Imaginer
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

"Imaginer" (to imagine) is a French-language song first performed and recorded by American singer
Jackie Evancho Jacqueline Marie Evancho ( ; born April 9, 2000) is an American crossover music#Classical crossover, classical crossover singer who gained wide recognition at an early age. Since 2009, she has issued a platinum-selling extended play, EP and nine ...
in 2011. The song uses the music from a 1999 English-language song, "
Broken Vow "Broken Vow" is a song that was written by Lara Fabian and Walter Afanasieff for Fabian's self-titled album released in 1999. The music track has a very strong resemblance to '' Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor'', Op.18: Adagio sostenuto by Serg ...
", by
Walter Afanasieff Walter Afanasieff (born Vladimir Nikitich Afanasyev; February 10, 1958), formerly nicknamed Baby Love in the 1980s, is an American record producer and songwriter of Russian-Chinese descent. He was a collaborator with Mariah Carey on her first ...
and
Lara Fabian Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert (born January 9, 1970), better known as Lara Fabian, is a Belgian-Canadian pop singer and songwriter. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide as of 2021Broadway World (2017)"Lara Fabian annule finalement sa tourn ...
. The same songwriters wrote the new French lyrics for Evancho, who recorded it on her 2011
gold album Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
''
Dream With Me ''Dream with Me'' is the second full-length album (first on a major label) by American singer Jackie Evancho. It was released on June 3, 2011 on digital download format, and on June 14, 2011 in the standard CD format.

The music of "Imagine" was originally written for an English-language song, "
Broken Vow "Broken Vow" is a song that was written by Lara Fabian and Walter Afanasieff for Fabian's self-titled album released in 1999. The music track has a very strong resemblance to '' Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor'', Op.18: Adagio sostenuto by Serg ...
", by the record producer and songwriter
Walter Afanasieff Walter Afanasieff (born Vladimir Nikitich Afanasyev; February 10, 1958), formerly nicknamed Baby Love in the 1980s, is an American record producer and songwriter of Russian-Chinese descent. He was a collaborator with Mariah Carey on her first ...
and the Belgian-Italian, naturalised Canadian international singer
Lara Fabian Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert (born January 9, 1970), better known as Lara Fabian, is a Belgian-Canadian pop singer and songwriter. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide as of 2021Broadway World (2017)"Lara Fabian annule finalement sa tourn ...
. Fabian recorded it for her first English-language album, ''
Lara Fabian Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert (born January 9, 1970), better known as Lara Fabian, is a Belgian-Canadian pop singer and songwriter. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide as of 2021Broadway World (2017)"Lara Fabian annule finalement sa tourn ...
'', released in France in 1999. It was subsequently recorded and performed by many other singers."Recording: Imaginer"
''Second Hand Songs'', accessed July 13, 2012


New lyrics and 2011 recordings

Afanasieff and Fabian wrote the new French lyrics to "Imaginer" especially for
Jackie Evancho Jacqueline Marie Evancho ( ; born April 9, 2000) is an American crossover music#Classical crossover, classical crossover singer who gained wide recognition at an early age. Since 2009, she has issued a platinum-selling extended play, EP and nine ...
, for her 2011 album ''
Dream With Me ''Dream with Me'' is the second full-length album (first on a major label) by American singer Jackie Evancho. It was released on June 3, 2011 on digital download format, and on June 14, 2011 in the standard CD format.David Foster David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive who chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His music career spans mor ...
, which debuted at No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard's US Classical Chart. The album was
certified gold Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...
by the
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
. The meaning of "Broken Vow", about a sad love, is completely changed in "Imaginer", which describes a dream of a peaceful world. Part of the lyrics translate as follows: "Imagine a world as pure as the sun, / Where war is only a memory. / Imagine a world without hunger". Evancho also performed the song in her 2011 PBS
Great Performances ''Great Performances'' is a television anthology series dedicated to the performing arts; the banner has been used to televise theatrical performances such as plays, musicals, opera, ballet, concerts, as well as occasional documentaries. It is pr ...
special ''Dream With Me In Concert'', which was also sold on CD and DVD. On both ''Dream With Me'' and ''Dream With Me In Concert'',
Conrad Tao Conrad Yiwen Tao (born June 11, 1994) is an American composer and pianist and former violinist. Tao's piano and violin performances since childhood brought him early recognition at music festivals and competitions. At age 13, he was featured on t ...
played the piano solo in "Imaginer".


"Imaginer" on tour

Evancho included the piece in her 2011–12 ''Dream With Me'' tour and her 2012–14 "Songs from the Silver Screen" tour. In ''
The Salt Lake Tribune ''The Salt Lake Tribune'' is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The ''Tribune'' is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871." History ...
'', reviewer Robert Coleman commented: "Singing in French to Lara Fabian's 'Imaginer' and in Italian for Puccini's 'O mio babbino caro,' Evancho showed her expertise with languages as well as some pretty respectable interpretation."Coleman, Robert
"Review: Evancho charms Maverik Center audience"
''The Salt Lake Tribune'', April 2, 2012, accessed December 17, 2013


References


External links

* performing "Imaginer" in April 2011 * performing "Imaginer" in St. Petersburg, Russia, in June 2012 * performing "Imaginer" at a wedding in August 2012
"Imaginer" credits at Allmusic.com
{{authority control 2011 songs Lara Fabian songs Songs written by Walter Afanasieff