Music Video Analysis

MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS
By Nieeve Quinn

7 FEATURES OF A MUSIC VIDEO
ANDREW GOODWIN
• Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal
videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).
• There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with
images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
• There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the
visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
• The demands of the 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 (a visual style).
• There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors,
stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
• The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual
style)
• There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos
etc.).

Andrew Hozier-Byrne is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter originally from County
Wicklow. He is most known for his stage name ‘Hozier’ after writing and singing hit singles
such as ‘Take Me to Church’ in 2013, which reached number 1 on iTunes on the 25th
October, and ‘Someone New’ in 2015. His debut studio album, Hozier, was released in
September 2014 in Ireland and globally in October 2014. ‘Take Me to Church’ earned high
success after being awarded Song of the Year, Top Rock Song and Choice Rock Song in
2015 as well as being nominated for other numerous awards including Best International
Video. The album, Hozier, also won an award for Album of the Year.

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine
for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).
Styling:
The music artist, Hozier, is dressed in a similar fashion to the female actress in the music video.
He is dressed in a dark low cut jacket with jeans and his hair pulled back in a bun. She is dressed
in a leather jacket, low cut top, jeans and hair pulled to the side. Both are dressed to fit the setting
but also to highlight the best features of their body to attract both male and female audience
members. The styling is typical for young adults who go to pubs in the evening meaning the
audience will understand the video more and can figure out where they are. The clothing makes
them book look cool and trendy with a laid back approach by the messy styling hair that shows a
lack of concern for their appearance but still looks effective. The setting is modern and authentic
for Hozier’s performance scenes and is commonly seen through many places within modern
society making it relatable for audience members. Styling has been thought out carefully in order
to make everything link together with the narrative, performance and setting so this way the
audience can follow the music video easily.
Lighting:
The lighting used in Hozier’s ‘Someone New’ music video constantly changes to fit the setting and
the mood of the current scenes. At the start of the video the lighting is very dark in order to set the
pub like scene and create the laid back mood. In parts, especially the performance scene, a
bright spotlight is used at the back of Hozier which ends up creating shadows across his face
making his features hard to see in the dark lighting. This has been done to represent him
differently from other artists and to increase his audience with females but also to create the false
ideology of the concert experience. This lighting technique is also used with the female actress,
this has been done to show she has everyone’s attention and to represent her importance in the
narrative part of the video. Ambient lighting has been used towards the end of the video due to
the setting taking place outside which shows the transition of being indoors to outdoors. This also
presents a brighter mood to the audience showing this part of the video is more light-hearted and
enjoyable to watch.

Camerawork/Editing:
The editing used in this music video is very simplistic and basic. The main techniques used are
cuts that have been edited to match the beat of the music, faster pace cuts appear as the tempo
increases and slower pace cuts appear as the tempo decreases. By doing this it brings the
audience’s attention to the music and makes them become familiar with his work. Camera shots
normally consist of close up or medium shots. This has been done for the audience to see facial
expressions and body language from Hozier and the female actresses in order to understand the
narrative and be able to link it back to the performance - the audience can also see Hozier lip
synch to the song. This technique is very typical of music videos in general so audience’s learn to
expect it. The movements of the camera are very slow in order to follow the pace of the female
actress as she walks. Her scenes are slowed down in order for her steps to fit the tempo of the
music by making the camera movements slow it means the audience can see everything that’s
going on and also make it aesthetically pleasing to watch.
Performance:
The performance scenes of this music video is typical for the indie rock genre. In these scenes
the audience can see the raw talent the music artist, Hozier, has and creates an authentic and
realistic atmosphere. This would help increase his success. Most performances help illustrate the
song but in this music video it also helps amplify the music as due to the shots of the guitar and of
Hozier lip synching it brings the audience’s attention to the song and lets them judge whether they
like it or not. In the performance scenes the music is able to be communicated by the artist and to
the audience, this builds a connection between both of them and makes audience members feel
more involved and included in the song. During the performance the camera slowly pans around
Hozier throughout the video. By doing this it makes sure the audience’s attention is solely focused
on him which means people become familiar with his style and face and so will eventually learn to
recognise him through his other pieces of work. Due to him not being in the band he is the face of
everything he writes and has full responsibility.

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images (either
illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
1
6
5
4
3
2
• You knew who I was –
Dark lighting used. A close up shot is used of the female actress in order to fit with
this particular lyric. This too show the familiarities of this persons face suggesting an
individual already knew who it was in relation to the narrative in the music video.
• Electing strange perfections is in any stranger I choose –
Dark lighting used. This shot links with the lyric ‘perfections’ in this line of the song.
The female actress is dressed with no imperfections with the camera focusing on
her well made hair and make up that highlight her best features. This makes the lyric
and visual link effectively.
• I fall in love just a little ol’ little bit –
Bright lighting used. This close up shot shows an act of passion when people ‘fall in
love’. This suggests that this particular female does it for fun to contrast the meaning
of this line.
• There’s an art to life's distractions –
Ambient lighting used. Smoking is known for distracting people by taking individuals
minds away from their current lifestyles. With the female actress being attractive we
can assume this is the ‘art’ to the particular ‘distraction’ of smoking.
• Everyday with someone new –
Bright lighting used. In different shots throughout this music video the audience
see’s this female with multiple people. With this lyric in time with this visual the
audience can assume this is a regular occurrence with meeting ‘someone new’
everyday. This shot has been used as an illustrative scene in order for audience
members to understand the narrative.
• Love with every stranger, the stranger the better –
Dark lighting used. The audience can assume this act regularly happens with
strangers. This creates a relatable scenario for audience members within modern
society.
Hozier’s ‘Someone New’ music video is a performance and a narrative. In order for
audience members to understand both features lighting has been used effectively
so the audience can interpret the meaning clearly. This then helps connect the artist
and viewers together so they feel more involved with the music and will continue the
artist’s success due to having an emotional attachment to his songs.

