I've just finished watching the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, a rare talent show that actually puts the emphasis on talent. I'm happy that street dancer Joshua won against the odds, and stiff competition from those with more formal training, though I have to admit I was rooting for Katie (who came in third) and the Debbie Allen trained Will (who got knocked out way earlier than I think anyone expected).
One of the nicest moments of last night's show was watching Katie and Will reprise one of the most stunning performances of season four, their pas de deux, which was choreographed by Desmond Richardson & Dwight Rhoden and set to LDS American Idol contender David Archuleta's interpretation of the John Lennon song "Imagine."
I love the song, it's one of my all-time favorites, and Archuleta's performance has its merits, but here's where I have a problem; American TV seems to have a very selective memory when it comes to the song's lyrics. It's like the majority of the nation has mass amnesia when it comes to that sociopolitically tricky second verse, you know, the really profound one which talks about doing away with religions and countries in order to achieve world peace. In case you've forgotten, since the verse in question is almost always edited out when the song is broadcast on TV, this is the message Lennon intended us to hear:
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
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