By Kohl Glass
Once upon a time there was a guy named Matt Harding who had a deep love of travel and an odd little way of dancing. While in Vietnam one of Matt's travel companions suggested that they video Matt doing his little dance in front of a famous land mark. It was a success and Matt started recording his dance at all the landmarks he visited, then uploading the videos to the Internet. These videos grew in popularity and in 2008 Matt was sponsored by Stride Gum to dance in 42 countries over 14 months, with a cast of thousands . . . the end product being Where the Hell is Matt? (2008).
For the production Matt had Garry Schyman compose the song Paraan, which in my opinion totally makes the video. Dancing is harmony. Seeing Matt dance with people all over the globe to this beautiful slowly building exotic song stirs up joyous feelings of a literal brotherhood of Man . . . at least in me any way. I rushed out and purchased Paraan from iTunes shortly after seeing this video. I love this song so much. It lifts me every time I hear it. Keep dancing, Matt, keep dancing.
Paraan by Garry Schyman
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I'd seen the original a couple times, id never watched this new one. it is amazing to say "i'm going to make a video of me dancing like a buffoon with a bunch of people around the world" and have it turn out so heartfelt and poignant. i agree, the music has a lot to do with it.
ReplyDeleteThey are dancing like a bunch of idiots . . . but then there's when Matt is dancing with the Indian ladies and he suddenly stops and moves in harmony with them . . . that's the best part. That and the fat dude in the blue shirt dancing on the far right in Brisbane, Australia.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know much of the back story. Also think this is a great song and dance.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to disagree with you and say it's the visual that makes this song. I listened to it with out watching the video and it didn't quite move me like it had when I watched it.
ReplyDeleteBut did you watch the video before just listening to it? Maybe it's like FLCL, where you wouldn't necessarily like the music before seeing the anime, but after . . . ?
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