Pure Imagination, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is so saturated with bright color and whimsy that it almost forces you to be suspicious of it. A man in a factory offering you as much candy as you can possibly eat, asking for nothing in return— people start dropping off like flies. Seems like Roald Dhal felt pretty certain that in the face of unchecked freedom, most of us gorge ourselves until we literally explode.
Gene Wilder delivers an iconic, serene and effortless performance in the original version of the song by Anthony Newley, but I wanted to highlight the underlying edge to it in our cover, so I asked an artist I felt was born to sing this song, Haley Fohr of Circuit Des Yeux to step in.
Our version exists in a parallel universe where David Lynch directed the film instead of Mel Stuart. As American culture becomes even more oversaturated with excess and despair, consuming itself until it explodes, the song resonates more than ever, both at face value as an invitation to escape into one’s own mind, and a chilling warning of the siren call of capitalism’s promise.
lyrics
Come with me and you'll be In a world of pure imagination Take a look and you'll see Into your imagination
We'll begin with a spin
Traveling in the world of my creation What we'll see will defy
Explanation
If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it Want to change the world? There's nothing to it
If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it Want to change the world? There's nothing to it
There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination Living there, you'll be free
If you truly wish to be
credits
from The Covers,
released March 3, 2023
Performed by: Storefront Church & Circuit Des Yeux
Produced by: Lukas Frank & Waylon Rector
Written by: Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse
Recorded, Mixed, Mastered by: Cassidy Turbin
Piano: Lukas Frank
Guitar: Waylon Rector
Cello: Danica Pinner
Bass: Daniel Rhine
Violin & Viola: Cynthia Tolson
Cermony's Ross John Farrar experiments with synths, bass, & percussion to make music similar to that from the '80s homemade tape scene. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2023
With “In Silver Halides,” Lowpines have created a collection of rich, textured, deeply-felt rock songs abounding in small sonic details. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 26, 2018