Music video analysis

1. Music video analysis
By Grace Doughty

2. Andrew Goodwins 7 features of music videos
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g stage performance in metal videos, dance
routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either
illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects
that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist
may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and
particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
6. The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)
7. There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc).
John Stewart’s Theory
1. The music video has the aesthetics of a TV commercial, with lots of close-ups and lighting being
used to focus on the star’s face.
2. He sees visual reference in music video as coming from a range of sources, although the three most
frequent are perhaps cinema, fashion and art photography.
3. Stewart’s description of the music video as ‘incorportating, raiding and reconstructing’ is essentially
the essence of Intertextuality, using something with which the audience may be familiar, to generate
both nostalgic associations and new meanings.
4. The video allows more access to the performer than a stage performance can. The mise-en-scene,
in particular, can be used to emphasise an aspirational lifestyle.

3. Foster the people - Call it what you want.
In the opening 2 seconds of the video, the audience is present with the
phrase ‘Idle minds are the devils workshop’. Here, Foster the people are
suggesting details about the moral behind the music video and song. In this
case, it may be interpreted that the video is about how a large number of
people in society are easily manipulated by the ‘devil’. The devil may be
interpreted to be society, and it is possible that Foster the people believe
that this has lead to people are lacking diversity due to people being easily
influenced by society. Therefore, Foster the people are singing about what
they disagree with in todays day and age.
At 0.05, the band members are shown sat in a grand room, 1 on a
sofa and 2 sitting on the ground and lying down. John Stewarts theory
states that the mise en scene in particular, can be used to
emphasizes an aspirational lifestyle. The room that the band are in
may be considered aspirational as appears to be a grande home
which would be worth millions. However, how the band are placed in
the video is a contrast to this. The scrunched up paper combined with
them lying down may imply they are bored, further more suggesting
that money doesn't buy happiness because even though they have
the lifestyle that someone would aspire to, they’re bored. The singer
on the sofa is holding up an umbrella inside, this is known as unlucky
to open an umbrella inside, therefore this could suggest the band feel
they are unlucky, which may be due to the social contrasts of society.

4. Foster the people present a blue wall with cracks
beginning to show at 0.03 seconds. Then at 0.09, a hand
is shown trying to break through the wall. This may be
interpreted as Foster the people wanting to break
through the status quo. This links to the lyrics that will be
later sang in the video. The opening line to the first verse
is ‘yeah we’re locked up in ideas’ and this use of imagery
may suggest that Foster the people want to show that
they are breaking out of being locked up in ideas.
At 0.13 seconds, the lead singer is
seen sat outside on a balcony. The
exterior of the building appears to
be of a large stately home. This
again contributes towards the band
being shown to have an aspirational
lifestyle. This is further supported by
the girls at 0.17 seconds who are in
the house. This may also be
considered to be an aspirational
style because it’s often thought that
band members tend to ‘get girls’
therefore the group of girls here fits
that belief.
Again, the large house shown at
0.25 seconds also is aspirational for
viewers of the video.

5. At 0.31 seconds, the word 'Foster' is shown written on t-shirts being worn by girls. This is followed by the word ‘the’ written on a hand
and the word 'people' is revealed behind a skirt on a leg. This will meet the demands of the record label because it’s will support
‘foster the people’ as a band by ensuring their name is known by as many people as possible.
There are a number of closeups of the lead singer in the video, this will also help meet the
demands of the record label because the company will be aware that fans will want to see the
artist close up which they could not do easily otherwise except for pictures. This would be
encouraged by the record label because it would mean that the audience can gain access to the
artist.
At 2.21, the girls in the ‘foster’ t-shirts are shown.
The lead singer makes a gun with his finger and
‘shoots’ at the girls, blue paint runs over their
clothes simulates blood. This is a reassuring
theme in foster the people’s music as their debut
hit ‘pumped up kicks’ is a song about school
children running away from guns. This may meet
the requirements of the record label because it
creates a style for the band that people can
recognize.
Also another recurring theme is the use of colorful
paint, in the song ‘don't stop’, colored paint is
used during a crash. This again creates a
consistent style for the band which enables fans
to recognize the band.

6. The genre of music that the band makes is indie/alternative. This is reflected through
the styling of the band in their music videos. In this clip at 0.20, the band is shown
playing instruments. This is common for indie bands therefore by showing them playing
instruments it helps in portraying them as indie. Also, indie bands are known to give off
a more casual vibe, this is true in this case because the outfits worn by the band don't
coordinate exactly how a pop bands would. The outfit choices are casual and look as if
they have just been put on and not styled, this gives off an alternative vibe as it seems
carefree.
The music video is very quirky and random. However, there are also links between
the lyrics and visual throughout. at 1.13, the lyrics are ‘we’ve got nothing to lose’
however, the image shown at this time is the lead singer with a clock on his head in
a mirror image. This is a link between lyrics and visuals however it is ironic because
he is singing they have nothing to lose yet time may be considered to be something
that is valuable and they will lose/waste.
Then at 2.13, the band are shown setting their instruments on fire in black suits. This
suggests a funeral for their instruments. This is controversial as they are clearly
trying to send a message to their audience saying they are bored of their music and
it’s ‘dying’. This links to the lyrics which are ‘we’ve got nothing to prove’ because it
shows that the band aren’t afraid to show how they feel even if it goes against the
normal conventions of a music video. This supports their genre of alternative

