Raleigh Convention Center Records Song, Produces Video, Induces Widespread Nausea!

By chris on January 4, 2007

Ok, perhaps I’m being a little too harsh here, but does anyone like this thing? Is this really the image of Raleigh we want to project to the rest of the world? Granted, I realize the primary audience for it is potential convention clients, but I’m not even sure they’ll get it.

Admittedly, I’ve seen worse “corporate” and “government” videos. Much worse. I guess I just wonder why anyone would spend the money to produce something like this when there are such better options, like a more interactive website. How about a 3-D interactive rendering of downtown Raleigh that people could use to conduct either guided or manual tours of the city online? How about including a timeline so the rendering changes when a slider is moved?

Anyway, post your comments here ~~or on YouTube~~. The folks at the Raleigh ~~CVB~~ Convention Center are interested in what people think and will be reading them.

This video is also available here:

http://www.raleighconvention.com/index.php/homepage/shine-video

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Posted in General Raleigh | 214 Responses

Ron T

Just in case we need another post noting how awful the music in the background is – here goes….the music felt as though someone who had never been to Raleigh was shown a map. That person never left the city (let’s say NYC) where their agency is located. That person would say…hmmm “South” hmmm they must listen to country music. Either that or they were looking at a map of Nashville.
Why not have modern music with the voice saying all the notable things about Raleigh – such as the rankings that flash on the screen?
Raleigh has all kinds of music. From what I know of the local music scene – it is not country. Thankfully, it is nothing like what is played in the background.
I did think the video painted a flattering picture of Raleigh and has a good feel to it. It would just be better muted at this point.
Chris – thanks for this post though! And with a very witty title.
Ron T

Just in case we need another post noting how awful the music in the background is – here goes….the music felt as though someone who had never been to Raleigh was shown a map. That person never left the city (let’s say NYC) where their agency is located. That person would say…hmmm “South” hmmm they must listen to country music. Either that or they were looking at a map of Nashville.
Why not have modern music with the voice saying all the notable things about Raleigh – such as the rankings that flash on the screen?
Raleigh has all kinds of music. From what I know of the local music scene – it is not country. Thankfully, it is nothing like what is played in the background.
I did think the video painted a flattering picture of Raleigh and has a good feel to it. It would just be better muted at this point.
Chris – thanks for this post though! And with a very witty title.
Ricardo R

Little Brother or some of the Justus League guys (9th Wonder’s crew) should have been commissioned to do the music, or yeah let’s get Petey Pab on it. ha ha ha
No, but the best idea was, “Goin’ Back To Raleigh” by Vanilla Nice.
Ricardo R

Little Brother or some of the Justus League guys (9th Wonder’s crew) should have been commissioned to do the music, or yeah let’s get Petey Pab on it. ha ha ha
No, but the best idea was, “Goin’ Back To Raleigh” by Vanilla Nice.
John

a few more things:
1.) How come all the cultural diversity stuff was clumped together? It makes me think someone watched a preview and said “oops, we need some cultural diversity… go out and get some clips and let’s shove them in the middle”.
2.) Why play the audio from GMA when it was clearly flubbed as the announcer tries to say Fayetteville Street?
3.) The whole thing reeks of the “Junior League” crowd…overly preppy and certainly not edgy, modern or creative.
John

a few more things:
1.) How come all the cultural diversity stuff was clumped together? It makes me think someone watched a preview and said “oops, we need some cultural diversity… go out and get some clips and let’s shove them in the middle”.
2.) Why play the audio from GMA when it was clearly flubbed as the announcer tries to say Fayetteville Street?
3.) The whole thing reeks of the “Junior League” crowd…overly preppy and certainly not edgy, modern or creative.
tj

When I first heard this song I thought it was the same one written by Bill Leslie. Turns out it’s not, alhthough equally cheesy:
“Raleigh” by Bill Leslie
Where the acorns fall,
Where the trees grow tall,
Great ideas form,
Here where hearts are warm,
With hospitality,
And rich diversity,
Where you can grow to be your best.
(chorus)
Raleigh, we love you Raleigh,
The lay of your land,
Your springtime so grand,
Spirit of your past,
Something we hold fast,
And the hope for a bright tomorrow.
Beneath the high rise steel,
Remains a small town feel,
A sweet and genteel grace,
To this vibrant place,
Concerts in the park,
Fireworks after dark,
A perfect place to launch your dreams.
(repeat chorus)
Summer is serene,
Along these trails of green,
Laughter on the lawn,
Fiery autumn dawn,
Universities and stately agencies,
Robust heart and soul of the new South.
Home of champions,
And celebrations,
Home of heroes,
’Large and small,
Place of compassion,
And interaction,
Open hearts and open minds.
tj

