This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/20/gangnam-style-video-troops-afghanistan
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gangnam Style video lifts troops' spirits in Afghanistan | Gangnam Style video lifts troops' spirits in Afghanistan |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A group of soldiers who became an internet hit after starring in their own version of the Gangnam Style video said they did it to lift their spirits while serving in Afghanistan. | A group of soldiers who became an internet hit after starring in their own version of the Gangnam Style video said they did it to lift their spirits while serving in Afghanistan. |
| Named Afghan Style, the parody shows troops from the 4th Mechanised Brigade, which is part of 21 Engineer Regiment and known as the "Black Rats", in costume at Camp Bastion, copying South Korean star Psy's distinctive dance to his catchy chart song. | Named Afghan Style, the parody shows troops from the 4th Mechanised Brigade, which is part of 21 Engineer Regiment and known as the "Black Rats", in costume at Camp Bastion, copying South Korean star Psy's distinctive dance to his catchy chart song. |
| The video was posted on the regiment's Facebook page, where it has received hundreds of likes and shares, as well as picking up over 86,000 views on YouTube. | The video was posted on the regiment's Facebook page, where it has received hundreds of likes and shares, as well as picking up over 86,000 views on YouTube. |
| Costumes and props which feature in the clip include a giant inflatable turkey, Santa hats and suits, a pink crop top, a blonde wig, and tiger and monkey all-in-one suits. | Costumes and props which feature in the clip include a giant inflatable turkey, Santa hats and suits, a pink crop top, a blonde wig, and tiger and monkey all-in-one suits. |
| The clip was filmed with the help of the British Forces Broadcasting Service over a three-month period during the soldiers' downtime. | The clip was filmed with the help of the British Forces Broadcasting Service over a three-month period during the soldiers' downtime. |
| Staff Sergeant Tony Gibson, 44, from Newcastle, said it was Sapper Ryan Jackson who came up with the idea. | Staff Sergeant Tony Gibson, 44, from Newcastle, said it was Sapper Ryan Jackson who came up with the idea. |
| He said: "Sapper Jackson came in and said it would be a good laugh on the tour if we did a video. We decided what song we were going to do, then it just grew arms and legs from there. | He said: "Sapper Jackson came in and said it would be a good laugh on the tour if we did a video. We decided what song we were going to do, then it just grew arms and legs from there. |
| "It's a six-month tour, it's a long time and now we're into the Christmas period. It was just something to pick our spirits up while we're away from our families back in the UK. | "It's a six-month tour, it's a long time and now we're into the Christmas period. It was just something to pick our spirits up while we're away from our families back in the UK. |
| "We knew we would be away from home for Christmas, so some of the lads had brought some costumes out so that over the festive period we would have a chance for some stand-down and joviality. | "We knew we would be away from home for Christmas, so some of the lads had brought some costumes out so that over the festive period we would have a chance for some stand-down and joviality. |
| "It's not the best [to be away at Christmas], but we are soldiers; this is what we've signed up to do. | "It's not the best [to be away at Christmas], but we are soldiers; this is what we've signed up to do. |
| "We knew when we first signed the dotted line to become soldiers that we were going to be away from our families at various times during our careers. This is just another one of those times, but we will make it up when we get back to the UK in March." | "We knew when we first signed the dotted line to become soldiers that we were going to be away from our families at various times during our careers. This is just another one of those times, but we will make it up when we get back to the UK in March." |
| Sapper Jackson, 20, from Cumbria, said: "It's good to see that everyone is backing us and that they are enjoying the video and can see where we're coming from. | Sapper Jackson, 20, from Cumbria, said: "It's good to see that everyone is backing us and that they are enjoying the video and can see where we're coming from. |
| "It's a chance to boost the lads' morale at this time of year." | "It's a chance to boost the lads' morale at this time of year." |
| The regiment is using the video to help raise funds for the Swaledale mountain rescue team, which operates close to the troops' UK base in Ripon, North Yorkshire. | The regiment is using the video to help raise funds for the Swaledale mountain rescue team, which operates close to the troops' UK base in Ripon, North Yorkshire. |
| Lieutenant Rosie Brooks, 26, from Worcester, said: "We're supporting the Swaledale mountain rescue team while we're out here and obviously we had seen how big the Gangnam video had got, so we thought why not try and do something a bit different and see if we could raise a bit of money by piggybacking on a popular song. | Lieutenant Rosie Brooks, 26, from Worcester, said: "We're supporting the Swaledale mountain rescue team while we're out here and obviously we had seen how big the Gangnam video had got, so we thought why not try and do something a bit different and see if we could raise a bit of money by piggybacking on a popular song. |
| "So far we've done quite well. We raised about £4,500 in 48 hours, which is quite incredible. | "So far we've done quite well. We raised about £4,500 in 48 hours, which is quite incredible. |
| "We're overwhelmed by the support that we've had. | "We're overwhelmed by the support that we've had. |
| "The thing I was most looking forward to was my friends and family seeing it because I knew it would give them a good laugh, but reading some of the comments that people have left has been fantastic. | "The thing I was most looking forward to was my friends and family seeing it because I knew it would give them a good laugh, but reading some of the comments that people have left has been fantastic. |
| "It's just nice to know that people are supporting us back home and having a laugh at a video we've managed to make." | "It's just nice to know that people are supporting us back home and having a laugh at a video we've managed to make." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |