The BeeGees wrote their song “Jive Talking” after crossing a bridge that gave the song its signature sound.
In the United Arab Emirates has created a musical project of their own – a kilometer (about half a mile) stretch of the E84 highway, also known as the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, the rumble strips have been programmed to create musical notes when the rubber of the tires cross over them…specifically “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s “9th Symphony”. “Ode to Joy” is the official anthem of the European Union.
The musical rumble strips are in the right hand lane as drivers head toward the city of Fujairah.
The director of Fujairah Fine Arts Academy Ali Obaid Al Hefaiti said, “the ‘Street of Music,’ of course, is an art project that exists in some countries … but we wanted this project to be in our country. “I think that the project is focused on spreading the art culture. The combination of music in our lives and our normal lives.” He suggests a speed of 100kph (60mph) to get the right flow of the music.
As drivers approach Fujairah they will notice that the rumble strips look larger and more rectangular, but once the “rubber hits the road” marker, musical notes ring out.
While rumble strips are something to be avoided, officials have noticed drivers actually slowing down to experience the musical rumble strips. And traffic has increased on the lesser known Gulf of Oman city.
While not a new concept, Al Hefaiti believes this is the first time such a project has taken place in the Arab world, saying that bringing classical music into everyday life raises, “awareness about the importance of art culture.”
Why “Ode to Joy”??? Al Hefaiti notes that he, “always encourages his students to explore different cultures.”