Courtney Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter known for her witty lyrics. Her debut EP and album received critical acclaim and she has been nominated for several major music awards. The music video for her song demonstrates several genre conventions including establishing shots of the band, narrative elements that relate to the lyrics, and styling and lighting that match the tone of the music.

1. Music Video Analysis

2. Courtney Melba Barnett – singer-songwriter
Andrew "Bones" Sloane – bass, backing vocals
Dave Mudie – drums, backing vocals

4. Courtney Barnett
From Australia Courtney is known for her dry witty lyrics and she attracted
attention with the release of her debut EP, “I've Got A Friend Called Emily
Ferris” which caught attention in the UK and North America, Courtney
Barnett's “Pickles from the Jar” featured in Android: Pay Your Way advert,
Milk! Records released a compilation EP, included the same Barnett track
"Pickles from the Jar” the song was voted in at number 51 in Triple J's Hottest
100 for 2014. Her debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I
Just Sit, was released on 23 March 2015 and spread world wide. Barnett’s
biggest acclaims are that she was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best
New Artist category, she was later nominated for Best International Female in
2016 for the Brit awards
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Barnett

5. Music videos demonstrate
genera characteristics
The establishing shot is behind classic elevator doors,
this then pans down to a park where we see our protagonist
(country the elevator operator), we can tell she is the protagonist not
only because she is the lead singer, but the sheer contrast of clothing
against the green park, the little narrative before the song starts shows
that she is late for work, the music starts abruptly at 1:10 where the
elevator suddenly jolts, throughout the song the lead singer meets many
odd patrons of this seemingly magic elevator, however whilst this is
happening the is a sub narrative of a blond woman trying and failing to
get on the very same elevator, the song has a odd break near the end for
narrative where she finds herself alone on the roof, this is where she
finds her band mates set up, she then pick up her guitar, she is then
counted in by the drummer and the song continues, the song ends in a
similar style to the start with the same elevator
doors, possibly creating the feeling that we where
on the very same elevator that travel to the
unusual places in the video.

6. The tone of the atmosphere of the visual
reflects that of the music and The lyrics
are represented by the visuals
Lighting: The lighting starts natural in the prologue and then becomes
more of a ‘top down’ lighting style, creating some shadows and making it
feel more like a crowded tacky elevator, the lighting then changes to a
natural overcast day when she is on the roof to give it a ordinary urban
feel and adding to the grungy aesthetic of the music.
Editing: the editing is a steady constant through out, the aspect ratio stay
the same and it doesn't really speed up or slow down that much,
however this simplicity is well executed, giving it a smooth finish, the sfx
at the start and the end make a good cyclical.
Styling: the styling is very well done since Country looks out of place as a
elevator operator but wears a passable costume, this could signify the
monotonous view of work, however the song highlights other peoples
jobs that she sees whilst doing her own job, this commentary makes for a
witty insight, The lyrics coincide with some of the characters that enter
the elevator and this correlation is shown through styling and lyrics.

7. “Debut album 'Nothing Like Something
Happens Anywhere' released 2nd February
2015 on Dirty Bingo Records.”
They are a guitar pop band from Manchester.
Not much about these guys but thy come from
England and are all good friends hopefully they
get bigger soon.
“Ennui”
https://soundclou
d.com/shinies

8. Music videos demonstrate genera
characteristics
In this bands music video they sticks to the standard conventions
of possibly the punk genre, through the use of quite dark imagery
and symbolism, as the video shows the portrayal of their childhood star being
kidnaped and killed, this is overall significant to the plot since it is the pinnacle of
the narrative, throughout the music video the top of the pops presenter (Pat
Sharp) is used embodies and symbolise their child hood, it is also a reminder for
the band of their simpler times when they had easier lives, before bills and taxes
and adult life. The first half of the video is calmer and they are making a music
video within the verisimilitude of the video, the band are not well-known and
are making a home video, the aspect ratio changes to coincide with the change
of theme the video takes, this may be to show the transition of ages and point of
view is clouded as a child, symbolised by the small aspect ratio, your philosophy
then widens as a adult shown in the video as the aspect ratio becomes wide,
possibly showing a loss of innocence .

