The music video for "Naive" by The Kooks follows the lead singer as he walks through a nightclub, reflecting on a turbulent relationship through flashbacks. Scenes show the couple arguing and the girl drinking heavily. Towards the end, the singer finds the girl leaving the bathroom with another man, fueling his anger. The video concludes with the band letting the girl walk away, suggesting the singer is letting go of the relationship.

1. DETAILED ANALYSIS
THE KOOKS - NAIVE

2. I N S T I T U T I O N R E S P O N S I B L E …
• The music video was directed by Adam Gordon, Gordon has directed music videos
for several other indie artists such as ‘Sunburn - Muse’ (2000), ‘Pure Morning -
Placebo’ (1998) and ‘Moving - Supergrass’ (1999).
• The production company responsible for the video is Academy Films - they have
created music videos for other indie artists such as ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony - The
Verve’ (1997)
• The camera department/videographer responsible is Gabi Norland - Norland has
created other popular music videos such as ‘Rolling In The Deep - Adele’ (2010)
• The single itself was released under Virgin Records

3. K E Y S E L L I N G P O I N T S …
• ‘Naive’ is a song that has been featured on several other media platforms. For
example, it has been featured in the 2008 film ’17 Again’ staring Zac Efron and
Thomas Lennon, fans of this film may be enticed into watching the music video
after watching the film.
• ‘Naive’ has also been featured on a 2007 episode of ‘One Tree Hill’ an American
television drama, this, as well as ’17 Again’, will bring international audiences to a
British band.
• Further, artists such as Lily Allen and The Sugababes have created their own
covers of this song - bringing fans of different music genres (pop) to a British, indie
song

4. T A R G E T A U D I E N C E …
• ‘GEARS’ Can be used to explain the target audience of
the music video…
• GENDER
• ETHNICITY
• AGE
• REGION, NATIONALITY
• SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUP

5. G E N D E R …
• The band is made up of solely male members - it
reflects the struggles of a relationship from the
perspective of a male, thus it could be argued that
the target market of this video is young males in
turbulent relationships

6. A G E …
• The music video is set in a nightclub/gig setting for
the majority of the video, this could suggest the
target market of the song are audiences 18+ or a
minimum of 16+.
• Further, some of the themes suggested throughout
the music video (drinking alcohol, having fights, sex)
are not suitable for younger audiences, definitely not
targeted at audience below the age of 16.

7. S O C I O - E C O N O M I C G R O U P …
• The music video is set in a nightclub/gig setting,
involving scenes of the actors/band members
drinking and socialising - Though money/the
characters economic state isn't part of the videos
narrative, the use of the characters drinking and
‘clubbing’ suggests that the characters within the
video are financially independent and able to spend
their income on nights out.

8. N A R R A T I V E …
• The narrative of the music video follows the lead singer of The
Kooks walking through a night club as he lip syncs the lyrics of the
song. He reflects on good and bad times of a turbulent relationship
with the use of flashbacks (including shots of her drinking and him
helping her, her trying to kiss his friend and the two play fighting),
as he continues to walk through the night club he begins searching
for the girl. Towards the end of the video the singer finally find the
girl as she is seen walking out of the toilets with another man, the
singer is seen to be starting a fight with a random man out of anger
- the video concludes with the whole band letting the girl just walk
past them, suggesting he is letting go of the relationship.

9. R E L E A S E D A T E S …
• The single itself was released on the 27th of March
2006 - however, the music video was released on
the platform YouTube on the 18th of March 2008,
nearly 2 years after the release date.
• This proves that music videos act as another form of
advertising for a single and enable the song to reach
a wider audience - this clearly worked for The Kooks
as the video has over 47 million views.

10. L Y R I C S …
• The song focuses on a turbulent relationship between a male and female in which the girl
acts reckless and doesn't treat the boy right this is shown within the chorus of the song…
• “I know she knows that I’m not fond of asking - And true or false, it may be, well, she's still
out to get me”
• The singer is aware that the girl may have cheated on him and he is hesitant to ask her as
he wants to avoid being hurt - the girl he is in love with is aware this fact and uses it to hurt
and manipulate him.
• This idea is furthered within the ending of the song…
• “Just don’t let me down, just don’t let me down - Hold on to your kite”
• The repetition of ‘just don't let me down’ shows the singers insecurities within the
relationship - the symbolism of the ‘kite’ shows how the singer feels about the girl, he is so
in love with her that he feels high around her, but the insecurities and uncertainties of the
relationship hold him back.

11. C A M E R A W O R K …
• As the narrative follows the lead singer around the nightclub the majority of the
video is a dolly style head shot of the lead singer lip syncing as he walks
around the night club.
• However, within the flashbacks of their relationship mid shots are shown of the
pair arguing, being sick, and not talking to each other - the mid shot makes the
audience feel like we are a person looking in on that specific moment of their
relationship - as though we are standing in the scene ourselves.
• On the scene when the girl tries to kiss the lead singer friend - a over the
shoulder shot is used from the shoulder of one of the other friends.
• The over the shoulder style shot is repeated when the lead singer finds her
leaving a toilet cubical with another man.

12. M I S E - E N - S C E N E …
• The props used within the music video are mostly alcohol within the
club scenes - the girl within the video is frequently shown with a
glass of wine in her hand suggesting her dependence on alcohol.
• The costume used is casual and realistic to a nightclub setting -
though the video was set in the 2000’s, modern fashion trends have
changed slightly - however, the clothes the band are seen wearing
are typical ‘rock’/‘indie’ band trends of the 2000’s (scarves, hats,
leather jackets etc).
• The setting of the view is primarily in a night club - this sets the tone
of the music video and the flashing lighting helps to show the lead
singers conflicting feelings.

13. T H E O R Y …
• I think that this music video relates to Ann Gould’s
theory of youths as ‘sexual’ there is a theme of being
cheated on throughout the whole music video and in
one scene the lead singers girlfriend is caught with
another man in the toilets - the sexual connotations
behind that scene reflect Gould’s theory.

14. I N F L U E N C E O N M Y W O R K …
• This music video has influenced my music video due
to the nightclub setting that is used throughout the
whole video - as I intend to create a music video
based on reckless youth subcultures, I believe a
nightclub/gig setting would work well with my
production.
• Also, the consistent theme of alcohol abuse within
the music video is a theme that would work well with
my theme of a reckless youth subculture.