“The Songstress of Springfield” Sets Records Over 4th of July Weekend
A Union Station performance of the National Anthem by Vanessa Ford received more than 33,000 video views
Springfield, MA (July 26, 2021) – Springfield Union Station announced today that a recent performance[VIDEO] of the National Anthem by Vanessa Ford, “The Songstress of Springfield,” has set viewing records.
“We suspected that a video by Ms. Ford, who is well known for singing The Star-Spangled Banner at various area events, would be very popular,” stated Nicole Sweeney, Property Manager for Springfield Union Station. “But this video exploded on YouTube and Social Media over the July 4th weekend.
The video was planned, recorded and produced by GCAi’s Darcy Young at Springfield Union Station. It was shown on social media and YouTube as well as featured on springfieldunionstation.com.
According to performance data provided by GCAi to Springfield Union Station, the video also received 34,000 engagement actions (like, shares, comments) and the two-minute performance accumulated over 25 hours of viewing on YouTube alone. Additional data demonstrated that the video’s popularity extended well beyond the Springfield area with Boston, Hartford, and New York City joining Springfield in the top five audience metro areas.
“In the end, the data provided two things,” said Ms. Sweeney. “Patriotism is alive and well in the Northeast Corridor and Vanessa Ford is a true local treasure.”
Ms. Ford began singing in the church choir at the age of seven, and she loves every genre of music. She is an aficionado of classical music, jazz, pop, traditional hymns and contemporary gospel music and has performed the National Anthem for many local college sporting events, for Springfield Police Academy graduations, and for a multitude of high profile local and national events.
About: First opened in 1926, Springfield Union Station featured gleaming terrazzo floors, a restaurant, lunch counter, barbershop, shoeshine parlor and small shops to service hundreds of daily passengers who boarded up to 130 trains every 24 hours. The station closed in 1973, which also launched a 40-year quest by present day Congressman Richard E. Neal to return the historic building to service. Neal eventually secured the funding needed to completely renovate and reopen the historic building. Today, Springfield Union Station is not only a train station and bus station but also included a state-of-the-art intermodal transportation center with local and long-distance buses and a new parking garage. Additionally, an architecture firm, two restaurants, a convenience store and the Hispanic American Library make their home at Springfield Union Station.
Media Contact
GCAi for Springfield Union Station
Darcy Young, 413-736-2245
