This document provides an analysis of several music videos and concert lighting designs. It examines the visual elements, techniques, and themes used in videos by artists like Paramore, Pendulum, Knife Party, and others. Key points analyzed include the use of lighting, camera angles, settings, graphics, and how visuals connect to the lyrics and style of the music. The document also discusses how bands develop distinct visual identities and continue their "brand" across multiple videos and live performances.

1. RESEARCH ON MUSIC VIDEOS
RESEARCH ON MUSIC VIDEOS

2. Paramore - Decode
This shot shows the
contrast in the figure
and the light
background. Also the
guitar is very
incongruous to the
setting making it
seem disfunctional
and adds to the
mysterious sound.
This high angle shot
makes the band look
vulnerable as the
music is slightly
sinister this adds to
the idea that they
aren’t safe. With
them being in the
woods its like
something is look
down on them from
above.
This head shot
creates all focus on
the lead singer. Her
hair stands out
against the dull
background adding
to the emphasis on
her. This shot is
repeated throughout
and creates suspense
to the music.
The use of black
clothing
representing death
whilst physically
exploring in a
woodland full of
life causes
juxtaposing
incongruous
effects. It makes
them look like
shadows, adding to
the eerie feel.
This low angle shot
displays the
guitarist
streamlining in the
same way upwards
as the trees
however the trees
leave the shot and
he doesn’t
therefore adding a
sense of trap and
that he can’t
escape.
Near the end we are
left with a shot of
them without their
instruments so
they’re no longer in
their element, they’re
alone, with dull
ground making it
seem dark. Looking
upwards for an
escape which creates
that mystery.

3. Paramore – Brick By Boring Brick
This establishing shot reveals
the tone and subject to come
throughout the video. By
placing her on a swing adds a
sense of fantasy which plays
on the dream like tones used
as it appears like a fantasised
world. ‘Yeah you built up a
world of magic’ these lyrics
make out as if it’s in her head.
Graphics have been used to
create this effect.
This shot creates the idea of
‘the light at the end of the
tunnel’. This shot is played
just before the chorus
comes in and it almost acts
as a build up towards it.
Creating more of an effect
when it comes because the
shot comes into the light
creating a climax.
This shot corresponds with
the lyrics ‘Go get your shovel
and we'll dig a deep hole’ and
by actually having someone
dig a hole makes it feel like
she’s singing those lyrics to
the man digging and brings
the story to life. Creating
reality in this fantasy world.
The song comes from their
album ‘Brand New Eyes’ and
they have incorporated the
cover with the video to carry
through the brand and make
it recognisable. They’ve done
this by having an orange tone
throughout and having
butterflies in video. Also with
the lyrics ‘You can see it with
your eyes’ they’re constantly
referring to the album.
The closing shot is the
lead singer walking away
from the hole dug. There
is dark clouds to the left
contrasting with the light
in the direction she is
heading. Making it out as
if shes’ heading towards
the light at the end of the
tunnel, which as been
played on before in the
video.

4. PARAMORE SHOW ANALYSIS
The orange tones have been carried through into the show to
create that intertextuality. This makes them recognisable as a
band and relatable to the audience as they feel like they know
them and can identify with that. The lights were orange a lot of
the time and the confetti that came down was orange too. This
adds to the how effect of being at a Paramore concert.

5. They also used green, red and blue lighting a lot. The green relates to the videos they
have done in the woods. The reds relate to the lead singers consistent hair colour and the
blue relates to the album cover as blue lights are being projected on to them. They also
had smoke machines and dark lit lighting which created an eerie and atmospheric effect.
This added to the stereotypical rock feel which the audience could engage with. Ethereal
glows in the use of light to add a spiritual feel and make it reflective of life and grit.

