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Imaginer
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Wikipedia article
'"Imaginer"' (to imagine) is a French-language song first performed and recorded by American singer Jackie Evancho in 2011. The song uses the music from a 1999 English-language song, "Broken Vow", by Walter Afanasieff and Lara Fabian. The same songwriters wrote the new French lyrics for Evancho, who recorded it on her 2011 gold album 'Dream With Me', which was recorded when Evancho was 10 years old.
Lara Fabian: "Broken Vow"
The music of "Imagine" was originally written for an English-language song, "Broken Vow", by the record producer and songwriter Walter Afanasieff and the Belgian-Italian, naturalised Canadian international singer Lara Fabian. Fabian recorded it for her first English-language album, 'Lara Fabian', released in France in 1999. It was subsequently recorded and performed by many other singers.[http://www.secondhandsongs.com/performance/162930 "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, for her 2011 album 'Dream With Me', produced by David Foster, which debuted at No. 2 on the 'Billboard' 200[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2011-07-02/billboard-200 "Dream with Me - Jackie Evancho"], Billboard 200, accessed October 19, 2011 and No. 1 on the Billboard's US Classical Chart.[ "Dream with Me - Jackie Evancho"], Billboard Classical Albums, accessed October 19, 2011 The album was certified gold by the RIAA.Micco, Cindy Cusic. [http://pine-richland.patch.com/articles/jackie-evanchos-cd-certified-gold-with-500000-sales "Jackie Evancho's CD Certified Gold with 500,000 Sales"], 'Pine-Richland Patch', July 29, 2011, accessed October 19, 2011 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".[http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0101041 Sheet music to "Imaginer"], Sony/ATV Music Publishing, 2011 accessed April 27, 2012
Evancho also performed the song in her 2011 PBS Great Performances special 'Dream With Me In Concert', which was also sold on CD and DVD.[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/jackie-evancho-dream-with-me-in-concert/production-announcement/1112/ "Production Announcement for Jackie Evancho: Dream with Me in Concert"], PBS.org, 29 April 2011, accessed December 30, 2011 On both 'Dream With Me' and 'Dream With Me In Concert', Conrad Tao played the piano solo in "Imaginer".[http://www.thegilmore.org/artists/conrad-tao-2012-gilmore-young-artist/ Conrad Tao] , TheGilmore.org, accessed November 2, 2011
"Imaginer" on tour
Evancho included the piece in her 201112 'Dream With Me' tourColeman, Robert. [http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/53827761-81/evancho-center-maverik-audience.html.csp "Review: Evancho charms Maverik Center audience"], 'The Salt Lake Tribune', 31 March 2012 and her 201214 "Songs from the Silver Screen" tour.[https://twitter.com/twicch/status/237173207562588160/photo/1/large inside pages of theatre program], Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo, August 19, 2012; [http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jackie-evancho/2013/joseph-meyerhoff-symphony-hall-baltimore-md-1bd9b940.html Set list] from May 18, 2013 Baltimore concert, Setlist.FM, accessed December 17, 2013 In 'The Salt Lake Tribune', 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. [http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/53827761-81/evancho-center-maverik-audience.html.csp "Review: Evancho charms Maverik Center audience"], 'The Salt Lake Tribune', April 2, 2012, accessed December 17, 2013
References
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