The contagious feeling triggered by Pharrell Williams’ viral music video “Happy [1]” inspired citizens of Porto Alegre [2], Brazil, to take advantage of the fact that their city holds the Portuguese word for “happy” in its name — but rather to express what's making them unhappy.
The video shows people dancing joyfully in front of delayed construction works for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Watch “Porto (un)Happy [3]” below with captions in English:
Published on March 25, the video has already been watched over 250,000 times. Its creators use the Facebook page Porto un-Happy [4] to promote the hashtag #MudaPOA [5] (Change, Porto Alegre), as well as to collect mentions in the media and to clarify [6] [pt]:
Nosso protesto NÃO é contra a Copa, e sim contra o atraso nas obras e o pouco caso com a população!
Our protest is NOT against the World Cup, but against the delayed construction works and the lack of care towards the population!
On the map We Are Happy From [7], you will find a video version [8] created by the city's public administration. The video presents a very positive perspective, but it has been less popular, with 50,000 views.
Global Voices also reported on the ironic version of “Happy” from Rio de Janeiro [9].