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01 Dec 12 - 09:39 PM (#3445532) Subject: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: gnu Sent a flsh mob vid to a whack of me buds earlier today. It's great, as most are. Got one reply that struck a twang in my heart. Something I have wondered about but was afraid to ask ANYone on accounta I am a big, tough, hairy assed man who takes on ALL COMERS. Ya don't mess with this little back duck unless ya want yer ass in the grass. I'll let my reply to her explain... "Tears??? !!! Gee... I was thinking about starting a thead at Mudcat... I cry about almost every flash mob... the "giving" of one's self in such an endevour moves my spirit to reJOYce in humanity and our connection to each other. Flash mobs exemplify this hunan trait in a way that actually moves me to tears. EVERY time I witness one. Maybe this happened with you just this once... happens to me EVERY time. I truly wonder if I am alone on this? Are such acts of true human "goodness" so "moving" for others? I shall indeed start a thread to ask that very question. Thanks ****! So, here's the last one that brought tears to my eyes and brought tears to ****'* as well. Do such acts of human kindness and "connection" in such a collective manner move you? You don't have to admit such move you to tears, of course. I could name a dozen of my big, hairy assed man buddies here at Mudcat that would shit on me publically for being such a "pussy" but I know otherwise. They'd never admit to feeling as emotional as flash mobs affect me but... do flash mobs make you reJOYce in the celebration of being human and sharing same? |
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01 Dec 12 - 10:04 PM (#3445542) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: GUEST,999 Many do, Gnu. Hell, I cried when ET died. |
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01 Dec 12 - 10:11 PM (#3445545) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: frogprince I'm a goofy enough old coot now that I tear up at a lotta stuff. Mostly, though, the flash mob music things just make me smile 'til my teeth get stuck in my ears. With this one, though....late on one young woman kooked up with this particular smile, and the next moment they carry in the little dude, and (I suspect his pa) is rubbing that mess of "baby-black" hair, and I went 'n' lost it a little. |
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01 Dec 12 - 10:14 PM (#3445548) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: frogprince ... looked up... : ) |
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01 Dec 12 - 10:24 PM (#3445557) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: michaelr Well, all things Christmas give me the heebie-jeebies... but gnu, I know what you mean. The last "flash mob" that made my eyeballs moist was that Spanish one where they did "Ode to Joy". |
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01 Dec 12 - 10:44 PM (#3445566) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: gnu 9... ET? You mean that Ed T from NS? He makes me cry at times but from laughter, eh? |
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01 Dec 12 - 10:56 PM (#3445573) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Don Firth Gotta admit it! That really got too me. Especially when they appeared. Then the lyrics were "...fall on your knees...." and the young boy knelt. WOW!! Don Firth |
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01 Dec 12 - 11:09 PM (#3445574) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Janie The videos always move me, gnu, and I would love to happen to be somewhere when a flash mob event occurred. Not likely to happen with this recluse. (I agree Michael, that Ode to Joy flash mob video in Spain was wonderful!) One thing I wonder about, on the technical side, and forgive me this. The quality of sound on the videos of these well-planned and usually well-filmed events is much, much better than I am certain is the case in real time if one were to happen to be in the mall or the square where such an event occurred. I wonder if anyone here has ever participated in, or been spectator to a well organized flash mob music event, and what it was like actually being there to participate or witness? |
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01 Dec 12 - 11:22 PM (#3445578) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Don Firth Well, sonny gun!! Thanks, gnu!! Never heard of "flash mobs" until I peeked into this thread. What a great phenomenon! It sent me to Google to look up "flash mob" and it immediately led me to THIS YouTube video. What a really nice thing for people to do. Maybe the world is getting more civilized after all! Don Firth |
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02 Dec 12 - 12:18 AM (#3445593) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Beer I passed this one around cyber space as well. When I received it I thought why not. If your are a traditionalist and I am, then it hit me. ad. |
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02 Dec 12 - 01:22 AM (#3445597) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Joe Offer This one from Spain was posted on the Harmony List of the San Francisco Folk Music Club today. Can anybody tell what they're singing? Doesn't sound like German. -Joe- |
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02 Dec 12 - 02:40 AM (#3445604) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Amos My sense of it is that these flash mobs reaffirm the core connection between all humans, the affinity among humankind. Every stress, loss and painful trauma we carry around with us is a betrayal or violation in some way of that fundamental bond with our own species. The reaffirmation of it brings on tears of relief and also of remindment of these things. The last one didn't make me tear up, but these always give me a big old grin, and a sense that a small slice of peace on earth has slipped through the bob wire. |
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02 Dec 12 - 03:26 AM (#3445609) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Joe Offer I suppose most of the recent flash mob videos aren't true "flash mobs." They lack the spontaneity of the earliest flash mobs. Oftentimes, they have commercial sponsors and the permission of the facility where the so-called "flash mob" takes place. I went to a "flash mob" performance of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" at a local shopping mall a couple of years ago. It was organized by a local choral society, and promoted in the local newspaper. It drew such a crowd that the situation became dangerous, and it had to be cancelled. Still, the concept is great - and even the events with sponsors are often quite wonderful. You'll note that the event in Spain had sponsors - but it was still a wonderful thing. -Joe- |
