In Spring of last year I helped organize a group of former Jehovah’s Witnesses from various countries to film our own dance video to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. I felt this was a great way of showing the world that so-called “apostates” are not angry and bitter, but are moving on with their lives in a positive, purposeful way.
The thought did briefly cross my mind: “Could it be that Jehovah’s Witnesses would ever do their own dance video to this song?” Though not completely inconceivable, I felt this would be unlikely given that, growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, it was always frowned on to even own the music of rap/hip hop stars, let alone dance to it on camera!
Well, it seems I could not have been more wrong.
Since I made the “Happy” video there have been at least two instances of Jehovah’s Witnesses dancing to this particular track: one in a kingdom hall while entertaining international convention delegates and, more recently, a full-blown dance montage to the Happy song at various Bethel locations has been uploaded to YouTube…
The above video was initially available on a number of YouTube channels, but was taken down after complaints from JWs – including from one JW who claimed to speak on behalf of the makers of the video who strongly objected to it being posted to YouTube. (I would present evidence of this, but unfortunately the video was taken down before I could get a screengrab of the comments.)
Indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if the embedded video above ends up getting pulled from YouTube at some point. If you’re reading this article later on and the version of “Happy” shown above is embedded from my Russian “RuTube” account, you know why.
Why would Jehovah’s Witnesses object?
It hopefully shouldn’t require explanation as to why an undoubtedly positive and upbeat video such as this would ignite controversy among seasoned Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I’ll spell it out for you anyway.
Though this particular song contains no lyrics that can be interpreted as sexually explicit, the same cannot be said of other music by Pharrell – including the following…
- Take It Off (Dim The Lights)
- Creamsickle
- Come Get It Bae
- Gush
- Get Lucky (collaboration with Daft Punk)
- Blurred Lines (collaboration with Robin Thicke)
And the following quotes give some indication as to why long-standing Witnesses who actually read and apply the instructions found in Watchtower literature might be perplexed at this latest stunt…
“Consider the case of a young man who wants to buy a certain music album. What he has heard from the album is very appealing, but he is concerned because the back cover indicates that the lyrics are sexually explicit and profane… As a lover of Jehovah, this young man is interested in His thoughts and feelings on the matter. How can he perceive what God’s will is in this regard?” w03 12/1 p.21
“Since Bible times, unwholesome music has been a tool of Satan to stimulate unclean behavior. (Compare Exodus 32:17-19; Psalm 69:12; Isaiah 23:16.) Not surprisingly, then, music with sexually seductive—if not explicit—lyrics, profanity, and wild, arousing tempos is popular.” w99 9/1 p.10
“What about the lyrics? Do they promote sexual immorality, drug use, or other wrongs that are ‘shameful even to relate?’ (Ephesians 5:12) The Bible says that such things should ‘not even be mentioned’ among God’s people, much less set to a beat and repeated over and over again. (Ephesians 5:3) What about the album-jacket design? Does it contain spiritistic themes or sexually arousing pictures? Perhaps you need to make some changes in the type of music you choose. If you have records, tapes, and discs that carry immoral and demonistic themes, you should immediately dispose of them.” w93 4/15 p.24
Regarding that last quote, young JWs who were forced to throw away albums featuring lyrics that fell short of Watchtower’s standards would have had no defense in holding on to these simply because a single song on them had lyrics that were harmless.
How, then, can the makers of this “Happy” video have no qualms about endorsing the music of Pharrell Williams when so much of it would be considered “a tool of Satan to stimulate unclean behavior?”
I believe the answer lies in the fact that Watchtower is changing – drastically. It is not the same religion that most Witnesses and ex-Witnesses grew up in.
The Watchtower of the 20th Century was unyielding, uncompromising and proud to be loathed and unpopular. The Watchtower of the 21st Century is image-obsessed, beguiling, and willing to bend a few of its rules for the sake of portraying itself in a favorable light.
The work of a rogue individual, or an inside job?
Some will doubtless argue that this video MUST be the ill-advised work of some rogue, over-enthusiastic, spiritually-weak Witness individual. But there are numerous reasons for asserting that this video is in fact a calculated internal propaganda stunt by Watchtower.
