Hi Caitlin. I know it's a little late, but here's my review for "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely"Personally, I thought that this is the best video they have made so far. How could someone not like it?
It shows the other side of them, the one that's real: the pain, the heartache, the sorrow, everything. The
whole thing is just so…sad. You can actually see all the suffering that they've been through and still might
be going through. I never cry when I just listen to the song, like on the radio or on their CD, but when I
watch the music video, I just sob. Here's what I thought about each of their plots.
Brian-It must've been so hard for him to shoot that. I mean, doing a plot where he acts out the "what if" if
his heart surgery went wrong. I think he's a spirit (You know, like in City of Angels where the kid's out of
its body and watching everyone trying to save him/her, which I don't remember. Was is City of Angels?
ANYWAYS...) watching himself as the doctors and everyone try to save him, and he can't do anything.
Then, when they can't and he dies, he heads out of the hospital, towards the light, Heaven. I basically
started bawling when I saw he was the one on the bed and didn't stop 'til I stopped watching the video
(over and over and over again…)
AJ-His part didn't affect me as much as Brian's, Kevin's, or Howie's parts did, probably because his wasn't
about something specifically (if it is, I don't know about and someone should clue me in.) like Brian, Kev's,
or Howie's. Their's was you know, about a death, something very personal. I mean, his part itself,
with the girl and him crying, was really sad, but…I don't know. It was probably about a past girlfriend,
maybe the one he lost at 14, and he's just sitting there, thinking about her, then she gets on, and he can't do
anything but watch her disappear.
Kevin-Ohmigod, this is sad. With him being so emotional and crying at the smallest things, I don't know how
he didn't start bawling when he did this video. How did he do it? Just sitting there, in a big, dark, lonely
room watching old films of him and his dad. His face is so sad, so devastated, ya know? On the song, before
the video, Kevin's part has always been my favorite, just because his voice suits the part so well and there's
so much emotion in it. Of course, the others were very emotional and heartfelt, but his just seemed…I don't
know, so much sadder. Oh, and when he sings, "are you with me now?" with Nick and looks up at the sky?
AWW! It's like he's looking up to Heaven and asking his father that. (I'd just like to note that I'm not
Christian or anything, even though I talk about God and Heaven so much. I do believe that there is a God and
that there is a Heaven though...ya know, just for your guys' information.)
Nick-Again, I love Nick so much (he's my favorite,) but his wasn't that sad to me at first. But then you
realize what his plot is and you can't help but get all choked up. There he is, in a dark ally, all by himself
with no one with him. He's lonely and wants someone to love him for who he REALLY is and not for what he
does or who he is, a Backstreet Boy. I really think that he wants someone to be able to confide in, to talk to,
but he can't because of who he is. How would he find someone that really loves him, that doesn't care that
he's a Backstreet Boy? And the girl…I think he's saving her from loneliness, and maybe she's that one for
him for the video. I think that 'cuz of his part where he sings, "Guilty roads to an endless love/There's no
control are you with me now" and they just connect or something.
Howie-This one is really sad, too. He's sitting there, probably thinking about Caroline, and all of sudden
she's running towards him, reaching out to him, and almost getting to him, but not quite and he can't do
anything about it. All he can do is sit there and watch as she disappears.
Then, when he turns and Kevin nods at him, like, c'mon, we gotta move on or something, ya know? That was
awesome. It's just like, he knows and understands the pain that he's going through...*sniff*sniff*
And the "Denniz St." thing was soooo sweet, too. (Another all out, bawling moment)Considering that was the
last song he wrote for them and all, and he's gone, it's just a really really nice thing. I think that it kinda means
that's their destination, that's where they're all headed someday. Ok, the only other thing I'm gonna say 'bout
this is that it is a very nice touch; it just fits, ya know? Ok, sorry, I know this is a long review, but I have
to...share my feelings wit y'all.
In the end, when they all come together, I think that has a meaning behind it, as well. They come together
and will be there for one another and help each other. They've been through a lot, but they'll be back, and
when they do, they'll be stronger and even better than they were. No matter what happens to them, they'll
always come out on top. At least they will in my heart.
~Hana
No doubt about it, this video is definitely deep. From the moment you see Brian's somber expression to Howie's painful mood, you can tell the Boys are trying to show us indirectly what they are or have been going through.In my opinion, I think this has to be their best video to date. It combines all the elements of sadness, hurt, and longing perfectly to create a video that leaves an impact on the heart of any Backstreet fan. Even the supposed 'non-fans' can be touched. My older brother, who just turned 21, finds the scene with Kevin's father very heartfelt.
"You can see how much it still hurts him to think about," he says. "It must have been really hard for him to express that into a video where he's so open to unjust criticism and disapproval."
Personally, I think this video is amazing. The little details, I think, give it it's beautiful atmosphere. From Kevin's sheet music to Denniz St, it's all in the small things. I loved how they used the camera to get such great shots, like coming in through the window for both Kevin and Brian.
As almost everyone has noted, each Boy has his own personal "Loneliness" to deal with. To me, it seems some of them are more obvious than others.
Brian is watching himself through the eyes of his loved ones-feeling what it must have felt like to see someone you love so dearly fade away. It also illustrates how scared he must have been when undergoing surgery.
AJ is trying to mend a broken heart. It's clear to see his pain is over a girl, probably the girlfriend he lost when he was younger. The only complaint I have with AJ's scene is the tear that rolls down his cheek. Could that get any more fake? It seemed just too unreal and forced, not convincing at all. The whole scene kind of lost it's touch after that glycerin droplet.
I think that Kevin's scene was probably the most believable in the entire video. The contrast of the snowy, old filmstrip and the elegantly furnished room shows us how things that are complete opposites of each other can coincide to emerge as a beautiful thing.
I especially though the camera angles during "Are you with me now?" were terrific. Having Kevin's father's image playing in the background as he sang that gave it the perfect touch.
From reading other reviews of "Show Me The Meaning..." it seems like Nick's role in this vide is quite muddled and not as clear as the others'. For me, it seems like Nick is longing for that special someone that we are all, somewhere in our hearts, searching for. But, he realizes that you will never find that person if you look for them, fate will simply pull you to them. You must leave it in Fate's hands. This realization dawns upon him as he saves the girl from the oncoming bus. As they gaze into each other's eyes, he sees the eyes he has been looking for all his life. And the girl? She has her own story. Maybe she's a troubled teen who left hom to commit suicide, and Nick saved her life. It's just a thought.
Howie's lines in the song are perhaps the most beautiful of all of them. His part in the coffee shop is sweet and when his sister disappears, you can see his emotions etched onto his face. She is so close, yet she's not. He must come to terms with her absence, and he knows that. When Kevin walks into the shop and gives him that strong, understanding nod, he is saying much more than words could ever say. All in that one movement of his head, he is letting Howie know that it is ok to move on and that he wouldn't be saying goodbye, just goodnight. I think if any other member of the group had been in Kevin's place, it wouldn't have the same effect. Since Kevin also lost a relative to a disease, he shares a bond with Howie that others perhaps cannot understand.
A few parts I really like are when Brian walks out of the hospital and 'into the light', so to speak. Also, when Nick saves the girl and looks into her face, I think it's incredible. All in all this video is amazing and beautifully produced. I hardly have any complaints, except for AJ's cheesy 'hat-to-the-heart-and-to-the-head-'thing and Nick's lame golfer's hat.
I also didn't understand why that scene with the girl gazing up at the moon was needed. Was it supposed to have any significance? I'm not sure.
But, over all, this is a video that truly shows how much our Boys have grown and matured into strong men.
Thanks for listening to my view on things,
Much Love,
~Mystik~