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of
the music (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
Throughout Hozier’s ‘Someone New’ music video the mise en scene has been used effectively in
order for the visuals to match the music. The beat of the song stays the same so there are only
noticeable changes in the editing when the verse goes into the chorus, at this stage the cuts become
faster to match the upbeat tempo which gives the audience more visuals to watch. Because of this
the shots can be used to illustrate more so audience members can interpret and understand the
narrative any way they like. The music artist, Hozier, lip synchs in time to the lyrics when his
performance scenes occur. By doing this it builds a connection between the audience and the artist
as this way it brings their attention to the lyrics of the song and makes them relate it to their own life.
As the artist doesn’t look at the camera while singing it makes the performance more realistic and
creates a false ideology of the audience actually standing there and experiencing the concert
performance.
In the middle of the song when the audience have become familiar with the beat and the chorus
more shots are taken of the guitar instrument that the artist holds. By doing this it makes his
performance again much more realistic and authentic which also brings the audience’s attention to
the music resulting in them enjoying it. Also, as this instrument is a staple piece throughout Hozier’s
work it makes the audience become more familiar with his identity and style and so would encourage
audience members to see his other songs and music videos thus adding to his success. In these
scenes the lighting has been used to set the mood and atmosphere, a spotlight is placed behind the
artist which creates a shadowed effect across his face and body. By doing this it sets the scene as
well adds more emotion to the song due to its lack of meaning.
The female actress has been used throughout the song. In her scenes she usually moves in time
with the music or walks at the same time of the beat. By doing this it again brings the audience’s
attention to the song but also links the narrative and performance together, this way it helps them
understand the music but also her part. Both the artist and the actress have worn clothing to best
suit the style of the song and in order to show the same connection. With this connection it will help
engage a wider audience with both genders due to the male and female gaze, and so they have
been dressed appropriately e.g. low cut black jacket for both the artist and actress.

The demands of the 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 (a visual style).
‘From Eden’
‘Work Song’
‘To Be Alone’
‘Cherry Wine’
The demands of the record label are evident in the need of close up shots of the music artist, Hozier, in his ‘Someone New’ music video. A lot of shots have been
used that focus on the music artists face e.g. close up and medium shots in order to fit the forms and conventions of music videos with this specific genre, these
shots mean the audience can see his face clearly and will easily recognise him when watching his other pieces of work. Hozier creates indie rock music which can be
considered to have a particular audience which means he has to attract the right audience members by focusing on his face so people will feel more involved and
included in his music and the video. From looking at his style, such as hair and clothing, he represents his audience effectively and so will help draw in more people.
The close up shots that have been featured in this music video are filmed at a side angle with a bright light behind him which adds a shadowed effect across his face,
this has been done to make him look mysterious and dark which would help attract a female audience. The motif that has been communicated through this music
video and his previous ones is the amount of talent Hozier has when performing. This can be proven by his videos always containing some sort of performance
structure – this can be seen in the ‘Work Song’ and ‘To Be Alone’. By this commonly occurring in his videos the audience can visualise his style which helps them
become familiar with his work and thus increase his success. Another thing that is a common feature in his videos is his lack of ability to look at the camera and make
eye contact with audience members. Normally this would create a lack of approach with music artists but this has been used effectively in order to create a false
ideology of having an insight to the narrative that has been used within the music video. No eye contact is made throughout his other videos which has been done to
fit his style of work but also as most of them contain him performing his music it makes the audience feel like they are watching their own private concert and so
results in them feeling more involved in his music. This is also makes them enjoy much more. All these factors come together in order to create a unique and different
style that separates this music artist from others.

