Lennon stars in TV laptop advert [BBC News]

Lennon stars in TV laptop advert
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7801938.stm

Former Beatle John Lennon is featuring in a charity's TV advertisement in the US, 28 years after his death.

The singer has been brought back to life using digital technology for the One Laptop Per Child initiative.

The charity aims to deliver tough, solar-powered computers to the world's poorest children.

"Imagine every child, no matter where in the world they were, could access a universe of knowledge," Lennon is seen saying in the commercial.

"They would have a chance to learn, to dream, to achieve anything they want. I tried to do it through my music, but now you can do it in a very different way."

Lennon was shot and killed in December 1980 as he and wife Yoko Ono arrived at their apartment building next to Central Park, New York.

Ono has given her approval for the commercial, which will air on spots donated by broadcasters, and has also been placed on YouTube.

The One Laptop Per Child Foundation, created in 2005, started producing XO laptops late last year at a cost per machine of less than $200 (£135).

In 2007, British comedian Bob Monkhouse featured in an advertisement for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, four years after he died of the condition.

Producers blended archive footage of Monkhouse with shots of a body double in a graveyard in Surrey, with a soundalike delivering some of his old jokes.

Comments, please. :)

This whole concept is outrageous --- I can't believe Yoko gave her blessing to it (or, then again, maybe I CAN believe it -- I just wish it wasn't so).
Taking a dead man's image and putting words into his mouth to promote something he never even heard of is absolutely disgusting. The cause may indeed be very worthwhile (one laptop per child), but the fact is John wasn't here to say one way or the other whether he wanted to be a spokesman for the cause.

PS: That voice doesn't sound like John's at all. Obviously an actor overdubbing the script.

Doesn't sound like John. Is stupid. I don't like it. But it doesn't offend me to my very core or anything. I just think it is a bit lame.

What a stupid, stupid commercial. The accent is terrible. It kind of reminds me of this years Halloween episode of the Simpsons....

And also, "I tried to do it through my music"...wtf?? I think John opened the minds of alot more people with his music than a stupid laptop ever will. Technology goes obsolete like a year after you buy it, but John's music/ message has lasted for decades and will continue to.

Were laptop computers even in existence when John was alive?

I'm afraid to even listen to it! It sounds a little creepy. And based on what people are saying about it, I think it probably is...

WHAT THE HELL!!?!??!!

im still laughing!

man, this was the top of embarrassment!!!!!

What a ridiculous ad. I agree that it doesn't sound like John at all. Surely there are plenty of "living" celebrities out there that could promote this cause?? Why couldn't Yoko have done it herself?? Everyone knows who she is.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/index....1480&Itemid=59

LAPTOP ADVERT STARS JOHN LENNON IMPERSONATOR


This John Lennon impersonator is available for Diet Coke adverts

BEATLES legend John Lennon has been impersonated in an advert for the first time since his death 28 years ago.

A man who sounds a bit like Lennon features in a new video for the One Laptop Per Child Foundation.

The impersonator, approved by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, urges the world to 'imagine' what it would be like if every child had a laptop and could 'access a universe of information' and Google Ads.

Tom Logan, secretary of the British Association of John Lennon Impersonators (BAJLI), said: "John Lennon impersonators have always been committed to ending poverty and promoting world peace so we were more than happy to endorse this project."

He added: "We'll never really know if the real John Lennon would have supported it, mainly because his last known whereabouts was a jar on Yoko Ono's mantelpiece.

"I suspect however that he would have, given all those songs he wrote about cheap computers being more important than food and hospitals."

A spokesman for the OLPC Foundation said: "We had thought about using footage of him singing Imagine, or an excerpt from an interview where he says something meaningful and profound, but, for some reason, neither of them included the word 'laptop'."

OLPC confirmed the next advert would feature a Lennon impersonator performing a new version of Imagine but with specially updated lyrics:

Imagine there's no laptops
It isn't hard to do
Particularly as this song was written 37 years ago
When most computers were the size of a bungalow

I don't know how important computers are
But I'd imagine they're mostly used for shopping

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

You may say I'm a dreamer
But that's because I've finally got a laptop
When I said imagine having no possessions
I obviously wasn't talking about laptops

seems to me "the world's poorest children" could use food and health care before a laptop.

Originally Posted by Harbidge

LAPTOP ADVERT STARS JOHN LENNON IMPERSONATOR

I so glad they cleared that up.

A friend of mine sent this to me. I gotta say, I was a bit creeped out. And I totally agree with you Carla. Have you guys seen that commercial with the third world kids toting around laptops? Not sure if that's connected to this but I was like, geez...they don't look too concerned about their next meal. Just like, "hey, where can I get connected?" I'm so sure John would be worried and losing sleep about getting these kids hooked up on the internet!

It doesn't even sound like Lennon!

And Yoko is crazy. Here in France she sold Imagine to a bank for publicity.In fact she's beneath contempt.

Sorry I just don't agree with the whole concept........... laptops for the third world or using John's image to promote it! As others have said the basic necessities are what they really need, food, clothing, shelter a way to earn a living and people who give their time to help and teach the skills that these people really need!

Wow. I've heard of these people before but I didnt know they stooped to that to try and get people to join their cause. And I never knew there was an association for John impersonators! I wonder who you have to be to get in that? Besides John I mean. Is there a test or anything? Maybe the US has an association for Elvis people...

The Daily Mash (where Harbidge found the "Laptop Advert Stars John Lennon Impersonator" article) is a satirical news site, like The Onion.

By the way, if you are interested in learning more about the One Laptop Per Child project, I recommend that you watch this video of Nicholas Negroponte at TED.

I think that the commercial is using someone to impersonate John Lennon's Voice.

Originally Posted by instant karla

seems to me "the world's poorest children" could use food and health care before a laptop.

That's what I was thinking. Not to mention clean water, safe shelter, and a war-free country.

Originally Posted by BeatlesFan4life

I think that the commercial is using someone to impersonate John Lennon's Voice.

Yes, he just sounds a little Liverpudlian, but not like John.