PUBLIC OPINION > Cee Lo Green's 'Imagine' Cover Was Offensive
SodaHead Music
2012/01/04 20:00:00
New Year's Eve didn't turn out quite the way Cee Lo Green anticipated. What started out as a peaceful performance quickly spiraled into a Twitter tirade against the "F--- You" singer, who made the mistake of switching up some of the words to John Lennon's "Imagine." It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but when the public took a second listen at home, they realized Cee Lo had replaced the popular lyrics "and no religion, too" to "and all religion's true." Chaos ensued.
But just how much offense did people take? It's easy to overestimate the public's reaction by quoting a few strongly worded tweets, but we asked SodaHeads whether or not they were offended by the change to find out how widespread the damage was.
But just how much offense did people take? It's easy to overestimate the public's reaction by quoting a few strongly worded tweets, but we asked SodaHeads whether or not they were offended by the change to find out how widespread the damage was.
Cee Lo Green Changes Lyrics to John Lennon's 'Imagine': Acceptable or Offensive?
63% Were Offended
Note to self: Don't mess with John Lennon's lyrics or you're in for a verbal beatdown. It wasn't a landslide, but the respondents who were offended by Cee Lo's lyric change were more than a little peeved. One commenter wrote, "If it was only a minor change, it would be acceptable. However, his changes changed the complete tone of the song." A lot of voters suggested he should have picked a different song if he wasn't completely down with "Imagine" in the first place. For the sake of propriety, we'll leave out the harsher comments.
Even Christians Are Offended
At first glance, it seems a little strange that religious voters would be offended by a lyric change that essentially injected Lennon's song with a sympathetic attitude toward religion. But when you think about it, stating that "all religion is true" isn't exactly a religious sentiment.
Libertarians Liked It
Conservatives were actually more offended than moderates, but libertarians didn't take much issue with the change. Only 44% of them were offended. Progressives, on the other hand, could hardly stomach the thought. 86% of progressives said they were offended.
Drinkers Don't Really Care
There wasn't much of an outburst during the live performance of the modified song, and we can attribute that to two things: First, it sounded pretty similar to the original lyrics, so there's a good chance people thought they misheard. Second, it was New Year's Eve. People were drinking. Who cares?
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our original poll about Cee Lo Green's "Imagine" cover. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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Adam Julian 2012/01/04 21:43:12
+6This "incident" inspired me, I'm going to find a song about peace and change the lyrics so it's pro-war, then I'm going to Photoshop the musician of said song and make it look like he's in a war.
in summary who cares !!!!
Now, the point I'm trying to make.... John ... wouldn't.... care.
Another thing, I get that it's also not clear that Cee Lo gets that lyric, I would only assume he did but I myself wouldn't take notice of anyone replying to my comment. Oh well, just relax.
*
*
*
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
*Religion is the opiate of the masses, Karl Marx
Imagine all the people living for today
*Marx believed religion is used to suppress the fight for a better existence in this life for the promise of paradise in the after life. This line signifies the struggle for a better life in the here and now--instead of waiting in hope for a paradise that does not exist in some amorphous after life.
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
*The abolition of hostile nation states competing for limited resources and markets that is the cause of all wars is one of the most basic tenants of Marxism (highlighting the fact that individual states such as China and Russia cannot possibly be Socialist/Communist as they fail this basic criterion.)
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
*This means the united international working-class working as one.
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
*"I'm not the...
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
*Religion is the opiate of the masses, Karl Marx
Imagine all the people living for today
*Marx believed religion is used to suppress the fight for a better existence in this life for the promise of paradise in the after life. This line signifies the struggle for a better life in the here and now--instead of waiting in hope for a paradise that does not exist in some amorphous after life.
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
*The abolition of hostile nation states competing for limited resources and markets that is the cause of all wars is one of the most basic tenants of Marxism (highlighting the fact that individual states such as China and Russia cannot possibly be Socialist/Communist as they fail this basic criterion.)
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
*This means the united international working-class working as one.
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
*"I'm not the only one" is not an abstract comment, as John Lennon donated funds to the Workers Revolutionary Party who were dedicated to revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and the unification of the international working class. They are now called the Socialist Equality Party.
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
*Can't get more Socialist than this. Imagine no possessions in Socialist terms mean everyone owns the means of production and all the resources of the earth. No company or individual has the right to withhold basic food stuffs and the necessities of life for his own personal enrichment. This is what is meant by "sharing all the world." Can't happen under capitalism where we are about to have a world food crisis because of futures trading in food commodities on the Chicago stock market.
BTW. Personal property is a right of every individual as is the size and type of car and home they have etc. "Each according to their own ability, each according to their own need"
You may say 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
If you think I am exaggerating, Lennon's Power to the people is overtly revolutionary.
"Imagine".