Comparison and Analysis of 3 music videos of a similar genre of my chosen band
Video 1
Saving Aimee-Small Talk (Independent Label)
Performance based
Video 2
AFI-Silver & Cold (owned by Universal Music Group)
Interpretive video
Video 3
Simple Plan-Your Love Is a Lie (owned by Warner Music Group)
Combination of performance and interpretation
I have selected these three videos because the band I am using in my coursework claim to be influenced by all three. I also picked a performance based videos, interpretive video and a video which combines the two styles.
The genre of Saving Aimee’s music is pop rock which includes some of the elements from my chosen track, the video represents the genre because it is based on the appearance of the performers like many pop rock bands are and shoes the traditional rock banc instruments.
The Saving Aimee video is a very basic performance based video shot in a studio with simple graphics added at post-production. Apparently the video was very low budget to create. Although the video is 100% performance based it does not fail to maintain audience interest because of the wide variety of shots used. This video starts with long shots of each band member and their instrument along with graphics in the background each band member has their own colour. After the characters (performers) are introduced, the lyrics begin with a close up of the lead singer looking straight at the camera which amplifies the lyrics and grasps audience interest because the singer is addressing them directly. In this particular video no specific lyrics are amplified until the ending shots where the chorus is displayed on the side of the frame which basically reiterates the meaning of the song.
The shots used in this video change extremely frequently to maintain interest, the shots are cut in time to the beat and pace of the music. The video contains 3 master shots showing the entire band performing, yet again maintaining interest because the shot is busy the audience has so many places to look at the same time. The simple graphics appear in the majority of the shots but I thing the video would work without them. Each band member is presented using many shots for example there is a shot of the keyboardist just showing the synthesizer and his hands which then cuts to several shots of him from the front, the side and looking down all in the space of around 2 seconds. Another example is one of the guitarists who is firstly shown in a front facing mid shot which then cuts to a slightly closer mid shot from a sideways angle and then to another mid shot but lower down to show his hands and the guitar a typical shot used in most performance based music videos to “show off” the artists. The simple graphics used in a side close up of the singer on the left hand side of the frame are particularly effective because the band is reinforcing what they are singing about to the audience.
The record company is using the bands image and presentation to sell the track. The artists are simply being shown as reasonably good looking performers, this is the first video this particular band produced and there later videos continued to be performance based but slightly more glossy and stylised as they progressed but still having the main feature of the videos focussed on the performers. No I do not see this video as the artists being on or implying sexual display they just seem dressed in standard clothing.
This style of music video is possible for my coursework project but if I was to recreate this style I would use lighting in the studio instead of the graphics creating more of a live performance atmosphere less would need to be carried out at post-production. The trick with these types of videos is to use as many shots as possible with barely any repetition to draw the audience in.
The genre of AFI is alternative rock and bands of this genre vary widely but usually some performance elements are included unlike with this video where the band members act out the scenario.
The AFI video is a highly stylised interpretive narrative based video with a dark gothic theme incorporated into it. The video uses locations, acting and colours to portray the meaning of the track and lyrics, when the main character looks like he is about to jump but then just throws his watch and ring into the water which contradicts with the lyrics “I’ll fall asleep for you” and the audiences expectations.
The theme behind the video is based on suicide and has a message saying that if you even consider terminating your own life other people suffer because of your choice. The video starts with almost still shots of the 5 different locations which in a way sets the mood of the piece which is dark and depressing. The opening sequence of the AFI video uses a range of shots all with similar colour schemes (grey, blue, black and white) also adding to the mood of the work. The lyrics start with an Extreme Close Up of the lead singer facing us (the audience), which then cuts to a mid shot of the main character standing in the wind. Then a café scene is used to set the scene of the potential suicide it shows a person answering the phone to the main character and then close up shots of the person answering the phones shocked and panicked facial expression draw the audience in and create a sense of unease. Fast shots are used to show all the characters in the café finding out the news and running out of the café. When the characters are running hand held and long shots are used, a long shot is taken from the audiences perspective then a side angle, hand held mid shots are used to enforce the panic. The video continuously cuts back to shots of the main character who appears to be considering suicide when focussed on the main character the majority of shots are close ups or extreme close ups showing expression and emotion. Nearer the end of the sequence a low angle long shot is used from an angle showing the main character balancing on a pillar above the river this is a very effective and engaging shot. This video is almost like a film within itself because it tells a story.
This type of interpretive video would be very complicated to make for a project because you couldn’t create this in just one simple location or TV studio and it would be near impossible to creating something as advanced.
The image of the band is quite emotional and gothic because of colour schemes used, the company is looking to sell this track on the drama of the video, it looks like it has been created for the fans of the band because of the way the band members are used as actors if someone watched this video on a music channel such as Kerrang! they would not know the actors were also band members.
Simple Plan is a pop punk band which is on the list of influences by my chosen band and a part of the track I am planning on using has elements of this genre.
The imagery backs up what the lyrics for example the line “you can tell me that your home by yourself” cuts back into the narrative and the visuals show the other half clearly in the arms of another man. Another example of how the visuals relate to the lyrics “you can look into my eyes” yet again the video cuts into the narrative where the female in the arms of someone else looks straight into the camera at us as if we are the main male character. Another example where the lyrics “don’t waste your breath because its too late” are amplified by an extreme close up of the lead singer in the performance location looking directly at us.
The Simple Plan video combines both interpretive and performance based elements this video starts of by using a narrative using the lead singer as the main actor. The video beginning doesn’t look all that stylised it could be created quite simply in various locations. The video continually cuts between the band performing at an outdoor location as themselves and the plot so that what the singer is singing about links with the story directly. The theme of the song is about cheating on your other half and then denying it. The video uses many different types of shots and 3 locations to keep the audience interested and also to make a point. The two different locations look like they are literally just across the road, when clearly they are not. The other location could even be a figment of the main characters imagination. And the line “but I see him” could be metaphorical. The 3 locations consist of the main characters bedroom where he is sat alone or watching out the window, the street outside the apartment of the other male character that she is cheating with and what looks like a large garden where the band are performing. The action in the scenario changes pace with the music as the pace gets faster more shots and rapid cuts are being used, especially near the end of the song where the main character/lead singer is almost shouting “ LIE……LIE…..LIE” this is where the video cuts between the scenario and performance locations every time the word is said, this creates dramatic effects and is almost like the main character is shouting at her. Another example of the video cutting to pace is the instrumental where only the guitars and drums can be heard where the female and the other male are sharing an intimate moment in pace to the music.
The record company is looking to sell this track on the story line which most of the target audience can relate to and the bands image by the use of cutting to the outdoor location and showing the band as a whole performing. This type of video is both for the fans and to attract new fans with the common theme and performance elements. The artist is not on sexual display. The only potential reference to a sexual display is when the female actor is shown as if we are watching her and the other male share an intimate moment this helps to make the storyline more realistic that the main character is correct and his other half is cheating on him. The whole storyline could potentially be an intertextual reference to any visual drama such as a soap where these incidents occur.
This type of video would be possible to make for my coursework but on a smaller scale, I could find a few people to act out the theme of my chosen track and film it in several locations but instead of the theme of cheating and deceiving I would use the theme of waiting to link to the theme of my track.
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