Care home 'rap group' create song and music video

Most people would not expect a group of care home residents to appear in their own rap video - but that is exactly what has happened at the Old Vicarage in Bakewell.

James Dixon, activity co-ordinator at the care home in Derbyshire, had the idea to produce a rap song and video to tell residents' life stories after they had enjoyed filming their own comedy Western last year.

The video and lyrics of the song cover subjects including one resident's brushes with the Grim Reaper and rows over the television remote control.

Mr Dixon said it proved a fun activity for the residents, which also helped them develop a sense of community and showed they were "capable of amazing feats".

Mr Dixon said he was pleased with how the project turned out

The song, called Rap-sody in Grey, features seven residents who have named their rap group the Six 4 Teen Crew.

Mr Dixon, 46, who has a background in music production, said he first started talking to residents about their lives, before he introduced them to rap and hip-hop, which they had not heard before.

He told BBC Radio Derby: "Some of the residents had a go at writing some lines themselves, but it's quite a specific skill - they ended up writing poetry."

Mr Dixon then enlisted the help of a local recording studio, which set up in one of the bedrooms at the care home to record the track.

Mr Jackson said he was surprised at the ease of working with artificial intelligence

Tony Jackson, 86, used his verse to rap about the adversities and medical conditions he has suffered during his life, before joking the "[Grim] Reaper can't catch me".

Mr Jackson said: "My son who lives in Chicago, rang up one day and said 'dad, we think you're like a cat, with nine lives, no matter what disease or illness you get that's life-threatening, you seem to pull through it'.

"When I was six months old, I started having convulsions and the doctor said I wouldn't last the night.

"There's a lot more, like breaking my neck, Covid twice, breaking my hip, I have broken just about everything. I feel as though I should have ended my life by now because sometimes the pain is unbearable.

"But to counteract that, I have James, who is brilliant at coming up with ideas and influencing and pulling out the best in you.

"So, although old years can be painful and difficult, when you've got somebody like James, you've got to do your best."

Margaret Peat said she participated with everything that happened during the day at the home

Margaret Peat, 86, focused her lyrics on her Liverpool heritage and fighting spirit - along with a light-hearted warning that people should check with her if they want to change the channel on the "big TV".

She said: "I was born in Liverpool, on the 8th of April, when the war came.

"Fighter, right from the very beginning. I was little, but I was a fighter and I think I'm a fighter now."

Mr Dixon added artificial intelligence was an incredible help when they produced the video.

He said: "I was able to do things I couldn't even imagine doing a year ago using AI and photo to video [function].

"Particularly in Tony's section, we used AI to create some really interesting things, like him fist fighting with a Godzilla-type creature and him being a cat and him being made of molten steel.

"I do get that what we do is unusual. It's not normally what happens in care homes.

"But, one of the things that it has done is create community because they have discussed the project with each other.

"I really want [the residents] to feel as special as we all know that they are."