Anyone who has spent any amount of time in Bethel will tell you that you simply do not get that sort of access to the various departments (not to mention the cooperation of the bethelites working IN those departments), without the consent of the departmental overseers.
You cannot just wander into the lobby of Patterson with a camera and get the receptionists to dance wildly for you at your command.
Another telling sign that this is an inside job comes at 1:13 in the video, where a caption pops up that reads “Hmong RTO.” Hmong is an ethnic group from South-East Asia, and “RTO” stands for “Remote Translation Office.”
The use of organizational jargon in this caption, without any attempt to explain things for those not familiar with the inner workings of Watchtower, would seem to indicate that this video was intended for distribution only among the Bethel family.
The unfettered access to various Watchtower locations and departments, the full and enthusiastic cooperation of so many bethelites, and the use of an internal acronym that most JWs would be unfamiliar with, all points to this being an inside job – authorized at the highest level.
If I’m wrong, and it’s really so easy to roam around Bethel getting bethelites to dance for you in front of the camera, excuse me while I book the first flight to New York!
Reasons for optimism?
But forensics aside, what can we take away from this video? Are we to conclude that bethelites are deliriously happy with their lives? Can we dare to suggest that Watchtower is becoming more easy-going, down-to-earth and mainstream?
On the first question, I would point out two things: (1) you should really check out Brock Talon’s book “Journey To God’s House” and the recent JWpodcast interview with Kam Deo if you want to know whether life in Bethel is all smiles and laughter, and (2) there is a big difference between dancing on camera and being genuinely happy. Yes – I realize you can make this same argument about my own interpretation of the Happy song, but the reasons for an ex-JW to be happy are, in my opinion, far more plausible than those of a JW.
A JW’s “happiness” originates from knowing that he is serving Jehovah (when in fact he is serving an organization), and from the absolute conviction that one day he will live in a world where everyone who disagrees with his beliefs has been slaughtered.
Those are definitely reasons to be happy, but they are not good reasons.
An exJW’s happiness comes from knowing that they have been emancipated from the control of a small group of deluded men in New York, and from knowing they are free to live their lives according to what they think and believe rather than having their personal convictions prescribed for them.
Speaking for myself, there is also a great deal of joy to be derived from knowing that the love you have for your child is unconditional, and that no personal differences need ever threaten to separate your dearest little one from you.
As to the idea that this video represents a softening on the part of Watchtower – if only that were true!
In order for Watchtower to become more “mainstream” and easy-going it would need to loosen up its harsh and damaging rules on such matters as shunning, blood transfusions, child abuse and higher education. Rather than doing that, if anything Watchtower is circling the wagons more and more on those issues, as the recent rant by Tony Morris on higher education indicates.
Unfortunately what we are seeing in this Happy video is Watchtower trying to have the best of both worlds. It wants to be the cool dad at the party, but also the dad who, behind closed doors, spanks his child brutally for the slightest misdemeanor.
As heartwarming and endearing as this video will undoubtedly be for most who watch it, what it actually represents is a sickly propaganda stunt by an organization willing to punish its adherents in one of the most wicked ways imaginable (through family estrangement) if they fall out of line, while bending its own rules whenever advantageous to do so.
***UPDATE***
Since writing this article I have had the opportunity to speak directly to the maker of the video, and I’ve been told that although the concept and execution of this video was carried out by him individually for the “Bethel Family Night” – the project was approved by the Bethel Family Night Committee and received their endorsement and cooperation. I’m relieved that the individual concerned will not get into trouble for making this video, since he seems to have done everything by the book and consulted properly with his superiors. However, his account does verify that Watchtower went into this with its eyes open and saw no double-standards or hypocrisy in using Pharrell Williams to promote life as a bethelite.
Further reading…
- Partying in the kingdom hall – why OK for convention delegates, but not newlyweds?
- Two days after the memorial – apostates reveal the secret of happiness
- Why is God’s earthly organization so slow?
