IF you are watching the Champions League final this weekend, the sharp-eyed among you may spot a very distinct Saltire in the crowd. Emblazoned on the flag will be the words Dance For Freedom.
The flag belongs to John Plott, who has taken it to major events before, and it encapsulates a project which is a fine example of Yes DIY.
For back before the first referendum, John came up with the idea of a song that could inspire the Yes campaign – a song he called the “Dance for Freedom”.
READ MORE: Want to become a Yes ambassador? This might interest you...
Being very much a believer in getting things done, he was able to persuade singers and musicians to make a video of it – you can see the demo on Youtube under Dance for Freedom.
Now John has called a public meeting in Paisley Town Hall next Tuesday, May 29, at 7.30pm to launch something altogether much larger than last time around, and he is ready to make a song and dance about it in the run-up to the second independence referendum, whenever that may be.
READ MORE: Strathaven Yes group launched with a note of thanks
The Dance for Freedom 2018 version is an artistic, cultural and social exercise the likes of which has not been seen previously in the Yes movement, and will need a host of collaborators to make it happen.
The end result, John hopes, will be a song and video that will be “bigger than Gangnam Style”, as he puts it – and Gangnam Style has been viewed three billion times on Youtube.
He explained: “We need hundreds of dancers, drummers, pipers, film production crews, a massive choir, MCs and DJs and dance choreographers, and lots of other talented and gifted people to help us bring this great song to completion.
“After singing it in George Square at the first referendum we were introduced to Kirk Turnbull of QFX, and he has now produced the dance music. All we need now is the musical backing and all the people I’ve listed to get the visuals done.
“The public meeting next Tuesday is to try to bring people together who are interested in the project. It’s taken a bit of time for Yes people to get revived but now it’s time to do it.
“We’ve already had some donations but we need more to get this done.”
John Plott has already been in touch with a major record producer in Los Angeles who has strong connections to Glasgow and he is interested in helping to take the project forward.
He said: “The plan is to fly the Dance for Freedom flag in Kiev at the Champions League final and get ourselves home to Scotland by Monday and be ready for the public meeting in Paisley on Tuesday.
“In the meantime if people could look at the video on YouTube they will see the potential for the song, bearing in mind it was all done off-the-cuff with no rehearsals.
“With more backing we’ll be bigger than Gangnam Style.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel