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{{About|the 1971 song|the topic|imagination|other uses|Pure Imagination (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the 1971 song|the topic|Imagination|other uses|Pure Imagination (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Pure Imagination
| name = Pure Imagination
| artist = [[Gene Wilder]] as [[Willy Wonka]]
| artist = [[Gene Wilder]]
| album = [[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory#Music|Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Music from the Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Picture)]]
| released = {{Start date|1971}}
| released = {{Start date|1971}}
| genre =
| genre =
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"'''Pure Imagination'''" is a song from the 1971 film ''[[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory]]''. It was written by British composers [[Leslie Bricusse]] and [[Anthony Newley]] specifically for the movie.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stories of Standards: "Pure Imagination" |url=https://www.kuvo.org/stories-of-standards-pure-imagination/ |website=KUVO|date=3 April 2019 }}</ref> It was sung by [[Gene Wilder]] who played the character of [[Willy Wonka]]. Bricusse has stated that the song was written over the phone in one day.<ref name="Bricusse Interview">{{cite web |last1=Riedel |first1=Michael |title=Gene Wilder's most famous song was originally a dud |url=https://nypost.com/2016/08/30/gene-wilders-most-famous-song-was-originally-a-dud/ |website=New York Post |date=August 30, 2016}}</ref> The song has a spoken introduction.<ref name="WNYC"/>
"'''Pure Imagination'''" is a song from the 1971 film ''[[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory]]''. It was written by British composers [[Leslie Bricusse]] and [[Anthony Newley]] specifically for the movie.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stories of Standards: "Pure Imagination" |url=https://www.kuvo.org/stories-of-standards-pure-imagination/ |website=KUVO|date=3 April 2019 }}</ref> It was sung by [[Gene Wilder]] who played the character of [[Willy Wonka]]. Bricusse has stated that the song was written over the phone in one day.<ref name="Bricusse Interview">{{cite web |last1=Riedel |first1=Michael |title=Gene Wilder's most famous song was originally a dud |url=https://nypost.com/2016/08/30/gene-wilders-most-famous-song-was-originally-a-dud/ |website=New York Post |date=August 30, 2016}}</ref> The song has a spoken introduction.<ref name="WNYC"/>


Since its release, the song has been covered and remixed hundreds of times by a wide variety of artists.<ref name="WNYC">{{cite web |title=Why Has 'Pure Imagination' Been Covered So Many Times? |url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/soundcheck/segments/why-has-pure-imagination-been-covered-so-many-times |website=WNYC Studios |date=October 22, 2014}}</ref> The original song was not popular when it was first released. The film itself was not a blockbuster and other songs from the soundtrack performed better. It was not until the movie began appearing on television reruns in the 1980s that the film and "Pure Imagination" become more well known.<ref name="Bricusse Interview"/><ref name="Tech Times">{{cite web |last1=Geddes |first1=James |title='Pure Imagination' By Gene Wilder From 'Willy Wonka' Hits iTunes Chart 45 Years After Initial Release |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/175691/20160831/pure-imagination-by-gene-wilder-from-willy-wonka-hits-itunes-chart-45-years-after-initial-release-video.htm |website=Tech Times |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref> Although the original song never charted, some cover versions have done so.<ref name="Billboard"/><ref name="Tech Times"/>
Since its release, the song has been covered and remixed hundreds of times by a wide variety of artists.<ref name="WNYC">{{cite web |title=Why Has 'Pure Imagination' Been Covered So Many Times? |url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/soundcheck/segments/why-has-pure-imagination-been-covered-so-many-times |website=WNYC Studios |date=October 22, 2014}}</ref> The original song was not popular when it was first released. The film itself was not a blockbuster and other songs from the soundtrack performed better. It was not until the movie began appearing on television reruns in the 1980s that the film and "Pure Imagination" became more well known.<ref name="Bricusse Interview"/><ref name="Tech Times">{{cite web |last1=Geddes |first1=James |title='Pure Imagination' By Gene Wilder From 'Willy Wonka' Hits iTunes Chart 45 Years After Initial Release |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/175691/20160831/pure-imagination-by-gene-wilder-from-willy-wonka-hits-itunes-chart-45-years-after-initial-release-video.htm |website=Tech Times |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref> Although the original song never charted, some cover versions have done so.<ref name="Billboard"/><ref name="Tech Times"/>


