Curious title for today’s post, yes it is. Let me explain. A friend of mine sent me a link the other day, and missed it entirely, and when I went back I found it was for a youtube video. She titled it “A Micro-infusion of Joy” And it is just that, it’s a flash mob of an orchestra playing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”
It is the kindest, sweetest flashmob you can think of, it’s set in a small town, “sabadell placa de sant roc” shows up on the screen, and it was shot in May of this year. It begins with a bass player in a tuxedo, and a little girl watches him, he plays a few notes, then another musician shows up. But as you watch it, you realize, “hey, this isn’t some cheap home movie?” No, in fact you see the scene unfold from lots of camera angles, and they are in sharp, clear focus. And you wonder: “hey, someone spent some money on this thing.”
And then it hit me, this quiet little flashmob takes place in front of a bank! Yup, at the end you see that the whole thing is one five minute bank advertisement. Which just rips my knitting if you know what I mean. Why am I going on about this? Because I’m torn, on one hand, it feels like they have taken what is usually just a fun, spontaneous event, normally organized by plain folk to have some fun and be entertaining. To see a bank take it over kinda cheapens the experience.
But then, on the other side of the argument, if we didn’t have banks and other business subsidize art, there are lots of works of art that we’d never get to experience. Face it, I wouldn’t be able to write this blog if it weren’t for the fact that my work is subsidized by my hubster (thanks again, sweetie) I’m so grateful for that.
Now that I’ve gotten all of that off my chest, and that you’ve been warned in advance. Here is the lovely, quiet, ever so joyous, bank flashmob ad.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GBaHPND2QJg&feature=youtu.be%5D
What do you think? How do you feel when you see something like this? Do you feel used? Or do you just enjoy it? I love hearing from you guys. And thanks always, for stopping by.
I do enjoy it. I like the idea of business’ subsidizing and supporting art. It is very different, though, knowing that it isn’t just a bunch of people spending their free time doing it.
Hi Ellie Ann,
I really enjoyed it too, until it got closer to the end, as I realized it was an advertisement. Thanks for stopping by.
Well, even if it was sort of sneaky, it was cool. Thanks for sharing.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
I thought that was really cool Rachel. And so what a bank sponsored it. The way the musicians were dressed in casual attire and gradually united with the other instruments was lovely. The music was something not expected outside of an opera house or performance theater. So bravo and all that good stuff. A most excellent post. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
Hi Karen, oohh now I’m having a vision of an “Opera” flashmob when the bank comes out with new lending rates.
I didn’t realize it was an ad for the bank until you told me. goes to show the ineffectiveness of some advertising.
Banks have a way of spoiling things period. However, I would rather watch this commercial than another commercial on how they can save me money/give me a better mortgage/offer me more credit than they’re competitors. Thanks for sharing Rachel.
Patricia, you make a very good point. If all bank ads were this lovely, I might look forward to going to them.