Yeah, that’s so easy to do, that every city does it often. Ho-hum, even. Can’t imagine why people seem to like it. And the 5 takes or so they did impresses nobody. In fact, I’m disappointed. Why aren’t the firemen out fighting fires and the police out arresting hardened criminals instead of having a good time? Stupid city. Stupid promoter.
Is it considered so good just because it was all in one take, though? Like, if they used cuts to do it, would it still be considered a great vid? That is, are we admiring the fact that they were able to pull it off or the artistic quality of the vid?
I think it’s due to a number of factors, including the continuous take. Things were well-planned and well-executed just in time. It had interesting diversions and synchronizations (like the kayakers and explosions). The cameraman’s timing was vital – it looks like he got in and out of the gator several times, then in the helicopter backwards – and it would have ruined the take if he stumbled. The steadycam harness made the whole thing smooth. Around every corner was another surprise and everyone did their part without a hitch.
Way to go Grand Rapids! You really proved you are not a relic of the mid-to-late-twentieth century by lip-synching a song from the mid-to-late-twentieth century!
I thought it was cool just to see that many people come together and make that much of an effort just to say, “Hey, we like this place!” You don’t see that kind of, I don’t know, optimism? Positivity? much these days.