In the week following Wilder's death in 2016, the song rose in streams and sales by more than 1000%.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title='Pure Imagination' Streams Increase 1,061% After Gene Wilder's Death |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7502780/pure-imagination-gene-wilder-death-sales |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910032137/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7502780/pure-imagination-gene-wilder-death-sales |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> The song was featured in television, radio, and social media tributes to Wilder.<ref name="Tech Times"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hines |first1=Ree |title=Coldplay performs touching Gene Wilder tribute with 'Pure Imagination' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/coldplay-performs-touching-gene-wilder-tribute-pure-imagination-t102406 |website=Today |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref>
In the week following Wilder's death in 2016, the song rose in streams and sales by more than 1000%.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title='Pure Imagination' Streams Increase 1,061% After Gene Wilder's Death |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7502780/pure-imagination-gene-wilder-death-sales |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910032137/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7502780/pure-imagination-gene-wilder-death-sales |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> The song was featured in television, radio, and social media tributes to Wilder.<ref name="Tech Times"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hines |first1=Ree |title=Coldplay performs touching Gene Wilder tribute with 'Pure Imagination' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/coldplay-performs-touching-gene-wilder-tribute-pure-imagination-t102406 |website=Today |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref> While it was absent from the 2005 film adaptation ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'', the song was featured in the 2023 prequel film ''[[Wonka (film)|Wonka]]'', both in its promotional materials and the film itself, sung by [[Timothée Chalamet]] as Wonka.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/wonka-movie-trailer-timothee-chalamet-singing-pure-imagination/|title=Timothée Chalamet Finally Sings Iconic Gene Wilder Song In New Wonka Trailer|accessdate=November 28, 2023|date=November 14, 2023|last=Rudoy|first=Matthew|work=ScreenRant}}</ref>

{{External media|audio1=[https://archive.org/download/willy-wonka-the-chocolate-factory-soundtrack/Willy%20Wonka%20%26%20The%20Chocolate%20Factory/07%20Pure%20Imagination.flac From "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"]|float=right|audio2=[https://ia801302.us.archive.org/14/items/wonka-flac/18%20-%20Pure%20Imagination%20%28from%20_Wonka_%29.flac From "Wonka"]}}


==Notable cover versions==
==Notable cover versions==
*[[Lou Rawls]] covered the song for his 1976 album ''[[All Things in Time]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DyQEAAAAMBAJ|last=Searl|first=Hanford|title=Talent in Action|pages=38|magazine=Billboard|volume=91|issue=35|date=September 1, 1979|publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]]|access-date=July 26, 2024|via=Google Books}}</ref>
*[[Ben Vereen]] covered the song on Season 1 Episode 17 of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', January 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muppet Central Guides – The Muppet Show: Ben Vereen |url=https://muppetcentral.com/guides/episodes/tms/season1/17_vereen.shtml |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=muppetcentral.com}}</ref>
*In 2011, the song made its first entry into the Billboard Hot 100 when it was covered by the cast of the TV series ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]''. (US No. 59)<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |title=Weekly Chart Notes: Adele, John Rich, Blondie |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/weekly-chart-notes-adele-john-rich-blondie/ |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240105125848/https://www.billboard.com/pro/weekly-chart-notes-adele-john-rich-blondie/ |archive-date=2024-01-05 |date=2011-05-26}}</ref>
*In September 2013, the song was featured in a [[Chipotle Mexican Grill|Chipotle]] short film, sung by [[Fiona Apple]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts |first=Randall |date=13 September 2013 |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-fiona-apple-covers-willy-wonka-in-striking-new-chipotle-clip-20130913,0,6756902.story |title=Fiona Apple covers Willy Wonka in striking new Chipotle clip |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=14 September 2013}}</ref> (US No. 104).<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/302150/fiona+apple/chart?f=344|title=Fiona Apple – Chart history {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard|access-date=26 August 2016}}</ref>
*In September 2013, the song was featured in a [[Chipotle Mexican Grill|Chipotle]] short film, sung by [[Fiona Apple]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts |first=Randall |date=13 September 2013 |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-fiona-apple-covers-willy-wonka-in-striking-new-chipotle-clip-20130913,0,6756902.story |title=Fiona Apple covers Willy Wonka in striking new Chipotle clip |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=14 September 2013}}</ref> (US No. 104).<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/302150/fiona+apple/chart?f=344|title=Fiona Apple – Chart history {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard|access-date=26 August 2016}}</ref>
*Ruby Arias (portrayed by [[Emma Tremblay]]) sang the song for a school concert in the ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]'' episode "[[List of Supergirl episodes#ep46|The Faithful]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ew.com/recap/supergirl-season-3-episode-4/2/|title='Supergirl' recap: Kara hosts an awkward girls' night|date=2017-10-31|work=EW.com|access-date=2018-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref>
*Ruby Arias (portrayed by [[Emma Tremblay]]) sang the song for a school concert in the ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]'' episode "[[List of Supergirl episodes#ep46|The Faithful]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ew.com/recap/supergirl-season-3-episode-4/2/|title='Supergirl' recap: Kara hosts an awkward girls' night|date=2017-10-31|work=EW.com|access-date=2018-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref>
*An instrumental version of the song is featured in the 2017 [[Marvel Studios]] film ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schmidt|first1=Joseph|title='Thor: Ragnarok' Has A Willy Wonka Easter Egg|url=http://comicbook.com/marvel/2017/11/02/thor-ragnarok-willy-wonka-easter-egg/|website=Comicbook.com|language=en|date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Armitage|first1=Hugh|title=12 amazing Easter eggs from Thor: Ragnarok|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/thor/feature/a841290/thor-ragnarok-easter-eggs/|website=Digital Spy|language=en|date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
*An instrumental version of the song is featured in the 2017 [[Marvel Studios]] film ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schmidt|first1=Joseph|title='Thor: Ragnarok' Has A Willy Wonka Easter Egg|url=http://comicbook.com/marvel/2017/11/02/thor-ragnarok-willy-wonka-easter-egg/|website=Comicbook.com|language=en|date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Armitage|first1=Hugh|title=12 amazing Easter eggs from Thor: Ragnarok|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/thor/feature/a841290/thor-ragnarok-easter-eggs/|website=Digital Spy|language=en|date=25 October 2017}}</ref>
*In [[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (musical)]], every production, except the London version which has it in the Great Glass Elevator, has Willy Wonka sing it in the Chocolate Room.
*[[The Chainsmokers]] sample the song and interpolate the chorus lyrics in "Testing", a song off their fourth studio album ''[[So Far So Good (The Chainsmokers album)|So Far So Good]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://genius.com/The-chainsmokers-testing-lyrics |title=The Chainsmokers – Testing Lyrics - Genius |website=Genius}}</ref>
*[[Barbra Streisand]] featured the song in her 2016 album ''[[Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway]]''.
*In 2016 [[Barbra Streisand]] included it on her [[Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway]] album as a duet with [[Seth Macfarlane]].
*The cast of [[Glee (TV series)|Glee]] sang the song in the season 2 episode "[[Funeral (Glee)|Funeral]]"


