Song Match-Up:
‘What a Wonderful World’ vs. ‘Imagine'
Word Wars
January 19, 2009
Songs for a Better World
Stop listening to My Chemical Romance. Don’t mind the growing number of terrorists and psychopaths. Truth is, our world isn’t really that bad. In fact, it is – or at least it can be – amazing. That’s what this week’s song match-up preaches, with ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong and ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon.
Decades ago, Armstrong uplifted the whole world’s spirit when he sang ‘What a Wonderful World.’ The track’s perfect blend of sentimental melody and bright-as-the-sun lyrics was nothing short of breathtaking. The vocals were also as grand as they come. That’s why the song, combined with a dose of cloud-watching, can make you feel the joy of living.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying ‘I love you’
1971 saw the release of ‘Imagine’, a song full of vision and wide-eyed daydreaming. It is arguably the former Beatles’ finest work as a solo artist, garnering countless accolades and becoming a public anthem of hope.
IMAGINE
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that 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
The song that we’re looking for is the one that’s more equipped to induce change. That’s why I’m giving this one to ‘Imagine.’ First of all, John Lennon simply outwrote the opposition. While the feel-good vibe of ‘Wonderful World’ is something to be admired, it’s really nothing more than a pre-school poem brought to life by Louis Armstrong’s strong vocals. Impact is where ‘Imagine’ really leaves the other song behind - while Armstrong’s hit was all sunshine, Lennon refused to see the world through rose-colored glasses. He saw the potential for a better world, but he didn’t act like everything was perfect. He delved into the problems’ roots and offered solutions for them. He didn’t just make people hope, he made them think. That’s why his song sunk a little bit deeper and hit a little bit harder.