6. Chase and Status – Count on me
The bold imprinting writing projected onto the urban
setting bodes well to create the feel of the drum and
bass genre. This gives it edge. The canted angle on the
writing adds interest. The minimal props used
exaggerates the writing in the forefront. The cold
colours makes it feel like a ‘cool’ time.
This represents rowdy behaviour which
corresponds well with the upbeat music. This shot
occurs when the beat drops and this resembles a
release of energy and the loss of control. The fact
the guy is in the middle isolated while a crowd is
situated around him in the darkness emphasises
his bold action as he’s singled out.
The shadows add mystery to the video using other
forms of life to display people. The concrete ground adds
the sense of ‘urban’. This low to the ground shot makes
the guy appear distorted. The fact he’s on a bike fits in
with the road scene and reflects a ‘gang’ trait.
This reflects quite an old retro feel. The close up
shot of the tape reveals dust with exentuates the
old feel. The subject matter makes motion
apparent and is intertextual with the topic of
music.
The blacked out background juxtaposes with the
bright fire light. The composition makes the lighter
the main focal point and the connotations of lighters
are smoking, danger and fire and these are all very
urban things.
This shows a festival scene and sets that
‘summer’ feel to the song as you associate
upbeat music with sun and partying. This shot
reflects that.

7. MARTIN GARRIX – ANIMALS
The use of masks disguises something that’s really
there and therefore creating ‘the unknown’. It is fitting
with the song title ‘animals’ but almost plays with the
fact that in society we don’t view humans as animals,
however we are. This is conforming to society however
subverting from the fact that we are in fact animals.
By flicking between these two images fast creates a
strobe like effect which reflects the concert. It also
makes the human appear the same as the lion.
Playing on the idea that this is really turning them
into animals. It is also before the drop so this builds
up the suspense and the juxtapositon of a human
and a lion shocks people leading up to it.
It then shows them in a human context and how they differ
from everyone else, juxtaposing the appearance through shapes
as the rabbit ears are peaking above the crowd. The use of a
party/rave scene interlinks with the sound of his music as it’s
loud and party like. This challenges people’s conceptions of a
party like scene as it is dominated with ‘animals’. This could be
playing on the ‘party animal’ idea and insinuating his music
makes people go wild.
This shot shows an inflatable crocodile being thrown
about the crowd. Showing that the humans are having
fun and joking about the animals but they almost don’t
know what’s coming. Foreshadowing what is to come
when the people in masks are apparent to them. This
makes the crowd appear vulnerable and builds to the
suspense of the song.

8. Modestep – Show me your sign
The dark alleyway presents an urban setting. The
smoke behind the woman adds a presence. The low
angle shot makes her walk even stronger.
By using an eye match cut from the woman in the
top right from reality to cartoon shows the
transition from reality to the animated world. The
two girls hold the same pose and this shows the
difference in visual.
The depth of field is on the knife, emphasising the
sense of violence. The knife segments the image in
two. The use of close ups. This image has a
relationship between the lyrics and the visual having
an illustrative effect. Andrew Goodwin’s theory
proves this and it also amplifies the meaning of the
song through that connection.
The video suddenly transitions into cartoon. This
reflects the mechanical sound of their music
visually. It was as if the characters in reality
entered a new world. This bodes well with the
modern sound to the music.
The in focus lighter projected onto her face matches
the colours in the background. This emphasises the
black hair shooting down, segmenting the image.
The out of focus faces in the back are muffled and
create that sense of mystery and the unknown.
The low angle shot reveals the sky and the
building above him. It makes him seem quite
powerful as he takes up most of the shot. This
adds the element of power to the image and as
the song is really powerful this compliments each
other.

9. Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
This video has been digitally produced to
create a surreal effect. The band ‘Of
Monsters and Men’ originate from Iceland so
they’ve brought that Scandinavian, Norse
feel to the video through the use of
gargoyles and boats that you’d typically see
there. This is branding the band with a Norse
feel. A lot of the scene transitions include
fade ins and outs. This is to add to that
mystical effect and create a smooth flowing
world of it’s own. The tones in the video are
all very black, grey and white. So when
something colourful comes into the shot, it is
magnified due to that juxtaposition with the
other scenes. For example the girl with the
red and blue and gold make up and the CGI
background to enhance the contrasting
colours. This background colours aid the girls
make up to make her appear majestic which
adds to the overall mystical effect. A lot of
the shots have light backgrounds and there
are shapes and figures imprinting onto it.
This emphasises those Norse feeling objects
which emphasises the fact they’re from
Iceland.

