EG14: Girls Aloud - Can't Speak French

ACT: Girls Aloud

TRACK: Can't Speak French

YEAR: 2008

DIRECTOR: Petro
GENRE: Pop

AUDIENCE: 15-35

LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/girlsaloud/cantspeakfrench.html

VIDEO:

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

The dining room

A link between the lyrics and video is created through the setting and costumes. The setting is based on an 18th century dining room, however there is a modern element to the video to attract a younger audience. The colours are brighter than the stereotypical french fashion. The other women in the video all wear long, floor length dresses, and the differentiate the group from the others, they are wearing short dresses.

The end of the video, dancing on the table to
signify rebellious ways

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE + CONCEPT:
The video is based on the group walking into a dining room and seducing the male guests. The girls then begin to dance with the men, and by the end, the elegance has been destroyed by the girls' 'rebellious' ways. 

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

Performing a dance routine

The video involves lip syncing individually and as a group. The group are also shot performing a dance routine during the chorus. Towards the end, the men and other dancers join in. This creates another element of performance in the video, which allows the group to show off their ability to dance. Slow motion is also used in some sections of the dance routine, to draw attention to the women and the way they are moving. 

Close up of Kimberly Walsh's body

Dancing with the men is 'sexy'

MALE GAZE:
The girls are all wearing tight and short dresses, to attract a male audience. The dresses are also low cut, to emphasize the chests of the women. When the group begin to dance with the men 

LOCATIONS + MISE-EN-SCENE:
There appears to be only one major location used
in the video, which is a dining room. There is also then an open room in the same building used for the dance routine. The individual lip syncing scenes are shot in front of a plain paneled wall, with the background a different colour for each member.

Pink background used for a lip syncing shot

EG13: The Wanted - Glad You Came

ACT: The Wanted

TRACK: Glad You Came

YEAR: 2011

DIRECTOR: Director X
GENRE: Dance-pop

AUDIENCE: 15 - 25

LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/wanted/gladyoucame.html

VIDEO:

Group shot looking directly into the camera

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:

The genre is dance-pop, which is reflected in the video through the use of a party setting. The band is also shot lip syncing together looking directly into the camera. This is a common convention used in pop music videos, as it creates a direct link between the audience and lyrics. 

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE + CONCEPT:

The video features a performance and a narrative. The performance shots link in with the narrative, as they're performing at a house party, to signify the genre. The narrative involves the boys meeting some girls at a beach, then going back to house party and spending time with the girls. At the end of the video, they all wake up next to each other and the house is a mess.

One of the last shots

AUDIENCE:

An over 18 audience is reflected in the video, through the party and clubbing setting. The primary audience of the song is teens and young adults, however because there is a club scene, which therefore signifies alcohol use, the video is aimed at those over 18. 

One of the 5 girls featured with the group

MALE GAZE:

Each band member has a woman in the video, who are all models, except for one, who was seen on the streets. This attracts a male audience, as the girls are all shown wearing revealing clothing with lots of make up on and styled hair, which is a stereotypical representation of girls who go to parties.

SHOT VARIETY + SET-UPS:

Group shot at the house party

At the beginning, the shots are fast paced to match the backing beat of the music, and once the first verse begins the shots become longer. When the lip syncing stops, the shots speed up again. There is a range of shots used, to represent the party theme. Close ups and medium shots are used when the boys are being focused on individually or lip syncing, and long shots are used to provide exposition when there is no lip syncing being shown.

Speed boat

LOCATIONS + MISE-EN-SCENE:

The video was filmed in Ibiza, Spain, which provides an alternative Mediterranean atmosphere to a typically British pop song by a British-Irish boy band. The locations used include a beach, a club and a house/pool party. The locations all anchor the genre and party theme to the video. A speedboat is featured in the video as well, which signifies wealth and relates to the private parties also featured. 

Codes and Conventions Vodcast

EG8-12: 5 Music Video Analyses

ACT: The 1975

TRACK: Chocolate

YEAR: 2013

DIRECTOR: Unknown

GENRE: Electronic Rock

MAIN AUDIENCE: 15+

LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/1975/chocolate.html

VIDEO:

The video is shot in black and white and features many smooth, slow motion shots. As Matt Healy is the lead singer, there are many more shots of himself individually lip syncing. There is also a girl featured in the video, and a silhouette of her body is shown on camera and she is blonde which attracts a male audience. 

