Pharrell Williams’ song ‘Happy‘ is infectious, and on the playlist of radio stations like Kfm every day. Now it has been honoured with a unique Cape Town inspired music video, by a team of five local filmmakers, who made it for free, and want it to go viral, and to be seen by as many people as possible (93000 views in the past two days already)! It is fabulous free marketing for Cape Town!
Using the Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 colour yellow as its title page, which will bring it some brownie points, the Cape Town music video captures a 12 hour day. It includes the Sea Point Promenade, Muizenberg beach, Athlone Stadium, a number of township and Cape Flats scenes, colourful Bo-Kaap with minstrels, Charly’s Bakery, with the street art portrait of the late Nelson Mandela across the road, St George’s Mall, and Long 
Street.
The music video was directed by Shamiel Soni and Tannan Woods, and directed by Nicky Priem. Priem says of the ‘Happy‘ music video, and the reason for making it: ‘We are the most amazing city in the world. I think it was important for us to showcase the Mother City’s diversity and beautiful people. We all love the song and the message it portrays and I think the video helps unite our City. It gave us an opportunity to showcase our talents and our city‘.
It appears that the Cape Town version is one of a number of international city interpretations of ‘Happy’, Singapore and San Jose having made similar music videos of the song. The Cape Town version beats them all, being infectious and making one proud to be a Capetonian. The original music video of the song is less scenic, but includes a number of interesting dance moves. Its title page is yellow too!
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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