Take That, Newsweek: The Grand Rapids LipDub Goes Viral

Trending on YouTube today is one of the most impressive, and even world record-breaking lip dub videos to date. A lip dub, in case you were wondering, is a type of video that combines lip synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. The song of choice? Don McLean's American Pie.

Despite the length of the song, at almost ten minutes, the duration is not what broke the record, but rather the size and scope of the project. This involved about 5,000 people and a major shutdown of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was filled with marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and helicopter take-offs.

It was a feat of place branding and local pride that could become a case study for municipal and civic officials looking to elevate their own local branding.Continue reading...