The music video for "Islands" by indie pop band The XX depicts the beginning and end of a relationship through repetitive scenes with slight changes. It shows the characters portrayed as initially happy together in many bright scenes filled with people, representing the lyrics "I am yours now, so I don't ever have to leave." As the video progresses, the scenes darken and fewer characters are shown, culminating in a lone shot of the two main characters surrounded by fire, representing the breakdown of the relationship as referenced by the lyrics "That bridge is on fire." The video suggests one character has discovered the other was unfaithful, and questions of trust and exploration are raised in the lyrics and depicted through the changing scenes and darkening tone

2. INDUSTRY INFORMATION
 Band: The XX
 Song: Islands
 Genre: Indie pop (sub-genre of indie rock)
 Released: October 26, 2009
 Re-released February 8, 2010
 Type of video: Performance, concept

3. GENRE CONVENTIONS
 Typical conventions of Indie are ultimately ‘individual’, therefore
different to the normal/mainstream connotation.
 Costume
 can vary, either they are monochrome and consist of tones, or conversely
many colours.
 Trends/fashion are difficult to summarise, as they can consist of many
alternatives (which is the typical convention of indie), but stereotypically, indie
clothing consists of skinny jeans, combined with shirts and ties (formal clash
with informal).
 The band is shown usually throughout the video, meaning that most indie
videos are performance.
 Regarding social class, the majority of indie pop is aimed at students
(from 16-26); in terms of Maslow‟s hierarchy of needs, indie pop is aimed
at E.
 Editing techniques correspond with the pace of the music; slow music
pace means slow editing/cuts.
 Camera shots consist mainly of close-up and establishing shots; often
they aid in displaying focal points or cleverly displaying/disguising links to
the lyrics.
 Ultimately, the music video displays an obvious link with the lyrics, and
allows for audience to interpret the video in their own way.

4. During the music video, the scenes repeat almost exactly as the previous one was
shot, however slight changes in composition occur each time: this may include number
of actors in shot, lighting, scenario or (in regards to the last scene) major changes in
set (i.e. Slow motion shot, emphasising fire).
During the video, the band is present Lyrics:
entirely (until the final shot); displaying the
Both images are taken from the same shot, the above image displays the opening performance theme throughout. I don't have to leave anymore
shot, and the image below shows the final shot. What I have is right here
Spend my nights and days before
Searching the world for what's right here
The representation of the video is how
relationships work: in this scenario, the Underneath and unexplored
beginning to the end of a relationship is Islands and cities I have looked
portrayed. Here I saw
Something I couldn't over look
I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore
See what I've done
That bridge is on fire
Analytical: Going back to where I've been
The two images that are displayed contrast massively: The top image displays a bright, „busy‟ setting, where the characters portrayed I'm froze by desire
are vast in numbers and fill the screen (generating a positive vibe, which can be linked to the lyrics “I am yours now, so I don‟t ever have No need to leave
to leave”).
This is compared to the bottom image that displays two remaining characters (we assume these characters are the ones that the song Where would I be
is describing), surrounded by a dark setting but also by fire: this fire potentially denotes the „destruction‟ of the relationship, and can be If this were to go under
linked with the lyrics “That bridge is on fire, going back to where I‟ve been”. and “so now I'll never explore”. It's a risk I'd take
I'm froze by desire
The video suggests that the characters (the male and females portrayed throughout the entire video – NOT the band members on the As if a choice I'd make
sofa) have discovered that their relationship has a new „flair‟ that they didn‟t recognise before: “I don‟t have to leave anymore...
Something I couldn‟t overlook”. This is portrayed in the video as a bright introduction, with bright lights and numerous characters. And I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
The lyrics “I‟ve been found out, so I‟ll never explore” potentially symbolize that the previous relationship that the two characters shared I've been found out
were affected by cheating, but one of the two (most likely the male character – represented through his placement in the lower So now I'll never explore
picture, as the woman idly dances on as if nothing is wrong), despite being previously happy with getting back with the other, is living
out the relationship overtime (the relationship being portrayed as the video) in fear, and as time progresses, so does her feelings, and So now I'll never explore
he is left with the relationship „destroyed‟ (by fire). The reason for her turning her head away in the video, is representative of her
knowing that she has done wrong (i.e. cheated), and as the video progresses toward the end, he figures out what has happened – this
may have been what happened before they got back together, hence “So now I‟ll never explore”.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PElhV8z7I60&hd=1

5. In reference to Andrew Goodwin‟s theory, point 4 states:
“The demands for the record label will include the need for lots of
close-ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs
(object, colour, symbol) which recur across their work”
Relative to the video, The XX have generated a motif (or
logo), which is recognisable as a white X (see slideshow
background).
Other interesting motifs that The XX use are the composition of
light, and the presence of band members within the video
(comparing The XX‟s „Islands‟ with another successful video
„Crystallised‟).
A popular, common colour theme of The XX‟s is whites and blacks
that both contrast with a strong alternative colour/light; this light
usually refers to a focal point that the band want the audience to
notice/pay attention to. An easier example of the motifs that The XX
employ is visible on their website: www.thexx.info