clairejaygreen: Beyonce's 'Best Thing I Never Had' Video Premieres

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Beyonce's 'Best Thing I Never Had' Video Premieres

Clip for 4 single features B in a gorgeous ornate wedding dress.
By Kara Warner

Beyoncé in her "Best Thing I Never Had" music video
Photo: Columbia

Anyone who's heard the two first singles off Beyoncé's new album, 4, knows they are about as different as night and day. The same can be said for the songs' music videos: Where "Run the World (Girls)" is fierce, upbeat and explosive, "Best Thing I Never Had" is also strong, but more subdued and slow.

The clip opens with Beyoncé in an elegant dressing room or boudoir. She is scantily, but very tastefully, clad in a fancy, lacy corset/lingerie combo, complete with garters. As she begins the song — co-written by Babyface and all about telling a former lover she was the best he'd ever have and that she no longer has any feelings for him — B plays to the camera, directing her words at the former lover via the camera's lens.

From there, she moves from playing with a tiara, a veil and lots of tulle on a bed to various stages of getting dressed. Between her half-dressed and fully dressed stages, there is a quick cut to old video footage of who viewers are to believe is a young Beyoncé and her former high school flame at their prom. B and her date are dancing, she is spun away briefly, and her date cozies up to another girl on the dance floor.

Now that we know what ended that romance, we follow a confident Beyoncé in her final preparations before she walks down the aisle on her wedding day. There are shots of Bey singing at sunset atop a grassy hill in a beautiful princess gown, followed by the walk down the aisle and the exchange of vows.

This is followed by one final shot of the former lover at the prom deep in thought, with what looks to be his prom king crown sitting askew on his head. Perhaps he is re-thinking his philandering ways?

The last few scenes of "Best Thing I Never Had" are full of more shots of Beyoncé's gorgeous dress, which will likely land on a few style blogs soon, given its embroidered and jeweled details, not to mention the silk bows and ruching on the sides. We see the newlyweds celebrating at a happy and well-attended reception: groom removing bride's garter with his teeth, dancing with their younger family members.

The final shot features Beyoncé looking into the camera, with a look of total satisfaction and happiness. She then walks off confidently, probably to re-join her wedding party and new husband, and then the screen fades to black.

Share your review of the "Best Thing I Never Had" video in the comments below!

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