Relient K - The Best Thing video analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmGxnZJfU5k

Relient K - The Best Thing:

My initial thoughts after watching this video was that there is a heavy performance element but it is also linked with a more narrative performance. There is a link of two stories one of a girl who is taking pictures and then the band who are singing the song. The two seem separate but then it is evident that the two plots are linked. The main feature of the video is that it is done in stop gap or stop motion.

At 0:05-0:06 there is the sound of a camera flash and then there is a bunch of pictures that stack up and show a girl who is taking pictures.

0:08 the camera starts to introduce the band starting with the drummer which is the first instrument that the audience hears. The still pictures then change to moving images which are in the shape of pictures on a brown background. There is also a juxtaposition between the band that is introduced with an emphasis on the instruments as they come in and the girl who is photographing the band.

0:10 there is a close up of the piano and the lead singers hands which is heard as the piano comes in to the song.

0:12 there is more movement within the images and there is a three shot of the band the build up of the band links to the build up of the sound that is heard.

0:13-0:14 there is images of the piano

0:15 bass drum guitar are all shown which links to the performance of the song and the main focus of the video

0:17 the guitar is added along with a shot of the guitar there is also a change to the piano again which is the main part of the performance element of the video

0:21 here there is the first shot of the whole band

0:22 there is another cut to the girl in the street with the camera

0:30 there is now a distinct link with the girl and the band as she is shown taking photos of the band

0:35 here there are profiles of the band shown in the form of photographs and they are close ups of the different band members which changes to the instruments and the band

0:45 there is a cut back to the girl and more profiles

0:52 the camera focuses mainly on the band and their instruments

1:11 there is a girl in the street and close ups on the performance

1:35 the lyrics of the song say "look into your eyes" and there is a cut from the lead singer and the girl which could show that the lead singer is singing to the girl

1:40 there is a continuation of the girl and the performance and the profiles of the band members

2:00 the girl is shown again and there is a cut between the girl and the band which puts emphasis on the song being about that girl

2:05 the girl with the camera drops the pictures on the ground as a way of showing close ups of the band

2:24 the girl and the singer are shown again showing the link

2:40 the girl is in the shot again

3:08 the girl is shown in the same room as the band which shows the first real link between the girl and the band

3:12 the lead singer looks up to show an angelic happiness and contentment at reminiscing about the girl

3:24 the band is shown in individual frames in the same shot which wraps up the song.

I think that the link with the picture is that because it is the best thing it is something to be remembered so there are pictures taken and then the link between the boy and girl showing that it is a love song.