Related video…
Best thin to do is go start a new religion with you as leader/chief brain washer, get a few million followers. Have some disgruntled ex members post their own “propaganda”.
Sick and tired of religion, be it Christian, Muslim, Jewish or any other.
Get rid of them all.
Novus ordos seclorum will do just that
Oh dear mr. bickley, someone got out the wrong side of bed.
I’m not starting any religion, I just run a website and write blog posts. Geez!
If it wasn’t for the fact that I urge everyone to form their own beliefs and views, religious or otherwise, you might begin to have a point.
I was a baptised JW for 28 years with 40 Years of association. I held many positions during that time including full time service. In all my years I never met a genuinely happy JW. They live life in fear, fear of being destroyed at Armageddon, fear of losing face with others in the congregation, fear of being proved wrong and fear of disobeying the governing body. There is so much depression in the congregations and many feeling their lives are unfulfilled that a good number would prefer to give it all up but fear of losing their family prevents them from doing so. The watchtower religion is one of the most hypocritical religions in existence as this video shows. The organization has changed in recent years but it is showing its true colours. The veneer is slipping. I have lost my family after my disassociation but I have regained my sanity and I am truly happy now.
I read your book, Brock, Journey To God’s House, and I couldn’t put it down (Kindle edition).
I found your story to be a very accurate description of what life is like at a Bethel. My time was at the Canada Branch part time as a day worker and on a few International projects.
I would recommend anyone in ‘the Truth’ or out to read this book!
I never knew the Devil wore fashionable outfits and a mountain hat. Once more, the do as we say mentally, but not as we do hypocrisy wreaks from this group. The Happy video probably perplexes the straight-laced, conservative, by the letter of the Watchtower adherent, but there are tons of examples of Bethel workers, as enterprise workers, letting off steam that probably would curl the hair in the nostrils of extremely conservative JW’s. Beers drank between shifts, the liquor bottles, the card playing, the hijinks and naughty jokes. Nudge nudge, wink wink. If it happens at local level, of course, it happens at HQ.
Perhaps I should be dismissive and say, local JW’s with conservative mindset should get over it, but then they have a few conservative champions at HQ and on the GBv3.0 who trumpet this bucolic, simplified viewpoint of morality and living which runs counter to any display of abandonment of restraint and self-control. Scripted dancing, okay. But, wild rave-inspired or grunge-moshing, no, no, no.
Could any child emerge from such a toxic environment without a few battle scars and phobias?
I have a bro&sister in law that have been involved in full time service for the last 15 yrs,they have volunteered to go to some of the worst places in the world to work on JW construction projects,they have done this because they have been asked numerous times to go to Australia bethel,and in their own words ” could not stand the regimentation and power structure in bethel”.
If bethel was as depicted in the “happy”video they would be there in a blink.
Some of the best false advertising I’ve ever seen!
They really don’t look happy to me in that video.
I have a bro&sis in law that have been international servants for 15yrs,they have gone to some of the most dangerous places in the world to work on JW construction sites,they have been “invited”on numerous occasions to go to Australia bethel but have dodged it because in their own words”can’t stand the regimentation and power/bickering structure in bethel.
If the “happy”video was true they would be there in a blink.
Some of the best false advertising I’ve ever seen !
@Man from the lion’s pit. I watched that video you put up yesterday about the wait staff at Bethel in Brooklyn and I found it interesting in that it was showing what these brothers do when they aren’t working at Bethel. In one of the scenes, it shows one of them getting into a really nice car and driving off to service. I think that was deceitful of the ones who were making that video in that it made it look like these guys can afford payments for cars like that and the gas and insurance but there is no way, any of them could afford to make payments and the gas etc. on the little bit of money they make every month. The way I understand, it is just enough money for toiletries and just a few incidentals. The voice of the man that was used, made it seem like it was sanctioned by the Society.
What a silly comment mr bickley.
Now if Lloyd was advising us to only read his blog, not to research elsewhere, that what he says is the true facts, then I would perhaps agree. You have complete freedom to come and go. Lloyd is not going to contact you if he doesn’t hear from you for a while. In fact if you look back on one of his apostasy videos he makes it quite clear on how he feels about “followers” as you put it. I can also tell you he is probably thinking, ‘ hey I can fight me own corner’ but I hate ridiculous comments like mr bickleys.