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and
particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
The notion of looking has been evident through the use of close up shots in Hozier's
‘Someone New’ music video. In these shots the music artist, Hozier, does not look at the
camera but the female actress used in the music video does. She constantly makes eye
contact with the audience which results in them feeling more involved and included with
the performance and narrative. The eye contact also draws more people in by creating a
false ideology of audience members being there. The music artist, Hozier, does not make
eye contact with audience members making the song seem raw and emotional which in
turn would make it relatable for a wide audience. This also pulls in more females due to
the male artist seeming mysterious and dark because of the lighting choice and so makes
the audience more balanced within males and females. The male artist is used during the
performance scenes and the female is used during the narrative scenes, this is what will
draw each gender towards the music video and in turn increase Hozier’s success.
Numerous camera shots have been used throughout this music video. Most of them have
been used to highlight certain parts of the female actress’ body that has been used in this
video. For example, dark lighting and close up shots to enhance the females cheekbones
and jawline – these are multiple factors that heterosexual males within modern society find
attractive and engaging. By doing this it would result in wider audience of both male and
female and build Hozier’s success. During these shots the female actress also makes eye
contact with the camera which brings the audience members attention to her eyes and the
contrast her makeup makes against her eye colour thus making her seem more attractive.
When comparing her to the music artist, Hozier, the camera focus more on her features
than with him e.g. hair and body which fits with the theory of the male gaze. However,
despite the male gaze being the main feature females are also attracted by this music
video due to the male music artist. Both genders are equally interested in the music
because of this.

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)
Within Hozier’s music videos there is a lot of recurring visual styling
in order for audience members to recognise his kind of work. Firstly,
in almost every video there are some sort of performance scenes
where the artist, Hozier, would ‘perform’ and lip synch to his songs.
This can be seen in both ‘Someone New’ and ‘Work Song’. By
recreating these styles of videos it brings the audiences attention to
his music and creates a concert experience for them making them
feel more involved.
Another feature that is commonly used is the use of female
actresses. In both ‘Someone New’ and ‘Cherry Wine’ different
female actresses have been used to play the narrative role in his
music videos. This has been done effectively to engage more male
audience members but also attracts the fans of these actresses.
These women have been dressed appropriately with makeup and
accessories in order to attract more males which supports the theory
of the male gaze.
Close up shots have been used frequently when filming the
performance scenes. No eye contact is made during these shots
making the songs raw and emotional which draws the audience in
making them more interested in his work. The close up shots of the
male artist will also engage more female audience members which
fits the theory of the female gaze.
Another feature that is recurring of the visual style is the concert
imagery. In Hozier’s ‘Work Song’ music video the camera pans
across the audience where not only can you see the band playing
but also people dancing. Something similar has been done in
‘Someone New’, this fits his indie rock music and is what to be
expected of this particular genre.

There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.).
The only intertextual reference that I can see within Hozier’s ‘Someone New’ music video is that it follows the same visuals as other indie rock videos. This can be
seen in Imagine Dragons and The Killers with their music videos ‘Demons’ and ‘Mr Brightside’. While The Killers music video may be more grungy looking and used
with a less high quality camera the video plays out the same with the band performing in front of a crowd and then a narrative being shown in other scenes. Imagine
Dragons video is also the same which shows most indie rock music videos follow the same conventions but add different styles in order to make their own video look
unique and independent. When having a performance and a narrative in one video it gives audience members more visuals to watch making it more enjoyable, it also
gives them something to link the meaning of the music to so this way they can understand the artist better. By displaying the same conventions indie music artists are
able to attract the right audience members who enjoy this kind of music, but they can also expand their audience by interesting both males and females depending on
their style. Despite their videos following the same conventions they are filmed differently with the camera movements portraying different moods and emotions in
order to fit with their songs. For example, The Killers video is filmed with a lower quality standard camera where as Imagine Dragons has a smoother panned out
camera movement. In order to separate music artists from each other their styling that consists of clothing, hair and accessories is different in order to represent their
own identity and so audience members can become familiar with their style and learn to recognise them from others. For example, what makes Hozier unique is his
laid back appearance of messy, long hair with a simple low cut jacket and a pair of jeans. Most indie rock artists play the part by wearing dark makeup with dark
clothing, as seen in The Killers video. Hozier breaks this stereotype of indie rock music and presents his own styling. This is what draws a wider audience and builds
his success by engaging people with different music tastes.

Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly known as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. She
signed with the record label Kemosabe Records in 2005 and made a breakthrough in her career
after appearing on the rapper Flo Rida’s number one hit single ‘Right Round’. Her debut album
‘Animal’ was premiered at the top of the charts in several countries and achieved a few number
one singles including ‘Tik Tok’ which earned the best-selling digital single in history and sold over
14 million units internationally. By November 2013 she had reportedly sold over 33 million
records in the United States and 60 million records worldwide. After a recent legal dispute with
her former producer Ke$ha released her new album ‘Rainbow’ with it’s lead single ‘praying’
introducing a whole new style compared to her older work.