When I first heard this song I thought it was the same one written by Bill Leslie. Turns out it’s not, alhthough equally cheesy:
“Raleigh” by Bill Leslie
Where the acorns fall,
Where the trees grow tall,
Great ideas form,
Here where hearts are warm,
With hospitality,
And rich diversity,
Where you can grow to be your best.
(chorus)
Raleigh, we love you Raleigh,
The lay of your land,
Your springtime so grand,
Spirit of your past,
Something we hold fast,
And the hope for a bright tomorrow.
Beneath the high rise steel,
Remains a small town feel,
A sweet and genteel grace,
To this vibrant place,
Concerts in the park,
Fireworks after dark,
A perfect place to launch your dreams.
(repeat chorus)
Summer is serene,
Along these trails of green,
Laughter on the lawn,
Fiery autumn dawn,
Universities and stately agencies,
Robust heart and soul of the new South.
Home of champions,
And celebrations,
Home of heroes,
’Large and small,
Place of compassion,
And interaction,
Open hearts and open minds.
dbannon

I wounder if the producers considered Clay Aiken as the voice of Raleigh. He would have sounded much better than what they chose.
dbannon

I wounder if the producers considered Clay Aiken as the voice of Raleigh. He would have sounded much better than what they chose.
Kimgirl

Oh jeez…where to start? ah raleigh…so vanilla…so boring…so conservative…all the things that video showed. i can’t believe that thing was even serious, it was like a bad “daily show” joke. it looked like, “by corporate, for corporate”, but maybe that was the point.
oh but the song! the song was the absolute worst!
let’s just be honest about what raleigh is: a place to live if you’re too poor to move to chapel hill/carrboro, to scared to move to durham or stuck here because of job and/or family. i bet nobody had a corporate meeting over http://www.itscarrboro.com and i bet that video cost a tenth as much as this one.
Kimgirl

Oh jeez…where to start? ah raleigh…so vanilla…so boring…so conservative…all the things that video showed. i can’t believe that thing was even serious, it was like a bad “daily show” joke. it looked like, “by corporate, for corporate”, but maybe that was the point.
oh but the song! the song was the absolute worst!
let’s just be honest about what raleigh is: a place to live if you’re too poor to move to chapel hill/carrboro, to scared to move to durham or stuck here because of job and/or family. i bet nobody had a corporate meeting over http://www.itscarrboro.com and i bet that video cost a tenth as much as this one.
http://www.raleighmsa.com/ Ernest Pecounis

Well, I think that most people here have been a bit too harsh I wish I could put together something half as decent as this video. It will not satisfy everyone, but the ones that count the most are those we wish to attract here. Put yourself in the shoes of a future customer, who may, or may not know anything about Raleigh.
So, we are not NYC, and we do not have the historic fabric of New Orleans, but we are a growing and dynamic place, and that is all we have to offer. Those who wish to visit Raleigh for a conference/convention are interested in many of the things addressed in the video (i.e. dining, cultural activities, shopping). I think that this promotional clip will not be the last version. With all the technology that is available today, we can create new videos and put them online within short time and within budget. The hardest part is to get some good footage, which I think exists in this video, along with some mediocre scenes.
My opinion is that in the next version, they should show a little bit more of North Hills and Fayetteville Street’s ground level activity (during business hours). Maybe a little more of the nightlife in Glenwood South.
http://www.raleighmsa.com Ernest Pecounis

Well, I think that most people here have been a bit too harsh I wish I could put together something half as decent as this video. It will not satisfy everyone, but the ones that count the most are those we wish to attract here. Put yourself in the shoes of a future customer, who may, or may not know anything about Raleigh.
So, we are not NYC, and we do not have the historic fabric of New Orleans, but we are a growing and dynamic place, and that is all we have to offer. Those who wish to visit Raleigh for a conference/convention are interested in many of the things addressed in the video (i.e. dining, cultural activities, shopping). I think that this promotional clip will not be the last version. With all the technology that is available today, we can create new videos and put them online within short time and within budget. The hardest part is to get some good footage, which I think exists in this video, along with some mediocre scenes.
My opinion is that in the next version, they should show a little bit more of North Hills and Fayetteville Street’s ground level activity (during business hours). Maybe a little more of the nightlife in Glenwood South.
Tom

I would recommend a conflation of the Petey Pablo diddy and the Convention Center version:
“919 Mother F$%#@!, Shine Shine Shine Mother F!@#$%&, la la la la”
Tom

