2. Genre Characteristics
Muse are an alternative rock band, there music
video fits this genre as we see them
performing the song on a ship which is very
common with this genre of music. Another
key feature is the lip syncing in this music
video which is often used in alternative rock
videos giving the sense that the band is
playing live or to an audience.
3. Relationship between the lyrics and
the visuals
At some points in the music video
the lyrics and visuals can be quite
illustrative however, at other times
they are contradicting and have no
relationship at all. I think the
relationship between the lyrics and
visuals is amplifying. Although there
isn’t a proper storyline in the music
video there are times when the
lyrics and visuals link well. For
example ‘never fade away’ shows
the fireworks fading into the dark
sky; also reference to the title of
the song ‘Starlight.’
However, there are other parts
where there seems to be no
relationship the band are
performing on a ship which has
no reference in the song or the
music video suggesting it could
be seen as a contradicting video.
4. Relationship between the music and
the visuals
I think that the tone and atmosphere in this
music video is very illustrative of the music.
As we can see most of the cuts are edited
very well to the beat of the music. For
example, in the music video when the lyrics
stop we are shown the inside of the ship
from different angles, quite fast paced
linking in time with the beat of the music
very well. Another point is in the chorus
when the pace picks up in both the editing
and the song and when the song comes to
an end the editing is slowed down panning
away from the ship whilst the music
finishes.
5. Demands of the record label
The band is very illustrative in this
music video as the majority of the
video is them playing the song;
appearing as they usually do with
their instruments and equipment
as though they are playing a live
show. There is lots of close up
shots on all the members of the
band, especially the lead.
Suggesting that this music video
does meet the demands of the
record label including the need of
close up shots.
6. Notion of looking and intertextual
references
In this music video the notion of looking does not apply as there is no sign of
any female throughout the whole video but only the band playing the
song.
There could be signs of intertextuality in the lyrics ‘of all the people who
care if I live or die’ as this is very similar to a line from The Smiths song
which Muse have covered previously ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Know’
which states ‘why do I give valuable time to people who do not care if I
live or die.’