Styling:
Kesha’s styling is very independent and unique no matter what the music video is. Throughout
the ‘Praying’ video she wears numerous outfits; some considered normal and others
considered extreme. However, this is what sets her apart from other artists and is what initially
drew people in. At parts of the video she wears a fluffy coat, mesh kimono on top of a butterfly
sequined dress, a striped dress, grey blazer and also a jumpsuit with wings attached. These
different outfits have been used effectively to show different parts of her recovery process
which has been mentioned within the song. The colourful items makes the video more
aesthetically pleasing to watch and contrasts with some of the black and white editing
resulting in audience members understanding the significance of this contrast. Some of the
clothing is quite flattering by highlighting certain features of her body, this fits the theory of the
male gaze due to it being done to attract more male audience members. Overall, her clothing
is highly eccentric but this is known as her trademark look.
Lighting:
The lighting used in Kesha’s ‘Praying’ music video is usually very bright. One of the reasons
why this has been done is to present the setting clearly for audience members and to show
the time of the day e.g. sun means daytime. This means the audience is able to understand
more of the video despite no narrative. Dark lighting has also been used in some parts of
the music video for example, in the scenes where Kesha is praying in front of the cross.
This has been done to show the transition from outdoors to indoors, it also suggests the
amount of meaning these scenes have. The audience can assume it has to do with the
person behind the song making the audience sympathise with her and making the song
more raw and emotional. The different uses of light fits with the conventions of a typical
music video resulting in something the audience expects to see. By having the contrasts of
bright and dark it helps build the emotional suspense and makes the video fit with the music
and the meaning behind the song.

Performance:
In this music video there are some scenes where Kesha is seen playing a piano and lip
synching to the song, in these scenes close up shots are mostly used to make the audience
feel involved. The performance scenes have been used to illustrate the song as the artist
wants to communicate a message to the audience. Although this is not as strong as it could
have been due to the lack of eye contact the artist makes but by not looking at the camera she
is able to make the song more emotional by having a closed off approach. These performance
scenes are mostly shown at the start of the video and wear off towards the end of the video.
This is something that has been done differently when compared to other music videos. This
makes her video unique and independent especially when linked to the personal meaning
behind it. Her performance lies more on her body language and facial expressions hence the
use of close up and medium shots, the audience is able to understand more of the song
through these features.
Camerawork/Editing:
Within the ‘Praying’ music video editing has been used effectively in order for the visuals to
match the music. The use of cuts have been edited in order for the visuals to fit in time with
the tempo. More cuts appear as the tempo increases, this has been done to bring the
audience’s attention to the beat of the music which builds Kesha’s success. Towards the end
of the video fade has been used to show the transition from one cut to another, this has been
done in order for the visuals to match the speed of the tempo and to connect all the scenes
together. Different camera shots have been used throughout the video but mostly close up and
medium shots. These have been used for the audience to see her facial expressions and see
her lip synching to the song, this has been done to understand the song and to sympathise
with the artist. Long shots have also been used to see Kesha’s clothing and the setting which
has been done to show independence when compared with other music videos of the same
genre.

• Told me that I was nothing without you, oh –
Bright lighting used. All the negative words on the TVs make this lyric much more
relatable for the viewers and fits with multiple situations.
• I hope you’re somewhere praying, praying –
Dark lighting used. This visual fits the lyric due to setting being suitable to pray to God.
Christianity is used throughout this video suggesting that the person behind the
meaning is in control of their own actions with no religions beliefs behind them. The
setting holds connotations of peace where people are allowed to confess their sins.
• I hope you find you’re peace, falling on your knees –
Ambient lighting used. The flag used in this visual symbolises peace and survival
which makes it fit with the lyrics. Later in the video this same shot is used to see the
music artist falling to her knees still holding the flag suggesting this is the ending of an
era by surrendering and letting her harsh feelings go. This reflects the meaning behind
the song and makes it relatable for all viewers.
• Cause I can make it on my own, I don’t need you –
Black and white editing used. The first half of this video shows the music artist laying
still but in time with these lyrics she starts to move after finding strength and courage.
This emphasises her lack of a need towards this person making the visuals and lyrics
link.
• I had to learn how to fight for myself –
Ambient lighting used. This visual displays the music artist as being stuck and having
no one to help her free. This fits with the lyrics as it shows a visual performance of how
she has to fend and protect herself while trying to unravel from her situation.
• Someday maybe you’ll see the light –
Bright lighting used. This is a low angled shot where viewers can see the music artist
facing the Christ symbol while in a bowed position. This suggest the music artist has
found strength through religion by its life saver act that got rid of her dark thoughts and
emotions.
The ‘praying’ video is a mixture of a performance and a disjunctive while also
containing uncovered meanings between the visuals and lyrics. Lighting and editing
have been used effectively in order to reflect the mood and atmosphere in certain parts
e.g. faster cuts = upbeat tempo.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Throughout the ‘praying’ music video the visuals constantly change to fit the beat of the disjunctive
and performance video. At the beginning the music is very slow containing a singular beat so the
video is edited in slow cuts in order for viewers to understand the serious meaning and interpret the
meaning behind the video anyway they want. The music artist, Kesha, fits the editing and music
perfectly by performing slow movements to portray certain emotions and to set the atmosphere e.g.
laying still in the middle of a scenic background displays grief and shock. This act emphasises the
lack of a beat and brings the viewers attention back to the song and the meaning behind it. In parts
of the video where there are no lip synching performances Kesha shows certain acts in order to
suggests images behind the meaning, for example, in times she is praying in the centre of a church
on her knees which links back to the pace of the music at the start as well as fits with the lyrics.
The visuals begin to change as the tempo increases and more colour and bright lighting is used to
show the difference in atmosphere, style and emotion. The shots change slightly as the camera
moves to low angled shots to show power and strength as the beat becomes stronger, this makes
the visual fit effectively with the music making the video seem more narrative than disjunctive. The
cuts appear quicker as the tempo increases giving viewers more things to see influencing their
perception on the meaning behind the visuals and the music. This is the part of the music video
where the audience can witness Kesha’s rare clothing choices. By choosing this style it makes the
video more unique and different when compared to others and portrays her identity and style
effectively in order to relate to a large audience.
Towards the end of the video the music becomes more emotional with the tempo increasing more
and more. This is when cuts are edited in a quick pace to match the beat and emphasise the
importance of Kesha’s meaning as well as bringing the audience’s attention back to the song. At this
part a lot more colour is added by the use of coloured flares that make the video seem more fun and
less serious despite the lack of beat at the start. The message of the music artist finding herself after
a difficult situation creates a synthetic relationship with the viewers making the visuals much more
effective when added with the music. Her meaning is received expertly through the use of dark to
bright lighting, black and white to colour and slower paced cuts to faster pace cuts.

