Goodwin states that there is a relationship between the music and visuals and the visuals and the lyrics. He also explains that music videos consist of either a performance, conceptual elements or a narrative (or a mixture of the two or three together). There are stereotypically characteristics of the genre too, and that the star of the music video is the one with the close-up shots of their character.
I decided to look at the music video for 'Bros' by Wolf Alice, as I thought that by looking at a music video by the artist I have chosen, it would give me some inspiration for my own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD_Q9CxXTo4
Feature
|
Observation
|
Genre characteristics
|
Typically, the indie genre features a band performance and usually black and white shots. However, this video goes against the typical indie stereotypes by using a whole-narrative video and having it in colour.
|
The relationship between visuals and lyrics
|
The video shows two friends who are being typical children and playing outside. This relates to the lyrics in the song.
|
The relationship between music and visuals
|
There is a relationship between the music and the visuals; the song is quite slow, and so are the shots used in the video - it is a slowly paced video.
|
Close-ups (Star image)
|
As the band isn't featured in the music video, the two main characters within it are the two children. These are the main focus of the music video.
|
Notion of looking
|
As the band isn't performing, the 'notion of looking' element isn't particularly shown as the main stars within the video are young.
|
Intertextuality
|
The only intertextuality used in my opinion is that the band are possibly reminiscing their childhood.
|
Performance
Narrative
Concept
|
This music video features a narrative storyline, as the two children are 'best friends' and are doing typical kid things like playing outside, climbing trees, playing on scooters etc - this relates to the lyrics.
|
Lyrics:
Forget our mothers and past lovers, forget everyone
Oh, I'm so lucky, you are my best friend
Oh, there's no one, there's no one who knows me like you do
Are your lights on?
Are your lights still on?
I'll keep you safe
You keep me strong
Remember when we cut our hair?
We both looked like boys but we didn't care
Stick it out together, like we always do
Oh, there's no one, there's no one quite like you
Are your lights on?
Are your lights still on?
I'll keep you safe
You keep me strong
Ohhh, jump that 43
Are you wild like me?
Raised by wolves and other beasts
I tell you all the time
I'm not mad
You tell me all the time
I got plans
Ohhh, jump that 43
Are you wild like me?
Raised by wolves and other beasts
I tell you all the time
I'm not mad
You tell me all the time
I got plans
We could do better, I'm quite sure
Me and you, me and you, me and you
We could do better, I'm quite sure
Me, me, me, me, me and you
Me, me, me, me, me and you
Feature
|
Observation
|
Genre characteristics
|
The band members are wearing black clothing and the singer is wearing black eyeshadow and lipstick. The video features a performance of the band in what looks like a house.
|
The relationship between visuals and lyrics
|
The video doesn't feature anything else other than a performance video, so the lyrics aren't shown to have a specific meaning.
|
The relationship between music and visuals
|
As the music video is a performance, the song is being played at the same time and same pace as the song being played over the top.
|
Close-ups (Star image)
|
There are many close-ups of the singer, as she is the star image.
|
Notion of looking
|
The main singer is a female, so this could potentially create a male gaze.
|
Intertextuality
|
I don't feel that there is any intertextuality from any particular film or other text as this is just the band playing in a room.
|
Performance
Narrative
Concept
|
The overall video is performance based - stereotypical of the indie genre.
|
Lyrics:
Losing their minds
Looking for you
Looking for you
I don't even know what I'm doing here
Why won't you just tell me?
'Cause I'd rather be lonely
You are so happy
Your heart is strange
You wanna love me
But honey, that ain't okay
You're not so heavenly
You're not much a euphony
But in the morning, it might just change
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it, got it
Television romance
Now I don't even know what to say to you
I feel like you're getting to me
And I know that's what you're into
And your face isn't enough (never enough)
To make me stay, stay, oh
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it, got it
Television romance
And you think that you can have me tonight
I think that my, think my heart is alright
I know, baby, think that I've got all the time
But in a few hours, I'll be out of my mind
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it, got it
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
(Oh, baby, won't you stop it)
You and I haven't got it
(You and I haven't got it)
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
(Oh, baby, won't you stop it)
You and I haven't got it, got it
(You and I haven't got it, got it)
Television romance
(Television romance)
Television romance
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it
Television romance
Oh, baby, won't you stop it
You and I haven't got it, got it
Television romance
Feature
|
Observation
|
Genre characteristics
|
The music video features the band performing their song. There are bursts of colour throughout with strobe lighting matching up with the beat.
|
The relationship between visuals and lyrics
|
As the music video is mainly a performance, there isn't particularly a narrative with the lyrics and the visuals.
|
The relationship between music and visuals
|
The song is being played as the band are performing, there isn't necessarily a relationship between the two. As the genre of the song is indie, there is a stereotypical performance going on.
|
Close-ups (Star image)
|
The main singer tends to have the most screen time, however, the other band members do have close-up shots within the video.
|
Notion of looking
|
The two female members of the band may create a notion of looking regarding the male gaze, and the male band member may create the opposite with a "female gaze".
|
Intertextuality
|
I don't feel that there is any intertextuality within this music video, as the performers are simply playing their instruments with lights and colours in the background.
|
Performance
Narrative
Concept
|
This music video is performance heavy with very little narrative or conceptual elements - a characteristic of the indie genre.
|
Lyrics:
You’re brave
You don’t have to talk about it and that's okay
Cared for words that feel secret
It’s broken me and I’m not even lonely
Things don’t change so quickly
Trust myself that they feel me
Quivering eyes they feel not so like mine
Oooh oooh
My new friend is a sleeper
I’m not on my own and I’m okay
‘Cause you’re kind, I feel safer
It’s grown in me but you still have to affirm me
Things don’t change so quickly
Trust myself that they feel me
Quivering eyes they feel not so like mine
Ooh oooh
Quivering eyes they feel
Oooh oooh
