Even though I hate communism as much as you, it has nothing to do with musical tastes. Lennon may have been childishly naive when it came to politics, but if it's wrong to be his fan, then I most assuredly plead guilty.

As I said about somebody else's parody yesterday, this fella's gotta be a republican.

I am a born-again Christian, and my appreciation for John Lennon's music has GROWN over the years! He was a great artist. Although I don't agree with everything he said, he had significant things to say about peace and politics. I do wish he hadn't thrown out the true God with the religious bathwater. As for your parody, I find it bitter rather than clever. No points for you (that is, I didn't rate you).

Now now, Offender, I think it's very un-healthy for you to hold back and not express all of the anger and hostility within you ..... next time you write a parody, you should make a concerted effort to REALLY let it all out, okay? Okay!

Even though I've taken credit for some of John's work and dissed him from time to time, you miss the point: Yoko Ono. Need I say more?

Yes, you chose your poison pen name well, Offender. This is indeed offensive. 1's.

I liked your We Are The World slam (see comments there), but this one was a little less focused. I don't dislike it because of its sentiments (which I don't agree with), it's just not that good. The last stanza was a killer, though. ;) 433

Aw, come on, Dr. Phil! Doesn't it tell you anything that I finally got a rater mad enough at me to admit that he gave me all ones? I was beginning to think there weren't any sacred cows left! A poison pen name, Mason? Nay, heed the advice of Dr. Phil: like Mark Twain of old, I warmed up this pen in hell. Ms. Lee: what's a zealously non-judgemental person like you doing commenting on anything at all? McCartney: yes, I know about Yoko Ono, but no one I know has ever tried to tell me how beautiful and insightful her songs were. There's just no excuse for a song that, in addition to its bad theology and ideology, manages to have a crummy tune. Happiness Is A Warm Gun may be no great shakes either, but at least it's funny.

I'm not a fan of Imagine either, but John Lennon's unsinkable popularity is exactly because of his human flaws. He made huge mistakes, like we all do, acted narrow-mindedly, simplistically, and immaturely, like we all do, but had a sublime genius that none of us have. His human failings enable us to identify in close with him, from which viewpoint his genius looms even more spectacularly, even seeming tangible, which is a rare and appreciated opportunity for us ordinary folk. That's why I, and nearly (!) all of us love the bloke, and especially his music...

Offender, you're an asshole. Let Lennon rest in peace ("Peace" is a concept you obviously don't believe in, do you?)

My one regret is that I'll never get back the minute I just spent reading this garbage.

QC79, I feel insulted, how dare you associate me with the likes of Offender....your comparison makes me feel dirty.

Interesting theory, McArthur, but my experience doesn't bear it out: talented people with flaws are mostly just tabloid fodder. I don't actually bear any specific hatred for Lennon (who died some years before I was even born), but I have a feeling I'm not the only one who thinks of "Imagine" as the atheistic version of a church hymn the churchgoers hold in high regard only because they think they ought to and not because it's any good.

I agree with Steve K. and a number of other folks here. I didn't agree at all with his personal life, but his songs are beautiful (just the music itself on this one...not the message). Your last line on your 'parody' was very cruel. I don't care if you agreed with him or not, he's a child of God and does not deserve killing. Your pacing was ok...message was detestable.

This parody is simply an expression of Offender's self-hatred, which we should all pity.

Yes Dr Phil, both you and Oprah would agree there (bit obvious) - and using "McArthur" to address me by also shows how much he needs to use aggression to release all that inner turmoil, but he's clearly a kid....

Offender, I understand your point about tabloid fodder and agree with you. The point I'm making though, and you're too young to know this, is that everyone can remember where they were when Lennon died, and the impact it had on the world was massive, and lasted weeks, months.
Yes he IS definitely the tabloid -fodder type, being so flawed and famous, but what other tabloid fodder celeb would generate that level of mourning? I can't think of one - which is my point.

There was something unique about him, and I theorise that it was the combination of plain flawed ordinariness with sheer genius
- the ordinariness draws you in close (coz you identify), allowing you to wonder, close up, at the genius

"Genius is pain!"--Tony Hendra as Lennon, National Lampoon's "Tragical Misery Tour"

I was thinking this parody was going to be a hard act to follow, but now that you mention people's reaction to Lennon's death (which is part of what made me laugh so hard as I was writing this parody), I begin to see another potential target for humor, if you'll pardon the expression. My gratitude, McArthur. You can't kill someone who's already dead and in hell, Adagio. Where can I get a copy of that, Agrimorfee?

Offender, you couldn't put ' killing' in the past tense?

Tsk, tsk, let us pity dear Offender.

leave him be - I remember thinking a bit like Offender when I was his age

I see no point in cleaning up your grammar for you, Adagio. Try to restrain your jealousy of how much fun I'm having, Dr. Phil. They can't leave me be, McArthur. That's where all the fun is in poking sacred cows.

Funny stuff, fives.

Given the fact that virtually none of the commentors liked this parody, would someone care to explain how it has picked up 32 overall 5's?

You must be new here, Dangling Chad.

I've been around long enough to recognize that very few parodies on the site get this many 5's, and those that do have a flood of positive comments to back up the votes. Please explain why the voting on this (and all of your parodies) is so anomalous. Go ahead--enlighten me.

I'll give you a hint: if you can figure out where some 30,000 votes came from, you'll see both how and why I got my 300 or so.

Are you saying that you believe someone else's votes are artificially inflated and, therefore, you can justify artificially inflating your own?

I'm saying the whole voting system's a joke, and I'm a joker. I'm also telling you how I know you don't care about fair play any more than I do.

ah.... sour grapes... if you're refering to Will Tong's parodies, believe it or not, after posting thousands of parodies and having a huge online following, he does manage to get that many legitimate votes.

Not a chance, Chucky! You and I both know you're lying.

Apart from Offender's last two lines, Offender's sentiments are 100% right. Lennon (or is it Lenin?) was massively naive, gullible, and a spewer of political cliches. Genius is not an excuse for the dissemination of myths and childish rants. Thankfully some of us have grown up.

GARBAGE