Yes, about the only thing that could’ve made the video creepier is if they’ve been dressed in Mao suits.
Incidentally, I’ve noted elsewhere that the din of chanting seems intended to have a hypnotic effect like it was something you’d find in a cult. Has your wife said anything about the song to that effect?
Hi Rurudyne, no she did not mention that. But she did talk about the uniforms, the hand gestures, the performance aspects, the signs and banners, the enthusiastic adult director who is at once familiar to the kids and a familiar of the state, the smiling approval of authority (parents / the state) — evidently these are all common “tools of the trade” when it comes to the indoctrination of kids.
When I first saw the video, I thought it was creepy, but I was at least a little willing to give the adults who put it together a pass. Misguided and dumb, but maybe their hearts were not too far off, you know? But when my wife got ahold of it, she said it was just too close to “the originals” to be an accident.
It still sounds silly to read my own words about “the state” and indoctrination, but she had to live with the Real Deal for many years. Her family went through some tough times. And when she sees something like this and says it’s bad news, well, what else should I do but pay attention?
But I myself definitely hear you on the cultish aspects. It’s just weird. I don’t think you’d ever hear kids singing songs about McCain! :-)