Happy: Pharrell William’s Joyful Anthem Takes On New Meaning in the Streets of Kiev, Ukraine

Polish filmmakers Gosia Molska and Leszek Molski made a Ukrainian version of Pharrell William’s "Happy" featuring protesters in Kiev in early February 2014.

I love how the bubbly and hopeful song and dancers pose a challenge to the brutal reality imposed by then-President Viktor Yanukovych. The interviews toward the end of the film show just how powerful a transformative reuse of a pop culture meme can be.

Since the video was made, Yanukovych has fled to Russia, and parts of the Ukraine have been occupied by Russian troops.