‘Woman’
‘Rainbow’
‘Blah Blah Blah’
‘We R Who We R’
The demands of the record label are clear in Kesha’s ‘praying’ music video due to the high amounts of close up shots. These amount of shots are highly unusual for
this particular artist as she is well known in many countries compared to indie bands, this is why most close ups used in this video are with her hair covering her face
or her head turned towards the ground. The audience do not have to see her face in order to recognise who she is due to her high success and recent scandal being
in the news. The reasoning behind the use of shots is because of the type of song it is. After writing the song after a difficult situation considering her former producer
the close up shots have been used for viewers to witness her facial expressions due to her emotional attachment to the song in order to understand both the visuals
and music. Because of this the record label have tried to communicate a different feel and atmosphere than her previous music videos by using high angled shots
more often, this has been done to show her weak position which can be understood by the audience after they interpret the video themselves.
The motif is very different compared to her other music videos however there are similar parts such as when close up shots have been used when she is performing
at the piano while lip synching. The majority of Kesha’s music videos contain performance parts which are normally filmed as close ups with her looking straight at the
camera. It’s at this part where viewers can see her rare clothing and witness her quirky style that sets her apart from other artists, this is how audience members
have become so familiar with her and makes her easily recognisable. This is what makes her music videos so typical and is a regular occurrence in all of them. Most
of her music videos have a fun and laid back approach while ‘praying’ has a more serious out look which is witnessed through the minimal clothing, make-up and
editing, this is what sets it apart from the others. ‘Praying’ looks to be more professional than her others which seem to be of less standard and quality however I think
this has more to do with the time they were filmed. Overall, there are clear features across her work that stand out and are repeated but this new single is also
different and unique which is what makes it more interesting to her already large audience.

The notion of looking has been featured through the use of close up shots throughout the
‘praying’ music video. However, there is only one shot throughout the whole video where
the music artist, Kesha, looks straight at the camera and makes eye contact with the
audience. This has been done due to the emotional attachment she has with the song and
is trying to portray a certain message through her body language and facial expressions.
Through the act of not looking at the camera her entire performance ends up feeling raw
and powerful by stirring emotions within all audience members. By doing this it makes the
audience sympathise with the artists current situation as they attempt to understand what
she’s going through. This has been emphasised through the use of black and white in the
shot when she’s making eye contact with the audience, and adds to the already personal
feeling. Although also creating a powerful and strong atmosphere by displaying courage
through that one piece of face to face contact. This creates a synthetic relationship as it
build trust and a connection between the audience and the artist.
The clothing and accessories the music artist, Kesha, is wearing in the ‘praying’ music
video is a heavy example of the male gaze. Right at the start an extreme close up has
been used showing the dark blue lipstick the artist is wearing. The dark colour of the blue
symbolises quietness and is used to not draw attention. However, from the way the
camera lingers on her lips it has done the opposite affect by bringing the audiences
attention to it. This has been done in order to draw in more men due to her large
audience being mostly consisting of young females. Throughout the video there are
numerous examples of this e.g. skin tight clothing, showing of legs and breasts. Due to
the artist being a female more girls are attracted to this type of music than men so in
order to get a mixed audience she has to be deemed attractive to the stereotypical
heterosexual male especially since her work may not be that relatable to this specific
gender. However, due to the meaning behind the song there is not a lot of clothing that
shows a lot of skin, the main focus is her facial expression.

Kesha’s music videos contain some familiarities in order for her
audience to recognise her work. The first one being the use of close
up shots in every video. In most of these shots she looks straight at
the camera and makes eye contact with the audience in order to
make them feel involved and draw in a wider audience. This can be
seen in ‘Woman’, ‘Take It Off’ and ‘We R Who We R’ music videos.
However, in ‘Praying’ there is a lack of eye contact due to the
importance of the song and with it’s emotional meaning behind it.
The close up shots are a trademark style for this artist which the
audience have become familiar with.
Another feature of recurring visual styling is the clothing and
accessories. Kesha’s style has always been known to be dramatic
and eccentric when compared to other artists, this is what initially
draws more people in and makes her videos enjoyable to watch.
Her exaggerated styling creates a certain identity which makes her
fit in effectively with her high tempo music while making her videos
aesthetically pleasing.
High production and good quality cameras are continuously used for
her videos. This shows her wide audience and her high success. By
having this type of production it fits her pop genre and will help
attract people who like this particular music. This also means she is
able to create extreme features within her music videos that other
artists wouldn’t be able to achieve.
Another feature that is commonly used in her videos is the use of
colour and bright lighting. This adds to the high production and
makes her videos of a more high standard. Coloured flares are used
a lot when the tempo of her songs increase in order for the audience
to focus on her music.