I would recommend a conflation of the Petey Pablo diddy and the Convention Center version:
“919 Mother F$%#@!, Shine Shine Shine Mother F!@#$%&, la la la la”
Leo

you know if they needed a video for this, i think the easiest solution to it would be this. let’s say they spent X ammount on this video. make a contest or something open to the citizens of raleigh, and especially the students, mass market this contest. the selected winner will win X. i’m confident someone would come up with something great, this vid isnt bad, just really really needs a new soundtrack.
at least there is a positive, when i saw the video on wral they reported that it convinced two parties to sign up here. at least there that……….i guess.
Leo

you know if they needed a video for this, i think the easiest solution to it would be this. let’s say they spent X ammount on this video. make a contest or something open to the citizens of raleigh, and especially the students, mass market this contest. the selected winner will win X. i’m confident someone would come up with something great, this vid isnt bad, just really really needs a new soundtrack.
at least there is a positive, when i saw the video on wral they reported that it convinced two parties to sign up here. at least there that……….i guess.
Laura

Holy crap! That “Appalachian State University is HOT HOT HOT” is the silliest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Wonder how long it’ll take to get that song out of my head. :-0
Laura

Holy crap! That “Appalachian State University is HOT HOT HOT” is the silliest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Wonder how long it’ll take to get that song out of my head. :-0
Jeff S

The auto-playing video is a little annoying. Is there any chance we can get it changed?
Jeff S

The auto-playing video is a little annoying. Is there any chance we can get it changed?
http://profile.typekey.com/chrisjam/ Chris

No.
http://profile.typekey.com/chrisjam/ Chris

No.
John

Kimgirl,
People live in Raleigh because they can’t afford Chapel Hill/Carrboro??? You can’t be serious. I guess all those people living in Country Club Hills, Hayes Barton, Budleigh, Anderson Heights and the dozens upon dozens of million dollar + homes neighborhoods in North Raleigh go to bed each night crying because they they can’t afford Chapel Hill.
I am sure there are some who would like to live there but can’t afford it. However, that would be true for anywhere. There is always someplace that someone can’t afford. To make a blanket assumption like you did reminds me of the kids in my high school (years ago) who would claim that people only went to State, ECU, etc. because they couldn’t get into UNC. It reeks of a pretentious superiority dance. News alert to the good folks in Chapel Hill: Not everyone wants to live there and not everyone wants to go to school there.
John

Kimgirl,
People live in Raleigh because they can’t afford Chapel Hill/Carrboro??? You can’t be serious. I guess all those people living in Country Club Hills, Hayes Barton, Budleigh, Anderson Heights and the dozens upon dozens of million dollar + homes neighborhoods in North Raleigh go to bed each night crying because they they can’t afford Chapel Hill.
I am sure there are some who would like to live there but can’t afford it. However, that would be true for anywhere. There is always someplace that someone can’t afford. To make a blanket assumption like you did reminds me of the kids in my high school (years ago) who would claim that people only went to State, ECU, etc. because they couldn’t get into UNC. It reeks of a pretentious superiority dance. News alert to the good folks in Chapel Hill: Not everyone wants to live there and not everyone wants to go to school there.
julie

Maybe if people in raleigh stopped having the small town mentality of only hiring people who are related to them and their neighbors. The abilities of people who produce these and other things in the area would increase
julie

Maybe if people in raleigh stopped having the small town mentality of only hiring people who are related to them and their neighbors. The abilities of people who produce these and other things in the area would increase
stretch b

Wow! Is this serious? First of all- the ” city on the rise” is Rocky Mount. The music is sooooo mediocre , unfocused, and full of twang. The lack of twang compared to the rest of the south is why Raleigh is different. If we rank 42nd in education, then that means our leaders are 42nd best also, hmmmm. God! if you can pay $1500 per parking space, you can round up some money and solicit ideas from the hundreds of artists and musicians and high-tech movie-makers who live here and have real emotion for this place.
stretch b

Wow! Is this serious? First of all- the ” city on the rise” is Rocky Mount. The music is sooooo mediocre , unfocused, and full of twang. The lack of twang compared to the rest of the south is why Raleigh is different. If we rank 42nd in education, then that means our leaders are 42nd best also, hmmmm. God! if you can pay $1500 per parking space, you can round up some money and solicit ideas from the hundreds of artists and musicians and high-tech movie-makers who live here and have real emotion for this place.
stretch b

oh yeah. “no compromise” is what we are all about. What about when we surrendered without fight during the Civil War? off subject- i know. Why doesn’t the song use some of the catch phrases we know- city of oaks, park with a city in it, or run the poor out of downtown. These are all well known images.
stretch b

oh yeah. “no compromise” is what we are all about. What about when we surrendered without fight during the Civil War? off subject- i know. Why doesn’t the song use some of the catch phrases we know- city of oaks, park with a city in it, or run the poor out of downtown. These are all well known images.
Ernest

OK all you armchair critics. The city of Raleigh, NC needs a song to promote the new convention center. Are you up to it?
1. Come up with the lyrics.
2. Compose the music.
3. Arange it.
4. Find a vocalist to sing it.
5. Find a band to play it.
6. Find a group for backup.
7. Record it.
8. Present it to the City of Raleigh.
9. Perform all the above at no cost to the city of Raleigh.
10. Put up or shut up!
Ernest

OK all you armchair critics. The city of Raleigh, NC needs a song to promote the new convention center. Are you up to it?
1. Come up with the lyrics.
2. Compose the music.
3. Arange it.
4. Find a vocalist to sing it.
5. Find a band to play it.
6. Find a group for backup.
7. Record it.
8. Present it to the City of Raleigh.
9. Perform all the above at no cost to the city of Raleigh.
10. Put up or shut up!
http://www.raleighmsa.com/ Ernest Pecounis

^^
Hey, I thought I was the only Ernest here :LOL:
Now, seriously, I thought of putting together a little video using my digital camera’s video capabilities, but when the time came to do this, I felt intimmidated It is much easier said than done. Maybe a group of people with artistic and creative talents can pull this.
http://www.raleighmsa.com Ernest Pecounis

^^
Hey, I thought I was the only Ernest here :LOL:
Now, seriously, I thought of putting together a little video using my digital camera’s video capabilities, but when the time came to do this, I felt intimmidated It is much easier said than done. Maybe a group of people with artistic and creative talents can pull this.
http://profile.typekey.com/captainx/ Bryant

So, only people who can actually produce a video of *cough* comparable quality are allowed to voice their opinion or offer criticism? I will agree that some people went a bit overboard in their negativity, but let’s face it, the video is a pile and the resulting outcry is not that big of a surprise.
I may not be a singer or a video producer, but I still know enough to be able to call a spade a spade and a bad video a bad video. If this was put out there to elicit feedback, then how is it wrong for us to express our opinions? “Put up or shut up” is extremely narrow-minded and no more helpful than the most banal of criticisms offered above.
I’ve said repeatedly that Raleigh cannot excel as a city by accepting mediocrity with a glum smile and an expression of, “It could be worse.” We need to demand excellence if we are to be seen as excellent, and neither this video nor another amateurish one that could be created by inexperienced Raleighing posters fit the bill.
http://profile.typekey.com/captainx/ Bryant

So, only people who can actually produce a video of *cough* comparable quality are allowed to voice their opinion or offer criticism? I will agree that some people went a bit overboard in their negativity, but let’s face it, the video is a pile and the resulting outcry is not that big of a surprise.
I may not be a singer or a video producer, but I still know enough to be able to call a spade a spade and a bad video a bad video. If this was put out there to elicit feedback, then how is it wrong for us to express our opinions? “Put up or shut up” is extremely narrow-minded and no more helpful than the most banal of criticisms offered above.
I’ve said repeatedly that Raleigh cannot excel as a city by accepting mediocrity with a glum smile and an expression of, “It could be worse.” We need to demand excellence if we are to be seen as excellent, and neither this video nor another amateurish one that could be created by inexperienced Raleighing posters fit the bill.
dbearhug

I didn’t think it was all that bad, but I got the feeling that Raleigh was trying to compare itself to Austin, TX with this effort. Just my thought. And, yeah, if I was a convention-planner, the video looks more like a relocation effort than one that really focuses on bringing in visitors.
But, then again, that’s the trouble with this town. Raleigh is a great-living city and not a great-visiting city. I always have problems when my parents and sister come from California and Arizona to town for the holidays. After 2-3 visits we have trouble coming up with something new to do. So, lately we’ve started gathering at Myrtle Beach or Orlando instead.
dbearhug

I didn’t think it was all that bad, but I got the feeling that Raleigh was trying to compare itself to Austin, TX with this effort. Just my thought. And, yeah, if I was a convention-planner, the video looks more like a relocation effort than one that really focuses on bringing in visitors.
But, then again, that’s the trouble with this town. Raleigh is a great-living city and not a great-visiting city. I always have problems when my parents and sister come from California and Arizona to town for the holidays. After 2-3 visits we have trouble coming up with something new to do. So, lately we’ve started gathering at Myrtle Beach or Orlando instead.
Spike

