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The '''Deutsche(r) Wetterdienst''' (Translated from [[German language|German]] as '''German Weather Service'''), residing in [[Offenbach, Germany]] (near to [[Frankfurt, Germany]]), is a scientific agency that monitors [[weather]] and [[meteorology|meteorological]] conditions over [[Germany]] and offers weather services for the general public as well as specific services for e.g. [[nautical]], [[aviation|aviational]] or [[agriculture|agricultural]] purposes.
{{Infobox Single |
| Name = Imagine
| Cover = JohnLennon-singles-imagine.jpg
| Artist = [[John Lennon]]
| from Album = [[Imagine (album)|Imagine]]
| B-side = It's So Hard
| Released = [[October 11]], [[1971 in music|1971]]
| Format = 7" [[vinyl record|vinyl]]
| Recorded = 1971
| Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]/[[Popular music|Pop]]
| Length = 03:04
| Label = [[Parlophone]]
| Writer = John Lennon
| Producer = [[Phil Spector]], [[John Lennon]] and [[Yoko Ono]]
| Certification =
| Chart position = * #6 <small> ([[UK]] Oct. 1975);</small>#1 <small>([[UK]] Dec. 1980)</small>
* #3 <small>([[U.S.]] Oct. 1971)</small>
| Last single = "[[Power to the People (song)|Power to the People]]"/"[[Open Your Box]]"<br>(1971)
| This single = "Imagine"/"It's So Hard"<br>(1971)
| Next single = "[[Happy Xmas (War is Over)]]"/"Listen, the Snow is Falling"<br>(1971)
}}
"'''Imagine'''" is a [[utopia]]n song performed by [[John Lennon]], which appears on his [[1971 in music|1971]] album ''[[Imagine (album)|Imagine]]''. Although originally credited solely to Lennon, in recent years [[Yoko Ono]]'s contribution to the song has become more widely acknowledged. In 2003, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine voted "Imagine" the [[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|third greatest song of all time]].
The DWDs main task is to warn against weather related dangers, as well as monitoring and rating changes in the German [[climate]]. The DWD is also responsible for running the the national clime archive and runs one of the biggest libraries worldwide that is specialized on weather and climate.
In the book ''Lennon in America'', written by [[Geoffrey Giuliano]], Lennon commented the song was "an [[Criticism of religion|anti-religious]], [[Anti-nationalism|anti-nationalistic]], anti-conventional, [[Anti-capitalism|anti-capitalistic]] song, but because it's sugar-coated, it's accepted."
Structurally, the Deutsche Wetteramt belongs to the [[Federal ministry for Transport (Germany)|Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung]]. This establishes a close link to the German [[government]], communes, economy, industry, country and state ministries for purposes of cooperation and consulting. It's work is based on the law about the DWD ("Gesetz über den Deutschen Wetterdienst").
The lyrics were thought to be inspired solely by Lennon's hopes for a more peaceful world. In reality, the song's refrain was coined by Yoko Ono, in reaction to her childhood in [[Japan]] during [[World War II]]. According to ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]]'', the song's refrain can be found in several of her poems written in the early [[1960s]], before she met Lennon, and in her [[1965 in literature|1965]] book ''Grapefruit''.
Currently, the DWD consists of roughly 2600 occupants. Besides the DWD central in Offenbach, there are regional centers in [[Hamburg, Germany|Hamburg]], [[Potsdam, Germany|Potsdam]], [[Leipzig, Germany|Leipzig]], [[Essen, Germany|Essen]], [[Stuttgart, Germany|Stuttgart]] and [[Munich, Germany|Munich]]. Additionally, it runs Germanys densest net of meteorological measurement points with 173 full time meteorological stations (100 of them being manned) as well as about 2400 extraordinal [[weather station|weather stations]] run by volunteering amateurs.
Lennon's claims against [[property]] and [[religion]], as well as his repeated use of "the people," have led some to posit the song as being advocative of [[humanism]], [[communism]], and [[anarchism]].
Within its duty of primary meteorological information, the DWD offers a free daily weather report for Germany which can be subscribed to by [[e-mail]] on there official home page (see below).
==Nutopia==
Nutopia is a [[conceptual]] country created by John Lennon and Yoko Ono on [[April Fool's Day]] 1973. This country (or nation) was supposed to live up to the standards set by the song "Imagine".
In the official declaration of Nutopia, it is stated that it
:"has no land, no boundaries, no [[passports]], only people. Nutopia has no laws other than cosmic. All people of Nutopia are [[ambassadors]] of the country. [[Citizenship]] of the country can be obtained by declaration of your awareness of Nutopia."