@Mr. Bickley. It’s been said that L. Ron Hubbard said if you want to make a million dollars start a religion. Whether it’s true or not, who knows but if you had a congregation of 3,000 people in your church, you’d be a rich man for sure but can you imagine how much money you’d have if you had a congregation of 8 million? Think about it.
Alex, I love that comment, because of all the fear I see in at least some of my old friends and family too. Not just in JW land, but doesn’t it say in the bible that “perfect love throws fear outside”?
I know you won’t publish this Cedar’s – that’s OK but…
I just telephoned The Guardian news desk about this story which I came across myself earlier on today before I saw it here on your site. I’ve also sent the Huffington Post a press release relating to this same story Cedar’s.
Did you not notice the irony of the WT releasing this video? You know they come down on us like a ton of bricks claiming copyright theft quite often, strange though it is that they are themselves in this instance guilty of major copyright theft which of course is against international copyright law.
The song ‘Happy’ by Pharrell William’s was originally released for the UN on 20 May 2014 for their International Day of Happiness to raise funds for the Central Emergency Response Fund.
Copyright conditions were attached to the creative commons copyright. You can find out more about this here: http://www.chrisgrant.me.uk/pharrell-happy-creative-commons-copyright/
So here we have an organization, the WTBTS who got kicked out of the UN several years ago for not abiding by the UN charter and now, lo and behold, they are stealing the rights to this song for their own propaganda self interests and promotion – all in the name of a ‘bit of fun’ (of course). Oh the irony!
I know we take different approaches Cedar and we often don’t see eye to eye but I just thought you might be interested in this little tidbit of information.
Regards,
Mark Andrews
Watchtower Terrorist
many don’t stay long that’s when they are happy when they leave. Maybe most in that video only had a few months to go, reminds me of a children’s home.
@JJ& @ resvo. I REALLY ENJOYED your comments. Showed a lot of insight how the GB & Organisation works Any DIssent or Questioning & you are viewed as BAD Spiritual Association But the early disciples disputed things I.e Paul & Barnabas. Also the issue of Circumcision was Hotly debated but no Ostracising of members!!
@MI6 Operative. I liked your comments Greatly & Really COOL Name!!
There’s no way in hell that video was made without permission from multiple people at Bethel in positions of authority!
For those of you commenting that the video may not have been officially approved, WHAT?!! Possibly, but it is a highly controlled and manipulative organization. They control what you eat, wear, read, think and every aspect of your lives and when you will die. Don’t think they would have lost their grip on this.
However, they are arrogant enough to think they could have gotten away with it considering how successful they’ve been in the past 100 years of using their devious tactics to trick millions of people.
I do think they will try to pass the buck and shift blame elsewhere. It will be interesting to see how they package this and how many followers accept it.
There is already a psytrance REMIX of that video! funny
-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TtU-loCEk&feature=youtu.be
Copyright law 101
Two fundamental concepts
a) ideas
b) expressions of an idea
You can express an idea many different ways, each one unique
When an expression is unique, it is protected by copyright law. You can’t call it your own, even if you develop it independently, with no knowledge of such prior art.
But the underlying idea is NOT protected by copyright law. You can freely borrow ideas from other people, as long as you express the idea in your own unique way. Whether it’s plagiarism or not, is beside the point. It’s NOT illegal.
The question is, where do you draw the line between idea vs. expression?
There’s no easy answer to that question. Copyright lawsuits happen in the recording industry all the time. And lawyers are hired to argue the cases.
Hmm … I wonder if Cedars got permission from Pharrell & Co. to use the Happy song in his apostate video? If not, it’s a copyright violation. Verbatim copying always falls on the wrong side of copyright law.
People sometimes get away with it on Youtube. Artists may not care about such trivial cases.
“Hmm … I wonder if Cedars got permission from Pharrell & Co. to use the Happy song in his apostate video? If not, it’s a copyright violation.”