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 22:34, 6 December 2024

This article is about the 1971 song. For the topic, see Imagination. For other uses, see Pure Imagination (disambiguation).

"Pure Imagination"
Song by Gene Wilder
from the album Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Music from the Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Picture)
Released1971 (1971)
Length4:20
LabelParamount
Songwriter(s)Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley

"Pure Imagination" is a song from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It was written by British composers Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley specifically for the movie.[1] It was sung by Gene Wilder who played the character of Willy Wonka. Bricusse has stated that the song was written over the phone in one day.[2] The song has a spoken introduction.[3]

Since its release, the song has been covered and remixed hundreds of times by a wide variety of artists.[3] The original song was not popular when it was first released. The film itself was not a blockbuster and other songs from the soundtrack performed better. It was not until the movie began appearing on television reruns in the 1980s that the film and "Pure Imagination" became more well known.[2][4] Although the original song never charted, some cover versions have done so.[5][4]

In the week following Wilder's death in 2016, the song rose in streams and sales by more than 1000%.[5] The song was featured in television, radio, and social media tributes to Wilder.[4][6] While it was absent from the 2005 film adaptation Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the song was featured in the 2023 prequel film Wonka, both in its promotional materials and the film itself, sung by Timothée Chalamet as Wonka.[7]

External audio
audio icon From "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"
audio icon From "Wonka"

Notable cover versions

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Stories of Standards: "Pure Imagination"". KUVO. 3 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Riedel, Michael (30 August 2016). "Gene Wilder's most famous song was originally a dud". New York Post.
  3. ^ a b "Why Has 'Pure Imagination' Been Covered So Many Times?". WNYC Studios. 22 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Geddes, James (31 August 2016). "'Pure Imagination' By Gene Wilder From 'Willy Wonka' Hits iTunes Chart 45 Years After Initial Release". Tech Times.
  5. ^ a b Zellner, Xander (7 September 2016). "'Pure Imagination' Streams Increase 1,061% After Gene Wilder's Death". Billboard. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016.
  6. ^ Hines, Ree (31 August 2016). "Coldplay performs touching Gene Wilder tribute with 'Pure Imagination'". Today.
  7. ^ Rudoy, Matthew (14 November 2023). "Timothée Chalamet Finally Sings Iconic Gene Wilder Song In New Wonka Trailer". ScreenRant. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  8. ^ Searl, Hanford (1 September 1979). "Talent in Action". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 35. Nielsen Business Media. p. 38. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "Muppet Central Guides – The Muppet Show: Ben Vereen". muppetcentral.com. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  10. ^ Trust, Gary (26 May 2011). "Weekly Chart Notes: Adele, John Rich, Blondie". Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024.
  11. ^ Roberts, Randall (13 September 2013). "Fiona Apple covers Willy Wonka in striking new Chipotle clip". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Fiona Apple – Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  13. ^ "'Supergirl' recap: Kara hosts an awkward girls' night". EW.com. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  14. ^ Schmidt, Joseph (4 November 2017). "'Thor: Ragnarok' Has A Willy Wonka Easter Egg". Comicbook.com.
  15. ^ Armitage, Hugh (25 October 2017). "12 amazing Easter eggs from Thor: Ragnarok". Digital Spy.
[edit]
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