An excerpt from my new book:
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono
by Madeline Bocaro
SURRENDER TO PEACE!
On 1 April 1973 John & Yoko announced the birth of Nutopia, a conceptual country. The name was inspired by Thomas Moore’s book Utopia published in 1516, which translated from modern Latin means ‘no place’.
Nutopia also had no place – symbolized by a white flag. ‘Nutopian International Anthem’ is a silent track on John’s 1973 album Mind Games. It quite possibly samples “4:33” by John Cage (1952).
This is the second usage of silence as music by John and Yoko. ‘Two Minutes Silence’ appears on Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions. This was a eulogy for their baby, which Yoko had miscarried at the time.
Let’s all sing ‘Nutopian International Anthem’! Here is the best mashup ever:
John Cage “Silence” & John & Yoko’s “Two Minutes of Silence” – with lyrics!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb4aW1G1Kc4&sns=em
ON THIS DAY – THE DECLARATION OF NUTOPIA – 1 April 1973
Nutopia is a country that exists in all of us.
John and I created this imaginary world.
We called a press conference and produced a white handkerchief from our pockets
and said “This is a flag to Surrender to Peace.”
Not Fight for Peace, but “Surrender” to Peace was the important bit.
All of us represent Nutopia.
On this day of the birth of Nutopia,
Let’s all wave the white flag or handkerchief in our minds
And say ” I love all of me” and have lots of fun.
Because we deserve it.
Each one of us.
John had said that we were all ambassadors of Nutopia. And so we are.
When you come to our apartment, you’ll see that there is a gold plaque on the kitchen door, that says Nutopian Embassy. John put it there.
Strangely enough, now friends just like to come in from that door, and not the front door.
It seems the plaque made the kitchen door our front door.
– Yoko Ono
Ambassadors of Nutopia,
Think Peace, Act Peace, Spread Peace and let people know to IMAGINE PEACE.
Pretty soon, the whole world will realize that we all belong to Nutopia.
Together, we will let the other planets know that that’s what’s happening here on our planet –
That we are all together, and living life in Peace.
The back door of Yoko’s Dakota apartment has a plaque that says ‘Nutopian Embassy’. This was John’s idea. The message of Nutopia is inside John’s Mind Games album.
I always loved the way John & Yoko used humor and, sometimes, absurdity, to make an important point.
Surrender to Peace! Give Peace a Chance! War Is Over! ( If You Want It).
What fantastic minds! Playfully serious!