Pop band creates music video for deaf people. Wait, what?
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In pop rock band Walk the Moon鈥檚 latest music video, there is no singing, at least not in English.
Collaborating with AT&T and the Deaf Professional Arts Network (D-PAN), the chart-topping indie band created a second, alternative music video to their latest single, 鈥淒ifferent Colors.鈥� In this version, the performers and actors belt out the song in American Sign Language.
Mixed with impeccable choreography, they signed rhythmically and vigorously, and if you didn鈥檛 know beforehand, you would have never guessed many of them are hard of hearing, considering how flawlessly on beat they are.
鈥�. They just don鈥檛 get the whole experience,鈥� Joel Martin, the co-founder of D-PAN, told The Daily Beast in August, while the video was in production. 鈥淲hat we are doing is turning it into something that is accessible.鈥�
Founded in 2006, the organization has created ASL videos for a multitude of pop artists, including Eminem, John Mayer, The White Stripes, Christina Aguilera, and Owl City. Earlier this year, they even created a version of the ubiquitous 鈥淟et It Go鈥� from Disney鈥檚 "Frozen."
The latest video with Walk the Moon, however, is the is backed by a large corporate sponsor and the band itself. AT&T led the project as part of their campaign, which promotes music among deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, and the celebration of music for everyone.
"It means everything to me," said Sean Forbes, the other co-founder of D-PAN and an organizer of the video. "It shows there are people out there who believe in what we're doing." Forbes, a rapper who鈥檚 deaf, was the one who approached Martin nearly 10 years ago to propose creating the ASL version of Eminem鈥檚 鈥淟ose Yourself.鈥�
The plot of Walk the Moon鈥檚 video parallels the message of celebrating differences. Titled 鈥淪ubway Serenade,鈥� the story begins with a very cautious mother escorting her daughter on a retro subway car. Then, the other commuters begin to dance and sign the lyrics of the song. What ensues is an infectious, lively dance party, which the daughter joins at the end.
It鈥檚 a relatable message for many of those with disabilities, who are often overlooked or overprotected. The video is shot in a continuous take, which took three days of rehearsals.
鈥淚 had to be really smart with who I hired,鈥� producer Kevin Breslin told The Daily Beast. 鈥淲e were all very concerned about being able to play up to their level, not about them playing up to ours.鈥�
鈥淭he tricky thing for me was to be able to make sure that we didn鈥檛 blow the storyline of this song, which is all about accepting each other for who you are,鈥� he added.
Nicholas Petricca, Walk the Moon鈥檚 frontman, confirms that this is precisely what his song preaches 鈥� diversity and acceptance.
鈥淲ith this song in particular, it鈥檚 such a different side of us and has this message that鈥檚 important to us about each other鈥檚 differences,鈥� he said in a Billboard interview June.
AT&T鈥檚 campaign will run through the end of the month and offers a chance for participants to win a trip to see Walk the Moon live by sumbitting of an original ASL video for 鈥淒ifferent Colors.鈥�
