'Freak In The Crowd,' Teens' Anti-Bullying Music Video, Slams Harassment (VIDEO)

A group of New York teens have put a musical spin on their anti-bullying efforts.

A catchy tune titled "Freak in the Crowd" features three young women slamming harassment while drawing attention bullying's potentially dangerous side-effects.

Lead singer Grace "Tucan" Gara and Faith Gara and Kristie Kleine say they hope the song inspires others to speak up, YNN Syracuse reports.

"I hope people see it and they're like, wow, I can make a difference and I can be the one to stand up and make someone's day even save someone's life," Grace Gara told YNN.

The song also provides hope to victims of harassment with lyrics such as:

They say High School bullies never change,
You pick on the geeks, but I think you are weak,
Take one look at us now, I can see us somehow,
Emerging like dragonflies

As of Friday afternoon, the video had only garnered about 300 views, but the girls have already captured the attention of the makers of the "Bully" documentary. The film directed by Lee Hirsch hits theaters March 30.

To read more about the three teens, visit CentralNy.YNN.com for the full story.

Comments

[JolieMontlick]

02:01 AM on 10/17/2012

Check out this just released anti-bullying music video. The song honors Taylor Swift and empowers kids to speak up in the face of bullying, and to be a friend to someone is being bullied. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPR_-zDMD8A. In the first 10 days the video has been seen in 43 states and 21 countries.

[lakerlover1099]

11:43 PM on 05/16/2012

While this song has such a positive message that I believe any person can support, it’s a tragedy to see this message tainted by someone who doesn’t practice what they preach. I personally know many girls and boys who were bullied and victimized in some of the most cruel ways by Grace and her friends. For such a strong message it’s sad to see the producers failed to do their homework on who they chose to represent it. In having a bully sing this song it takes away from the positive message it should have. It’s clear from the video and knowing Grace first hand that she has never been bullied and truly does not know the feeling of being hurt by peers.
Though it is convenient to have a pretty girl singing this song, it would be more meaningful coming form someone who has been victimized by bullies. It’s sad to see someone who is being untrue about her actions gaining attention and being rewarded with fame for such cruel behavior. While she sings about standing up for the freak in the crowd, her actions do not reflect this. I’m happy to see this song having such an impact, but before this song becomes famous I would hope the producers would reconsider who they want to represent such a strong message of anti-bullying.

[Cruel Justice Awaits]

04:15 PM on 04/04/2012

Over the years I have watched some people I know scorn the homeless on street corners out here in LA. Their contempt and lack of empathy for these unfortunates, believe it or not, isnt the thing that disturbs me most. It is that during the holiday season, these same people make a HUGE point of making sure everyone knows that THEY are spearheading a toy drive for the poor, or that THEY are serving food at a Mission downtown to the homeless or that THEY have hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for several poor or homeless families for the Xteenth year in a row. {{Alert the media here because}} The kudos and nods from the community pile up while those of us that have seen them spit on someone getting ready to wash their windshield for some change......we know better...... Before you ask whats this got to do with the article and video above......maybe nothing, but somehow, somewhere deep inside I doubt it....

[nefertitijones]

09:26 PM on 04/01/2012

Part Two (Nefertiti Jones)

Today I am a musician and a casting director based in New York City. I also run a music program called Gibson Kids Rock with my husband rock guitarist Jimi Bones. The program was created to help at-risk-kids in the foster care system. Thanks to the help of the New York Foundling and Gibson Guitars the program is in its fourth year. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the song, Freak in the Crowd will go to the New York Foundling. www.nyfoundling.org/

Tucan, the lead singer in Freak in the Crowd is my goddaughter along with her younger sister Faith Gara. I asked them if they would be willing to sing our song and they accepted. The other kids in the video are our private students we teach voice and guitar to. Sam, is a talented singer songwriter, (daughter of Amy Sewell, helmer of audience-pleaser Mad Hot Ballroom and feminist documentary What's Your Point, Honey?). Maria the female bass player is also a singer songwriter is Hispanic and lives in the Bronx. The both boys Max and Oliver have been studying guitar from my husband for the past several years. Just to give you an idea about the kids. (Sam, Max and Oliver are Jewish, Maria is Hispanic and Charlotte is French and Irish)

I shot the video in two days with my Cam Corder, along with a second video called Lucky Charm, same bunch of kids.

Thanks

[tonybfine]

01:20 AM on 04/02/2012

I think this is a totally brilliant music video - the song is great and the singer is fantastic. I hope you get a lot of success with it. I have just e-mailed a link to my two kids at college.

[nefertitijones]

09:22 PM on 04/01/2012

Hello my name is Nefertiti Jones, I am the Filmmaker and CO-writer and director of Freak in the Crowd. First of all I would like to thank the Huffington Post for choosing to highlight our video. There are many powerful thought provoking music videos out there so we feel honored that ours was chosen. I spent a good part of Sunday reading the comments as they came in, and I greatly appreciate the feedback, good and bad. The fact is people are talking about a very important issues and despite the different reactions to our video, everyone has been respectful in letting everyone share their opinion.

Okay, little background on me.

My mother was a Greek and English school teacher who taught on the Lower East Side in NYC. My father was African American, grew up in New Orleans moved to New York in the sixties and worked as a security guard at the Museum of Modern Art. I grew up in Alphabet City in the projects during the late 70s and 80s with my two older brothers and liberal parents. (I wrote a book about my crazy life-with photos. I've been told its a good read and one that will take you back to the 80s in Alphabet City.)

Part One

[ProudToBeVeryLiberal]

05:32 PM on 04/01/2012

I was bullied by white girls who looked a lot like those in the video. Because I was Hispanic, because I was poor, because I was a straight-A student and a science geek (yes, of course, they were stvpid, and while I now work for the space program, they sell real estate or fashion accessories on EBay...) I don't recall any rich and pretty white girl being bullied.

Why don't I see girls like me in this video? Maybe the real agenda of this very polished and Disney-ish "production" that carefully avoids any of the kids who don't "look right" isn't what it claims to be?

I can tell you that this video does NOT resonate with those who were actually victims of bullies.

[Carmen Madonna Campos]

10:10 PM on 04/01/2012

i hear you!
i remember a song from when i was very little, that i realized was true when i was a teen.
because, before J Lo, latinas weren't in high demand.

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth...

[hayleysstone]

11:47 AM on 04/02/2012

While I understand your point to an extent, I believe the point of this video is to show that bullying is EVERYWHERE, and even happens to the unexpected people as seen in this video. Today, bullying does not just appear in cases and places like yours did but even to the "white girls". How dare you say this video does not resonate with those who were victims of bullying when bullying happens to teens of all shapes, sizes, genders, religions and ethnic backgrounds NOT excluding white girls. Bullying is not just racial/ socio-economic anymore. Girls, and boys, get bullied for the clothes they wear, brands they buy, books they read, clubs they're a part of, and they're unique interests, all of which you do not need to be ethnically diverse to fall victim to.

[ProudToBeVeryLiberal]

03:36 PM on 04/02/2012

The reason for this video is promotion to record companies, as cerebrogasm found out.

"NOT excluding white girls."

Never said white girls aren't bullied. I said rich and pretty white girls aren't bullied.

[Abnormal Wrench]

04:05 PM on 04/01/2012

All the hoodies...this video should be censored!

[cerebrogasm]

03:27 PM on 04/01/2012

Good job girls. I hope it makes a difference in the war on bullying.

Is puberty hitting earlier and earlier each year? When I was a teen - girls did not look like this - they looked like teens - not like they're 26. Is it the food? Exercise? I'm convinced a big segment of youths are hitting puberty much earlier than, say, 20 years ago.

The reason this becomes important is that the typical bullying victims (tween and teen girls, in this case), do not look like these "girls" - they look more like, well, teens...

Ok - last gripe - I just hope this is not a "feel good about me being kind to pathetic teens" to make me feel good about myself, video. It really looks like a music video destined to get the attention of recording producers - the standard shots every girl group video has - is in there - this might not be the girl's faults - it might just be the ulterior motive of someone not on camera to promote a new group. Say it isn't so.

[ProudToBeVeryLiberal]

05:18 PM on 04/01/2012

"I just hope this is not a "feel good about me being kind to pathetic teens" to make me feel good about myself, video. It really looks like a music video destined to get the attention of recording producers"

Call me cynical, but that was exactly my perception. Have you noticed how none of the kids that don't "look right" are in this video? Isn't that a very confusing message? Seems like "hey, we feel about the "different" kids, but we don't really want any of them in our video or they may reduce the production value and thus doom our chances to be discovered!"

