The Q at Parkside

(for those for whom the Parkside Q is their hometrain)

News and Nonsense from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Lefferts and environs, or more specifically a neighborhood once known as Melrose Park. Sometimes called Lefferts Gardens. Or Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Or PLG. Or North Flatbush. Or Caledonia (west of Ocean). Or West Pigtown. Across From Park Slope. Under Crown Heights. Near Drummer's Grove. The Side of the Park With the McDonalds. Jackie Robinson Town. Home of Lefferts Manor. West Wingate. Near Kings County Hospital. Or if you're coming from the airport in taxi, maybe just Flatbush is best.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Happy on Flatbush - What Else's New?

Years ago, an annoying ditty called "Don't Worry Be Happy" became the number one song in America. That was at a time when one had very few entertainment options - just the TV and radio and, um, your Sony Walkman. Maybe the 8-track tape player in your uncle's pickup truck?

Anyway, unless you've been living under a rock lobster, the song of the moment is "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, with a video so infectiously adorable that you've got to be a pretty hardened cynic not to smile, just a bit. The song is fan-fabulous, though it never reaches a truly transcendent pop peak. Mr. Pharrell continues his domination, after "Get Lucky," with his perfectly timed for the times Curtis Mayfieldisms. The song's beat and sound are perfect for the tune, and the descending harmony lines are the songs true hooks, no small feat, since that's usually not the focal point of a chorus. The chord changes are refreshing in today's I V VI IV pop landscape. Nicely done sir.

And what does this have to with The Q at Parkside and Lefferts? Well, check out Olivia Killingsworth, doing her rendition of the video along, you guessed it, The Fabulous Flatbush Corridor. Nice work O.K.! I trust you're a neighbor?




3 comments:

[] said...

There seems to be some rumblings that it may or may not be from a real estate company. Not that is takes away from the cuteness per say
http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/43814/are-you-ready-flatbush-and-ditmas-park-here-she-comes

diak said...

I really don't think this is a real estate ad... it's apparently one of a series from a video producer (his contact info is at the end of the video). All feature the same song, same single joyful dancer. Different NYC locales. Watch this video on YouTube and others in the series are in the left-hand column of related videos.
But how sad that something that's so much fun can attract suspicion and some angry and malicious comments—I won't even dignify one of the four remarks below the YouTube window by quoting it. Pure troll hate.
The YouTube page has a link to dancin' Olivia's website. Yes, she is a neighborhood resident.
But I'm a little suspicious that that's really Flatbush Ave in PLG... it looks awfully clean! Digital retouching perhaps? PAs with brooms? Whatever it is, it makes me HAPPY!

ElizabethC said...

Super early in the morning thus --- less garbage and few people!