There’s only one way to answer such a stupid comment…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFKnXu623s
@anonymous
Bethelites who can afford better cars etc are sponsor by their families we have many of them in our cong.some of them are from well off families.
Voice of narrator in the waiter crew video doesn’t prove it sanction by org.The guy who was doing the video is kind a pro and he used good voice source for that I would do the same.There are many people with good radio voice like Cedars :-).
Credentials for the video are private and the video was never use by org.in fact the original channel was put down.
At the end these things doesn’t matter to much.
Outcome and consequences is more important.
This is a case where the song gained fame from Youtube publicity. Though the artist could prosecute the copying, he declines to.
You don’t understand what Pharrell said in the video, and you don’t understand copyright law.
Calling my comment “stupid” shows how quick you are to take personal offense for the slightest reason. You will never make an effective leader with your personal insecurities erupting constantly on this website.
I understand what Pharrell said in the video perfectly, which is why I posted it.
And I’m not offended or upset by your comment, I just think it’s stupid – and I am just as entitled to an opinion as you are, especially when you accuse me of breaking copyright law.
Your petty “leader” comment shows how little you know me. People don’t need leaders on this side of cult indoctrination, they can lead themselves.
Precisely Cedar’s.
Also I know copyright law fairly well being in the publishing industry myself and this is without a shadow of doubt a blatant copyright theft issue on the part of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
As I said before here we have an organization which got kicked out of the UN several years ago, yet now is stealing their copyrighted content created for fundraising purposes originally for the United Nations CERF program. Plagiarism does NOT come under fair use. The video which the Watchtower authorized was not a satirical piece nor was it ever intended to be, it is however a pure propaganda piece which is why it is breaking copyright law.
‘White Rabbit’ whatever credibility that name has, doesn’t know what s/he / it is talking about.
About the music video. I feel the same as you. They are two faced. Over the weekend, we (those of us here in the circuits a couple of hours north of Newburgh Assembly Hall, Wallkill, the Montgomery, NY warehouse, the Patterson NY Educational Center, and the new JW world headquarters site in Warwick, NY),began to hear rumors that the Society had purchased the Rivercrest Luxury Apartments a beautiful townhouse complex on the Hudson River, in West Fishkill. Purchase has been confirmed a/o Dec. 3, 2014
It is mostly vacant, but in very good condition, and ready to move in.
The former website for the place is likely to be taken down soon, so you might want to take a quick peak (www.rivercrestonthehudson.com). It was confirmed this evening that the Society did indeed buy the complex last Wednesday, December 3.
Some couples at Bethel have already been asked if they would move there and be remote workers. Long timers included those whose current Bethel work assignments allow them to work remotely by computer.
Also scheduled to move there immediately are some Home Support workers[Maintenance, Housekeepers] and some of the RBC commuters from our area who have been volunteering at Warwick .
I was not told there were any restrictions on this news, otherwise I would not forward it, just that they recommended the website rather than personal visits since the current occupants are now moving out and we need to respect their privacy. As one long-timer said: Did you ever think we would live to see the day when Bethel would consider such luxury?
As far as we know, the purchase is official.
The GB is still absolutely looking forward to having Brooklyn sold and Warwick operational within 25 months.
We are located in West Fishkill, along the scenic and historic Hudson River. The community is 1 mile north of I-84, with easy access to the Taconic State Parkway, the NYS Thruway (I-87) and I-684. Metro-North railroad is minutes away, with stations at New Hamburg and Beacon. NYC is just over an hour away by train, and 65 miles by car. Stewart International Airport is 11 miles away.
____________________________________________________________
If you don’t have written permission from Pharrell to use the song, you did break copyright law. But you got away with it, like the other youtube videos using it without permission.
Getting away with it, does not mean it was legal.
A lot of people did the same thing, and got away with it. I don’t care about that. What I wonder is, why you are so sensitive about it?
Maybe you’re still experiencing some after effects of indoctrination. Try to relax, brother.