Kesha’s song, ‘Praying’, is an emotional song for people who’ve experienced sexual assault or harassment. The meaning behind the song is what makes the video
unique and independent due to the music being unlike any other music artists with the same genre. At the age of 18 Kesha signed with the producer known as Dr
Luke who worked at Kemosabe Records and released two albums one being ‘Warrior’. After claiming having no creative input to the album she asked to leave the
record deal but was later denied. In 2014, she sued Dr Luke for causing emotional distress and gender based hate crimes. These crimes include sexual assault and
harassment, gender violence and civil harassment. Since the beginning of her record deal Kesha argues that Luke physically, sexually, emotionally and verbally
abused her. Dr Luke denied all allegations and explained he was being accused in order to be forced to let Kesha fall out of the record deal. Despite all claims in 2016
Kesha was denied any preliminary injunction and the judge dismissed all claims against Dr Luke. After having waited for her record deal to expire she released her
new single ‘Praying’ and followed it up with a new album named ‘Rainbow’. Because of this particular meaning behind her single the music video is filmed based
around her recovery and having to fit back into modern society by healing her newfound mental illnesses. All editing, camerawork, lighting and body language is all
meant to fit in and help the audience sympathise and understand with this artist. This music video has no intertextual reference due to all performance and disjunctive
scenes being unique and different in order to symbolise certain events. Colour has been used to highlight the mood of the video in the same way black and white has
been used to present the scenes of before she had recovered. By displaying all these features effectively it creates an influential video that not only connects with the
audience but also targets audience members who have experienced similar events.

The 1975 consist of band members Matthew Healy, lead vocalist, Adam Hann, lead guitarist,
Ross Macdonald, bassist and the drummer George Daniel. They are an English indie rock
band that originated from Manchester, United Kingdom. After signing a record deal with Dirty
Hit and Polydor Records they released four Eps and two albums, one being self-titled. Their
debut album, The 1975, was released on the 2nd September 2013 and topped the UK Albums
Chart on the 8th September. Both albums have been nominated and won numerous awards
including Best Album for ‘I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of
It’ and Best Live Band. In 2017 the band won the Brit Award for the Best British Group.

Lighting:
Dark lighting has been used throughout The 1975’s ‘The Sound’ music video. This has been
done to not only match the colour scheme but to also fit the indie rock genre. By doing this it
also attracts the right audience members and so results in the band building in their success.
Towards the end of the video bright lighting has been used inside the box so the audience can
see the shadows of the band members. This has been done as the audience no longer needs
to see their face in order to recognise them, their clothing and hair sets them apart. However,
at the start of the video bright lighting has been used inside the box in order for them clothing
to contrast against the white light so their faces would be clear to the audience. The face of the
head vocalist is the main focus throughout the music video, due to him being the face of the
band he is the only face audience members need to recognise. This is why the lighting is
brighter at the front of the box and not at the back where the other band members are. Lighting
has been used to make it aesthetically pleasing to watch.
Styling:
The 1975’s style in ‘The Sound’ music video matches the colour scheme of the video and
album – this makes it their trademark style. Each member of the bands clothing consists of a
black leather jacket, black top, black jeans and black shoes. By having the same black clothing
for each band member makes them all link, the only thing that sets them apart is there hair and
makeup. Through the use of black clothing it makes them contrast against the pink and white
lighting inside the box this makes them stand out and become the main focus on the music
video. This means the audience will be able to recognise them in their other pieces of work.
Their hair has been done deliberately in order for audience members to know who the head
vocalist is, Matty Healy. His hair is twice as big and black as everyone else’s. This makes him
the centre of attention especially with him at the front and the other members of the band
standing behind him. Their clothing and hair styling fits their indie rock genre and so will attract
the right audience members.

Performance:
Throughout The 1975’s ‘The Sound’ music video there are numerous scenes where the band
are performing inside a makeshift box. The illustrative genre of this song is typical for indie
rock music, by performing the song in the music video the band is able to send a message to
the audience thus creating a connection similar to a synthetic relationship. The performance
is typical for this kind of band, the placement of band members is the same as any other band
within the indie rock music genre. By doing this it attracts the right audience and builds their
success higher. Camera movements have been used effectively to represent the band
through the use of hand held care which creates an erratic image giving the idea of a concert
event. This amplifies the beat of the music and brings the audience’s attention to the song.
The shots used are mostly featured on Matty Healy, the head vocalist, due to him being
known as the face of the band. Editing, lighting and camerawork is all centred around this
individual to best represent their target audience.
Camerawork/Editing:
The editing used in The 1975’s ‘The Sound’ music video is very typical and simple which fits
nicely with the indie rock genre. The only editing used is cuts and shot reverse shot, these
have been used in order to make the visuals fit with the tempo of the music. By doing this it
brings the audience’s attention back to the song and makes the video much more enjoyable
to watch. Shot reverse shot has been done when the band members are looking at the
people within the music video, this makes it seem like a conversation is happening between
the two without any words being spoken. Camerawork has been used effectively with a lot of
different shots used in order for the audience to see many things at once. Camera sometimes
pans around the artists and in some parts filmed with a hand held. By doing this it makes the
audience feel involved with the music due to it moving in time with the beat. It also makes it
seem like more things are happening at once and so gives audience members a lot of things
to watch to make it more enjoyable.

