After being named in Newsweek as one of the top 10 “dying” US cities, the town of Grand Rapids, Michigan decided to do something positive.

Here’s what happens when 40 crew, a cast of 200, thousands of extras, the town’s fire and emergency services, local dancers, musicians and a helicopter all come together to create a ten-minute lip-sync video to Don McLean’s classic American Pie. And all in one take!

Film critic Roger Ebert has dubbed it “the greatest music video ever made” and we agree.