Who doesn’t love a good singalong?
In 2011, Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman (aka “DaBu”) decided that the world needed a bit more music and started a creative community endeavor called Choir! Choir! Choir! in Toronto, Canada.
Their events previously took place weekly in the city’s Clinton’s Tavern (until a few weeks ago when the beloved 83-year-old-tavern closed) but they’re now utilizing different Toronto venues.
Anyone is allowed to drop in to sing along to whatever is on the setlist that night – and guests are given lyrics sheets at the door.
The duo even goes on tour sometimes to spread the love.
Before the music starts, DaBu teaches the audience a bit more about the vocal arrangement and then it’s all fun and games and a great sense of community from there.
On Feb 16, 2019, they hosted an epic ABBA singalong to the classic “Dancing Queen” at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa – and it was huge!
A total of roughly 2100 singers showed up to have a good time, and the performance was recorded for posterity.
Since the recording was uploaded to YouTube last November it had been viewed over 600,000 times!
What can we say – it looks like a great time was had by all.
The video picks up presumably after DaBu’s instructions and a practice or two since thousands of people manage to launch into the song immediately.
Goldman is on the guitar, but that’s the only instrument besides the voices of all those willing singers.
Even if ABBA’s not your style, it’s hard not to smile while watching all of these singers in unison – we’d love to be a part of something like this and so would the majority of YouTube commenters, it seems!
“Another fantastic arrangement and performance. So amazing how music can bring people together. I wish they did something like this where I live. Keep performing the good music, we love it!” said one fan.
While the duo tours internationally, many people figured this kind of fun must be something uniquely Canadian.
“Only Canadians can be this much fun at completely random things,” folks insisted.
Maybe so, but we’d be willing to give it a try!
Other viewers said watching it made them want to dance or cry (happy tears) – and it even restored their faith in humanity to some extent.
“This made me cry! It’s so beautiful! It’s very hard to do ABBA justice because what they did was just so special, but this certainly did the trick! It made me feel that same joy when I hear ABBA play it!” said one fan.
That’s the power of music for you!
And it really did look like some of the singers wanted to get their boogie on as well!
“I see some of them wanting to literally dance. Thanks to ABBA for their gifts to humanity: their amazing songs,” gushed a viewer/ABBA fan.
It truly is a heartwarming scene and plenty of viewers thought that this kind of unique event might help bring people together and could even make the world a better place (which we could certainly use right about now).
“Perhaps this method of bringing people together could be used to bring our communities together? Something like a contest or just encouraging people to participate at the community level and you all highlight them? No drama, no politics, just good old fashioned community gatherings in their wonderful cities and towns to break bread and sing songs. It is a great thing you are doing keep them coming!”
While the COVID-19 pandemic has put future concerts on hold for now, Choir! Choir! Choir! is ready to get back to work as soon as things are under control.
In the meantime, be sure to check out their “Dancing Queen”
video below and their other videos HERE.
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