7. Arctic Monkeys - One for the road
In the opening seconds of the music video, the audience is
presented with a women dressed in a jacket with the title of
the song on embroidered on. This may have been done to
meet the requirements of the record label because it would
promote the song by getting the name of the song into
peoples heads. This may be helpful for the band for example
if this was shown on a music video channel that the name of
the song is repeated again so people could find the song to
purchase it etc. It’s also important to note that this music video
is in black and white. This effect is commonly used for indie/
alternative artists therefore I think that this use of editing
conforms to the genre of song. Also, how this girl is styled
also conforms to the genre and fits well. She’s wearing dark/
black clothing which appears warn in and has a edgy vibe.
at 0.09 - 0.12 seconds we are presented with 4 close ups of the band members. They are all dressed in formal suits while also maintaining
an indie feel. The use of close ups in Andrew Goodwins theory is to meet the demands of the record label. Close ups of the artist would be
wanted because the audience want to see the band and close ups allow them a greater level of access to the members (as in John
Stewarts theory). In these few seconds of the video, the audience is also presented with the setting of the video, in this cause a rural area
with a building behind which appears abandoned. This supports the music video for a song from the alternative genre because it’s more
casual and not clean cut as it would be in a pop music video. Even the expressions on the faces of the band demonstrate how the song is
from the indie genre because the artists all have neutral expressions which is common as indie bands often are presented as being cool.

8. This is a wide angle shot in which you can see a tractor moving down a road. It is stated in Andrew
Goodwin's theory that their is a relationship between lyrics and visuals, and the lyrics 'one for the
road' link with the image on screen. In John Stewarts theory he states that music videos may
contain visual reference from cinema and photography. This clip looks as if it could be from a movie
due to the wide angel shot.
Another link between the lyrics and visuals is shown at 0.57 seconds when the backing singers go
‘ooh, ooh’ and the tractor lets of smoke at the same time. The sound of ‘ooh, ooh’ sounds that the
noise that a steam train makes and therefore when these sound at the same time, it seems like the
back in singing is the sound of the steam being let out the tractor.
At 2.25, a number of women appear on the screen surrounded by smoke. From looking at a
number of music videos from a number of genres, it is clear that females are often placed in music
videos. This may be to give the impression that the band is leading an aspirational lifestyles
(women, cars, money etc) and/or it may be used to make other males interested in watching the
music video (male gaze). For example, women are also shown in the music video by Foster the
people yet they had no real purpose in the story line of the video. This is a theme across a variety
of genres if not all genres of music.
From approximately 2.40 we see the band playing musical instruments, here the audience see
that the guitarist on the tractor had been traveling to a concert. ‘one for the roads’ relates to the
term ‘one for the road’ about a drink before leaving to go somewhere. The clip of the band playing
their song is commonly used in music videos for alternative bands, as seen in Foster the peoples
music video also.

9. Circa Waves - T-Shirt Weather
The music video opens with the lead band member facing away from the camera.
He is playing the guitar for 0.12 seconds. Then the image changes to that shadow
of the guitar being played. The tone of the music video is immediately set and the
audience can presume that this song is indie/alternative because of the guitars and
‘live’ music. This is a reoccurring theme as seen in all 3 music videos.
Then at 0.19 seconds we are presented with the full band. At
this point, there is not image being projected onto them as the
lyrics are yet to start. The band are all styled in jeans a casual
top/shirt and a jacket. This again shows that the band are an
indie band because they are often styled casually like this.
As in the previous music videos, close ups of the artists have
been used frequently, this again meets the demands of the
record label to have the artist shown off Andrew Goodwin and
John Stewart Stated. Andrew Goodwin states there is a
frequent notion to the way of looking, here their are screens
which will display images of people on.

10. In the music video, once the lyrics begin, there is a link between lyrics
and visuals. Once again, there is a closeup of the artists face to allow
the audience to access the artist. They are singing about ’t-shirt
weather’ and the images being projected onto them are images and
videos of sunny days which clearly links to the lyrics as t-shirt weather
indicates hot weather.
The whole style to this music video my be considered suitable for an
indie band because it is very simple and not over complicated. The
band are just playing their instruments, on a spinning floor with images
being projected over them. This conforms to the characteristics of the
genre because indie music is usually much more casual and effortless
than all other styles of music. Therefore, the one location and
simplicity makes the music video perfect for this genre.
As the song progresses, near the
end the spinning floor moves
quicker and quicker and more of
the beams have appeared. The
lighting from the projector causes
a cool effect of colour on the
artists.