[cerebrogasm]

06:10 PM on 04/01/2012

Dead on. I was hoping I was just being overly cynical. And if you go down another layer of analyzing the production - it could actually be doing the exact opposite of what it claims to be doing: establishing the "in" teens versus "the loser" teens, that "we must treat as handicapped victims - and get props for our incredible empathy to actually stoop down to these misfits and yes, we'll keep defending you, as long as it's making us "in" girls look both "hot," "talented," AND "compassionate. In other words - thank God you're a bully-target - I can make a name for myself out of this..."

Of course there's the chance that the teens in the video are sincere about anti-bullying - and just fell into the hands of some off-camera influences that directed the piece like a "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," video. In which case, both the "in" video teens and the "bully-target teens (not shown)" have been exploited.

[cerebrogasm]

06:14 PM on 04/01/2012

I guess my cynicism has more justification than I thought: take a look at the lead singer's web page:

http://www.reverbnation.com/graceaktucangara

The prosecution rests.

[oldgrendel]

03:11 PM on 04/01/2012

BRAVO!!!

[Spitfirewarbird]

02:36 PM on 04/01/2012

Great song, but they are showing "Hoodies" in a violent light.

[murphthesurf3]

01:40 PM on 04/01/2012

A FINE STORY FROM ANOTHER POSTER:  BROTHERS3

When I was in high school, we had an instant remedy for bullies there.

Me.

I was quiet, shy, bashful and a very strong boxer. From the time I was a sophomore in high school, anytime I heard of or saw an instance of bullying, I stopped it, even if by using my fists.

In grade school, I was bullied. I got strong. I high school, I defended those who got bullied.

I'm not trying to puff up my ego. I'm just saying that my reputation at my high school prevented a lot of kids from getting bullied. I say let the strong kids stand up for those who are weaker, and watch the bullying problem fade away.

============If yoiu want to comment on this go to his page at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/brothers3/teens-anti-bullying-music_n_1392383_145144888.html

or

leave it here and I will pass it on to him.

[Patricia Ladas]

04:06 PM on 04/01/2012

A very real story. I'll be interested in finding out what kind of response it gets. I's like to read more of his posts, so I plan to visit his profile.

[murphthesurf3]

12:15 AM on 04/02/2012

Not much at all. The way it goes on the net.

[gnosius]

12:38 PM on 04/01/2012

Cool, sensitive, intelligent young voices. The future of the planet belongs to you.

[fbbcrnptch]

12:37 PM on 04/01/2012

I just called my nieces and asked them to look at this and get back to me. They have both
recently graduated from high school so have a pretty up-to-date perspective.

A little background. The oldest is 6-feet and probably weighs around 280 lbs. The youngest
is about 4 inches shorter but weighs about the same. They both went to a small high school
in NE Iowa with about 40 kids in their senior classes. The oldest nickname was "Baby Huey"
in school. Neither one has ever been out on a date to speak of and most of their "friends"
were nearby relatives. Their dad died of cancer when they were in middle school and before
they graduated from high school their mom had a massive stroke and is in an assisted living
facility. They refuse to move from the area (and their mom)- it is the only life they know.

Their reaction was instant. Both said "you have got to be kidding - how is this supposed to
help. Thanks for nothing, Aunt XXX?!" One said it looked like an audition for the next
generation of "Glee". I agree.

Ask the non-cool kids in your life. See what they say about this.

[cerebrogasm]

03:37 PM on 04/01/2012

I was getting to the same point your nieces made - I kept thinking I'm way too cynical - but these girls - don't look like teens or tweens that are the targets of bullying - the video looks like something to be solicited to MTV. I hope this was done with sincerity and not to promote a recording contract. Bullied tweens and teens I've physically defended back in high school - did not look like these girls - and there are other cues that this was made by professionals in producing music videos. The guys that got bullied in my HS looked more like Napoleon Dynamite - the girls, Napoleon's equivalent.

[flatbushfred]

12:34 PM on 04/01/2012

Fabulous!!!!

[UmYeah]

12:02 PM on 04/01/2012

Love Love