Fireflies Analysis

1. Detailed analysis of music videos
Use the below table to help structure your notes when analysing music video. High
grade responses make sustained reference to appropriate theory.
Andrew Goodwin - 7 key ideas to identify
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. Stage performances in metal videos,dance routines for
boy/girl bands)
2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals (Either illustrative,amplifying or contradicting)
3. There is a relationship between the music and the visuals (Either illustrative,amplifying or contradicting)
4. The demands ofthe record label will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist and the artist may
develop motifs which recur across their work (e.g. A visual style)
5. There are frequentreferences to the notion of looking (screens within screens,telescopes, etc) and particularly
voyeuristic (sexual) treatmentof the female body
6. There is often intertextual references (to films,TV programmes,other music videos,etc)
7. Whether the video is primarily performance-based,narrative-based or concept-based and howelementof
each is used in it
Artist: Owl City Song title: Fireflies
Concept/narrative: The video is based on performance, showing the artist performing the song
on a piano. The setting though (accompanied by the lyrics of the song) shows that the song is
based around growing up, and letting go of certain dreams.
Features Observations Examples
Genre characteristics The song is known as a mixture
between electronic and pop - these
songs are known to usually have up-
beat tunes along with a slightly fast
pace. Electronic music is known to
use a lot of sounds that do not
sound natural though, usually being
fast paced to make a tune or theme
that sounds good.
Fireflies is a relatively fast paced
song (although not too fast), this
fits with the electronic music
characteristic whilst also having
an up-beat tune and vocals that
fit in with the normal pop culture.
Relationship between
lyrics and visuals
There are a lot of shots in the video
where lyrics that are being read will
reflect what is currently being shown
in the video. When certain words are
said they will usually have a visual
cue as well, being a very visual
experience.
Throughout the video, there are
multiple shots of a “speak and
spell” kids toy; at multiple
instances the lyrics that are being
sang at that point in time appear
on the toy as a reflection of what
is being said. The line “fire flies”
being sung as it appears on
screen.

2. The lyrics being sung are also
usually referencing the fact that
he does not want to let his
childhood go, and it being shown
on this toy is a reflection of that
(“Please take me away from
here” shows that he does not
want adulthood to be a reality, as
they appear on the toy). There
are also multiple instances
throughout the video where the
lyrics will coincide with a shot of
something happening, such as
the lyrics “Leave my door open
but a crack” is said while a door
opens looking into a bedroom.
There is also an example where
the lyrics read “Put a few of them
in a jar” and it also shows a jar
full of fireflies.
Relationship between
music and visuals
In the video there are shots were
something that the artist is doing in
the video seems to influence the
song in some way, such as the song
getting faster, slower, or adding
some electronic beats. There is a lot
of thought put into the thought beats
of the music, as the video reacts to
the song in multiple ways.
There are multiple instances
where the tune of the song
seems to react to the video (or
vice versa) during the video, one
that stands out is at the
beginning where the beat starts
along with the turning on of
different lights around the room.

3. Are there close ups
of the artists and star
image motifs?
In this music video there are no
close ups of the artists and star
image motifs. Owl City isn’t very
known for having a running motif.
NA
Is there reference to
the notion of
looking?
During the song there area few parts
where it is made to look like the
camera is looking in on the artist as
he performs the song, it is like we
are looking in as the song follows
the thought beat. We see the
camera in angles and positions
which would make the viewer think
that they are looking in on the room.
Along with multiple shots just
being around the room we see
some more specific shots that
would pertain to looking in, such
as looking through an open door
and shots being above the artist
looking downwards, like a hidden
camera.
Are the examples of
intertextual
references?
The whole song is masked in a way
to where it seems just like a normal
song when initially listening to it, but
upon inspection the lyrics pertain to
the artist’s childhood experiences.
The song’s name “Fireflies” is a
reference to fleeting dreams that the
artist can’t seem to catch - it is
mentioned in the video that fireflies
are seen as awe inspiring, but they
also do not last forever.
The whole video shows
childhood objects, toys, and
items interacting with the artist as
and when he says lyrics - the
whole video is a masked
reference of itself.
The fireflies mentioned in the
song are a reference to the
artist’s dreams, and once the title
is understood it unlocks the rest
of the song;s meaning.
Is the video category
illustration,
amplification or
contradicting? How
much of each?
This music video is very illustrative
of the lyrics being sang along with
the beat of the music.
Throughout the video the video
seems to react to the music,
along with the lyrics coinciding
with things happening in the
video. The video helps to
illustrate all of the things being
said in the lyrics along with
showing different objects and

4. following a thought-beat that
pertains to the music itself.