I live in West Michigan, near Grand Rapids. Recently Newsweek magazine put out a list of dying cities, and Grand Rapids was among them. Grand Rapids certainly doesn't appear to be a dying city to me, and having it on the list really upset some people around here.
There is a young college student who lives in Grand Rapids, who is known for putting on some big events. He wanted to do something to show Newsweek that Grand Rapids shouldn't be on the list. He organized a lip dub video, that would show off the city and the people. He also wanted to set a record for the longest lip dub video.
He got the cooperation of lots of people and made the video. It includes the mayor, local tv personalities, school bands, firemen, police and lots of everyday people. It set a world record and it's gotten a lot of attention. Roger Ebert called it "The Greatest Music Video ever made". It's been featured on the Today show and was on the Evening News with Diane Sawyer.
Newsweek Magazine has now said they didn't think Grand Rapids was dying and they just published a list they got from someone else. I think it was a success!
Here it is:
There is a young college student who lives in Grand Rapids, who is known for putting on some big events. He wanted to do something to show Newsweek that Grand Rapids shouldn't be on the list. He organized a lip dub video, that would show off the city and the people. He also wanted to set a record for the longest lip dub video.
He got the cooperation of lots of people and made the video. It includes the mayor, local tv personalities, school bands, firemen, police and lots of everyday people. It set a world record and it's gotten a lot of attention. Roger Ebert called it "The Greatest Music Video ever made". It's been featured on the Today show and was on the Evening News with Diane Sawyer.
Newsweek Magazine has now said they didn't think Grand Rapids was dying and they just published a list they got from someone else. I think it was a success!
Here it is:
21 comments:
How awesome that a young person would take that on.....He's definitely a very motivated young man....
Hooray for him and his efforts......and nice to know that Grand Rapids is not dying.........
Congratulations to the young man and the whole city for showing us YOU'RE VERY MUCH ALIVE!! Great Video!
I LOVED the video. It made me want to live there! I really enjoyed watching the video. Love that song too!
That was a wonderful video! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing this with us!!
That took alot of work and effort. Not to mention organizing the whole thing and all those people... Good for that young man!!! very impressive
Oh my GOSH! I love to see that a community could get together and plan something like that. A MAZE ING! and boo to Newsweek from publishing a list from someone else and not fact checking!
A beautiful human adventure!
that was amazing!! I can't imagine how long it took to put that together and make it work!!! I love it.
btw, if you buy the car, I would be HAPPY to drive it to MI!! :)
MAri~ did not know you lived in Grand Rapis area. We were in Lowell on Sunday for a relatives graduation. We traveled 710 miles in one day and we surprised her. Was fun !!!
And loved the video !!
what an elaborate video! and fun :)
What a creative young man and the whole city. That was just AWESOME!!
I sure did enjoy the video of your city and the scenery is just beautiful.
That had to take a lot of planning to get it done so beautifully.
Thanks for sharing and I am glad that your no longer on the list.
That is so cute! Taking pride in where you live is a wonderful thing!
Happy Day, Mari!
Julieann
I saw some of it on the news and thought, "What a great idea!" I've also enjoyed seeing it here. If I ever get to Grand Rapids, I'll really absorb the experience and will forever relate it to "Miss American Pie." :)
I really liked this post, Mari. There is something that doesn't agree with my spirit when I read of lists that news makers love to put out. Imagine labeling cities as dying, or going down the drain. Such grim predictions tend to be self fulfilling prophecies, so it was good that this man and his supporters agreed to come against those negative words.
Life and death is in the power of the tongue...
Yes, way to go! Speak life to Grand Rapids!
Loved the video!
Lidj
P.S.
I forgot to mention that I was particularly thrilled to see a map of our Philippine Islands embroidered on the shirt of one man in the Grand Rapids lip dub. He obviously is a Filipino - the one wearing a black shirt and appears on the screen at about 5 minutes into the video.
Ooooo, this really warmed my heart. How brilliant to get the whole community together like this. What a great video. I loved the way everything worked together!
Well done, young man!!!
Somebody better put his name down for Mayor! This is the most awesome display of American Ingenuity I have seen in a long time! INCREDIBLE!!!
Talk about putting it in Newsweek's face! This should definitely show they to retract and apologize for putting Michigan on that list! Whooo-Hooooo!
I agree with Donna B..."somebody better put his name down for Mayor!" This was the most awe inspiring video I have ever seen. It was remarkable in every respect and that so many people were a part of it made its luster shine line no other. I was impressed from the start to the end and I really didn't want it to end.
after our girlfriend trip to grand rapids recently I can tell you that We LOVED GRAND RAPIDS!
Congrats to all who participated in the wonderful video, what a great job they did!
Sure looks alive to me! I hate those kinds of lists. Like Shakespeare said, all comparisons are odious.
I watched this yesterday and tried to comment, but for some reason Blogger wouldn't let me. Anyway, I LOVE this!!! The song, the video, and the story behind it. Thanks for sharing it.
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