1
6
5
4
3
2
• Well I know when you’re around –
Dark lighting used. To link the visual and the lyrics the band make a gesture that fits
the impression of pointing and looking for someone. This is hugely effective as that
joined with the light changes brings the viewers attention to the music and the beat
of the song.
• The sound of your heart –
Dark lighting used. In this shot the audience can see the walls of the box beat in
and out, this gives the impression of a heart beating. This fits with the lyrics
perfectly as well as matches with the beat of the music.
• There’s so much skin to see –
In parts of the music video big pieces of text that contain negative comments about
their music has been featured. The lyric fits the visual as it implies the band
members have ‘thick skin’ in relation to not being deterred or affected by these
responses.
• You say I’m such a cliché –
Dark lighting used. The tone used when singing this line matches the expression of
the head vocalist. This insinuates a sarcastic and bored repetition of what people
assume of the band making it relatable for their audience, this way it also adds
something more to their music video being a performance.
• I don’t regret it but I’m glad that we’re through –
Dark lighting used. The body language of the head vocalist suggest a relief
emotion. This fits effectively with the lyrics but yet is subtle so is usually overlooked
by audience members.
• *High pitched guitar* -
Pieces of text have been added again while placed over the instrumental part of the
song. The high pitched guitar sound gives the impression of cry’s, scream’s and
pain. By doing this it shows the effect the harsh words can contain and makes the
viewers more aware.
Overall, because of the music video being a performance there are not a huge
amounts of links between the lyrics and the music. However the lighting and editing
has been used effectively in order to fit the tempo and bring the audience members
attention to the song.

At the start of the music video the song begins as the bands name, The 1975, appears - this has been done
in order for audience members to become more familiar with their name and recognise their style of work.
The piece of text fits nicely within the colour scheme which consists of; white, pink and black. Right from the
start of the song the editing and lighting fits easily with the upbeat and quick tempo. This means that the
cuts are mostly edited together at a fast pace and begin faster when in the chorus. At this time the lighting
changes from white as the band sings each verse and then changes to pink when they sing the chorus, this
is very effective as it makes the visuals aesthetically pleasing and fits with the bands colour scheme that is
featured across their music videos and album covers. This has also effectively amplified the beat and brings
the audiences focus to the performance featured in the music video. By doing this it makes audience
members recognise their work and become more familiar with it. As the majority of the music video is the
band lip synching dark lighting has been used with the main focus being on the head vocalist due to him
being the face of the group.
As the tempo increases towards the end of the song more people enter the music video which creates a
more upbeat atmosphere which also brings the viewers attention to the song and lets them become familiar
with the music. Because of the performance from the band that occurs throughout the music video it builds
a connection between the audience and the head vocalist which creates the false ideology of being next to
the band and experiencing the concert view. The shots used are mainly focused on Matty Healy, the head
vocalist, in order for the audience to recognise the face of the band which ends up making them
incomparable to other bands. The upbeat tempo is emphasised through the light changes and the camera
movements which makes the video much more enjoyable to watch despite their lack of a narrative. A lot of
pan movements have been used which adds more motion and seem like more things are occurring within
the visual.
The clothing of the band members are what gives this group their identity and attracts the right audience in
order for them to succeed. Black clothing has been used effectively in order to contrast with the white and
pink lighting used. Not only does this match the colour scheme but also makes the visuals aesthetically
pleasing as well as fits with their type of indie rock music. At the end of the music video the band are sitting
outside the box giving the assumption that they are like everyone else which can be implied by the
individuals who were standing outside it earlier. This makes the entirety of the visual fit the song and present
the meaning for all audience members.

‘Chocolate’ ‘Love Me’
‘Girls’ ‘UGH!’
The demands of the record label is evident throughout the music video through the use of close up shots especially used for the Matty Healy, the head vocalist. This
has been done in order for the audience members to recognise the face of the band and become more familiar with their music, this is what has brought their
success higher throughout the last couple of years. However, while there are close ups used there are a number of other shots used just as much due to the music
video being a performance and not a narrative. For example, long shots have been used at the start of the music video in order to show the setting, this makes it
easier for the audience to understand what’s happening and how to interpret it. By the using close ups as the majority it shows the band is conforming to the
conventions of a typical indie music video, this makes sure that the right audience is attracted to this type of music and so will result in the bands success. The use of
close up shots also results in a relationship built between the audience and the band members meaning all of the audience members attention will be brought to the
music and makes them connect with the song.
The motif shown throughout their previous work is the majority involve some sort of a performance from the band. This proves that this is a natural assumption for
music artists who perform indie music. These close ups always consist of the same angle which create the same look and feel which is a fun and chilled atmosphere
that draws the audience in and encourages them to enjoy their music to experience a laid back approach. Another feature that is commonly shown throughout their
work is all their performances show the same position of each member of the band e.g. Matty Healy, the head vocalist, at the front while the other three stand behind.
This as been done for audience members to connect easily with the band and recognise the standard conventions of indie rock music. Dark lighting is used often in
order to fit with the rock style of music which makes the video look intense and a creates a classic look that ends up attracting more and more people who are
interested in this type of music and so results in the bands success as well.