10. Pendulum - Witchcraft
This scene corresponds with this
lyrics sung “A snapshot from
where you were born”. This is
entwining the lyrics and the
video together which connects
the video the song and brings it
to life which is what it’s
supposed to do. It contrasts
with the rest of the video as this
is the only non surreal or
graphic part. Interlinking with
the word ‘snapshot’ as it’s only
a snapshot in the video,
emphasising it even further.
This scene is a woman
rising to the surface as the
lyrics sing “Well I lift you
up”. This is playing on the
topic of the song as with it
being called ‘Withcraft’ in
the olden days to test if
women were witches they
would be thrown in the
water and if they floated
they were witches. This
historical context adds a
clever sense to the video.
This scene is during a
*raging instrumental*
and it contains lots of
rubble being captured
in a fast motion
corresponding with the
fast pace beat. This
makes the music even
more effective as it’s as
if the music has been
put into motion and
gives it more flow and
action.
During the raging instrumental
the drums play for the majority
of it and when the lazer darts
out for a split second that’s
when the bass is dropped on
that beat. Making the lazer
correspond to the beat of the
music adding the effect of how
it all flows. Making it all in sync
and gives the bass more power.
This scene is played when the
lyrics ‘she’s come back from the
club’ are sung. The girl is in
darkness with plants being
reflected onto her skin. The
contrast between real life coming
back from a club and pendulum’s
version makes it feel quite
sinister, and the earthy feel to
pendulum is carried through with
the plant shadows.
As the lyrics ‘we gotta get out’
are sung, rubble gets vibrated
off the ground as if it’s an
outburst and something alive is
trying to escape. This is almost a
reflection of the drum’s sound
waves travelling upwards and
corresponding to the lyrics of
getting out and travelling in a
different direction to where
they come from. The rubble is
emphasised due to the
contrasting colours of the dark
and light, creating a juxtaposing
colour scheme to make the
rocks more evident and
therefore have more of an
effect on the lyrics.

11. Pendulum - Crush
The red fade on the shot keeps the surrealism in this
video. Even though they’ve focused more on reality in
this video there are still elements of the un-natural.
This close up displays an intensified expression which
emphasises the mood through the dark lighting. The
high angle used adds a sense of vulnerability. The
lack of light creates a sense of confinement.
This shot adds normality to the video, revealing
reality to contrast with the subject of the video.
This graphics in this shot of the superimposition
keeps the Pendulum surrealism going.
The proximity in the shot makes him more isolated
with the empty space surrounding him. This reveals
the ground and plays up to the ‘earthy’ feel
Pendulum have created with their brand.
Placing her to the left of the shot creates an interesting
composition. The direct approach to the camera
angling puts the person watching on her level.
A lot of shots are close ups to reveal detail to
add to the lyrics. Emphasising the action to
make the words more obvious to create a
link.
This shot of people from behind makes the person
watching feel like they’re following them and
almost part of the video, giving them an insight
into something the wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Ending with an empty space makes it feel slightly
eerie and is in keeping with the nature notion.

12. Pendulum – Watercolour
They have included a planet to maintain the earth
feel they have throughout their branding. This
follows Andrew Goodwin’s theory about having a
distinct visual style that reoccurs throughout their
work due to the record label trying to gain brand
awareness for the band that is recognisable.
The colour of the eye is Pendulum’s main colourblue. It is also a match cut from the planet and
makes the video flow through shapes. By using a
human eye it makes us feel like part of nature and
puts us into perspective.
The beam of light reveals a person and this adds
an eerie feel to the video and makes the person
watching wonder what’s in the rest of the
darkness as only a snippet is lit up.
The drums are incongruous to the setting of
being outside in the rain. This combines reality
and surrealism to make an unnatural shot.
Juxtaposing the natural and the unnatural to
insert a feeling of uniqueness and something
you wouldn’t normally feel.
The use of natural matter is used to reflect an
ethereal feel and symbolises Pendulum as a
brand. The water is a match cut from the rain so it
is almost a microscopic image and feels like
they’re revealing detail like people try gain from s
space.
The use of clouds in this shot is to symbolise
space and that is carried throughout Pendulum’s
work. The lighting being in the middle creates a
‘vignette’ effect and blacks the corners out leading
the eye in.
The light darts onto his face revealing only a
snippet of him which adds to the sense of mystery.
The strobe emphasise that sense of the unknown.
It’s as if he’s defying the light and this adds impact to
the powerful music. Its as if this is a turning point in
the video and the music is about to change.
This resembles the drop and puts all the mystical
features into perspective of reality. It injects relatable
realism to their work and brings it back down.

