Man Brightens Empty Train Station On Public Piano With John Lennon Classic

Apr 23, 2020 by apost team

2020 is a bewildering time to be alive. The world is such an unrecognizable place right now. Sometimes, it feels like uncertainty is all that looms on humanity’s horizon. When togetherness suddenly feels like a distant memory from a fleeting era, we could all stand to learn a lesson about love from the iconic hippie scene. To boost spirits in the wake of widespread self-isolation, musician Stephen Ridley captured the surreal vibe of these strenuous times with a heartfelt piano cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” This touching tribute to The Beatles’ founder summons a nostalgic sentimentality for our former way of life, and the recording poignantly ushers an eerie ambiance that is the natural result of being filmed in a nearly vacant London train station.

To cultivate a sophisticated urban atmosphere, the city of London has strategically placed quite a few pianos throughout the busiest thoroughfares. Under normal circumstances, these grand instruments are typically available for public use; however, the vast majority of them have recently been cordoned off by police to combat the potential spread of viruses. Luckily, Ridley and his team scoped out a piano that officers somehow missed and failed to padlock. Before getting started, he made a mindful display of common sense by attentively disinfecting the keys.

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There are a few things in life that you cannot just let be, and resisting the urge to play the notes of “Let It Be” is one of them. Amazingly, the recognizable chords of Paul McCartney’s ballad from The Beatles’ final years serves as the ideal introduction for Lennon’s solo classic. Overall, Ridley’s emotional rendition impactfully lives up to the legacy of a 1971 pop-culture staple. His impressive vocal range wows with bravado while also drawing the interest of audiences with a compellingly hushed whisper. Thus, after nearly 50 years, “Imagine” is more meaningful and relatable than ever.

Because everything seems so new and unfamiliar these days, Ridley also took the daring risk of modifying the tune’s lyrics to reflect modern concerns. The singer’s reinvented version showcases updated poetry that directly addresses the pandemic. To succinctly summarize our collectively shared contemporary crises, the performer added this clever verse: “Imagine there’s no illness. It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to stay inside for and no mass media too.”

Ridley’s quaint vision of a return to normalcy sounds like an actual utopia right now. The expressed vision of a society lacking the overstimulating and divisive bombardment of cutting-edge political coverage is downright enchanting. Fortunately for everyone under lockdown, this artist’s inspirational message of reassurance can shine through even the darkest days of quarantine.

To illustrate a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, this versatile showman jovially transitioned into Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” as a jarringly apt outro. This unexpectedly jaunty shift highlights the transitory state of mankind’s qualms excellently. The sweet serenade rises above all melancholia when Ridley starts to sing, “I see trees of green and red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you.”

Let’s dispel all illusions about this fact: Without a doubt, John Lennon was a pivotal mastermind behind the counterculture rebellion of his generation. No one else came close to possessing his rare mixture of dry wit, expansive outreach, and raw talent. Despite being gone for four decades, the preeminent celebrity’s incisive perspectives on reality are becoming increasingly vital. With that in mind, be sure to pass this footage around like a good hippie.