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Have You Seen This? Samoan wildfire crew sings as they work
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Something about this is moving, powerful and all around magical as a Samoan hotshot crew sings as they walk out of the woods. - photo by John Clyde


THE WOODS This video is just downright fantastic. Not sure what else to say really. At first, I thought it was kind of cool, then I thought it was like something out of a Disney movie and then I started getting emotional and didn't even know why.

As the video starts, you see a lonely forest that is both beautiful and tranquil, but then you realize you hear something in the distance. Something melodic and harmonious. Then the noise grows, and you realize it's singing. Multiple voices harmonizing as they sing and send their voices through the trees. The voices are powerful and moving, a men's chorus. As the sound grows and the song becomes more clear, we get our first glimpse of the source of the melody: firefighters.

One by one this Samoan hotshot crew emerges from the trees and continues to bolster the tune as it resonates off the trees. There is something beautiful about the singing and it's not just the fact that these men are on key like a trained choir, but rather it's something intangible that resonates on a deeper level.

After doing some research I found the tune is called "Faafetai i le Atua," which translates to "thank God in heaven." I found several videos online of the song and it's often sung to different melodies. I asked a friend for a rough translation, and he told me the firefighters are praising God and thanking him for protection.

You don't have to be religious to feel the power of the music and enjoy this video of people doing their job to the best of their abilities as they are thankful for the opportunity to perform it.