A textual analysis of Years & Years' music video for their song "Desire."

1. “DESIRE”
MUSIC VIDEO:
The analysis:

2. SOUND:
The song is a synth-pop, electronic, dance song made up a many
metaphorical and significant lyrics. For example, the questions,
“Is it desire? Or is it love that I’m feeling for you?” are repeatedly
mentioned since they make up the chorus of the song. In
relation to the video, along with scenes showing a chaotic,
sexual relationship, these indicate the confusion the characters
are going through. They imply that they don’t know whether
they’re in love or lusting after the person they are ‘engaged’
with.
Other lyrics, such as, “Where are you taking me?” emphasise
these messages. Especially since it is involved in a sexual scene
where the man lip syncs these lyrics. It’s as if the music video is
taking viewers on a relatable journey of mixed emotions where
they may be able to empathise or sympathise with it. This helps
it be really engaging.
Where are
you taking
me?

3. CAMERA SHOTS:
The music video is made up of a combination of mostly close ups
and mid shots, as well as establishing shots. They are connected
together by the panning of the camera moving down, forwards,
from left to right and right to left. These help to reveal and tie the
narrative together.
For example, mid shots of the main band member, Olly Alexander,
are used to show him at a type-writer. After, close ups are used to
show him typing “the end,” repetitively which could be a metaphor
for the desire, the song is talking about. Screenshots of these shots
can be seen above. By including introductory establishing shots of
a block of flats, it makes the band, the song and it’s connotations of
love relatable which helps connect the audience to it and them.

4. EDITING:Editing is used really cleverly in this video. For
example, some form of computer software has
been used in parts of the video to ‘create’ fire in
the video, with the addition of help from
hardware in the form of a green screen. The
colour scheme of the video may have also been
edited so that footage appears to be bluer, such
as when a couple are shown arguing and having
sex. This colour has connotations of sadness, so
by combining chaos and sadness it may be a
metaphor for the results of ‘desire.’
Editing techniques also include flash cutting
between camera shots and match cuts which help
to link the video together in a non-liner, un-
chronological way whilst sharing the same
themes in relation to chaos as a result of love.

5. MISE-EN-SCENE:
The location of the video is an aspect of it I’ve mentioned. I think this is a key
part of it in connection to the mise-en-scene as it helps to set the scene for the
music video, as well as making it relatable to different viewers. This is because it
takes place in a block of flats as implied by the establishing shot showing them.
The following camera shots show different characters within their flats. These
include men and women who are from different races. In relation to themes of
love both the song and video are implying, this helps people across the world
connect with them.
Different props and scenery are also important aspects. These include the fire,
the light, the typewriter, the bed and windows. I think the fire is important as it
may be a metaphor describing desire as something which may look appealing,
but could leave you hurt. The lights in the video are also interesting as they
don’t provide much of it which means the room both Olly and the couple are in
are relatively dark. This could connote that relationships may often suffer from
the loss of hope, as light is a metaphor for it. Many of the characters are often
shown looking through windows which may be a voyeuristic elements
associated with the theme of lust and lack of the desire the video may be
suggesting. This may imply that love and lust are two different things, as the
involvement of the prop in the form of the bed may also suggest. This is
emphasised by both the fight between tow of the characters and their sexual
scenes are shown on it. The typewriter is also significant as it suggests that all
of the chaos the video shows will result in “the end” of a relationship.