This is a “music video” that probably many of you have seen – made by British soldiers in Iraq. Click on it to download. If you haven’t seen it – watch the whole thing. If it doesn’t bring a sponteaneous grin to your face, then I kinda don’t want to know you, mkay? No, just kidding. It’s just that I, personally, find it one of the HAPPIEST things I’ve ever seen – just the sheer JOY of it – made even more palpable because of their surroundings. See it!!
The video spread like wildfire throughout the Internet (Here’s the story of the video – Thank you so much, Alex, for calling my attention to it) – causing laughter and joy wherever it went. Crashing servers on both sides of the Atlantic.
I myself have viewed it countless times – I just get so caught up in it every time – and no matter how many times I see the Bandaged-Mummy-Esque guy join the procession near the end- I just LOSE it. I love how it’s all done in one take – so the cast of thousands are basically WAITING, in place, waiting for the camera to come by so they can leap into action – The image of these soldiers hiding all over the desert camp, in various costumes, waiting for their “turn” is just HYSTERICAL. I love these men and I love their spirits. Watch how the whole thing comes to a perfect and comedic ending. The human spirit. I know they just did this as a GOOF to “lift morale”, and keep their spirits up – and it ended up being forwarded ad nauseum – but it’s the kind of thing that just makes me really happy that I have seen it, and really happy that these men are on the planet with me. I just find their energy so infectious.
Watch it. Laugh. Joy. Love them.
And a big thank you to our servicemen and women – far away from homes and their families on this holiday!!
That’s not an easy thing to do. That’s ONE long take. I’m a bit amazed by it on a very technical, performance level, never mind the emotional level thinking about what these guys are actually doing over there.
I love how the “lead guy” keeps just motioning throughout the whole thing: “Come on, join us!”
hahahaha
It is very joyful. It works on so many levels. It makes you love humanity. In the midst of war, one of the darkest of all human experiences, these guys do a mini musical number, one of the lightest of all human experiences. Beautiful!
Yeah – like little boys, playing around with their dad’s camcorder. hahaha
I also just love how REHEARSED it is. Like, they obviously did a “walk through”, or a “dry tech” – which just charms the bejeebus out of me.
Hahahahaha! I love this, and have for sometime. Another feather in the cap of British humor! These guys SLAY me each time I watch it. Thanks for the reminder Sheila and thanks for the kind words to my brothers and sisters in harms way; and especially to my wife who’s currently over there. Stay safe all!
I had forgotten about the blind trooper towards the end. hahahahahah! And the credits “Randy MoFo” BWAAHAHAHA!
I love the guy who just pops into the procession for a second – with half of his face covered in shaving cream. Like – he’s in the middle of something, but he had to just join the procession and then go back to shaving his face.
heh heh heh
Again – I get the image of him just WAITING in place – for the camera to come by so he can pop out and do his bit.
It just cracks me up!!!
MoFo … heh heh heh heh
RANDY MoFo… They are British you know. ;)
Randy MoFo. Lovin’ all of ’em. Must watch it again now.
I think the first guy that joined him totally stuffed his briefs! :)
Oh Jen – please don’t ruin my fantasy! :)
You know how, over time, you get so you trust some bloggers more than others? Maybe trust isn’t quite what I mean. It’s just that, you get so you know who you’re more likely to agree with when they recommend something. It’s to the point with me that, if you link something and say it’s really fabulous, I almost always check it out. “Sheila said it’s good! So it’s bound to be good!”
Anyway, this did not disappoint. At ALL. I don’t even know where to start–the near-perfect choreography? The huge grin on the leader’s face the entire time? The costumes? The shaving guy? (Okay, I am very partial to the shaving guy. Love him.)
I can’t believe they did this in the circumstances they did and it turned out so great. It’s amazing and hysterical. THANK YOU for pointing me to it.
There is another wonderful military music video, I think it was done by Norwegian soldiers. They wrote their own lyrics. It’s quite well done. I wish I knew how to send you the link but I am not very tech savvy. It is on the web in several locations, I always find it by searching for “kosovo video”.
Ilyka – In all honesty, that might be the nicest comment I have ever received. Seriously.
Thank you so much.
Hey – are you blogging incognito now? I miss your blog – you’re still on my blogroll – I can’t let go! If you’re blogging secretly – can I be in on the secret?? I won’t tell anyone. :) You can email me secretly: redhead2@sheilaomalley.com.
Seriously – thank you.
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU for this! You’re right – smile immediately, and can’t stop watching. On 4th go around right now.
I’m with ilyka – though I don’t have time to read everything you link to, I *wish* I did! Haven’t been led astray yet.
Merry Christmas!