Pint-sized students at Coleman A. Young Elementary School show off their moves.
Despite a recent series of blows to the Detroit Public Schools system, a group of students from Coleman A. Young Elementary School set out to prove that even teacher sick-outs and deteriorating buildings can't stop them from learning.
With the help of school volunteers and teachers, the students are sharing their love for reading through the power of music, according to an article by Jasmine Epsy from BLAC Magazine. The students created a four-minute music video called "Happy to READ!" set to the catchy tune of "Happy" by singer Pharrell Williams. It was published on YouTube on May 19, 2016.
With copies of books in hand, students show off impressive dance moves while traveling between their classrooms, the playground, the school's front lawn, the gym and even the Taj Mahal and Sleeping Bear Dunes, thanks to the help of editing. Various faculty members also make cameo appearances in the video.
They also changed the song's lyrics to include uplifting phrases like "you know there's nothing that can hold you back" and "I know you can do it, just keep on trying."
“This video showcases the capabilities of Detroit Public School students and underscores the need to provide them the education to reach their full potential,” Goldman told BLAC.
The students released a similar video last year, called "Booktown Funk," a play on "Uptown Funk," the hit by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson.
In 2014, students at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences did a rendition of "Happy" that went viral.
After twice appearing on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show", the 40-member choir sang their rendition of “Happy” as part of a promo for that program/..
