This document analyzes the music video for the song "Cigarette Daydreams" by Cage the Elephant. It discusses why the song was chosen, provides background on the band, and analyzes how the video applies communication theorist Goodwin's principles for successful music videos. These include illustrating genre characteristics through narrative and band performance, voyeuristic female imagery, cohesive music and visuals, promoting the artist's brand, and intertextual references. The concept is praised for its gripping narrative blend of storytelling and subtle band shots. Key techniques that could be applied to the student's own video include location, mise-en-scene, composition rules, monochrome filters, and exploring concepts

1. PowerPoint by Connor Southwell & Thor
Forster
Cage The Elephant - Cigarette
Daydreams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opeETn
B8m8w

2. Why did we choose this song for
analysis?
 Firstly, the song was selected by use because it
matched the genre of our song, which is of an
indie genre. The song also can be analysed in a
sophisticated manner with the high level of
composition prominent throughout the music
video and something we are actively looking to
replicate when the production of our video comes
to fruition.
Secondly, the song was a popular one amongst
us and we decided on this song because of the
popularity we have with this song.

3. Cage The Elephant- A biography
Despite the name, Cage The Elephants don’t actually hold Elephants captive. An American
Rock Band formed in 2006, Cage The Elephant are a prime example of how graft is needed
to be a success. Two years after their forming, they released their first album as a signed
band, this was aptly named ‘Cage The Elephant’ . This album contained 11 singles. The
album ranked 34
th
in the UK charts. The platinum album also sold $1m albums in the US.
The other albums constructed by Cage The Elephant since their debut album consist of
Thank You, Happy Birthday, Melophobia, the album our song is from,Tell Me I’m Pretty and,
most recently, Unpeeled.
The band is a six piece from Kentucky, the members consist of Matthew Shultz, Brad Shultz,
Jared Champion, Daniel Tichenor, Nick Bockrath and Matthan Minster. Despite the success
of the band, they have a seemingly niche audience, with only two singles making the charts
with the highest placing being 78
th
in the single Shake Me Down.

4. Goodwin’s Theory- How does it apply
with this video?
“Music videos more often than not tend to include a demonstration of typical genre characteristics”
The Genre of this song is indie rock, and with rock videos, artists conventionally combine elements of a
conceptual style and that of a performance based video. CTE combine these two elements to production to
make an engaging narrative based around the psychological genre produced by acclaimed director Mark
Pellington. Embedded into the video are complementary shots of the band. These are conforming with
Goodwin’s theory of how to make a successful video.
“There are frequent references to the notion
of looking and the voyeuristic treatment of
the female body.”
Present within this video is frequent shots of the protagonist
being shot through a mirror and she is often shown ways in
which sexualise her, for example, at 2:12 where she is shot
in her underwear in the shower. This is conventional of the
genre as the audience is predominately male, they will more
inclined to watch the video.
“There is a succinct relationship
between music and visuals. e.g. either
illustrative, amplifying, contradicting”
This video is centred around a psychologically charged
narrative, with is amplified through the shots and the use of
frantic editing. The song matches the intensity of the music,
with the parts containing the fastest intensity. This song has
a variation of dynamics and that’s reflected by the sheer
amount of shots packed into the video. In our video, we
need to ensure that our cuts marry with the intensity and
beat of the music. Furthermore, the visual aspect needs to
complement that of the visuals to ensure that the music
video is aesthetically pleasing and is cohesive with the
song’s crescendo’s, beat and dynamics.

5. Goodwin’s Theory- How does it apply
with this video?
“The record label which the artist is assigned to tends to have certain demands.”
The repeated shots of the band and particularly close ups of the band add a personalisation to
the audience and increases the brand identity of the brand. For the record label, they are
looking to recoup the money spent on production of the song and the music video. The video
provides an opportunity to commercialise the band and give an opportunity to promote the
brand. Goodwin believed this made for a success video and CTE tapped into this.
“There is often intertextual
references”
The video has evidently taken inspiration
from the psychological genre which is
inevitable considering the director, Mark
Pellington, comes from a background of
psychological films and this is clear from
the fast paced editing which is emulating
films like Psycho which is renowned for
its frantic cuts and thrilling narrative. It’s
engaging and successful.
“Links between Lyrics and Visuals”
Throughout the entirety of the video, there
is a complete cohesive link between visuals
and lyrics. The illustration of the lyrics, for
example, the lyrics says ‘look down’ and
the shot shows the protagonist looking
down to the floor. The narrative is showing
the lyric literally and aesthetically that
provides a pleasing combination for the
viewer.

