‘Because I’m Happy’: A Longhorn Fan’s Musical Tribute to Austin [Watch]
Dan Ndombe is from the Congo and goes to school at the University of Central Arkansas—but he also bleeds burnt orange.
“The first time I visited Austin was for SXSW in 2009,” he says, “and I’ve been totally in love with the place and the university ever since.”
Ndombe says he’s made a point for the past four years to visit Austin and UT for the South by Southwest festival. But this year work and school interfered and he wasn’t able to make it. So he took to YouTube to create a musical love letter to his favorite city—a cover of Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy,” performed entirely by tapping cooking pans and wine glasses with two pencils.
The result is, well, infectiously happy.
“This is my way of participating even though I couldn’t be there,” Ndombe says. “I wear the colors and horns proudly everywhere I go!”
Ndombe, who studies computer science, tells us he’s hoping to attend UT for grad school. After this video, we’re rooting for him.
Can’t see this video? Click here.
