Monday, 24 July 2017

Indie Music video analysis - Goodwin

As I am choosing the genre of indie for my music video, I wanted to an analyse indie music videos using the structure of Goodwin's theory.
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:



Shake your hair, have some fun
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


Me and you, me and you, me and you
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



Furthermore, the music video 'Television Romance' by the indie band Pale Waves features elements of the indie genre.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot1j5M5PTC4 



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:

Everyone's getting so high 
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



Our Girl - Sleeper




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1SbMJL62SM


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:

My new friend is a sleeper
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




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