6. How successful was the
concept?
The concept of the video is brilliantly produced. The combination of the conceptual
narrative and the performance elements are excellent. They provide a blend of a
completely gripping narrative and a subtle embedment of close up shots to enhance
the brand identity of The Cage Elephants.
The narrative is a complex story of a female protagonist who seems embroiled in a
deep love story whilst battling issues intertwined with this. On the narrative, director
Pellington was quoted as saying “A murder mystery? A love story? Real life madness?
“Cigarette Daydreams” is an ambitious music video / short film inspired by real events
and fictional images. It is a fractured, hallucinatory love story hatched by myself and
lyricist singer Matt Shultz. A tale of madness and mystery, the dark but melancholy
story follows a young woman (Juliette Buchs, the real Ames Shultz) coming to terms
with her past and her future.”
This concept shows that a conceptual video which is shot in a monochrome fashion
(conventional of the indie genre) can still be extremely successful if the narrative and
concept are deep and the storytelling element is prominent in the way it engages the
audience.

7. Screenshot 1- 1:06

8. Screenshot 2- 1:18

9. Screenshot 3- 0:55
This screenshot displays an eye level close up of a girl, the significance of
the eye level shot creates a sense of personality and direct address. This is a
key convention of the indie genre, that the song and band connect with the
audience on a sentimental level; this is something we shall incorporate into
our own music video. In addition to this, the monochrome filter displayed in
the screenshot is enormously typical of the genre as It creates an almost
hopeless and gloomy atmosphere, which a lot of indie music centres itself
around.
The mise en scene in this screenshot is extremely powerful, held in front of
her face the girl is holding a knife, instantly the audience are presented with
connotations of danger and death. This accompanied by the dark
atmosphere created by the filter leaves the audience shocked and
confused, this is an example of how a simple piece of mise en scene can
conjure up feelings in the audience, this is definitely something we shall
The composition of this shot is
also interesting, for example the
fact that she is positioned
centre shot shows she is
important and in power. Also,
this shot complies with the rule
of thirds making it easier on the
eye; this is another technique
we will be sure to demonstrate
in our work.

10. Screenshot 4- 4:30
This screenshot displays beautiful composition, through the use of a low angle
mid shot the audience are placed in a helpless position whilst the women kills
someone; this idea of hopelessness and disappear is another feature of the indie
genre. In addition, the rule of thirds is used here to captivate the scenery and
ensure the audiences eye is drawn to the women. The location of this shot is
extremely significant as it is very desolate and dystopian, for example the grey
and dirty concrete add to this hopeless and depressing atmosphere.
The concept of this music video is amplified through this particular shot, as
we see the women walking away from the car where she has tied up her
victim. This idea of murder out of despair, hatred and sorrow is something that
we could explore in our piece as it captivates the audience and engages
them.

11. So... What could we learn to put in
our video?
This video has supplied as with various ideas, for example we could explore
the concept of murder or despair, considering our track is about love we could
play around with the idea of love induced murder. Another feature from this
video that we could incorporate is that of beautifully composed establishing
shots following the various composition rules; such as rule of thirds, leading
lines and symmetry. This video has made us think more about the location
and mise en scene of the video, as it is key in producing a captivating and
indulging atmosphere. Careful use of mise en scene, in terms of cluttering
and props, is something that we have deduced from this music video as it
creates a clearer and easier on the eye shot. For example, screenshot three
is composed perfectly, there is no clutter and the simple use of mise en scene
connotes a range of feelings to the audience.
One feature of this music video that I feel would be very successful in our
music video is the monochrome filter; frequently seen in the indie genre, this
technique creates an atmosphere of regret, sorrow and sadness. However,
you can contrast this by having a certain thing in the video in colour,
emphasising their certain importance and their separation from the rest of the
scenery.