A Level Media Studies

1. A2 Media Studies
Music Video Analysis
Nikoleta

4. In order to make a successful music video,
I should analyze the same type of music
video so that I will know what kind of
elements would suit the music video better
during the investigation. What's more, I
can learn how to present the atmosphere
by using the different filming techniques,
lighting, angles...
I chose a Chinese rock song called “Simon
Says”. It was produced by a Chinese rock
band called “No party For Cao Dong”.

5. This song tells the story of a lonely child with low self-esteem who tried to integrate into
the group, but was finally abandoned. His thoughts are like a monster, spreading its
teeth and dancing on its claws, pulling himself into the world like a whirlpool, and then
destroying him. It also reveals the society problem. The lyrics and tones pretend to be
childlike but they give humanity a gloomy starting point.

6. Analysis
The whole music video use dark blue as
the base color tone to show the gloomy
atmosphere.
The music video starts with a scene that
people hold umbrella and walk forward.
Then it cuts to the scene where a decent
man in a crowded elevator. The low-key
lighting create a depressing atmosphere.
The man wears a decent suit, it indicates
his occupation -- office worker. The small
elevator fits too many people. It might
indicates the society give too much
pressure on individuals. It reminds me of
claustrophobia, it can express disturbing
feelings to the audience.

7. Over the shoulder shot can make us see things in
the little boy's point of view. The background is
desolate. The establishing shot shows us that it is
an abandoned construction site and several
teenagers gather there. The teenagers wear baggy
clothes and that can show their rebellion. The over
the shoulder shot can show the boy is isolated. The
color of the scenes is depressing. The huge frag
doll represents his delicate childhood.
There's a teenager breaks the chair, and the chair
fall apart. The close up of the chair express the
violence and glooming feelings. The teenager
breaks the chair and the little boy's delicate heart.

8. There is a middle close up for four ladies and the
warm tone on the table shows the warmth of the
family. However, the light of the background is cold
blue because they are wrapping paper for dead
people. The contrast creates tension.
There is a close up for a group of white goldfish, the cold
colors make the aquarium looks even colder.
Over the shoulder shot, the farmers work in the field after the
sunset. It uses low key lighting.
In the middle of the scene, the guy with the yellow costume
differs from others by his clothes, he held a light, it looks like
the sun in the sky.

9. Camera kept tracking the man when the man was running away from something, it
can create a tense atmosphere and attract audience's attention.
The low key lighting and the narrow alley can also make tension.

10. This frog doll appears in the music video for
several times. It is weird that this kind of figure
presents in a realistic video. It is more like a
symbolic figure. This element might represents
the boys innocent heart. At the first it sat with the
teenagers, then it was captured and subdued by
people. The close up of the frog express the
weird but tense feelings to the audience, it is an
impressive figure.

11. Conclusion
During the investigation, I learned that I can use different shots and contrast color to express
feelings or create tension and give actual meaning to it.