Music Video Analysis Helena- My Chemical Romance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95t6XH2o49M

Genre The genre is alternative/ punk rock music, although this genre has been disputed. The genre can be identified through the use of black colours, dark imagery and head-banging performances. My Chemical Romance (commonly known as MCR) have also been identified as ‘emo rock’ and ‘gothic rock’. The performance takes place at a funeral procession. The music video has personal meaning to the band. The music also has a strange side of pop culture to it, as there is a choreographed dance routine throughout. The genre of music is often compared to a Green Day music video, as they both contain similar performance styles and colours (red and black)

The genre is alternative/ punk rock music, although this genre has been disputed.

The genre can be identified through the use of black colours, dark imagery and head-banging performances.

My Chemical Romance (commonly known as MCR) have also been identified as ‘emo rock’ and ‘gothic rock’.

The performance takes place at a funeral procession.

The music video has personal meaning to the band.

The music also has a strange side of pop culture to it, as there is a choreographed dance routine throughout.

The genre of music is often compared to a Green Day music video, as they both contain similar performance styles and colours (red and black)

Visual/lyrics The lyrics are straightforward, as the setting at a funeral illustrates the chorus line “so long and goodnight”. There is no fixed narrative; the whole video is dedicated to someone the band knew as Helena. The singer also illustrates the lyrics in the way he performs. For example “ When every star falls Brought you to tears again” , the lyrics are illustrated by the singer running his finger down his cheek, to symbolize tears. During the bridge of the song, the girl Helena is shown rising from her coffin. Se falls back into her coffin at the ending line “when both our cars collide”. This portrays the crossing to the afterlife. The editing is fast-paced to follow the music. The lyrics “can you hear me?” are indicated at Helena herself. This has been portrayed through the scene where she awakens and dances towards the singer.

The lyrics are straightforward, as the setting at a funeral illustrates the chorus line “so long and goodnight”.

There is no fixed narrative; the whole video is dedicated to someone the band knew as Helena.

The singer also illustrates the lyrics in the way he performs. For example “ When every star falls Brought you to tears again” , the lyrics are illustrated by the singer running his finger down his cheek, to symbolize tears.

During the bridge of the song, the girl Helena is shown rising from her coffin. Se falls back into her coffin at the ending line “when both our cars collide”. This portrays the crossing to the afterlife.

The editing is fast-paced to follow the music.

The lyrics “can you hear me?” are indicated at Helena herself. This has been portrayed through the scene where she awakens and dances towards the singer.

Visuals/ music The editing echoes the change in pace of the music Many scenes go along with the beat of the music. The cohesive element of this is during the chorus, where the mourners stand up at the beginning of the chorus line and sit back down at the end, when the sound is left ringing for a few seconds. The singer plays two characters, in a sense, in the music video. At first he is the clergyman at the funeral, and then he becomes the entertainer with his band. The shots alternate from the singer on his own to the whole band performance. The camera follows the action of all the band members, for example, there would be a close up on the drummer for the main drumbeat that initiates the beginning of the video. The ending is similar to the beginning of the music video because of the state of calmness that the video ends and begins with.

The editing echoes the change in pace of the music

Many scenes go along with the beat of the music. The cohesive element of this is during the chorus, where the mourners stand up at the beginning of the chorus line and sit back down at the end, when the sound is left ringing for a few seconds.

The singer plays two characters, in a sense, in the music video. At first he is the clergyman at the funeral, and then he becomes the entertainer with his band.

The shots alternate from the singer on his own to the whole band performance.

The camera follows the action of all the band members, for example, there would be a close up on the drummer for the main drumbeat that initiates the beginning of the video.

The ending is similar to the beginning of the music video because of the state of calmness that the video ends and begins with.

Selling the Artist/ band The lead singer is shown wearing dark colours, mainly black and red. These colours connote unhappiness and sorrow, which obviously fits in well with the scene. The band are shown to be very energetic performance-wise. This can be told through their head-banging playing, and the fast cuts from each shot to the next. The singer is the main character in the music video, mainly because the song is very personal to him. The actions made by the singer also portray the frontman ability he has; the ability to maintain and entertain an audience. The video is very dramatic and emotional overall.

The lead singer is shown wearing dark colours, mainly black and red. These colours connote unhappiness and sorrow, which obviously fits in well with the scene.

The band are shown to be very energetic performance-wise. This can be told through their head-banging playing, and the fast cuts from each shot to the next.

The singer is the main character in the music video, mainly because the song is very personal to him.

The actions made by the singer also portray the frontman ability he has; the ability to maintain and entertain an audience. The video is very dramatic and emotional overall.

Camera Angles Close up shots of each member help viewers identify them Close up of Helena conveys the importance she has in the music video Aerial shots display the effects of the dancing; show the choreography well. The band are usually shown at a low angle, which suggests that they should be seen through a positive light. Close ups on the singer emphasize his sorrow. Establishing shot of the whole church illustrates the authority the lead singer has amongst the crowd of mourners. It also emphasizes the many people that arrived to the procession.

Close up shots of each member help viewers identify them

Close up of Helena conveys the importance she has in the music video

Aerial shots display the effects of the dancing; show the choreography well.

The band are usually shown at a low angle, which suggests that they should be seen through a positive light.

Close ups on the singer emphasize his sorrow.

Establishing shot of the whole church illustrates the authority the lead singer has amongst the crowd of mourners. It also emphasizes the many people that arrived to the procession.

Intertextuality References to funerals Influences for the song came from ‘Aces High’ by Iron Maiden.

References to funerals

Influences for the song came from ‘Aces High’ by Iron Maiden.