This music video for "Tidal Wave" by Sub Focus featuring Alpines demonstrates several characteristics of music video analysis using Goodwin's theory. It relates the lyrics about tidal waves to visuals of the ocean. The editing and visuals are synchronized to the tempo and beats of the song. Both artists are prominently featured, promoting themselves and their album. There are also elements of voyeurism through camerawork that focuses on the female artist's body and through shots that reference the idea of the artists looking out.

1. MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS
USING GOODWIN’S
THEORY
Bethany Carter

2. SUB FOCUS – TIDAL WAVE FT
ALPINES
TAKEN FROM SUB
FOCUS’S ALBUM ‘TORUS’

3. 1. MUSIC VIDEOS
DEMONSTRATE GENRE
CHARACTERISTICS
There is a woman who is singing the lyrics
of the song, she is seen in various
locations around the coast relating to the
song. She is dressed up to look very
glamorous. The girl is called Catherine
Pockson of Alpines who have collaborated
with Sub Focus to create this song. She
isn’t the only person on screen as it also
shows Nick Douwma, also known as his
stage name Sub Focus. He is seen in a
similar the girl is presented with special
effects and editing waves into the picture.
He doesn’t sing the lyrics. This fits the
genres characteristics by having a female
artist and male artist to feature in the

4. 2. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS. THE
LYRICS ARE REPRESENTED WITH
IMAGES The lyrics of the song based around the theme of
‘Tidal waves’ and relate to the ocean. Most of the
shots in the video are on location of the beach and
waves which relate to the title of the song. In the
lyrics of the song she sings about love and how it
feels like a wave washing over her. There isn’t a
storyline to this in the video, but showing her
singing the lyrics creates the idea its her relating
the problems like a ‘tidal wave’. Nearly all the
shots are on this location of the beach and the sea.
There are more shots in different view points of
different of waves crashing, the visuals are showing
off the lyrics and theme.

5. 3. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE MUSIC AND VISUAL. THE
TONE AND ATMOSPHERE OF THE
VISUAL REFLECTS THAT OF THE
MUSIC.The cuts and edits of the video are in sync
with the rhythm and beat of the song
matching cuts and effects. The build up in
the song is portrayed on screen by using
quick shots of different images, which
changes on the beat of the song. For
example, right before the drop it shows the
waves crashing which mimics the beat of
the song at this point. The visuals and
song connects especially when the beat
drops, the waves move to fit the tempo of
the song which is aesthetically pleasing.
When the beat drops, this shot shows the
tempo with the wave crashing at the same
tempo as the song.

6. 3.
All the cuts are in sync with
the beats of the song. The
editing also made so two
shots overlap with each other
which gives a good visual
effect. It links the shots
together smoothly, also giving
it an abstract effect.
Another example of the visuals fitting
with the music is at the beginning where
there is a one strong beat, the video
visually shows this with a foot hitting the
sandy floor at the same time.

7. 4. 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)
The music video shows the
theme of the ocean/rocky
scenery which is a very
similar setting to the image
of Sub Focus’s front cover
for their album. By using the
same location, it promotes
the album through the video
as it has occurring images as
themes for the artist.
Sub Focus ‘Torus’ album
cover

8. The style that is recur across their
work is the motif shown at the end
of the music video. This is also the
main image on Sub Focus’s album
cover. The image is also used
across his other songs in their
artwork. It stamps his mark on
each of his songs, and is
recognisable image to the artist

9. Also featuring both
of the artists in their
own video promotes
themselves as artists.
As they haven’t just
used actors to be
shown for their
music, it makes them
representative to
their song.

10. 5. THERE IS FREQUENTLY REFERENCE TO
NOTION OF LOOKING (SCREENS WITHIN
SCREEN, MIRRORS, STAGES, ETC) AND
PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTIC TREATMENT OF
THE FEMALE BODYThey way they have represented both artists in the video its in the notion of them
looking out into the ocean and looking for each other. As its only until the end where
they are both shown on the same screen. As they are both shown on screen by
themselves it reaches out to both genders of the audience. There is both a strong
male and female gaze. The male gaze is more obvious as the camera lingers on the
females curves in the video, showing of her body.

11. FEMALE GAZE
Not only does the video show off the artist
Alpines, it also shows off Sub Focus as well. It
doesn’t show him off in a sexual object but it
shows of the artists personal looks. It makes
him more recognisable to the audience.

12. TYPE OF MUSIC VIDEO
The music video would be classed as a performance. Both the artists are shown
in the video, with the female singer lip syncing to the track. Its shown mixed
with other shots so its not all sung.
I would also say the video is also slightly conceptual as its set in an unusual
setting. Also the theme is very strange, as it uses special effects to create the
sub focus symbol at the end, which isnt clear on what it is or doesn't make
much sense.