Antwerp, Belgium’s train station musical surprise: Everyone does The Sound of Music

by Jamie Rhein on

Not since Improv Everywhere’s Food Court Musical have I been so pleased by a surprise musical number in a public place. This time the setting is Central Train Station in Antwerp, Belgium and the vehicle is Julie Andrew’s voice singing “Do A Deer” from The Sound of Music over the loud speaker. First, just a man and a young girl start to dance as if drawn in by the song. Gradually, the few become a crowd that exudes joy.

Although this singing and dancing number might have been inspired by Improv Everywhere’s antics, particularly Frozen Grand Central, this stunt is part of an ad campaign for a reality TV show. Regardless, the result is superb. This starts out slow and then builds as more and more people join in. I dare you to not hum a few bars.

Travel poem of Tuscany

by Jamie Rhein on

This is National Poetry Month. With that in mind, here’s an idea for combining visual images gathered from a travel experience with poetry and music. The female narrator, I’m assuming, is the person who took the photos and wrote the poem. According to the description, this video was inspired by the writer’s recent trip to Tuscany.

The words reflect the images of this region of Italy, and the music helps capture the mood of the traveler’s experiences. The result is a sensory experience for the viewer. I particularly liked the contrasting textures in the blend of architecture, scenery and food. Very cool idea.

For all you backpackers who have ever chased a woman (or man) through Europe

by Jeffrey White on


I’m betting a few of our readers have had an experience a little like the one Australian singer Paul Kelly describes in this song.

A man and woman start out traveling together in Europe. They fight, make up, fight some more, break up, meet back up and then the guy, in this case, just basically followers her hoping to make things right.

It’s a lament, and also something of a parody of the backpacker’s story.

Cherry blossoms at New York’s botanical gardens

by Jamie Rhein on

With only through next week to catch the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., there’s another chance in April to enjoy the pink glory if you head north. At the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, and at the Brooklyn Botantic Gardens, the cherry trees bloom later than those in D.C.

To create this time lapse photography video that highlights the blooming, 3,000 shots, one every three minutes, were taken between April 18 and April 26, 2008. The video was created by Dave Allen, the webmaster for the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The effect is a bit like a musical kaleidoscope of nature in shades of pink. Nicely done!

To see the cherry trees bloom in real time, head to the section the Brooklyn Botanic Garden called Cherry Walk. According to the New York Botanical Garden website, rhododendron, buttercups, pansies, and magnolias are some of the other flowers and trees that bloom there in April.

Afghanistan, an accordion, ‘Elvis’ and Johnny Cash

by Jeffrey White on

A friend of mine just sent me this video from the start-up Web site GlobalPost, and it’s fantastic.

Gregory Warner, a freelance foreign correspondent living in Afghanistan, is an avid accordion player, and he tries to use the instrument as a means to connect with the people he’s covering.

The way Afghans respond to his accordion music is somewhat unexpected and reveals some truths about the country’s development during the last quarter century.

What does Warner do when asked to perform at a concert and realizing he doesn’t know any tunes by Afghanistan’s own pop icon? Well, Johnny Cash to the rescue. Watch and see what I mean…

(Thanks, Ed)