The [[flag]] of Nutopia has only one colour: [[white]]. The [[seal (device)|seal]] of Nutopia is a picture of [[pinniped|the marine animal called a seal]]. The "Nutopian International [[Anthem]]" was included on John Lennon's album ''[[Mind Games]]'', and consisted of a few seconds of silence.
A plaque engraved with the words "NUTOPIAN EMBASSY" was duly installed at their home at [[the Dakota]]. It is believed that the whole affair was a jibe at Lennon's ongoing [[immigration]] troubles, as he and Ono (who already had a Resident Alien "[[United States Permanent Resident Card|green card]]", which Lennon had been denied, through her previous husband) tried to move permanently to America.
== History ==
In 2006 a [http://www.joinnutopia.com Nutopia website] was created to promote the documentary "[[The U.S. Versus John Lennon]]"
The DWD was found in [[1952]] by joining the weather services of the western occupation zones. [[1954]] the Federal Republic of Germany joined the [[World Meteorological Organization]] (WMO). [[1975]] the ''European Center for Medium-Term Forecasts'' was founded to be able to forecast the weather up to ten days in advance. [[1990]] the DWD integrated the weather services of the [[GDR]].
Since the 1990s, the DWD continously decreased the number of manned weather stations, which resuled in substantial staff cutbacks. According to the DWD, no reduce in forcast quality is to be expected, though, since techniques like weather radar or satellites significantly improved the weather data for a large monitored area.
== Acknowledgements ==
[[Image:Strawberry fields.jpg|180px|left|thumb|The Strawberry Fields Memorial in Central Park, New York]]
* A mosaic was constructed as a part of the [[Strawberry Fields Memorial]] in [[Central Park]], Manhattan, near Lennon's final home, in memory of the singer. In the centre of the mosaic is the word "Imagine".
* When the [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool airport]] was named after Lennon, a phrase from the song, "above us only sky", was painted on the ceiling of the terminal. When commenting on this, the panel of [[Have I Got News for You]] joked that the baggage handlers' motto was taken from the same song: "Imagine no possessions".
* The song was used in the last sequence of the 1984 film ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'' and was performed during a show commemorating the 30th anniversary of ''[[Star Trek]]''.
* "Imagine" is the official song of the [[human rights]] [[organization]] [[Amnesty International]].
* [[Joan Baez]] has recorded and performed the song numerous times throughout her career. She first included it on her [[1972]] album ''[[Come from the Shadows]]'', and often includes it in her concert set lists.
* In [[1983]] [[David Bowie]] covered the song live during a concert in Hong Kong on the Anniversary to Lennon's Death as a tribute to him
* American R&B/soul singer, [[Tracie Spencer]], [[Imagine (Tracie Spencer song)|remade the song]] for her 1988 [[Tracie Spencer (album)|self-titled debut album]]. The song did moderately well in the USA, hitting #31 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts. She was only 12 years old when the album was released.
* In [[1995 in music|1995]], the band [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] used a piano section from "Imagine" at the start of "[[Don't Look Back in Anger]]", from their second album ''[[(What's the Story) Morning Glory?]]''.
* In [[1999 in music|1999]], [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] named "Imagine" as one of the 100 most performed songs of the 20th century.
* Lennon's original recording of "Imagine" appears 23rd in the [[List of best selling singles (UK)|list of best-selling singles in the UK]] issued in 2002.
* In 1990, the song was featured in the ''[[Quantum Leap]]'' episode "The Leap Home" and is also on the soundtrack of the series.
* In 2003, [[Bill Clinton]] joined [[Liel]] and 40 Jewish and 40 Arab children at the 80th birthday of [[Shimon Peres]] in [[Tel Aviv]] to sing "Imagine" [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-7724028215785561219&q=tel+aviv ]
* On [[1 January]] [[2005]], the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] named "Imagine" the greatest song in the past 100 years, as voted by listeners.
* On [[15 January]] [[2005]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] performed a live cover-version of John Lennon's "Imagine" (which was also part of her "[[The Re-Invention Tour]]" in 2004) at the [[NBC]] Benefit Telethon "[[Tsunami Aid|Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope]]".
*In 2005, post-hardcore band [[Thrice]] released a [[b-side]] from their album [[Vheissu]] called "Lullaby". The song is a response to "Imagine". Though Thrice lyricist Dustin Kensrue is an admitted fan of Lennon, he has stated that he disagrees with the message of the song because it doesn't offer any realistic solutions to world problems.
* The song ranked #30 on the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]'s list of the 365 [[Songs of the Century]] bearing the most historical significance.
* [[George Galloway]] quoted the line ''I'm Not the Only One'' for the title of his autobiography.
* In the Iranian left movement, the song usually relates to [[Mansoor Hekmat]] and his party, the [[Worker-Communist Party of Iran]]. The WPI plays the song in all of its meetings and demonstrations, and in its TV channel. Within [[Iran]], the song is sometimes sung in protests and symbolizes the left movement, especially the WPI.