ACT: Peace

TRACK: Follow Baby

YEAR: 2012

DIRECTOR: Jake Harmer

GENRE: Indie Rock

MAIN AUDIENCE: 15+

LYRICS: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/peace/follow+baby_21055872.html

VIDEO:


The video is a performance by the band, set in a living room. During the chorus', the furniture moves and is thrown around the room, with blue and purple flashing lights. The shots used are mostly long and medium shots, focusing mostly on the lead singer lip syncing into a standing microphone.

ACT: Black Eyed Peas

TRACK: Don't Stop The Party
YEAR: 2011

DIRECTOR: Ben Mor

GENRE: Hip House

MAIN AUDIENCE: 15-25

LYRICS: http://www.metrolyrics.com/donat-stop-the-party-lyrics-black-eyed-peas.html

VIDEO:

The video is fast paced to match the beat of the music and features footage from their E.N.D world tour in Brazil. The video also features diegetic sound from the audiences at the arena concert. The footage represents the genre, as there are colourful flashing lights and the band are featured wearing 'trendy' outfits which signify the modern element to the song.

ACT: Paramore

TRACK: Decode

YEAR: 2008

DIRECTOR: Shane Drake

GENRE: Emo

MAIN AUDIENCE: 15-30

LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/paramore/decode.html

VIDEO:

This video features footage from Twilight (2008) and footage of the band searching through the woods which is intercut with performance scenes in a forest by the band. The vampire theme is reflected by the dull, cold colours, and the lead singers makeup and pale skin signify the coldness typically associated with vampires.

ACT: Calvin Harris ft. Example

TRACK: We'll Be Coming Back

YEAR: 2012

DIRECTOR: Saman Keshavarz

GENRE: Dance-pop

MAIN AUDIENCE: 10-30

LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/calvinharris/wellbecomingback.html

VIDEO:

Throughout the video there is diegetic sound of car engines as the police motorbike is chasing the two getaway cars. There are also various effects used, such as split screens and zooms into reflections of sunglasses, which work effectively. The video is a concept, as there is no clear link between the lyrics and visuals.

EG7: Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High

ACT: Arctic Monkeys
TRACK: Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High
YEAR: 2013
DIRECTOR: Nabil Elderkin
GENRE: Indie Rock
MAIN AUDIENCE: 18+
LYRICS: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/arctic+monkeys/whyd+you+only+call+me+when+youre+high_21064136.html

VIDEO:

Alex Turner looking into a mirror and seeing himself double

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

The song title refers to being 'high' and this is reflected in the video through the use of special effects and the way Alex Turner is acting. There's also a phone, to connect with the 'call' from the title. 

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE + CONCEPT:

The girl

When the music stops and Alex falls

There is a clear narrative followed throughout the video. At the beginning of the video, the song Do I Wanna Know? is playing (also an Arctic Monkeys track from the 2013 album 'AM') in the background in a bar. The song Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? does not begin to play until 1:36 into the video. The start of the track is faded to achieve the verisimilitude of being in a bar. When Alex Turner steps outside at 1:49 the track becomes clear and focal. At 3:11 the track stops when Alex falls to the ground and begins again at 3:29 when he imagines someone shouting at him to get up. The music stops at 4:26, but the video carries on til 4:48, where the girl featured in the texts is revealed.

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

There is no performance from the band, although Alex Turner (lead singer) is the main character in the video. There is no lip syncing either.

STAR TREATMENT:
Alex Turner is the lead singer of the band, and he is the only member mostly featured in the video. Because he is the lead singer, he is the one who gets involved with fans during live performances, and is perhaps the most famous member. Because of this, he is featured in the video the most because it will achieve recognition and his appearance allows the audience to connect with him, despite there being no live performance or lip syncing. Simply being on screen creates a connection with the fans, as he is an extremely popular vocalist.

The clock hands move to form a smiley face

FX:
Special effects are used in the video to highlight the fact that Alex is high, as stated in the song title. The effects used involve the clock at the beginning moving around the wall, and he sees things that are not really there. This is effective as they're not over used yet they still represent what Alex is experiencing. 

The phone 

LOCATIONS + MISE-EN-SCENE:

Text messages

The beginning of the video is shot in a stereotypical pub, with red walls and middle aged men standing at the bar. The camera then moves outside, and follows Alex walking down a street at night. It is dark so the only light source is the street lights, yet there is typical nightlife activity occurring, such as drinking and sex. The phone is a major prop in the video, as it links to the title and the use of messages being shown on screen allows the audience to connect with what's 
going on.

EG6: Blue - One Love

ACT: Blue
TRACK: One Love
YEAR: 2002
DIRECTOR: Unknown
GENRE: R&B
MAIN AUDIENCE: 15+
LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blue/onelove.html

VIDEO:

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE + CONCEPT: 

Shots of various relationships between males and females are intercut between the lip syncing shots. This is to signify the love theme of the song. There is no one straight narrative followed throughout the video but it the theme of love is clearly anchored.

Lip syncing scene

PERFORMANCE STYLE:
Lip syncing performances are given by all 4 members of the group. They're shown lip syncing individually and together. 

The band

MALE GAZE:

Alley way

There's arguably a fe-male gaze, as the men are all attractive and are wearing tight tshirts and unbuttoned shirts. Young females will be attracted to the appearances of the men, and the song is about love, which stereotypically is associated with women. There is also a male gaze, as the women featured in the video are all pretty, and some are wearing tight tops, to catch the male eye.

LOCATIONS + MISE-EN-SCENE:
The lip syncing scenes are shot in various locations in a backstreet alley way, which convey the urban element to the song. Some are shot on a balcony and some are shot sitting on cars. Others are shot with the band walking towards the camera from long shots. As well as alley ways, the group are also shot lip syncing in an open area with motorway bridges overhead and on one of the bridges.

EG5: Disclosure - F For You

ACT: Disclosure
TRACK: F For You
YEAR: 2013
DIRECTOR: Ross McDowell and Ben Murray
GENRE: Deep House
MAIN AUDIENCE: 15-25
LYRICS: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/disclosure/whenafirestartstoburn.html


VIDEO:

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:
Although the lyrics tend to be repeated throughout the song, they are clearly about some kind of relationship which revolves around lies. In the video, there is no reference to this relationship, as the only visuals are Guy and Howard Lawrence themselves performing their set. 

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS: 

Godskitchen superclub brand

Flashing lights in the background

In the 80's and 90's, house and rave clubs like The Godskitchen superclub began to host house and dance music events across the UK, and even Europe. Since then, clubbing has become an important factor in teenager's and young adults' social lives across the world. Clubs are typically known to play house and dance music, and there are always strobe lights of all different colours and intensities. This is reflected in the video, as the film of the boys is in black and white but the background flashes different colours when the beat begins to pick up. As the beat drops, the background shows various images of animated faces (which is Disclosure's signature effect) and the two boys DJ'ing. 

Howard Lawrence

Guy Lawrence

PERFORMANCE STYLE:
The video shows Disclosure performing the song on a stage on their DJ sets. The track is the first song on the album 'Settle' which doesn't feature a guest vocalist. Guy Lawrence is the lead vocalist on the track whilst his brother, Howard, acts                                                      as a backing vocalist. 

PACE:

Flashing lights compliment the fast paced shots

The beginning of the video is a slower pace, before the beat in the track drops. The shots begin to speed up once the beat drops, and the flashing lights have the effect of making the pace appear even faster. The house/dance genre is reflected in the video with the use of faster and shorter shots, which creates a sense of being in a club and dancing to the track yourself. Because this style of music is aimed at 15-25 year olds, the fast pace keeps the audience engaged on the video as well as the track itself. 

Long shot at the beginning of the video

SHOT VARIETY + SET-UPS:

There is only one set-up throughout the video. There are also many long shots of the two boys on the stage, with the background screen in shot. There are also close ups of the two boys when they're lip syncing. As the pace and shots speed up, the camera focuses on the background and the equipment more than the boys themselves, which reflects the beat of the music. 

Disclosure's 'signature face'

LOCATIONS + MISE-EN-SCENE:

There is only one location used in the video, which is an open stage with two DJ sets. The location and mise-en-scene are simple, with a plain stage and 2 DJ sets, but the background screen with the flashing lights makes the concept appear busy and manic. Disclosure have a 'signature face' which they use in the majority of their videos and on album artwork. It appears over the boys' faces and on its own amongst the others effects on the screen. 

Stage set up with the 2 DJ sets