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02 Dec 12 - 06:01 AM (#3445631) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: ragdall My introduction to a "flash mob", was the very well rehearsed, well financed, "T-Mobile's Home For The Holidays Surprise" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcmfCXwAFs4 It must have been a great experience for the shoppers. As Janie pointed out, flash mob videos can be very polished. I'm guessing that the sound track on that video was dubbed in from studio recordings? It looked as if areas in the mall were closed to the public, as well, for the performers to be able to move as a group, unobstructed. So, no, gnu, I wasn't moved to tears by the first flash mob video that I watched. It was a performance. I was caught up in wondering about the staging details, camera angles, etc.. I didn't see it as 'the "giving" of one's self in such an endeavour', rather I thought, "Gee, it would be so much fun to participate!" The video that you linked to today was different in that it was a smaller group of more "ordinary" people with a message that I've been guilty of ignoring, or at best, have been giving lip service. It hit me hard today. The imagery was powerful, stressed out people rushing around spending money they may not have to buy things for people who already have too many things, a giant tree and mall overdecorated "for the season", children visiting Santa to add to the consumerism. Against a backdrop of sale signs, a beautiful familiar song rings out, followed by another, and another, all with the same message. People in the crowd stop to listen or to join in the singing, then, at the center of it all, beside the giant "holiday tree", a couple with a tiny baby... all eyes are on him. A child kneels before the baby, then another kneels. Beautiful! What a message! No doubt those singers had practiced and knew their parts. It may not have been spontaneous, but the message was so well presented. It was a very emotional experience! Thanks for sending it around, gnu. rags |
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02 Dec 12 - 06:40 AM (#3445640) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: GUEST,Callingbird They always make me cry and this one is no exception. |
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02 Dec 12 - 05:18 PM (#3445895) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: GUEST,Stim Flashmobs are, obviously well planned theatrical events, the only thing is that the audience doesn't know that they're going to be the audience. Here's a link to five great surprise musical numbers, at supermarket, at a Mall Santa, a food court, a technology conference, etc. Improv Everywhere Musicals |
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02 Dec 12 - 07:42 PM (#3445931) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Janie Whoohoo!!!! Thanks Stim. |
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02 Dec 12 - 07:45 PM (#3445935) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: gnu Don, and others... filter these on Mudcat. The very first flash mobs (recall... don't trust MY memory because *I* sure as heck don't) were in La Belle Province, Canuckistan. There are threads. And those flash mobs are excellent! And they were posted in threads here at mudcat many moons ago. Searching at YT is okay but it doesn't bring up the really good ones... well, the ones I thought were GOOD. |
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02 Dec 12 - 08:15 PM (#3445948) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: katlaughing Joe, the official languages for that part of Spain are listed as Catalan, first, then Spanish. So, maybe it was Catalan? |
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02 Dec 12 - 11:21 PM (#3445995) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Seamus Kennedy I was part of a flash-mob in a mall recently, where we pulled a guy out of the crowd and hanged him. No wait! It was a lynch-mob. Never mind, sorry! |
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03 Dec 12 - 11:51 AM (#3446199) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Noreen Joe and Kat, there is a comment under the clip on YouTube complementing the Catalan lyrics. Very suitable as the event was to celebrate the city (and its bank!) so they would use their own language. I came to this thread clip if it hadn't already been added. One of the best I've seen, well produced and very moving. :) |
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03 Dec 12 - 01:54 PM (#3446282) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Lonesome EJ Even seeing the term "flash mob" in the thread title caused me to tear up |
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03 Dec 12 - 02:01 PM (#3446288) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: katlaughing I love you bunch of ol' softies.*bg* Thanks, Noreen. Good thing to read...comments, I mean.:-) I liked the one with the guys going up the escalator, but the baby and parents, in costume, was a little too contrived for my taste. I prefer the earlier flash mobs. Oh, and I have always teared up easily; took a lot of teasing about it when I was a kid, being the "baby" of the family. |
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03 Dec 12 - 02:07 PM (#3446290) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Lonesome EJ Yes, Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus suddenly appearing was a bit corny. I wish the video had run long enough to show how they gracefully withdrew. |
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03 Dec 12 - 02:14 PM (#3446293) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: Little Hawk Beautifully done. |
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03 Dec 12 - 02:17 PM (#3446295) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: GUEST,Eliza Joe, the lovely Ode to Joy from Spain was sung in Catalan. Wasn't it super? I loved seeing the effect on the little children. |
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03 Dec 12 - 09:44 PM (#3446492) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: GUEST,Dani I. LOVE. THEM. And if anyone ruins them, I will punch someone in the nose. The surprise sinking in is always the breathtaking part, for me. Have you guys seen the episode of Modern Family about Cam and the flash mob?! Janie, I may have a line on one for you... we'll talk! Dani |
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04 Dec 12 - 02:09 PM (#3446971) Subject: RE: Flash mob question... sappy warning From: GUEST,Peter Laban The first I came across three years ago was the Antwerp Central station one. Haven't seen many since that can beat the timing and surprise. |