I’m not breaking copyright law at all. YouTube has full knowledge that there is a Pharrell Williams song on my channel. There is even a “matched third part content” tag on my video manager panel next to the video. If I were “breaking copyright law” (as you put it) by having that video online, YouTube would remove it without a moment’s hesitation, as they have done with other videos in the past. As it is, YouTube is so comfortable having this “illegal” video on my channel that it is displaying ads on it in the opening few seconds, and I can assure you I am not getting a single cent from whatever revenue they’re earning. More likely Pharrell is.
@white rabbit
I think Cedars misinterpret your comment and use word which he should better not in his comment.
You meant legal aspect which is applicable to any artistic and intellectual properties .Happy song is not an exception.Exception in this case is what was happen to this song and because of that P.W. is more than happy to let it go without any legal action even with the tears in his eyes.Success of this song is worth more that more from legal prosecution.
Forums like this are ideal soil for misunderstanding like this which is unfortunate.
Stay above folks please.
To acknowledge matched third party content just means you don’t earn money from the ads. That does not mean the content is legal. Youtube lets illegal copying pass all the time. As long as they don’t get a complaint from the copyright owner, they don’t care.
Their parent company, Google, has been involved in some of the biggest copyright lawsuits of all time. And they often get away with it, because they are the 800 pound gorilla. These trivial little cases we are talking about, are nothing to them.
I didn’t intend to start an argument with you. I only wanted to clarify some legal points about copyright law that are widely misunderstood.
You didn’t want an argument, you just want to insist I’m a criminal? Fair enough.
It has been my experience that jw’s teach you to be very prejudice and to look at everything as black or white, no middle ground. It’s hard for ex jw’s to shake this brainwashing long after they realize other pitfalls of the org. and have escaped. It has been one of my biggest faults w/ fitting in and accepting “normal” people.
I sincerely wish some of the posters here were not so quick to get your shorts in a bunch. Your background is showing and it ain’t pretty.
I for one am thankful for this forum and all it has provided.
Catalina: Wow! Thanks for all the info.
@Alex. Your comment was Superb& sums up The Organisation perfectly! I am Glad you have your sanity back but you are right about the HYPOCRISY of the Organisation !!!
You’re still taking this the wrong way. The law is one thing. Practical enforcement of it is another. Criminals can be happy too. I am!
“The law is one thing. Practical enforcement of it is another.”
Exactly, so why raise this whole issue in the first place?
To increase awareness; copyright law is widely misunderstood. People can’t make informed decisions if they don’t understand the law. Once they do, each individual can decide what’s best for them.
My original remark was not intended to insult you. It was incidental to the main point: increasing awareness.
People torrent movies and think nothing of it until they get a stern warning from their ISP. There are millions of “criminals” doing that. It’s obvious there is widespread misunderstanding of copyright law.
“It was incidental to the main point: increasing awareness.” ….of copyright law?
How is this a website devoted to correcting the “widespread misunderstanding of copyright law?” This was why I called your comment “stupid” – not just because you pointed the finger at me, but because your reason for pointing the finger had little if nothing to do with the subject at hand, and your points about the legality of my actions were rendered moot by the fact that the “aggrieved” party in all of this, Pharrell Williams, has shed tears of joy at people like me doing the very thing you have portrayed as illegal.
Listen, if you feel passionately about spreading awareness of copyright law, nobody is stopping you from setting up your own blog to bestow your wisdom to people on all things copyright. But it’s plain rude to assume readers to this blog will appreciate your legal musings when they are mostly here to read about Watchtower and JW-related matters. Do you understand?
No, I don’t understand. If you let Gary trash the comment section with his inane one-liners, I don’t see any problem with my post. It didn’t get long winded until you got your feathers all ruffled up.
“Everyone else is doing it so why can’t I” may work in the playground, but not here I’m afraid.
If Gary’s constant one-liners irritate you, as frankly they do me, the proper response is to submit an email to the address provided and ask that action be taken. Adding your own off-topic comment to the mix, especially one laced with a silly and pointless accusation against me, is not the answer.
Cedars you have a lot of love in your heart and you are a very intelligent man. That’s why you’re here. You are doing an excellent job. Just by being here you help many people. I’m glad you’re willing to stick your neck out so people can see. You’re awesome.
