Students at Northampton College have recorded a ‘virtual cover version’ of a classic feelgood song to highlight their hopes for the future as they look to emerge from lockdown life.
Musical Theatre and Dance students compiled their version of the Judy Garland song ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ from their own homes during the COVID-19 restrictions, each sending in videos of them singing and performing. The recordings were then stitched together and laid over an instrumental track to form a full music video.
The ballad was originally written for the Wizard of Oz film in 1939 but has become synonymous with being a beacon of hope in difficult times. It was most recently covered by Ariana Grande in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombings in 2017.
The track was the brainchild of musical theatre tutor Suzanne Lewis and arranged by music tutor Natalie Evans, who said: “It’s been a very tough few months for everyone and we wanted to put something together which reflected the uncertainty and difficulty we have all experienced, but also something which hinted at the prospect of better days to come.
“The song we chose, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, seems to encapsulate that perfectly and the students really brought into it. I uploaded the harmony onto Google Classroom and they all filmed themselves performing their parts and submitted them for the team to knit together.
“We’re thrilled with the end result. It’s been a real team effort and the students now have something they can treasure forever which will serve as a reminder of what all of us have been through throughout the lockdown restrictions.”
The choreography was put together by dance tutors Jess Smith and Tracey Stanton and included some elements of students’ own work from the previous year.
Pat Brennan-Barrett, Principal of Northampton College, said: “The restrictions put in place to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic have affected all of us, but the response from our staff and students has been nothing short of incredible.
“From sending food parcels to vulnerable neighbours to 3D printing shields, masks and face coverings for frontline healthcare staff, the college community has stood up and met this crisis head on. We have a lot to be proud of and this wonderful recording perfectly captures the mood of the whole college.
“Yes it’s been tough, yes we’ve made sacrifices but we are now starting to look ahead. There is a glimmer of light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel, and we are all looking forward to the future once again.”
For more information on Northampton College visit www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk
