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MUSIC VIDEO
ANALYSIS
CASTLE ON THE HILL//
ED SHEERAN
CONVENTIONS:
Camera:
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Establishing shot, reveals a young Ed sat amongst a field of wheat. He is in the centre of the shot, which infers to the audience that this is obviously a central figure in the video.
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Wide shot displaying a marshland with figures in the distance, this shot gives a bit of an insight into the location of the upcoming video to come.
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Close ups reveal: friends, the lead singer lipsyncing - all reveal their expressions and emotions.
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Pans display their location further during the moment, where they are, who they're with etc.
Editing:
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The cuts get faster, as soon as the beat of the song increases.
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There are sped up time lapses of closeups of the friends as they lyrics describe them - narrative link between lyrics and visuals.
Sound:
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Visuals are narrative to the lyrics - displaying the memories (meaning of the lyrics) to the audience for them to visualise.
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Lip syncing.
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Non-diegetic sound: The song Castle On The Hill.
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Diegetic sound: Fireworks, dialogue
Mise-en-scene:
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Bonfire
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Alcoholic drinks
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Car Racing
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Adventuring - nature, farm
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Party - flashing lights, drinks, dancing
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Park - swings
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Costume: natural, typical teenage outfits.
REPRESENTATIONS:
YOUNG PEOPLE/TEENAGERS
The music video explores aspects of many teenage lives, which therefore also shows how it is suited to the audience of the same representation, as they can identify with it. However it cold also identify to adults as the video is based upon his memories and therefore adults can watch this and be reminded of their same or similar teenage experiences of growing up.
It displays this representation, because it shows the drinking culture, first kisses, hanging out with friends and getting told off, which is all the facts and stereotypes of growing up that everyone experiences at some point. The wide shot of them on the swings and long shot of them running, can also be a metaphor for them still being young at heart.
GENRE:
POP MUSIC
This is classed as a pop music genre, because it has a fast upbeat melody, memorable lyrics and it has been produced by a famous artist - 'popular'. However, despite it being a pop hit, the music video is not a stereotypical pop video, because there is no sexual objectification of women, no large look of mislead youth, such as explicit drugs, sex, fights etc. This video is more innocent and pure, since it is about his past and the good times he had with friends. The energetic vibes also represent his happiness to go home.
AUDIENCE:
Relive Ed's past through visuals of his memories. The visuals link to the lyrics as they reveal what he means. For example: "my first kiss on a Friday night" - as this is sung, there is a shot of young Ed kissing another young girl.
SLEEP ON THE FLOOR //
THE LUMINEERS
CONVENTIONS
Camera:
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Two Shot - revealing the couple to the audience, shows their relationship with each other - smiling together, messing around, admiration.
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Close Ups - further reveal their emotions towards each other and the connection they have
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Long Shot - shows the characters outfits (plain and basic - inferring their little income for the road trip and this links to the visuals and lyrics.
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Wide Shot - watching sunsets, dancing, playing, landscapes. These reveal a mixture of their activities and their personalities, whilst also revealing the road trip in stages - the landscapes set the scene of where they are and the time of day etc - sunsets.
Editing:
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Cuts are on the beat of the music - this helps to create the rhythm and pace of the song continue along, drawing the audience in to continue to watch and see the outcome. Eg, music starts as the taxi door closes.
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At the beginning of the song, as the man leaves and she is left behind - there is an edit where you notice her body detach from her present self. This therefore displays that the next upcoming video is not in the present but what she wished she should have done - go after him.
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At the end when they fall asleep on the floor together, there is then a flash to her in the exact same position but in her previous funeral clothing - there is hi-key lighting here to show the difference as well. To the audience, this reveals that the road trip and marriage did not occur and is what she wished she had done.
Sound:
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Non-diegetic sound: the song Sleep on The Floor. There is also, however, separate piano music at the beginning of the video, when they're in the house. This reflects the mood as the protagonist is seen crying and upset.
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Diegetic sound: Dialogue is used throughout the song, and it can be heard over the song and visuals (talking, laughing, engine, running, yelling, rainstorms etc)
Mise-en-scene:
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Car - road trip
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Basic plain clothing - no toothbrush despite lyrics saying "pack yourself a toothbrush dear"
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Dinner with strangers
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Fire
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Party - live band (The Lumineers)
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Tattoo Parlour
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Vegas - ring (proposal)
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Wedding - dancing, friends
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Low key lighting
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Hi key lighting when she wakes up.
REPRESENTATIONS:
YOUNG LOVE - an initial message of: to make sure you pursue it and to not let it go.
This is represented by the visuals, where she regrets not going with him, as she is now stuck alone - "Cause if we don't leave this town, We might never make it out." The reality hits her.
GENRE:
FOLK POP/INDIE
It is this genre, since it holds some typical conventions of folk pop music videos. There is an acoustic band which has a brief performance and a narrative music video. Music and visuals link, since the video displays getting out of town and exploring, and the lyrics illustrate how people want to go away and feel free and not dragged down by money, jobs etc. The videos are also creatively edited and shot, since they are simple but also aesthetic colours, lens flares, filters. It represents a sense of normality, as it is realistic and basic - a dream many have.
The audience can feel this, as they are taken on the road trip, with the couple through the inviting visuals - they are able to experience their story, their ups and downs, as well as the regret she has when she wakes up - her heart told her to leave but her head said to stay. A typical but heartbreaking 'what if' scenario. The audience are first captured into this when there is a cut where her alternative body is split away from her own present body to follow the boy. This therefore leaves the audience on edge as to what is happening, what presence are we in and what WILL happen.
FROM EDEN //
HOZIER
CONVENTIONS
Camera:
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Establishing shot - reveals the setting and the characters to the audience. It is a wide shot, which displays a couple holding hands, whilst looking at a supposedly abandoned building - but also begins to show their criminal personas.
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Screen goes black, as they are forcing their entry - music starts on the door slam and video begins.
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Close up of the Wanted poster at the beginning - further infers their criminal identities towards the audience, this is also seen before he robs the service station as well.
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There are close ups throughout - this reveals their expressions and emotions about other characters and their environment to the audience. The characters are introduced with a sequence of close ups, such as their hands, hair, sunglasses.
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Mid shot - a young boy and Hozier are sat in a car joking around - this reveals the young boy to the audience, making them question who he is, as he wasn't revealed earlier like the other characters.
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There are many mid shots used throughout the video as well, they reveal the relationship between the boy and the couple (since he is so much smaller as well), how they care for him, their playful nature etc.
Editing:
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There are flashbacks, which contrast to the idyllic nature of the video, since the flashbacks are dark - following the story from the beginning of the music video. This allows the audience to learn more about the break in and then discover where the boy is from. Cuts between past and present.
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The entire video has been edited to slow motion. This develops the sense of blissfulness the family are experiencing, inferring that they do not want to live normally and get back into the state of reality.
Sound:
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Non-Diegetic: song 'From Eden' is played as a voiceover. The video is a narrative to the story, with no lip syncing or performance.
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Diegetic Sound: At the start, insects can be heard in the night (to further heighten the emphasis of the night and that they're rural), the lock can be heard as they break in too.
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In the bridge of the song, the final flashback reveals that they found the boy living alone scared in cupboard.
Mise-en-scene:
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Old Car
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Gun
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Basic clothes
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Cigarettes
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Money (cash)
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Torches
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Stolen Food
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Flash backs = low key lighting, chiaroscuro which represents the past
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Present = bright & sunny, representing the happiness and carefree lifestyle, however the lighting gets darker once he is arrested. This therefore contrasts, since it is showing that their happiness and 'family' has been broken.
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It ends with Gold light around the young boy - displaying and illustrating his innocence.
REPRESENTATIONS:
YOUNG FAMILY- YOUTH/CRIME
The video represents the values and qualities within young families, between the young couple and little boy. The deeper meaning also illustrates how, despite being wanted criminals, they are still human - caring and enjoying their company with the young boy. Further research into the lyrics reveal that they refer to how people idealise others. The video also, to a degree, makes the audience question their states of wrong or right, because although the family are fugitives, they still show signs of normality, which means that they can be related or idealised for being a happy family.
GENRE:
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE
This is classed as this, since it does hold conventions which are typical for this genre. For example: it is a narrative video - as there is no lip syncing, performance from the artist. The narrative also has a deeper/hidden meaning than standard videos, like Castle on the Hill, which are more straightforward. There is also a large focus on cinematography, this is seen in the music video, because there is a large focus on the different shots, lighting, editing.
OWN PRODUCTION //
After researching and analysing these music videos, I found that there was a clear link to the style of video I wanted to produce, since all of these were narrative productions to the songs. Further research also concludes, that there is a strong alternative/indie genre connected to narrative videos. From these 3 videos, what stands out to me the most is: slow motion, sun flares, colour palettes and cinematography. Moreover, I would like to experiment with these for my own production to see if I could include these to add character to the video. I much prefer the narrative side of the music videos than the live performance, as it is much more creative and personally I find that these attract more viewers and audience than a performance video, as those are often repetitive and if not done professionally, can be rather embarassing to watch.
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