As DJ David Guetta Projects Video on UN, Will Glitz Pay Off for Philippines?
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 22-- Friday night a dozen floors of the UN's headquarters were blacked out so a music video by DJ David Guetta could be projected.
It urged viewer to tweet what the world needs more of. We say: #Accountability for #Haiti #cholera, #SriLanka,#Minova rapes by #DRC Army. We'll see.
Before the screening there was an extended photo op in front of the Dag Hammarskjold Library. Guetta was there, solo (here) and with the UN's Valerie Amos (here) and then Ban Ki-moon (UN sure to publicize.)
Other bold face names, at least to some, came through; sometimes the photographers whispered, who is that?
Outside looking up at the UN building, some found the video too short, the music not loud enough. You can't please all the people all the time. The statement by Valerie Amos in the UN Press Briefing Room that this would help victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines will be a measure. But where will the UN report?
Back on November 12, Inner City Press first reported that D.J. David Guetta was in the house, the Glass House of the UN, wearing a hard hat and orange construction vest as the UN Capital Master Plan showed him around. Tweeted photo here.
At the time, Inner City Press asked what Guetta was doing in the UN. He's here to help, was the answer.
They built a white tent and set up the lights; those leaving the UN on Thursday night -- including UN Peacekeeping deputy Edmond Mulet -- were diverted to leave another way, to make way for the tent and lights.
Previously, Beyonce premiered a video in the now-closed General Assembly hall. (Her entourage demanded the deletion of photographs, which the Free UN Coalition for Access protested.)
Ali G, UNauthorized, filmed in the Security Council, with a tour guide who later moonlighted as Albania's information minister.
When the UN brings in, or allows in, pop figures one is left wondering for example: do they know the UN brought cholera to Haiti and now refuses to even accept court papers about it? Linkin Park, it seems, didn't. Will David Guetta? Would, for example, New York-based DJ Tim Sweeney of Beats in Space? Who should DJ at the UN?
On Friday morning, the lights were covered with sheet plastic amid drizzle. Inner City Press tweeted photo here. Is it on, rain or shine? The UN's Media Alert lists a "red carpet" at 7:30 pm....
The carpet was black, and the screening didn't happen until 8:10 pm. Beyond that, we'll see.
