T-Mobile: Public Karaoke for a Flash Mob (2009)

Singalong in Trafalgar Square

Remember the T-Mobile dance in Liverpool St. Station? The flash mob stunt was followed up, 6 pm to 7 pm on Thursday April 30, with a Sing-a-long at Trafalgar Square.
– Client: T-Mobile
– Credits: Saatchi & Saatchi, London; Partizan Films
– Location: Trafalgar Square, London
– Date: April 30, 2009
Karaoke for Thousands
The Trafalgar Square event was attended by 13,500 Londoners, ready to join in the T-Mobile Karaoke session hosted by Vernon Kaye. Songs included ‘Summer Nights’ from Grease and ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ by Bonnie Tyler, Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time”, The Foundations’ “Build Me Up Buttercup”, Erma Franklin’s “Piece of My Heart”, “Is This the Way to Amarillo” by Neil Sedaka, and “Hey Jude” by the Beatles. Surprise guest star Pink sang her hit, “So What”, from the middle of the crowd. Appropriate, of course, for the pink-branded T-Mobile.
Here’s the four minute version of “Hey Jude”, by the Beatles, sung by a crowd of 13,500 with 2000 microphones, including American rock star Pink on YouTube (HD): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHdJR6iUBFM&feature=player_embedded
How did they get 13,500 people? The power of Twitter, Facebook, signs in the street, and this video clip inviting the public to be there in the square. YouTube (HD): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNriRd0uGJ0&feature=player_embedded
T-Mobile spokeswoman Lysa Hardy said: “We wanted to get everyone to have a really good time. People really enjoyed the Dance campaign and we have had an amazing response to this one. The first advert is a really tough act to follow.”
The new advert will be filmed and edited in just over 48 hours and premieres during the break of Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday May 2 at 9pm on ITV1.
See Nick Burcher’s take on the event: http://www.nickburcher.com/2009/04/t-mobile-trafalgar-square-karaoke-flash.html
Pink turned up in the middle of the crowd, featured during “Piece of My Heart”.
– YouTube (HD): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyzflZmq67g&feature=player_embedded
Crowd responses filmed by the Partizan crew indicate that the Sing In raised community spirit among those there.
– YouTube (HD): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_nBLlSjxOM&feature=player_embedded
Via: http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2009/t-mobile-in-trafalgar-square/ (28.4.2009)