It might seem impossible to picture hundreds of people smiling while waiting a long stretch in the airport terminal. But last May, pianist and YouTuber Andy Morris managed to achieve the unthinkable when he organized a musical flash mob to take over Indianapolis Airport’s waiting space and serenade passengers with an unexpected song!
This uplifting viral vid has already topped 2 million YouTube views in less than a year, and is still amassing tons of attention across social media. It all begins with Andy playing an upright piano in the center of the airport. But just as the passengers think they’re merely witnessing an astounding public piano performance, their world gets turned upside down.
The vid isn’t called “Bro summoned the rest of the orchestra” for nothing. After Andy’s insane intro, a saxophonist waltzes up beside him out of the blue to let his melody shine over Andy’s poky, Dracula-like chords. Then, a second saxophonist crops up out of nowhere, then a trumpeter, a tubist, and a violinist. Hidden in the rich, classical mix, it sounds like an accordion and woodwind section are also present, but remain unseen in the clip.
All the while, every airport passenger turns to catch a glimpse of the rare and wholesome moment that unites the entire airport. An old couple tap their fingers while perched at a restaurant table; men gaze down at the unfolding scene from the walking platforms above; young and old look around amazed, while another couple dance simple steps hand in hand with their daughter ribboning between their legs.
It’s awesome to see so many random members of the public having their day made complete by this random flash mob; hardly a single unhappy face surrounds the band as they spread through the airport, their audience trying to spot the growing number of performers.
Viewers have taken hints from the video’s hilarious title to crack some jokes of their own, with one watcher writing, “The music was just an epic distraction for a robbery to take place,” another, “Some say the percussion section were still unloading their instruments to join in,” and another, “Bro just casually pulled out a tuba from his inventory.” @JulieAskingForAFriend embodied every audio nerd on Earth when she commented, “If you’re going to flash mob with an orchestra, there’s no better acoustics than at an airport.”
The song choice for this viral clip, “Waltz No.2” by Dmitri Shostakovich, is just as intriguing as the video itself. Soviet-born Shostakovich’s music was twice denounced by Stalin for its “formalism” (art for art’s sake, without a social purpose) before Shostakovich was sent to New York by the very same dictator as a Soviet artistic representative. During his career, the composer survived Stalin’s Great Terror, in which countless of his friends and relatives died. He wrote symphonies in the midst of World War II, and even composed a symphony dedicated to Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution.
Shostakovich’s music might fester with the tones of communist Russia, but this vid truly proves how the tables have turned: how amazing is it that Shostakovich’s music has wormed its way into the West to make people dance carefree before boarding an international flight? This viral arrangement by Andy Morris is a real testament to musical freedom.
Andy Morris continues to defy expectations and bring joy to unsuspecting audiences with his imaginative musical surprises. This viral flashmob proves his unique talent and ability to create unforgettable experiences, garnering widespread acclaim.
