1. Conventions Within a
Music Video of the
Indie Folk Genre
Damien Rice – 9 Crimes
Sauzanne Micael

2. Damien Rice – 9 Crimes
Damien Rice began his career in the 1990s, initially as part of a rock band, whom later
experienced success with the release of a few singles. After taking a short break from
the band, he began his solo career in music in 2001, debuting his album in 2002. His
songs have been featured in several television programmes and film. His experience
within the Indie-folk genre has now turned into a decades worth of knowledge and
creative insight into the preproduction, production and post production process.
Therefore by analysing this songs music video, I will be able to gather a true
representation of an indie folk take on a music video.

3. 10s
20s
30s
The music video is initially introduced with the
use of a wide shot. This automatically enables
the audience to set the scene and presents an
idea of how the rest of the music video might
appear. The audience is first able to see this
isolated location, which appears to be an area
at the back of a building, with large garbage
bins focused in the foreground and centre of
the shot. With reference to the rule of thirds,
audiences are drawn into the significance of
the prop bins as they can then question
whether they have any relevance to the actual
music video itself, as a result keeping them
more engaged. The smooth, slow-paced
tracking movement follows the first shot which
juxtaposes with the sharp cut to the next close
up of the bins. The jump is used to keep the
audience aware as it manipulates the attention
to the current shot, so audiences are
constantly aware of what they are seeing.

4. 40s
50s
1m
1m 10s
The natural lighting used throughout the music video is
somewhat dim and lacks brightness. As a result, the
time of day is questionable. The lighting suggests the
motif of this music video is not uplifting or ‘positive’
necessarily as brightness generally connotes emotions
such as happiness and joy, which there could ultimately
be a lack of within in this video. Therefore in terms of
uses and gratification, the audience will not be viewing
this piece of media as a source to boost their self-esteem
and using it more so for entertainment value. As
the next shot jumps in an extreme close up of feminine
lips, the first question can be asked of whose lips they
are? The audience is aware that the music playing and
the lip synching movement of the mouth contrast as the
song predominantly sounds like a male voice, as well as
the fact the artist is actually a male yet a female is
singing along. As the camera continues this slow-paced
theme which flows with the gentle nature of the song,
the audience can now confirm this is a female, as the
female is using direct mode of address to connect with
the audience, staring directly at them. The pace of the
editing allows the viewers to take in this females
beauty. After analysing her face, it is quite clear there is
a lack of make up which contributes to the mise-en-scene
greatly, adding to the natural, calm atmosphere
created thus far.

5. 1m 20s 1m 30s 1m 40s
As the progressive zooming out movement of the camera continues, 1 minute and 10 seconds in it is
made clear that this face the viewers have become familiar with, is made to look like she does not have
a body with the use of editing. This can be interpreted in many ways with some people finding this
amusing and comical whereas others would find this deranged image slightly concerning. In a way, the
unnatural head positioned in the way it is juxtaposes with what the audience has seen so far. The
unnatural vs. calmness of the video contrasts. A sense of enigma is created as the audience now has a
puzzle to solve, creating interest for them. We can also wonder whether there will be an anchorage
within the video and hoping the rest of the video explains this possible message, adding to the
suspense.
The second character is introduced 1 minute and 30 seconds in, using a mid shot. This character is
male, his costume consists of him wearing a puffer jacket with the denotation being a vibrant, orange
colour and plain denim jeans. This character, unlike any other prop, lighting, background etc. used in
this music video could be the first initial sign of hope for the atmosphere or storyline. This is because
there is a symbolic element to the character introducing the audience to the first stand out colour
which is connoted as and often related to the idea of adventure as well as being one of the ‘healing
colours’. The audience can also associate his need for a quote with the subtle wind blowing the leaves
as the time of year is autumn. It is evident that all the sounds are muted out, such as the leaves
blowing to exaggerate the focus solely on the music being played throughout.

6. 2m 10s
2m
1m 50s
It is made obvious the male character is in
pursuit of something as he is looking around
the area. The assumption can be made that he
is looking for the females head as the audience
can combine the two characters as those two
people are the only ones around in this isolated
area. The male then comes across a prop
penny, shown in a close up of the ground,
positioned the queens head head facing
upwards.
Questions arise from this particular prop such as is it
relevant? Or does this link to the females head?
Seconds later, a close-up captures the mans facial
expression as he notices the head a feet away from
him. This proves the earlier assumption that the two
are linked is correct as most people would react
differently if they saw a head laying on the floor,
however this man looks more intrigued.
As the man proceeds to try and touch the head,
the female head floats up and away from him
which is shown with an over-the-shoulder shot.
Viewers are made aware she is tied by a piece of
string around the neck. This can be associated
with the balloons which are usually used in times
of celebration which again contrasts in this music
video.

7. 2m 20s
2m 30s
2m 40s
After displaying signs of frustration such as a
sigh in a close-up shot, the scene jumps to a
static wide shot of the man walking away
from the head. Moment later, we recognise
the head is actually following him. Those
viewing this music video might feel there is a
deep connection between this head and the
male character as his happiness to see that
she is following seems deep-rooted. There is a
certain level of innocence attached to this
happiness, which is peculiar as the man is
clearly an adult, but in a way the idea of this
female in the shape of a balloon giving him
joy could be similar to the way a child
experiences joy with balloons.
2m 50s

8. 3m
3m 10s
3m 20s
3m 30s
The angle of the camera is positioned to
capture the man walking down with the
balloon like head. Through the use of facial
expressions of both the male and female, it is
quite clear they are both content. The close up
of a young male boy with a slingshot is shown,
again using direct mode of address, gazing
directly at the audience. This is cleverly
manipulated to make it seem as if the child is
aiming the slingshot towards the audience. As a
result of this, these kids are stereotyped to be
antagonising. The shot jump cuts to the
reaction of the male character who responds
this using body language that displays his
horror. The irony of children ruining an adults
childlike state holding a balloon allows the
audience to sympathise for this character,
referring to the Uses and Gratifications theory.
The last shot is a close-up of the girls mouth in
pieces. This eerie, unnatural camera shot
finalises the storyline quite bluntly as the
ending was completely unexpected.

9. Lyric Break Down
Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It's the wrong time
For somebody new
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse
Is that alright?
Give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright?
If u don't shoot it how am I
supposed to hold it
Is that alright?
Give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright
With you?
Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be cheating on you
It's the wrong time
She's pulling me through
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse
Is that alright?
I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright?
If you don’t shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it
Is that alright?
I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright
Is that alright with you?
Is that alright?
I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright?
If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it
Is that alright?
If I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright
Is that alright with you?
Is that alright?
Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?
Is that alright?
Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?
No...
1. 2.
Overall, the lyrics of the song combine naturally with the music video as the melancholy
motif of the songs suits the dark imagery suggested by the words I have highlighted. This
demonstrates the importance of lyrics, as it paints a picture for what the audience can
envision. These lyrics are very repetitive. This ensures the audience understands exactly
what the artist is trying to get across.

10. Conventions Used Within the Music
Video
• A strong sense of narrative
• Themes of love
• Use of extreme close-up shots
• Simple editing techniques
• A narrative based on two main characters