Don’t worry about the nay sayers who want to fight with you. Cedars you have a lot of love in your heart, that’s why you stick your neck out. And you are a very intelligent man. That’s why you’re here. You are doing an excellent job. Don’t allow anyone to ruin your day. Just by being here you help many people. I’m glad you’re willing to stick your neck out so people can see. You’re awesome.
This was definitely coordinated by a higher up. They have footage from every department! I bet it was “officially” intended for internal use but they were fully aware that it would leak quickly.
@White Rabbit, your claim that they are dancing to an unrelated song is shown to be false by visual cues at various points that specifically relate to the song. For example, 0:35 (a man uses his hands to form an exaggerated smile synchronised with the word ‘happy’ in the song), 3:53 (a man is singing along to the song) and 4:30 (a man shows a piece of paper with the word “HAPPY”).
Another day, another display of blatant hypocrisy by the Watchtower. I commend you on the time you take to reveal these issues, and help those with doubts about this horrendous institution in your articles. You are an inspiration to me and I am sure many other “mentally diseased” individuals.
– A friend from Australia
Thanks for the shout out JJ!
You spotted 3 cues of the word happy. I see them too. But one word from a song is not enough to prove they danced to Pharrell’s song.
Look at Pharrell’s official music video. At 2:02 the choir is dancing, and they are perfectly synchronized with the beat. Other dancers in the official video are likewise synchronized with the beat. And there are other words from the song you can see on the lips of the dancers. More than just one word, happy.
The Bethel dancers, by contrast, are NOT closely synchronized with the beat. They’re off beat and jerky in comparison with the official video dancers.
Maybe they used Pharrell’s song, maybe they didn’t. But 3 visual cues of the word happy is not enough to prove they did. That’s why I posted earlier about the subtleties of ideas vs. expression.
Last year at Hospitality venues for the Delegates from abroad I watched the rehearsals and the song ‘HAPPY’ was played at every one! Look on You Tube & type in ‘JW international convention ‘ . I asked an Elder who was organising one rehearsal ‘why are we playing worldly songs in a Kingdom Hall especially Pharrell Williams because of his obscene lyrics in many of his songs& his link with the United Nations? He said it had been sanctioned from higher up!! & I asked him why was he & 2 other elders shouting for everyone at that rehearsal to get up & dance to it as we shouldn’t be doing this in ‘The House of God’ !! Again he said he had been given direction in a letter to do this!! WHAT is HAPPENING to the Organistion I got baptised into in 1980??? Anything goes now!! NEW LIGHT ???
@Cedars . I think most of us here REALLY VALUE the time,money & sacrifice going into this website.You have probably helped thousands who have followed your sites here & on You Tube!! & it APPRECIATED!!! Believe me! The GB have hundreds of millions of pounds of donations to play with from poor scared JWs whether scared of Armageddon or scared of losing Family & the shunning!! The GB have a vast PROPAGANDA MACHINE at their disposal…. Magazines, Books, Brochures, JW.org, TV station, DVDs, Music,Sophia& Caleb??, etc,etc It is Frightening !! We NEED Websites like this for those of us trying to HELP others to Wake Up!
@ White Rabbit. I have valued your comments in the past& appreciated them but Please we need to STAY UNITED to DEFEAT this Evil organisation which does BREAK UP FAMILIES !! Let’s show the GB we ALL can remain united & just step back,pause & realise we have to FIGHT this Corruption together. Take care both you & Cedars.
@Catalina. Really enjoyed your inside information about expensive property acquisitions for new HQ in USA .VALUABLE Insight where our DONATIONS go??? & enjoyed your other comment in SUPPORT of Cedars & his website!! Keep your comments coming!!
@White Rabbit, your response is an irrelevant attempt to save face. It isn’t necessary that every clip had the song ‘Happy’ playing at the time, or even that ANY music was playing for every shot. The overall clip was clearly a deliberately orchestrated effort around the ‘Happy’ song. Your claim that overlaying the song was a ‘prank’ was simply wrong.