Music video analysis

Music Video Analysis Martin Watts

Blink 182 – All the small things Listen here  This screen grab shows the band Blink 182 playing a gig in front of a large audience. Immediately we are shown how unconventional the band themselves are, in reflection to its genre. The assumed genre for this band is alternative rock, but the fact they are playing in front of a large audience allows us to realise they cannot be that alternative. In this shot, the singer of blink 182 is looking through a telescope across the beach. This POV shot puts us into his frame of mind, almost involving us in the video itself. In the background a pleasant beach scene can be noticed. This usually enjoyable setting has lost all serious meaning with a shot of a small dog attacking a man. This furthers the point of being unconventional, as they have included inter-textuality and made a once attractive shot, a comic event. Throughout the video, editing is very fast and sharply cut. This creates a pace of excitement, an atmosphere that the band obviously feel reflects their music. Although the video may not be taking itself seriously, it still has an exhilarating under tone.

The video touches on several different narrative features. Each one makes references to common stereo types of other bands/genres. The beginning shows the three men walking in white suites, a reference to the popular band “good charlotte”. Later we see a more loose reference to boy bands being seen as sex symbols as they wear nothing but Y fronts and stand pouting in front of a wind machine. Later we see a man dressed as a woman, running down a beach showing her (his) bum. Sexy beach scenes are very popular in all media productions, and blink 182 have recognised this, incorporating a piss take into their video. Their last few minutes shows one of the boys under a hose cleaning a bus, presumably a reference to Jessica Simpson. Blink 182 have made an excellent job of including many different stereo types into their video, but mocking each one at the same time, as if to say “we are a boy band, but not your average boy band”.

Less than Jake – The science of selling yourself short Listen here  Less than Jake are an alternative scar/punk band. In this video, the main singer is seen inside of a completely animated. They take full advantage of having a heavily animated video, by using several interesting transitions and editing. The video really reflects the genre of the bad with use of dark contrasts and pathetic fallacy. This shot illustrates the bad members stood in a virtual room, suggesting the band live in their own world, not caring how they act, sing or look. A really strong sense of “we dot care” is felt throughout this scene. There is also continuous repetition of animated hands. This hands follow the lead singer and seem to represent his “inner self”. They are seen doing things he himself wants to do, but is too afraid actually do. This sense of an “inner self” can relate to their target audience of teenagers, as teens often conform to certain trends in order to fit in, and not acting how they truly want to.

The video conforms to several of Goodwin’s theory’s. for example, the video shows the hands of his “inner self” whilst the lyrics read “im my own worst enemy”. This is a direct link, as he is referring to his “afraid wanting to be liked” side, getting n the way of who he really is, and admitting that he doesn’t like having to conform Another of Goodwin's applicable theory's is the demand for close up shots of the main artist. A continuous theme within the entire video is highlighting the main artists emotions. This is done with either a close up of mid-shot. This shots not only conform the Goodwin’s theory, but also creates a sense of “invasion of personal space” with furthers the idea that he is living in his own world, and to see this world, we must become physically closer to him. Less than Jake have made an excellent job of representing a commonly felt pressure of needing to conform, through the continued use of animated hands. Put together with the close up shots and totally animated setting a really power message is put across, a message relatable for their target audience.

Flobots – No handlebars Listen here  Within just 20seconds of Flobots “no handlebars” one of Goodwin’s theories is immediately recognised. During this scene, the line reads “I can ride my bike with no handle bars” and that’s exactly what the video shows. The pace of this song can be very fast in places, so its important that the video helps the viewer understand the meaning of their lyrics. Songs with powerful hidden meanings often create narrative videos to highlight their connotations. This song is really about the life cycle of a human being, and how they/we are capable of anything; from riding a bike, to becoming president. The majority of the shots show a man walking. He crosses several different terrains, settings and seniors. As he walks, we seem to grow up with him, following him through his life and seeing the different activities he becomes capable of as he gains more and more power. As we follow this one character predominately, we become aware that we are supposed to empathise with this man. The ending of this song is the same shot as the beginning. Two friends riding down a hill without holding their handle bars. This really finishes of the video, showing how life really is a “cycle” ending how it starts.

An interesting thing about this video in particular, is the choice of complete animation, and unlike “Less than Jake” they seem to have failed to take full advantage of this. None of the shots would be even challenging to achieve if shot with real scenes/people. Now, although yes, this does save money, I believe there's a much more in-depth reasoning behind their choice. As mentioned earlier, there is a very strong narrative behind the lyrics, the idea that any one person, is capable of anything. In my personal opinion, shooting this as an animation, and leaving all the characters with very little detail in their faces, allows the viewer to strongly relate and put themselves into the storyline. It allows people to loose themselves in the characters, and let them dream “I could ride a bike, I could be president, I could split an atom”. A truly power message is sent but at the same time, the viewer feels massif they are being directly involved and spoken to. "I can hand out a million vaccinations Or let'em all die in exasperation Have'em all grilled leavin lacerations Have'em all killed by assassination I can make anybody go to prison Just because I don't like'em and I can do anything with no permission I have it all under my command" Flobots seem to be exploring “the power to play with lives” (focusing around the American government) to save a million lives or let them die depending on somebody’s fancy, to assassinate who they want, to end the planet in a nuclear holocaust. They draw this out from such a global level (I can guide a missile by satellite) to such a seemingly innocent activity as riding a bike, at the beginning and end, and seem to ask the question whether one really should ride their bike without handlebars (have free dominion over the world) simply because they can.

Music video analysis

by Farty Watts

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