YoKo Ono has been officially recognized as the co-writer of John Lennon’s best-selling solo recording, ‘Imagine.’The announcement was made by David Israelite, CEO of National Music Publishers Association on Wednesday, where ‘Imagine’ was honored with the Association’s ‘Centennial Song Award.’
Lennon wrote and recorded ‘Imagine’ in the year 1971, after taking inspiration from Ono’s book Grapefruit – which originated the concept and lyric of the song on Lennon’s head. An archival footage was played at the event with Lennon speaking on the story behind the inspiration for the song and how he wished Yoko to be credited for the same.
“’Imagine’ should be credited as a Lennon-Ono song because a lot of it — the lyric and the concept — came from Yoko,” Lennon said on the old interview clip, “But those days I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted to mention her contribution. But it was right out of Grapefruit, her book. There’s a whole pile of pieces about ‘Imagine this’ and ‘Imagine that.’”
Recognizing Ono’s influence on the song, Israelite stated “While things may have been different in 1971, today I am glad to say things have changed. So tonight it is my distinct honor to correct the record some 48 years later and recognize Yoko Ono as a co-writer of the NMPA centennial song ‘Imagine,’ and to present Yoko Ono with this well-deserved credit.”
John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, posted a picture of the moment on his Instagram page while mentioning how the moment brought his mother to tears.