Videos tend to reflect people's states of mind at a set moment in time. People react different ways in the face of crisis, and for all those who have been reading, viewing and absorbing information on the “Swine Flu” (properly known as Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 [1]), it might get complicated not only to sort out factual information from rumors, but also to deal with the new restrictions and recommendations. Some find a way to share their state of mind through videos, and this is what I bring to you today: thought provoking, skeptical, musically inclined, creative and humorous videos.
First off we have the Atomicos [2], an indie rock band from Puebla who have written a song and uploaded a video with English Subtitles regarding the swine flu and the different measures taken. The video has also been translated into French for the videoblog Le Buzz Dorothée [3]. The band's videos and other non-swine flu related songs can be found on their MySpace page [4].
Big bands are also cashing in on the Swine Flu: The Agrupación Cariño has the Influenza Cumbia which has been dubbed in English, for the listening pleasure of many more people. Following is the English version [5], and after that you may also view the one in Spanish. [6]
The Bandaloz Group from Durango [7] in Mexico also produced a quite catchy Influenza song where they sing about all the security measures needed to protect oneself from the virus:
In Mexico, people have also been making videos of how life is going on for those who live in the cities, how the situation is being faced at the origin. shizo79 uploaded this video taken on the streets of Mexico City, where of the few people who are outside on the streets some have their masks on, some are mask-less and others wear their masks around their necks:
This cute Mexican girl named Jimena [8]wrote a song about how daily life is going in for students like her, and the smooth rhythm and poignant lyrics reflect what the safety measures are doing for the citizens. Part of the lyrics of her song We're out of Face Masks (which she translated into English on her YouTube page [8]) say:
CHORUS
Damn flu
I can't get out of my house
the news tell me to get rest
naaananana
don't start saying bullcrap
cus is not the world's end yetWe're out of face masks
a note on a door: “There's no vaccines till november”
peoples gettin crazier
panic purchases & we don't even have enough foodBars, concerts & festivals
shows, “antros” & restaurants (that kind of rimed yay)
the movies, coffee shops & sweet16s
everything was cancelled to keep us safe
So what about the rest of the world? From Australia where a Swine Flu case was already confirmed, Community Channel's Natalie [9] posts a video commenting on the paranoid reactions people have been having to anyone who makes the mistake to cough or sneeze:
And last but not least: it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a video game for the swine flu. In SwineFighter [10], you have to aim a syringe to flying pigs over a map, innoculating them and preventing the virus from spreading before time runs out. You can play HERE. [10]