1. Video Analysis – Queen - Princes of the Universe
For my video I have decided to do Queen, Princes of the Universe which was
created for the Film/TV Series Highlander.
The first few seconds are narration from the movie saying that in the end there
can only be one, accompanied by Connor (the actor) on his knees, a bright light
hits him and then the scene fades it into the band where the music starts up and
is loud. The band stays in the shadows only to once again fade into movie scenes.
This is all done very quickly as by 0.25 seconds they are showing the band again,
with the lead singer in focus.
This is when you first get to see the bands costume denim, which is typical of the
time era and is their ‘star image,’ also some are wearing trench coats as that is
what the members of the cast are wearing. This ties the images and the band
together simply but effectively.
The band member’s performance fit the actions of what is happening in the
movie scenes when the music gets high and tense we see them playing their
guitars. When the music changes so do the pictures, they become faster and less
fluid but still fit together and give the audience an idea of the narrative without
giving too much away. Graphic matches are used when the drummer lifts his
sticks up and is about to slam them down only to switch to someone slashing a
car tire with a sword the same movements are used and replicated putting them
in sync.
The stage the band members are on is rough and looks about to crumble, a steel
junk yard, sparks are flying with again replicates the when the swords clash in
the movie scene and when lightning strikes (the quickening). The main actor,
Connor, walks from the film onto the stage in the same clothing and pace. The
lyrics sung ‘I have inside me blood of kings’ is straight from the movie, as they
believe that their blood is superior thus stopping them from dying outside of
being beheaded.
At 1.40 the music speeds up considerably, when they sing about fighting, the
mages shown are of a challenge in the Middle Ages between the cast members.
At 2.00 Conner once again strides on the stage and engages the lead singer,
Freddie Mercury, in a sword fight, once again incorporating the music and movie
sequence.
Towards the end the drumbeat becomes louder reflecting the tense images
shown and the climax of the song. As the band play the set falls around them
showing they are coming to the end, but they paly on not affected by the changes.
At 3.14 the lyrics say ‘princes of the universe’ they then show a man lifting his
arms in triumph over a cliff after defeating another man. The last few seconds
consist of ‘born to be king’ and are sung with his head held high shouting it to the
heavens. The last image is of the band back in the shadows with sparks falling
around them, like stars in the ‘universe’.