Now or Never

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Yoko Ono

About Now or Never

"Now or Never" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1973 album Approximately Infinite Universe. It was also the lead single off the album, backed by "Move on Fast." A remixed version of "Move on Fast" was later released as a single and reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart."Now or Never" is a political song. According to John Lennon's biographer Peter Doggett, the lyrics of "Now or Never" sum up Ono's philosophy that "Dream you dream alone is just a dream/But dream we dream together is reality. " New York Times music critic Stephen Holden described this line as expressing a "Beatles-style utopianism." A Yoko Ono press release described the song as a "wistful wake-up call to a tuned-out, slacked-off America." Vietnam War historian Lee Andresen considered the song to be a protest against the war. The notorious cover of the single release, which depicted dead Vietnamese victims of the My Lai Massacre reinforced the Vietnam connection. Andresen describes the cover as being "the most painfully graphic of any produced by record companies during the war." Ben Urish and Ken Bielen describe the lyrics as being "interrogative." Rolling Stone reviewer Nick Tosches was underwhelmed by the lyrics, using lines such as "People of America/When will we stop/It is now or never" as examples of the "obnoxiousness" of Ono's lyrics at the time, describing them as "philosophical and political party-line corn that went out of style with last season's prime-time TV."The music of "Now or Never" is folk music-like in the vein of early Bob Dylan. It was recorded in February and March 1972 at the Record Plant East in New York. John Lennon played guitar and Elephant's Memory provided the other backing instrumentation. Ono and Lennon co-produced the recording. Lennon and Ono rehearsed "Now or Never" for their One on One concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York in August 1972, prior to any official release of the song, but the song was ultimately not performed in the actual concerts. The couple did perform the song at their TV appearance for the Jerry Lewis Telethon a few days later on September 4, 1972. "Now or Never" was the second of three songs they played at the telethon, after "Imagine" and before "Give Peace a Chance." At the time Lennon was under threat of deportation from the United States, and Ono introduced the song by stating that “John and I love this country very much and we're very happy that we're still here.” The telethon would prove to be the couple's last performances with Elephant's Memory. In 1984 a revised version of "Now or Never" was released on the album Every Man Has a Woman celebrating Ono's 50th birthday. This version used a children's choir to provide the vocals. According to Urich and Bielen, this added urgency to the lyrics, "as if a very aware child were chastising the adults for what they were permitting the world to become." The instrumentation was from the original 1972 sessions, including Lennon and Elephant's Memory. In 1994 the song was included in Ono's Off-Broadway musical New York Rock. According to Holden, "Now or Never" "distills the childlike quality of a show that is as sweetly idealistic as it is hopelessly naive." 


Year:
1992
3:45
176 
#6

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Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono (オノ・ヨーコ（小野 洋子）, Ono Yōko?, born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese artist, author, and peace activist, known for her marriage to John Lennon (1969–1980) and her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking. Ono brought feminism to the forefront in her music (which prefigured New Wave music) and is also known for her philanthropic contributions to arts, peace and AIDS outreach programs. more »

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16 facts about this song

Song History
"Now or Never" was released by Yoko Ono in 1972 as part of the album "Approximately Infinite Universe".
Genre
The song fuses elements of Rock, Pop, and Experimental music, embodying Yoko Ono's unique style.
Song Purpose
The song was a call to action during a turbulent era with anti-war and feminist themes, reflecting Yoko Ono's social activism.
Album Influences
The entire album reflects Ono's feminist stance and dissatisfaction with the sociopolitical landscape, which is clearly seen in "Now or Never".
Album Collaborations
Her husband, John Lennon, served as one of the guitarists on the album.
Song Recognition
"Now or Never" was praised in its time for its political message and emotional depth.
Yoko Ono's Reputation
Aside from her music career, Yoko Ono is also known for her art and peace activism, which are themes echoed in "Now or Never".
Track Listing
"Now or Never" is the 7th song on the second disc of the double album "Approximately Infinite Universe".
Album Release
The album was initially released in 1973 by Apple Records in the UK and Japan, and by A&M Records in the U.S.
Chart Performance
Although the album didn't chart considerably high, it received favorable reviews from critics.
Production
The song was produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and it was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City.
Lyrics and Composition
"Now or Never" stands out with its powerful lyrics and emotional composition that demand change and advocate peace.
Song Duration
The song is appreciated for its catchy tune lasting approximately 4 minutes and 56 seconds.
Live Performances
Yoko Ono has performed the song live many times since its release, often receiving much applause for its profound message.
Song Legacy
"Now or Never" is considered a significant song in Yoko Ono's repertoire and still retains its relevance and emotion today.
Remastering
The song was remastered and reissued by Secretly Canadian in 2017 as a part of Yoko Ono reissue project.

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