9. The tone of the atmosphere of the visual
reflects that of the music and The lyrics are
represented by the visuals
Lighting: The lighting through out the video is dark and grungy, they use lighting is to highlight the severity
of the actions seen on screen, this fits the genera conventions . This is also a smart way of dealing with the
struggles of filming out doors, with natural lighting being a issue and a tight budget that restricted the
band from using large studio lights, it also helps narrative as it is ominous. This causes the audience to
connect to the visuals and makes the music even more emotive. The correlation between the visuals on
screen, that uses dim lighting, matches the dark punk sound, it is obviously apparent and in effect
heightens the drama and foreshadows of the narrative causing the ending of the video to be a sceptical.
Editing: The editing in this video is purposefully nostalgic, constantly switching from 4:3 to 16:9 showing
the change between decades and periods of their life. It also changes if they are filming, which matches
within the verisimilitude of the video, since they are filming with an old super 8 (8mm) film camera , so this
is a good style choice as the aspect ratio would match the old camera. The camera is used again when they
force Pat to dance for them, the aspect ratio also changes at this point. The editing stays at a fairly constant
pace, yet matches more the narrative than the music / beat.
Styling: The styling in this music video is varies, the washed out and grungy attire off the band members,
showing their social class, it also shows how they are going against the social norms (mainstream views) of
others by fitting in to a grungy cleek, as the grunge genera goes against fashion norms. Pat is shown to be
quite raggedy and beaten up due to the kidnapping. Yet they give him old clothes and dress him up to try
and emulate the past, the mullet and denim jacket was a staple set of cloths for him back in the 80’s and
was very fashionable back then, this is shown in a old clip of him at the end, however the disguise doesn't
work for long and they decide to burn Pat, and therefore this symbolises the eradication of all childhood
innocence, this could possibly show the band member welcome being a adult .

11. “Hot Flash Heat Wave is the brainchild of four best
friends from Davis, California. During their high
school years, they met and bonded through
participation in a small, tight-knit community of
musicians that put on a slew of DIY shows in
parents’ garages and local venues, at the time
each playing in a variety of different projects. After
leaving Davis for various cities in California, the
four eventually reunited in San Francisco to write
and record under the same roof. Their debut LP
Neapolitan, released in 2015, quickly launched
them to the forefront of the Bay Area music scene
with its candied hooks, fuzzy guitars and tunes
reminiscent of The Smiths gone new wave.”
https://hotflashheatwave.bandcamp
.com
https://www.last.fm/music/Hot+Flas
h+Heat+Wave/+wiki

12. Music videos demonstrate
genera characteristics
The establishing shot present the band name on a
colliderscope background, the videos retro filter matches
there older sound, the video has a loose narrative that
follows the band having mischievous boyish fun, this is a
juxtaposition between the angelic white clothes and the wild
actions and lyrics, the pastel colour pallet matches
the washed out filter used in the video, contrasted by the
strong red used on the dressed of the woman, this may
cannot danger and passion much like Curly's wife from
Jon Steinbeck's classic ‘Of mice and men’ who was Often
called a ‘floosy’, interestingly one of the meanings of gutter girl could be
Floosy or prostitute. The video shows the woman being passive
aggressive or bipolar, showing that she has 2 sides representing each
connotation of the Colour of red, love and hate. At the end of the video
she steels the car from the band, Possibly meaning she represents
Satan, since he stole from the angels and became dishonoured and then
moved away, since she was the out cast of the group, by being the only
female and the only one wearing red, where as all the male band mates
where wearing white, and thus symbolise angels, she steels the car and
them drives off removing her self from the angelic band.

13. v
The tone of the atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the
music and The lyrics are represented by the visuals
Lighting: the lighting used is predominantly natural light since they harnessed the natural
brightness of LA, this helped make the colours more vibrant and meaningful. It also gave a
nice happy aesthetic, since light and sun cause the video to have a fun positive vibe.
Editing: the editing matched the music well and many transitions where timed to the drum
beat, this montage like video shows the band having fun, this fits with a loose narrative so
this editing style works well. 4:3 framing with a pink outline was used and this gives a stylish
retro vibe which I like a lot .
Styling: the clothing choice is well picked, since it feels right for their music style, and it helps
set the loose narrative, by highlighting the woman as bad, it also causes an ironic countertype
since the band are all wearing smart white clothes, where as commonly the individual who
are in the bad wear grungy ripped jeans or other such garments, yet in this video they are
making a point by not doing so, therefore making a statement. The so called gutter girl who
was dressed in red is a very vibrant icon in the video, being the only female and red colour,
the name could possibly refer to a girl whose mind is always in the gutter, therefore laid-back,
easy to be with and likable, however my previous statement may also be true that she is evil.