The Script- If You Could See Me Now: Analysis

1. The Script- If You Could
See Me Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGlkwKA-t_4

2. About them
• Consists of three members:
oDanny O’Donoghue (vocals and piano)
oMark Sheehan (vocals and guitar)
oGlen Power (vocals and drums
• They are from Ireland, and are currently promoting their fourth album “No Sound
Without Silence”
• Their genre can be defined as mainly pop and indie with some acoustic elements.

3. This instantly breaks the stereotype for The Script.
They are deemed by most to be a ‘family friendly’
band, and can be listened to by all ages. The ‘Parental
Advisory’ context warning therefore makes an instant
impact on the viewer. In my opinion the video is not
explicit at all, and looking at the lyrics, there is only
one line that contains a swear word- not as explicit as
other artists in the industry. Therefore I believe that
this was mainly used for effect, rather than an actual
warning. It does not fade onto the screen, it just
appears- the lack of effect used displays their urgency
for the audience to see this message. Staying on for
five seconds, it then fades away- easing the audience
into the music video. No music is playing at this point-further
highlighting its importance.

4. Andrew Goodwin’s comment on relationship between
music and visuals is displayed here. The close up shot of
the back of a piano, showing how it works when you
press the keys interlinks every part of the video (music,
lyrics, and the visuals). The song shows a vulnerable side
to the singers as it is about bereavement, and just like the
piano, their inner working is exposed. The filter used here
highlights how white and pure the piano keys are, and
draws even more attention to the fact that they are
playing in time with the soundtrack- introducing it as a
performance video. As the camera lingers on the piano, it
shakes and moves slightly up- almost as if it was filmed
using a handheld camera.

5. The camera pans down one of the singers,
starting at the shoulders and stopping at his
hands where he is twisting his cross necklace.
Immediately the audience notices that this shot is
in black and white- a filter used for dramatic
effect, and is usually used to emphasise emotion.
The cross around his necklace is a symbol used in
Christianity- implying that there will be some
element of faith or inner strength mentioned in
the video. He is wearing a white t-shirt, and has a
white background behind him: connoting purity
and innocence. It also makes his necklaces stand
out, therefore making him appear to be less
important in this shot.

6. There is a huge contrast between the use of colour;
straight after all three members are shown in their own
shot, there is a shot in colour- whether it be a wide shot
of a city or town from the point of view of a passenger, or
returning to the piano sequence. All of the colour shots
connote busyness and that life is still progressing- even
through moments of tragedy. It is also trying to offer a
happier perspective on something- a blue filter is used
here, a colour usually associated with happiness and bliss.
None of them instantly look directly into the camera- they
always look down, and then into the camera; almost as if
they can’t face what they are singing about, that it has
such an effect on them.

7. Just before the singing starts, there is a light three beats for
two seconds, and during that time they fit four differing shots
in. The first two are in colour, and the final two are in black
and white. This can be used to indicate the hyperbole in the
song: it starts mellow, the tempo increases, and it slows down
towards the end. Just like the previous shots, the ones of the
band are in black and white- further reinforcing the
expectation that this will be an emotional video. The first
black and white one is a close up shot- you can clearly see
emotion through how he doesn’t look at the camera. The
second black and white shot is a medium shot, where you can
also see his instrument- he is beating the drums just as it does
in the soundtrack, further adding to the assumption that it is a
performance video.

8. The blue lighting at the concert is further
continuity from the previous colour shots. This is
a wide one, and it is showing the band from the
point of view of a concert attendee: a fan. The
black silhouette of spectators frames the bottom
of the shot- almost as if the band are framed and
moulded by them: further increasing the
connection between fans and the band. It also
further reinforces that it is a performance video.
This shot contains the band, and it is the first time
we see them in colour- almost as if they are only
happy when they are performing for their fans.

9. Throughout this video, this is the most
obvious and relate the link between the lyrics
and the visuals. You can literally see his tattoo
on his arm, and through him stroking it, the
viewer is able to gauge some of his emotion-like
he is checking his armour is still there.
Again, it is in black and white- further adding
to the emotion. The accompanying shots
further add to this emotive sequence, and the
use of angle shots show that no matter what
way they approach this, it is emotional. The
black and white
Tattooed on my arm is a
charm to disarm all the
harm
Gotta keep myself calm
but the truth is you're gone

10. The times the shots are in colour, are when they
are interacting and performing with fans;
therefore throughout the emotional parts
previously, the only happiness displayed is that is
connoted through the use of this colour. The
second mid shot of fans is blurred, almost as if the
band are unable to comprehend how many
people are supporting them, and that it is simply
a dream. They are paying homage to their fans-without
which they would not be successful, and
living their dream.

11. This eye level shot gives the viewer the
impression that they are sitting alongside
Danny through an emotional part of the song.
We know it is emotional through the use of
the black and white effect, and how that is
combined with the lyrics. Through the use of
lighting from the window in the background, a
silhouette is created- making the shot more
dramatic and further highlighting his emotion.

12. This low angle shot is giving the viewer a
‘sneak peek’ backstage at the concert of The
Script walking to the stage ready to perform.
Unlike the usual use of this shot, it is only for a
brief second, and they stay relatively the same
size, not increasing by much. It is not used for
egotistical purposes, simply to show their lack
of arrogance about their obvious success:
overconfidence is not part of their message as
a band, so if they broke this usual expectation
it would be a shock to the audience.

13. The whole message of the song ‘If You Could See
Me Now’ is rounded up and closed in the final
seconds of the video. All of it is in colour, and a
variety of shots are used to show their success.
The low angle shot of the main singer admiring
the success of the band gives the viewer the
impression that he is looking out to the audience
in awe of his success, and relief that the troubles
undergone has all paid off. The closing shot is an
extreme wide high angle shot- showing how many
people they are performing to.