Pure Imagination

For the Eric Reed recording, see Pure Imagination (album). For the comic book, see Pure Imagination (comics).

"Pure Imagination" is a song from the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley specifically for the movie. It was sung by Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka).

Adaptations

• In "Through the Loop" by British/Australian drum and bass band, Pendulum in the album Hold Your Colour.
• Michael Feinstein recorded a version of "Pure Imagination" for his 1992 children's album of the same title.
• Lou Rawls recorded a version of "Pure Imagination" for his 1976 album All Things in Time.
• Avant-garde guitarist Buckethead has covered the song several times, including versions on his debut album Bucketheadland (1992), his second album Giant Robot (1994), as well as performing it live.
• Soft rock singer Kenny Loggins covered the song in part of his song "Neverland Melody" from his 1994 album Return to Pooh Corner.
• A cover by the punk band Smoking Popes appeared on their 1997 album Destination Failure.
• In the first season of The Muppet Show, Ben Vereen sings the song to a Muppet on a rooftop, accompanied by flying creatures.
• Maroon 5 covered "Pure Imagination" in 2004.
• In 2005, MasterCard commissioned an upbeat, alternative-style version of the song for its television commercial "Candy Store." Although it was only 30 seconds long, this commercial jingle version has attracted a great deal of attention from listeners who tried to find out the musical group performing the jingle and purchase a copy of it, only to be told by MasterCard that "Unfortunately, there is no way to get a copy of this song."
• The tune served as the basis for Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps 2005 program "Distorted Imagination".
• Pianist/keyboardist Bradley Joseph arranged a cover version of "Pure Imagination" on his 2005 album, For the Love of It.
• In 2007, Ferraby Lionheart recorded a cover version of the song that was included on his debut album, Catch the Brass Ring.
• The song was parodied in the Family Guy episode "Wasted Talent".
• In September 2013, the song was featured in a Chipotle short film, sung by Fiona Apple.
• Jamie Cullum recorded a cover version for his 2013 album Momentum.
• Bob James covered this song on his 1977 album BJ4.
• The Blenders recorded a version in their signature vocal harmony style (not true a cappella for this track), mashed up with "White Christmas".
• Jackie Evancho covered this song for her song compilation called Songs from the Silver Screen.
• Mariah Carey covered "Pure Imagination" as an urban/R&B remix (B-side) with the remake of "I Still Believe."
• Comedian Russell Brand performed the song at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical covers "Pure Imagination" with Charlie singing with Wonka.
• The Glee Cast covered the song in the episode, "Funeral".
• An orchestral version of the song was played at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014 after Lupita Nyong'o won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
• RedLetterMedia uses the song during their Plinkett Reviews. The character of Harry Plinkett regularly sings the song in a slow, disturbing manner, typically while dragging kidnapped women through his house or putting his cat in the microwave.
• Hat Films parodied the song in their video "Filfy Mods - More Explosives (Willy Wonka Tribute)" and titled the parody "Pure Incineration".
• Transcendental mystic jazz rock band, The New Octaves, covers the song occasionally at live performances.
• Monty Alexander did a jazz cover in his album Pure Imagination (2002).
• Primus covered "Pure Imagination" into their own psychedelic interpretation for their 2014 album, Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble.
• Josh Groban covered the song for his 2015 album, Stages. He also performed the song in a YouTube video with violinist Lindsey Stirling and The Muppets.
• Karmin recorded a cover version of the song titled "Come With Me (Pure Imagination)" for their second studio album Leo Rising.
• The Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps featured the song in their 2015 production "The Spark of Invention."
• Gene Wilder sings it again in 2010 for the AT&T Rethink Possible commercial.
• Josh Groban performed this at the Royal Variety Show, 2015.
• Well known Belgian jazz musicians Stéphane Mercier (sax) andJean-Louis Rassinfosse (contrebass) play their version of this tune on Stéphane Mercier's 2013 album Duology.

External links

• Lyrics and guitar chords of "Pure Imagination"