Yoko Ono at the Meltdown Festival in London, June 2009

I have always understood why people could hate her music and singing, but I have been inspired and uplifted by both since 1970. I am pleased that she is receiving various lifetime achievement awards, had yet another number one dance hit in America a few months back, has two huge art exhibits travelling globally, her new album 'Between My Head and the Sky', is garnering great reviews, plus she is doing many live gigs at the age of 76. I love this video clip I got in the Yoko forum I've belonged to for years...it is the last few minutes of her performing last June in London her long, challenging, avant garde free form piece from 1995 called 'Rising' that I feel is a soaring celebration of human possibility and the power of choice. I'll post the full lyrics below. I know she is getting ready to do some concerts in Japan, would love it if she came here!

I've posted a pic of her this spring in a floppy hat, one from 1972, plus two photos of her breathtaking ice sculpture 'Penal Colony' that people could walk through the interior of. Her raw, unrestrained lifelong creativity is thriving in her late 70s!

RISING

Mm -Listen to your heart,

Respect your intuition.
Make your manifestation,

There's no limitation.

Have courage,

Have rage,

we're all together. Oh - uh... ad lib

Have courage,

Have rage,

we're all together.Oh - uh... ad lib

Follow your heart,

Use your intuition.

Make your manifestation
There's no confusion.

Have courage,

Have rage,

we're rising.Oh - uh... ad lib

Follow your heart,

Use your intuition.

Make your manifestation,

There's no confusion.

Have courage,

Have rage,

we're rising.Oh - uh...ad lib

Follow your heart,

Use your intuition.

Make your manifestation,

Have courage,

Have rage,

we're rising.Oh - uh... ad lib

Have courage,

Have rage,

we're rising.

There's no confusion.

We're all together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7tfQ3CE7Jw