* The song "Tasavor Kon" (in [[Persian language|Persian]]: Imagine), written by Yaghma Golroyi and sung by Siavash Ghomeishi, is a free translation of this song.
* [[Virgin Radio]] conducted a [[United Kingdom|UK]] favorite song survey in December 2005, and Imagine was voted into top spot, beating [[The Beatles|Beatles]] songs "[[Hey Jude]]" and "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]".
* [[Dolly Parton]] recently released a cover of the song ([[2006 in music|2006]]), in a duet with [[David Foster]]. The video for Parton's cover of the song featured vintage footage of Lennon and Yoko Ono.
*On January 30, 2003, the song "Imagine" was played to wake up the astronauts on the [[Space Shuttle Columbia]] during its [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|final mission]]
* In 2006, [[David Cassidy]] covered the "Imagine" with his son, Beau, and the University School Chorus, conducted by Thomas Gress, in Davie, Florida.
* On February 10, 2006 [[Peter Gabriel]] performed "Imagine" at the [[2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony|Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics]].
* On April 3rd, 2005, [[Tori Amos]] performed "Imagine" in Orlando, Florida on her Original Sinsuality tour. It was part of Tori's Piano Bar, where she covered different songs that the fans requested.
* [[Neil Young]] covered the song at the [[America: A Tribute to Heroes]] concert on September 21, 2001.
* In 2004, [[A Perfect Circle]] covered the song on the [[eMOTIVe]] album.
== Interviews ==
== Public Services ==
The following is a quote by John Lennon on the message of "Imagine", interviewed by David Sheff, September 8-28, 1980.
Since [[2005]], the DWD publishes regional warnings against heat with the aim to reduce heat related fatalities. This decision was made because of the hot summer in [[2003]], when estimated 7000 people died from direct or indirect effects of the heat. Additionally it sends out sea weather reports as radio tele types and faxes. Since [[2006]], the pollen warnings can be subscribed for free on the DWD web site.
'''PLAYBOY:''' On a new album, you close with "Hard Times Are Over (For a While)." Why?
== External link ==
'''LENNON:''' It's not a new message: "Give Peace a Chance" -- we're not being unreasonable, just saying, "Give it a chance." With "Imagine," we're saying, "Can you imagine a world without countries or religions?" It's the same message over and over. And it's positive.
{{Commonscat}}
*[http://www.dwd.de/en/en.htm Official site]
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== Satire ==
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* [[Elvis Costello]] commented satirically on the song in "The Other Side of Summer," wherein he asks the question, "Was it a millionaire who said, 'Imagine no possessions'?"
[[Category:Meteorological institutions and stations]]
== Trivia ==
[[de:Deutscher Wetterdienst]]
* A humorous telling of this song's origin appears in [[Forrest Gump]].
[[fr:Deutscher Wetterdienst]]
* The song was ''[[WABC (AM)|WABC-AM]]'' 's final song before switching to its current '''''NewsTalkRadio''''' format
* A partial remix/remake of the song was made in [[2005 in music|2005]] by [[disc jockey]] Tom Compagnoni and consists of a speech about peace made by [[George W.Bush]].
* The song was included in the [[list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks]].
== External links ==
* [http://www.lyrics007.com/John%20Lennon%20Lyrics/Imagine%20Lyrics.html Lyrics007.com: Imagine] - song lyrics
* [http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?RF=DefaultMain&layout=2&cat1=2&cat2=29&from=search&html=files/2003/9/1/20039102835.htm&newsid=13141 Imagine] - John Song and Yoko's Influence
* [http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lennon.htm Imagine] - covered on "Tribute to Heroes" (9/11/2001) by Neil Young
* [http://www.inicios.es/inicios_08_06_06.html Imagine traducción en español]
*[http://absoluteelsewhere.net Absolute Elsewhere: The Spirit of John Lennon]
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{{succession box
| before = "[[St Winifred's School Choir|There's No-one Quite Like Grandma]]" by [[St Winifred's School Choir]]
| title = [[List of number-one singles (UK)|UK number one single]]
| years = [[January 4]] [[1981]]
| after = "[[Woman (song)|Woman]]" by [[John Lennon]]
}}
{{end box}}
{{John Lennon}}
[[Category:Number-one singles in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:Anti-war songs]]
[[Category:Apple Records singles]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Awards]]
[[Category:John Lennon songs]]
[[Category:Peace symbols]]
[[Category:Tracie Spencer songs]]
[[fa:تصور کن (ترانه)]]
[[ja:イマジン (楽曲)]]
[[fi:Imagine]]
[[sv:Imagine (sång)]]
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