This is a video made in my hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s a medium sized city situated as far west of the abscess and abyss of Detroit as you can get without falling into Lake Michigan.
It seems the citizens of Grand Rapids objected to Newsweek’s relegation of their little metropolis to #10 on the list of America’s dying cities, and not because they thought it should have been rated higher. Seriously, why does anyone give any credibility to a failed news publication that sold for $1 plus debt anyway?
Grand Rapidians (yes, that is correct) aren’t accustomed to being dissed, and hence they banded together to produce a street rebuttal. I think you’ll like it:
I love this, but confess to being a bit perplexed by the selection of American Pie as the anthem to dispute the Newsweak designation. Apparently I am not alone, as Rob Bliss, Director & Executive Producer of the video, explains - sort of:
“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.”
Which still doesn’t make any sense to me. But not to quibble; the video is lots of fun, and highly recommended for heading into the weekend. Just accept the fact that American Pie is “filled to the brim with life and hope” and not a song about the demise of an American icon and that should do it for you.
But seriously, with so many other songs to choose from, what were they they thinking? Why not Colorful written by West Michigan’s own Brian Vander Ark for the West Michigan band Verve Pipe? The lyrics are perfect:
The show is over, close the story book
There will be no encore
And all the random hands that I have shook
Well they're reaching for the door
I watch their backs as they leave single file
But you stood stubborn, cheering all the while
I know I can be colorful
I know I can be gray
But I know this loser's living fortunate
'Cause I know you will love me either way…Most were being good for goodness sake
But you wouldn't pantomime
You are more beautiful when you awake
Than most are in a lifetime
Through the haze that is my memory, well
You stayed for drama though you paid for a comedy
I know I can be colorful
I know I can be gray
But I know this loser's living fortunate
And I know you will love me either way
Look ahead as far as far as you can see
We'll live in drama but we'll die in a comedy
I know I can be colorful
I know I can be gray
But I know this loser's living fortunate
And I know you will love me either way
The tune although not “filled to the brim with life and hope” is pretty awesome too:
That would have been my choice; for the symbolism, for the reality.
Those who love this city on the banks of the Grand River will always love it and always believe in its greatness, beauty and future potential, regardless of Newsweak’s designation.
But that’s just me. I’ll grant you that “Filled to the brim with life and hope” is much more upbeat.
Maybe I’ve been gone too long; longer gone than old when I left.
I guess Thomas Wolfe was right.
h/t Vanderleun and Sondrakistan
