Grand Rapids is a dying city, or so said Newsweek. However, Robert Bliss and some friends disagreed so they set about to create a music video that would show the vibrancy they saw in the city.
Credit: Grand Rapids LipDub
To the tune of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ the resulting music video, The Grand Rapids LipDub (Facebook | @GRLipDub) takes the viewer on a single shot tour through the city.
Thanks to the support of over 5,000 people, including emergency services, sports teams, local TV and radio, and the city itself the intricately choreographed video has been described as the “best ever made” and, to date, has been seen by over three million people on YouTube. This is made even more amazing when you consider it was done in one unedited tracking shot.
The entirely crowdfunded (to the tune of $40,000) and crowdsourced video was recorded on May 22 2011 and required the entire shutdown of the city centre.
This video was created as an official response to the Newsweek article calling Grand Rapids a “dying city.” We disagreed strongly, and wanted to create a video that encompasses the passion and energy we all feel is growing exponentially, in this great city. We felt Don McLean’s “American Pie,” a song about death, was in the end, triumphant and filled to the brim with life and hope.” – Rob Bliss, Director & Executive Producer
You can see a making of video below
This isn’t the first event Robert Bliss has put on in Grand Rapids, his previous ones include a World record Zombie Walk, mass pillow fights, and music festivals.