13. Knife party concert
•
At the Knife party concert who is made up of two of Pendulum used
Pendulum themed colours and images to continue their ‘brand’ and
feel of music. As they’re only DJs now the only way they can express
themselves other than the music is through the light screen in front of
them. This was filled with lots of graphics and colourful effects.
Transcending on a journey through space and as you can see in the red
light screen the lines are shaking this is reflective of their raging music
and creates an air of being out of control. This is the way they
correspond the stage to the music instead of when in Pendulum they
energetically moved around the stage.

14. KNIFE PARTY
PENDULUM
ANALYSIS
Knife party’s videos have more narrative whereas in contrast Pendulum’s videos are graphic
based and use the theme of surrealism. As they’re similar style music, this gives our video music
some scope as to which route we go down as both ideas for videos work with that style of music.
Combining the two ideas to combine reality and surrealism could be incorporated too.

15. CHOSEN BAND - PENDULUM
We have chosen Pendulum as we feel like with their style of
music you can create anything. Something with narrative – or
something that doesn’t make sense through the use of the
unknown. This gives us scope to work with to create the best
possible video.

16. Pendulum Video Locations
This location is focusing on colour and
the contour the hilltops make. This
reflects their nature focused band
brand. This helps the viewer identify
it’s their band faster. As their music is
upbeat it’s like the suns setting and
progressing towards to the night to
come.
The way they have used a window to
project a reflection on to the characters
adds interest to the shot. The use of the
reflecting barrier almost joins the two
characters together. Another part of the
reflection muffles the man’s face and
makes him appear distorted. This bodes
well with the electronic sounding music.
This shot reveals quite an earthy subject.
The space surrounding the figure makes
them look small emphasising their lack of
presence in this location. The low angle
shot reveals the hill looking a lot taller
than the figure making the figure look
vulnerable.
The use of the trees being projected
onto the sky from a low angle shot
casts lines and segments the shot.
This adds a creepy feel and makes it
feel like the characters are trapped
and overcast by branches.
The use of a wood adds a sense of
spookiness to their music. The dark
figures in the background are disguised
by the trees creating a sense of
vulnerability to the figure at the front
of the shot. The tones created by the
wood give off a sense of nature and
emphasises the black figure due to the
contrasting tones.
The use of somebody’s face on an
extreme close up shot makes it almost
hard to tell what it is at first glance and
with a fast cutting rate this will appear
extremely abstract. Reflecting the
‘mad’ feel to their music.

17. Pendulum’s most used shot - Close ups
The use of close ups reveals detail within a subject we aren’t sure on and plays with the
‘unknown’. It can show texture to initiate and ethereal feel. It can also reveal an expression
that reflects the music and is more powerful due to the emphasis on their face.

18. PENDULUM SHOW - LIGHTING
Their gigs include the strobe lasers used in their music videos, which almost brings Pendulum to life.
They have also brought the colours from the album cover to the tour of that album as a lot of
Pendulum’s work is in keeping with it’s colour with the songs ‘Hold your colour’ and ‘watercolour’ all
relating to the theme of colour which makes up a big part of their brand.

19. PENDULUM SHOW STAGING
Pendulum’s staging is
energetic and lively to match
their upbeat style of music.
This builds the crowd up and
creates an enjoyable show
because the people who go
see them want to rock out to
them and feel their energy.