John Lennon is back from the dead
BEATLE John Lennon has been brought back to life to star in a charity TV commercial - more than 28 years after his death.
In a video created using his voice and image, the legendary musician asks people to support a campaign to provide laptops to the world's poorest children.
Wearing his trademark round specs, and with his well-know Liverpudlian lilt, he urges: "You can change the world."
The video follows previous commercials using dead stars, such as comedian Bob Monkhouse, who was digitally revived to warn others of the prostate cancer which killed him aged 75 in 2003.
On the video, Lennon can be heard to say: "Imagine every child no matter where in the world they were could access a universe of knowledge.
"They would have a chance to learn, to dream, to achieve anything they want.
"I tried to do it through my music, but now you can do it in a very different way.
Permission
"You can give a child a laptop and more than imagine, you can change the world,"
The ad was spliced from surviving footage of Lennon boosted by animation technology with the permission of his wife, Yoko Ono. for the One Laptop Per Child Foundation.
The organisation was started in 2005 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and started producing special XO laptops late last year.
Costing less than $200 (£140), the machines are robust and solar-powered, allowing children in the poorest places access to vital technology
Lennon was shot and killed as he and his wife, Yoko Ono, arrived at their Manhattan apartment building just over 28 years ago on December 8, 1980.
The video will be shown on donated cable time in the US.
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This article has 19 comments
johnlennon was more than a musician artist singer cynic comedian father figure he had more talent in his body than anything of today,s boybands hip-hop talentless waste of modern-day non-entities listen to working class hero a message for all these bankers plus fraudsters of today
By jonathandlharris. Posted April 2 2009 at 6:45 PM.
I feel this is a disgraceful use of his image. He claims in the ad that he tried to change the world through his music, but he did not try to change the world by giving poor children laptops! Also, the timing of the voice, which was obviously not his, matching the picture, was terrible. Any fool can see that it was not him speaking. If he was alive he would not be trying to give poor children laptops. He wpold be changing the world in a different, more helpful way.
By Someone who does not want their name on this site.. Posted December 29 2008 at 5:10 PM.
I have mixed emotions about this. Part of me feels it's odd and the other part feels that if John's influence can help to make a positive difference, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps, he would have supported something like this had he lived. I do believe that Yoko's intentions are good but she does some weird things at times. I just don't know what else to say.
By Noel. Posted December 29 2008 at 11:31 AM.
Yoko Ono is a very weird person. also money-grabbing.
By jenny. Posted December 29 2008 at 10:43 AM.
I think Yoko knew John better then any of us fans out here do! I believe that John would have wanted Yoko to do this if it would help others! Isn't that what John was all about? Remember Imagine? Don't be so critical people!
By Janet. Posted December 29 2008 at 12:47 AM.
This ad is in very poor taste as we have come to expect from Yoko Ono! Let John RIP! This ad is upsetting to me as a fan, so imagine how more disturbing it is for his family and friends! Laptops were not invented when he was alive so it is obviously not the case that he would be promoting them! Surely there are more urgent problems facing Africa like over-population due to feckless breeding, starvation, healthcare shortages and lack of clean water than are more urgent!
By David Browning. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:34 PM.
I found this very distasteful and think they should let people rest in peace.
By Frances Smith. Posted December 28 2008 at 3:46 PM.
Sounds ridiculous. Yoko needs her head red for allowing this rot.
By bobbyMix. Posted December 28 2008 at 4:01 PM.
This is not Lennon's voice. I appreciate the intention of the video, but I'm disappointed with the lack of taste shown on this occasion by Yoko, who ultimately would have agreed to using an impersonator's voice.
By Mark Cunningham. Posted December 28 2008 at 2:27 PM.
I think we have our own country to sort out before we try and help others.
By Emma. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:58 PM.
I'm not even sure this is Lennons' voice, sounds like an impersonator to me.
By STEVE. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:42 PM.
It doesn't even sound like John! It sounds more like Lance Percival who did his voice in Yellow Submarine. Tacky.
By Colin. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:26 PM.
I agree with Alex and Cliff's comments about, How utterly ridiculous....They must have their heads in Cloud Cuckoo land !!!!!
By Anne. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:54 AM.
I think this is so crass!
By M Hanstock. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:15 AM.
It's not just a computer -it's an education!!! Educate to illiminate hunger, poverty, war - to give these kids something to live for. They can see how the rest of the world lives, and strive for a better life themselves. It's not the starving kids getting these lap tops it's the kids from poor families who attend school - I think this is a brilliant idea - and if John Lennon can help get the message across - BRILLIANT.
By Zoobie. Posted December 28 2008 at 10:10 AM.
Don't compare John Lennon with Hitler.
By karen. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:27 AM.
Why the f••• do poor children need laptops, surely food, shelter and healthcare have to be top of any charities agenda. Next we will hear Elvis asking "give a child a Nintendo DS"
Silly
By Alex Mcdonald. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:13 AM.
What next? Hitler flogging furniture?
By Stu. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:32 AM.
Personally I think it is immoral to do something like this.
If, when someone was alive, they had agreed to advertise a product or campaign and it was their dying wish for a digitally recreated advert to be made because they suddenly could not due to sudden health issues, that would be different.
But this product did not even exist when he was alive so he could not possibly provide advance consent for it.
And because he is dead he cannot sue for wrongful use of his image.
Let the dead rest in peace.
By Cliff Hulcoop. Posted December 27 2008 at 11:26 PM.