F(x) 에프엑스 -Red Light

About them

They consist of 5 members:

Sulli,

Krystal,

Victoria Song,

Amber Liu,

And Luna

The music video for “Red Light” starts off with a bird’s eye view of an old-fashioned telephone. The camera is slowly zooming out to reveal more of the dark area around it. An ominous sense is created through the careful use of lighting- the shadow of the phone projected onto the floor, with no explanation. When it has zoomed out enough, you learn that it is on a cork slab, surrounded by nothing. The fact that it is in black and white at this stage implants the expectation into the audience that this is going to be a dark (and maybe depressing) music video. The phone continues to ring, with no one coming to answer it- suggesting that this could possibly be set somewhere abandoned with no one around at all.

Six seconds into the video, the name of the song “Red Light” is put in the foreground of the frame, in-font of a burning book. Usually we are immediately drawn to fire, and so the fact that it is in front of this, shows that both the band and the record label especially want this to stick in their minds, and believe it to be more important. You can still hear the sound of the phone ringing, however now the sound of something burning is also layered onto it.

The camera slowly moves backwards and slightly up to reveal that in actuality, someone is holding the book as it burns. The name of the song “Red Light” still remains there. Holding anything that is burning, is a shocking and dangerous thing to do; so the fact that within the first nine seconds someone is doing it, immediately grips the viewer, as they would like to know why and how someone is in the situation where they are holding a burning book. The fact that it is a medium shot and the face of the person holding the book is hidden from us leaves the audience in suspense, as it is highly likely that the viewer would like to know who they are- potentially a band member?

At this point, the introduction of a “red light” shows a silhouette of the 5 group members. As of yet the viewer doesn’t know which one is where in the wide shot. This adds another element of mystery to the video, and makes their entrance more dramatic. The song hasn’t actually started yet, at this point it is simply claps. The use of a wide shot shows that they are in some form of warehouse.

Two members are briefly shown here, and although the vocals haven’t started yet, the fact that the audience have caught a glimpse of them. The first one is a medium close up, and the second one intensifies by being a close up shot. The contrast between the first one being in full colour and using laser lighting, and then the second one being in black and white is used to great effect; creating a very dramatic and contrasting opening.

The music still has not started, however now a mid shot of the lower half of the girls and some other dancers is in frame. They are marching on the beat of the claps; they are therefore following Goodwin’s Theory of a link being present between the music and the visuals. It also indicates a military presence, and that everything is uniformed and precise. Through their previous reputation within the music industry, they are known to break the barriers and challenge stereotypes, and listeners have a high expectation of f(x)’s music and video quality.

The audience get a very brief glimpse of the remaining members of the group, and one is repeated. They all display different styles and this indicated to the viewer that there will be many different layers to this video- both obvious and underlying. The range of shots-from the close up shot to the wide ones draw the attention to certain members of the group.

This shot flashes upon the screen twice, and the second time it lingers on them and slowly zooms in. The camera has a further limitation to it: drawing us to only view the three people placed in centre frame. The camera tilts as it is moving, and this indicates some unorthodox element of the video- a common theme within music videos of this genre.

The repetition of the silhouette links the initial introduction to them in the video. It makes this entrance even more dramatic. They are marching to the beat of the music- thus intensifying the video, and making the red light behind them even more apparent and important. It changes to a wide shot, and they are walking towards the camera. Red lasers and strobe lighting flash upon them as they walk- conforming to the name of the song.

The cut in to the red flashing lights only add to the feel of the video. The fact that there is some yellow ‘Danger’ tape in the background on the wall signals rebellion, and how they shouldn’t be there. This continues to build up the suspense of the video and the wanting to break the rules and instead act the way they want to- not conforming to society.

The camera is now wide and at an angle, and slowly reverses- the camera turning even more. This is simply a wider shot of the one from the beginning, and it is revealed that one of the members is holding the burning book- they are clearlyputting themselves in danger, and it is this danger that provides them with another thrill. It is also conforming to how the music video has been going so far.

What can I learn from this music video?

• There is so much continuity and links within this video- parts in the beginning are answered during points of the video, and it all makes sense.

• The wide range of shots used here are all cleverly used to create a certain effect and view the singers in certain ways. This is all accompanied by the use of costume and lighting. A serious and professional costume connotes that they want to be taken seriously during some parts; the military, that they want to break down the barriers of society.

Evaluation against Andrew Goodwin’s Musical Theory

• It follows genre characteristics of a music video.

• There is some vanity in this video- demonstrated through the very

frequent use of close up shots, and their behaviour within these.

• There is a relationship between music and visuals- when there is a pause

in the music, they are doing a dance routine, or filling that time space in

some fashion that still holds the audience’s attention.

• The relationship between lyrics and visuals isn’t really present, as the song is mainly about warning someone

about opening their eyes to see what is happening right in front of them, and that they should stand up, or

witness a change that they may not want to face; and the video mainly only contains them dancing, and

various other shots- there is no narrative to this video.

• The record label (SM) demand high quality music from their stars, and will not distribute something they

believe to be haphazard.

• There are no intertextual references, and the only voyeurism present is when the camera is tilted, and they

are not looking at the camera. At every other point in this video, they are looking directly in the camera-

almost as if they are directly looking into the eye of the audience (thus showing how passionate they are)

• It is mainly a concept video with elements of performance present in the dance routine.

“Aye aye it’s a red light light

Let’s find it for each other using light

That special emergency exit”

(English Romanised lyrics)