Performing live on New Year's Eve, Cee Lo Green made a seemingly minor change to the lyrics to John Lennon's classic song "Imagine" that caused a big uproar.
Shortly before the ball dropped, Green changed the lyrics from "Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too" to "Nothing to kill or die for, and all religion's true."
This didn't go unnoticed by many fans, upset with the change.
In response, Cee Lo Tweeted, "Yo I meant no disrespect by changing the lyric guys! I was trying to say a world were u could believe what u wanted that's all."
That did little to comfort angered Lennon lovers, who lashed out on Twitter. Watch the performance below (around 4:00) and tell us if you think the criticism is warranted:
What do you think of Cee Lo's "Imagine" lyrics change?
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Rank: D-Lister
January 12th, 2012 12:01 PM
Reed....go lick a dog's ass! Racist coward of a bitch!!
January 9th, 2012 1:12 PM
I don't think it's important as far as the song goes! What needs to be done is cover Cee Lo ugly Ass Head! I don't think Cee Lo is Racist like the Nigger T-Ham Bone Jones! That Bitch Jones is Sick! That's why people don't want to be around Blacks! We don't have to keep them down they take care of that themselves. Right Jones?
January 6th, 2012 3:30 AM
It's not like all religion is good. CeeLo is no philosopher. He needed to keep the song in tact. Brilliant CeeLo is not.
Rank: D-Lister
January 5th, 2012 7:21 PM
Most songs have significant meaning, especially to those who wrote the song. But why isn't anyone complaining about all the other popular songs that were slaughtered. It's no big deal. Songs get slaughtered all of the time. Because some of the lyrics changes with the time. Some songs that was popular 20 years ago, may not apply to today's standards, unless it's sung at a Klan rally. People changes words to old songs all the time. So why isn't anyone trying to chew their asses off?!
I'll tell ya. Some of y'all think that because there have only been one half black president in the White House suddenly YOU BE THE VICTIMS NOW, huh?! And I understand that because y'all are afraid of people treating you the same way that you have treated black folks for the past 500 years you think black people is going to treat you like that so some y'all are preparing yourselves for that day.
January 3rd, 2012 8:48 PM
Get over it, people. Both Lennon and Cee were getting at the same thing- more peace. There could be less war if religion didn't exist, but there would also be less war if everyone was allowed to believe in what they wanted without criticizing others for their beliefs.
January 3rd, 2012 7:31 PM
This song, as written by Mr. Lennon, does have a VERY SPECIFIC meaning.
Mr. Green should not have tried to alter that meaning!
January 3rd, 2012 12:32 PM
As a life-long Lennon fan, the lyric change is far less offensive to me than the fact that people keep insisting on butchering this song... No cover version has ever sounded even mildly good.
January 2nd, 2012 10:35 PM
Didn't mind lyrics change but I thought his performance sucked-he was awful! Thank God a recording of Sinatra singing NEW YORK NEW YORK saved the night!
January 2nd, 2012 9:28 PM
Cee Lo Green Imagine New Years Eve Performance Video and twitter comments http://ow.ly/8gbrZ
January 2nd, 2012 8:46 PM
john lennon said if you rip off lyrics it is not a rip off, but rather a love in. google it. lennon ripped off ideas for his song from the communist manifesto. he also ripped off lyrics from chuck berry for come together.