalongs.
17 - Mark Saleski
al, the only point you've 'made well' is that you like to spout off about any and all sorts of left-wing sentiments found in songs.
But "Imagine" is a stupid, cheap lyrical sentiment
there's no point there at all, just pure opinion.
you make the statement like it's factual. it's not.
and i'm not attacking you at all, just this type of mudslinging.
18 - Al Barger
Temple, I can take some criticism. You can't expect to go around slaughtering sacred cows without some of their worshippers getting pissy with you. That's fine.
But do you have anything to say other than that I'm a jerk? Do you wish to rebut my point, perhaps make an argument for why you think this song really represents Truth?
Yes Mark, I'm happy if an article I write gets attention, and yes this is coming out at a moment when interest in Lennon is at a peak. But why would you decide to assume that I don't really believe what I'm saying, or don't care?
You're just being hateful with me here, which isn't like you.
19 - Celeste O.
If only 'Imagine' had been covered by Prince or Jack White, Al would be giving Lennon a surplus of ass smooches instead. Too bad.
The Prince Version: "Imagine, U Sexy MF!"
The Jack White Version: "The Hardest Image to Imagine"
20 - Richard
Mark,
First, I don't agree with everything he said.
Second, in your last response you said "there's no point there at all, just pure opinion."
If you'll notice at the top of the page right above the title of the article is the work "Opinion" in big red letters.
21 - Dawn
Why "Imagine" is such an important song:
Sometimes I have the urge to kill people who say and write the dumbest things I have ever read, but then I stop, listen to the words of John Lennon's "Imagine" and I realize that while certain elements of society are clearly misguided, socially inept and lack a clear understanding of the constructs of basic humanity, I am not one of those elements and I am thankful for the brilliance of Lennon.
22 - Al Barger
You make a good point Dawn. Anyone who would not think this song a high-brow Hallmark card a deep philosophical treatise must "lack a clear understanding of the constructs of basic humanity." Obviously.
23 - Dawn
The point John Lennon was trying to make is that you should ask "why". Why not try to imagine a different world, a world where we all live as one? It's hardly a guideline to world leaders, and probably not feasible given the nature of man, but hey, why not ask why, and why not imagine.
Heck, when I read this post I asked myself "why". So see, there you go Al, even you can have a John Lennon moment.
24 - JELIEL
Read the title of the article on a RSS feed and I knew immediatly it was writen by Al. It reeked of juvenile soapboxism.
25 - Al Barger
Wow, thanks Jeliel. I'm well pleased that you could pick up my authorial voice just from the title.
I like the phrase "juvenile soapboxism." Very nice- though it seems odd that those words would be used to describe the critic rather than the song itself.