Orlando Strong

For this blog post I’m blogging about two articles that connect to the same topic. Although one of the article involve my main topic (dance) but it mainly focuses on a tragic event that happened in the world very recently. The topic I’m going to be blogging is about the Orlando nightclub shooting. The shooting happened on June 12, 2016 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 49 people were killed and 53 people were wounded.  The two articles I picked for this topic are both from, “teatlantic.com” news source.  My first article is, “Sia’s Wonderful and Sad Music Video for Orlando”.  This article was about the singer Sia’s song “The Greatest”. If you seen any of Sia’s videos like her “Chandelier” or “Elastic Heart” videos, dancer Maddie Ziegler dances in them. When I first seen these two Sia videos, I was so confused but I noticed as a dancer Maddie is telling a story through her dancing which is basically the story of the Sia’s song. Sia’s songs and the dancing in her videos have so much meaning to them, for example in the article it says,” She’s the pop star of inscrutable meaning but unmistakable emotion, of inspirational slogans applicable to nearly any situation, of wigs and flesh-toned leotards and cute every kids doing dance moves that resemble mundane life remixed in a dream” (Kornhaber 1).  In Sia’s song “The Greatest”, many people picked up that the dancers in the video delivered them a story about the Orlando mascara.  “ There are 49 young dancers on the screen. Their leader, Maddie Ziegler, paints rainbows on her face. At the end, everyone falls down in what seems to be a nightclub, revealing what looks like a bullet-riddled wall.” (Kornharber 1).  Even though Sia did write this song before the mascara happened, I feel like she dedicated to those who were killed and wounded during this devastating event. That’s the thing about not only dance but music as well, you can so much with it and make a difference.  When I saw the video I really just thought it looked like Maddie was just trying to tell everyone not to give up, and to keep pushing yourself. But after reading this article I understand the concept of the massacre in the video, it makes more sense now.  The second article, “ Worldwide vigils and Memorials for Orlando Victims”, is also about the Orlando shooting. This article is about the shooting and the memorials dedicated to those who were killed and those who were injured. In this article it states, “Memorials and candlelight vigils took place in parks and plazas around the world, with citizens and government officials voicing support the victims and their families, as monuments were lit in rainbow colors, and flags lowered to half-staff”. (Taylor 1). Both of these articles connect talking about the shooting in Orlando. They also both talk about the support and dedication the world gave to show love and support. Its sad that there’s so much hate in the world but its incredible at times when these tragic event take place, were there for each other, support each other, and love each other.  All the tragic events that happened in the past like 9/11, the Sandy Hook school shooting, Boston Marathon bombing, the attack in Paris and many more, We all came together and showed that our country will stay strong .

(Places throughout the world supporting Orlando)

Sia's "The Greatest" music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKSRyLdjsPA

Articles:

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/06/worldwide-vigils-and-memorials-for-orlando-victims/486782/

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/sia-the-greatest-music-video-orlando-kendrick-lamar/498932/

Pictures:

O'Hayer, Denis. "Atlanta After Orlando: A Talk With Jeff Graham Of Georgia Equality." WABE 90.1 FM. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.

Tharrett, Matthew. "World Monuments Light Up In Rainbow Colors As Tribute To Orlando Victims." LOGO News. N.p., 14 June 2016. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.

Golden, Hannah. "Sia Song with Kendrick Lamar ‘The Greatest’ Is Sadly Not the Greatest."Rhyme Junkie. FanSided, 07 Sept. 2016. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.

"World's Landmarks Light Up To Remember Victims Of Orlando Shooting." CBS Los Angeles. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.