Oh joy, gathering with the masses in Myrtle Beach and Orlando…talk about dumbing down. Are those tourist traps the types of venues we want to emulate? Hmmm…didn’t think so.
Spike

Oh joy, gathering with the masses in Myrtle Beach and Orlando…talk about dumbing down. Are those tourist traps the types of venues we want to emulate? Hmmm…didn’t think so.
http://www.rhapsody.com/player?type=track&id=tra.1963601&remote=false&page=&pageregion=&guid=&from= ddf

I agree with most of the posts on this topic. The video is cheesy, and not the quality representation that Raleigh deserves. During a visit to Vienna, Austria, I encountered what is probably the most tastefully done slogan for a city that I have ever seen. They have coined the phrase “Vienna Waits For You” and for the video, they feature the song “Vienna” by Billy Joel.
http://www.rhapsody.com/player?type=track&id;=tra.1963601&remote;=false&page;=&pageregion;=&guid;=&from;=
I would urge evryone to listen to this. I left Vienna with that tune ringing in my ears. It creates the kind of impression that Raleigh needs and it also touches the emotion which will make people remember the city long after they are gone. No other city in the US (that I have visited) has anything nearly as nice.
http://www.rhapsody.com/player?type=track&id=tra.1963601&remote=false&page=&pageregion=&guid=&from= ddf

I agree with most of the posts on this topic. The video is cheesy, and not the quality representation that Raleigh deserves. During a visit to Vienna, Austria, I encountered what is probably the most tastefully done slogan for a city that I have ever seen. They have coined the phrase “Vienna Waits For You” and for the video, they feature the song “Vienna” by Billy Joel.
http://www.rhapsody.com/player?type=track&id=tra.1963601&remote=false&page=&pageregion=&guid=&from=
I would urge evryone to listen to this. I left Vienna with that tune ringing in my ears. It creates the kind of impression that Raleigh needs and it also touches the emotion which will make people remember the city long after they are gone. No other city in the US (that I have visited) has anything nearly as nice.
chelseapup

That had to be one of the worst songs evah. The melody was completely monotonous. There were no peaks. There was no hook. Nothing. Bad bad bad.
As for the “put up or shut up,” had they given the chance, I’m sure there are plenty of musicians who would have offered their services. Whoever wrote this should have chosen, “shut up.”
The Bill Leslie song is actually quite sweet. He did give the people of Raleigh the chance to “put up or shut up” and received tons of input from the community, so if it is cheesy, there are a lot of authors to blame besides him. Besides, his delivery is honest and endearing and the production and orchestration of his finished products is way better than this thing.
chelseapup

That had to be one of the worst songs evah. The melody was completely monotonous. There were no peaks. There was no hook. Nothing. Bad bad bad.
As for the “put up or shut up,” had they given the chance, I’m sure there are plenty of musicians who would have offered their services. Whoever wrote this should have chosen, “shut up.”
The Bill Leslie song is actually quite sweet. He did give the people of Raleigh the chance to “put up or shut up” and received tons of input from the community, so if it is cheesy, there are a lot of authors to blame besides him. Besides, his delivery is honest and endearing and the production and orchestration of his finished products is way better than this thing.
gdaddy

Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac called the Raleigh concention center and he wants his guitar riff back!
gdaddy

Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac called the Raleigh concention center and he wants his guitar riff back!
Brett

I finally just watched the vid… I had been reading all the comments since the topic was posted, so I really was expecting it to suck. Honestly, it really wasn’t that bad to me. For some reason, people just love to bash things. It reminds me of when the Plensa proposal was made, and people came out of the woodwork to complain and criticize. Promotional vids are cheezy by nature, this one is no different. However,if I had never been to Raleigh and saw that video, I would think Raleigh must be a pretty cool place. I don’t understand why people have to be so negative, critical and mean…
Brett

I finally just watched the vid… I had been reading all the comments since the topic was posted, so I really was expecting it to suck. Honestly, it really wasn’t that bad to me. For some reason, people just love to bash things. It reminds me of when the Plensa proposal was made, and people came out of the woodwork to complain and criticize. Promotional vids are cheezy by nature, this one is no different. However,if I had never been to Raleigh and saw that video, I would think Raleigh must be a pretty cool place. I don’t understand why people have to be so negative, critical and mean…

>raleighing store

Raleigh Convention Center Records Song, Produces Video, Induces Widespread Nausea!

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