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# Preempting April Fools: The Case Of The Google Street View Music Video
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/preempting-april-fools-the-case-of-the-google-street-view-music-video/
- Published: 2013-04-01T09:03:13.000Z
- Updated: 2013-04-01T09:03:13.000Z
- Description: In a pre-April Fool's media stunt, Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys released a music video that appears to have been shot from a Google Street View car's camera. It's a. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/04/preempting-april-fools-the-case-of-the-google-street-view-music-video.html]
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Music Marketing, Social Media, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:43

[![Gunnar-grizzly-boys-north-country](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2017c3841b266970b-150wi "Gunnar-grizzly-boys-north-country")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2017c3841b266970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)

In a **pre-April Fool's media stunt**, Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys released a **music video** that appears to have been **shot from a Google Street View car's camera**. It's a nicely done video that has already fueled a solid round of media coverage. It's also a reminder that a smart stunt well played can be good marketing leading to **incredibly valuable earned media**.

[Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys](http://www.gunnartunes.com/?ref=hypebot.com), working with [Rob Bliss Creative](http://robblisscreative.com/?ref=hypebot.com), seem to have a YouTube hit on their hands with a video titled "Redneck Country Band Ambushes Google Street View Car!."

**Redneck Country Band Ambushes Google Street View Car!**

The video was [released March 29th](http://youtu.be/rphOfG52obM?ref=hypebot.com) and has received coverage and engagement on a variety of websites including:

- [Reddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1b8mf0/redneck%5Fcountry%5Fband%5Fambushes%5Fgoogle%5Fstreet%5Fview/?ref=hypebot.com)
- [CNET](http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852%5F3-57577021-71/band-claims-street-view-driver-broke-google-rules-for-video/?ref=hypebot.com)
- [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/gunnar-grizzly-boys-google-street-view-country-music-video%5Fn%5F2980365.html?ref=hypebot.com)
- [Mashable](http://mashable.com/2013/03/29/google-street-view-car-music-video/?ref=hypebot.com)
- [PetaPixel](http://www.petapixel.com/2013/03/29/band-makes-clever-music-video-through-google-street-views-cameras/?ref=hypebot.com)
- [HyperVocal](http://hypervocal.com/vids/2013/google-street-car-music-video/?ref=hypebot.com)
- [WebProNews](http://www.webpronews.com/country-band-ambushes-google-street-view-car-2013-03?ref=hypebot.com)

As you can see, it's basically a group of pickup trucks that seem to be riding in front of a [Google Maps Street View](http://maps.google.com/intl/en/help/maps/streetview/?ref=hypebot.com) car that they claim was operated by a friend and Google employee in a clandestine act of music video creation. Employing a look similar to what one sees when working one's way down a street using Street View, one of the performers also holds up a sign with lyrics from the song "Could Be Me" off Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys' "[North Country E.P.](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/north-country-ep/id609921839?ref=hypebot.com)"

There's just enough of a story and visual evidence to give writers and Reddit commenters something to debunk without crossing the line into cold-hearted fakery. My only quibble with this project is that the signs need darker lettering in order to be read.

The video appears on a [YouTube account](http://www.youtube.com/user/RobBlissCreative?feature=watch&ref=hypebot.com) for Rob Bliss Creative with consulting by [Whiskey Neat](http://whiskeyneat.net/?ref=hypebot.com). You can see more of this down home, folksy approach to earning media, rather than buying it, in the [Rob Bliss Creative Portfolio](http://robblisscreative.com/?ref=hypebot.com#!/portfolio.html) and on his [About page](http://robblisscreative.com/?ref=hypebot.com#!/about.html).

Bliss [got his start](http://www.freep.com/article/20130224/COL24/302240133/Carol-Cain-Video-creator-Rob-Bliss-expanding-work-to-Chicago?ref=hypebot.com) in Grand Rapids, Michigan and now he's also making moves in Chicago. He's already accomplished quite a bit with his good natured work that taps into popular phenomenon. Nice to see somebody in the game with a sense of humor that doesn't come across as a jaded cynic for a change.

**Bonus:**  
While searching for media related to "google street view music video" I came across "[The Wilderness Downtown](http://thewildernessdowntown.com/?ref=hypebot.com)" by Chris Milk featuring Arcade Fire's music. I was reminded of what a powerful, sophisticated and original work it is. Definitely a different aesthetic world than "Redneck Country Band Ambushes Google Street View Car!" but both can coexist on the web without conflict and that's a good thing.

*Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith ([@fluxresearch](https://twitter.com/fluxresearch?ref=hypebot.com)/[@crowdfundingm](https://twitter.com/crowdfundingm?ref=hypebot.com)) also blogs at [All World Dance: Videos](http://www.allworlddance.com/?ref=hypebot.com) and maintains [Music Biz Blogs](http://www.musicbizblogs.com/?ref=hypebot.com). To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact:*

clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com

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