The notion of looking has been presented through the use of close up shots throughout
The 1975’s ‘The Sound’ music video. However, with these close ups all members of the
band do not look straight at the camera resulting in no eye contact between them and
the audience. The act of not looking at the camera brings a lack of connection and
avoids any emotional feeling towards the song. By doing this it would attract the right
group of people so builds the bands success from gathering audience members who are
interested in just the music. Although, despite the lack of eye contact the close up shots
do create some sort of a personal attachment between the band and audience because
of the continuous use of extreme close up shots e.g. mouth. This has been done
through the act of invading the head vocalists personal space which creates a false
ideology of being next to the band and experiencing their music first hand. The notion of
not looking at the camera also implies any sort of interpretation which the audience can
assume any way they like.
The mise en scene has been influenced effectively in order to attract and interest the
right audience for this bands indie rock music. From the beginning of the music video
audience members can see the bands clothing which automatically sets them apart
from other indie bands as well as fitting with their colour scheme making the video
aesthetically pleasing to watch. The camera doesn’t linger on any body parts of the
band due to them already attracting both genders as males are interested in the music
and females are engaged by the male members of the band. This is why the camera
stays focused on Matty Healy, the head vocalist, due to him being more attractive and
the face of the band. However, the female models used in this music video are dressed
attractively with make up and accessories. Lighting has been used effectively in order to
shadow certain features of their face and highlighting others e.g. cheekbones. This has
been done to attract more male audience members by making these girls attractive to
the typical heterosexual male.

There are many factors that are similar in all of The 1975’s music
videos. Firstly, each one has a clear colour scheme that not only
matches throughout the video but also matches with the album
cover in order for people to recognise the colours and so will
associate the band with them. Their first album was black and white
which fits with the ‘Girls’ and ‘Chocolate’ video and then the second
album was pink, black and white which fits with ‘The Sound’ music
video.
In all their music videos Matty Healy, the head vocalist, is the main
focus where no matter the shot used he is in the centre. This can be
seen through each close up shot being of him and rarely of the
band and when in a group shot he is always at the front and in the
centre with the other members of the band being behind him. This
has been done as he is deemed as more attractive and has his own
style when compared with the others and so is set as the face of the
band. This makes it easier for audience members to recognise them
from other indie rock artists.
Another feature that is commonly used is their use of performance
scenes. Every music video contains some sort of lip synching that
consists of the whole band standing and performing. This has been
done in order to build a connection with the audience and build
success through their indie rock style.
The editing and lighting used is also very similar. In the majority of
their videos dark lighting has been used in order to fit with their style
and to create an authentic approach. Editing is very simplistic and
matches the beat of the music resulting in faster cuts when the
tempo increase and slower cuts when the tempo decreases. This
makes the audience become familiar with this style and become to
expect it with this type of music.

Within The 1975’s ‘The Sound’ music video there are minor references. The first one being the setting that is used throughout the entirety of the video. The glass box
is highlighted through the video with the band members standing inside it while in their typical positions for a band with the indie rock genre. The use of this box can
be seen in other music videos from other music genres. For example, in Calvin Harris and Rihanna’s song ‘This is What You Came For’. By featuring this setting in
their video they are able to widen their original audience from expanding with Harris’ and Rihanna’s audience members. This means they are able to attract people
with different music tastes and create a unique and diverse audience which would match with their style. This would also build their success. Another intertextual
reference that is used within this music video is towards their critics. Towards the end of the song pieces of text have been added that contain some negative
comments about their music, appearance and other irrelevant features. By having the video contain these responses it is engaging audience members who are or
have ever got bullied. This means the band will be able to again expand their audience and engage more and more people. However, it will also connect with certain
audience members due to them experiencing negativity in their day to day lives and so it will create a false ideology of a synthetic relationship between them and the
band. This reference is what makes The 1975 authentic as well as different to other indie rock music artists. There is also another reference to other indie rock music
and this is the clothing of the band members. This can be seen in other music videos where the matching black leather jacket and black jeans contrasts against the
white lighting used in order for them to stand out and grab the audience’s attention. This can be seen in Hozier’s ‘Someone New’ music which creates the same
effect. These references have been combined together to make a aesthetically pleasing music video to watch.

Music Video Analysis

More Related Content

What's hot

Similar to Music Video Analysis

More from nieevequinn

Recently uploaded

Music Video Analysis