Harry Music Video Research

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My Top 5 Genre- Independent

Transcript of Harry Music Video Research

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My Top 5Genre- Independent

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Independent Music

Indie music tends to appeal to teenagers as the contents of their songs are often about relationships and enjoying life while you are still young. In the music videos I reviewed the two most obvious and recurring messages were, have a good time, and don't allow people to judge/ conform you; although, each video did also have its own independant message too. They also all seem to revolve around some form of love, whether that be a relationship or a friendly love, but this would appeal to their stereotypical teenage audience.

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Kodaline- High HopesThe very first shot is an establishing shot and it is used to show that the man is alone, this is further symbolised by him being under a tree that is standing on its own. This follows the indie convention of humble beginnings.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

The next major scene is the two of them escaping her wedding with one another, her facial expressions show relief and his show determination, this follows the convention that one thing happens which changed everything. Also, with mise-en-scne, the lack of anything in the car shows that the video is solely about the people in it, and not about materialistic things. The lyrics also coincide with the clip as they say about having high hopes and couple also seem to share this attitude towards the relationship.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

At the next stage of the video they arrive at the man's house, together they are both happy, this shot shows how they are equal but it also shows how they complete one another as they both go to cheers their glasses, which they couldn't do alone.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

The next scene is a montage and they juxtapose the two images together, in the first image they show the couple dancing together and having a good time in the next it is a much darker clip which although is still about the relationship, which is shown by the drawing, is now sad showing they stick through it even through the bad times, this is also foreshadowing the ending of the video.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

This is another example of the message they try to convey that love isn't perfect, they are showing that not only is the man imperfect for her as he is considerably older but also using mise-en-scene that she isnt perfect as she has scars on her back, but still showing him embracing them as part of her.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

This scene shows the couple again relying on one another for balance, it is well lit and therefore is reflecting one of the happier times in the relationship. The lack of anything being around them shows that again the only thing that matters to them is each other which re-iterates the message that the band is trying to convey.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

The next big scene is the ex-groom of the wedding the bride ran away from comes back and ends the relationship with a bang, this is a literal example of the metaphorical explosive emotions that he may have experienced after the break up, this shows the convention of making the most of what you have because the couple only had a limited time and they used it together. The mise-en-scene of the gun shows the uncontrollable emotions of the man wielding it.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

This scene briefly uses mise-en scene to show that although the groom was only trying to hurt the man, he also hurt his bride, showing that you hurt everyone involved not just the person you wanted to. This could appeal to the teenage audience that indie songs appeal to as they will be experiencing their first relationships.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

This camera angle shows what the ex-groom wanted in that he has replaced the old man however, it also shows that he is the one holding the gun and therefore he is the one that has harmed the bride, which he never wanted to do, which is shown using mise-en-scene of his facial expression.

This scene also lasts as long as all the others before it showing that this is the most important bit this is why they have made the message so clear in this scene.

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Kodaline- High HopesThe scene after shows a flashback, using lighting it shows that there were good and bad times, it then changes to the scene where the man using his dying breath to move over to the bride and hold her hand, showing that their love was unconditional, finally showing the message that although people may not agree with what you like it doesn't make it any less real, which would appeal to a teenage audience.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

The final shot is of the two of them in hospital having survived their wounds and stay together showing, that love conquers all another message that would appeal to teenagers who are entering their first relationships.

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Kodaline- High Hopes

To conclude, the music video shares almost entirely the stereotypical conventions of an indie music video as it is very based around love and also sends messages that appeal to the stereotypical teenage audience.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

The first scene in the music video shows a group of people all crowded round a tv in a shop window, it specifically focuses on a kind who is wearing a tinfoil hat which has connotations of conspiracy, but also acting outside the norm. This could be promoting the stereotypical indie message of don't be opressed which would appeal to teeangers.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

The next main scene is the scene of the to-be astronauts getting ready and leaving their families before they go, they all come from different backgrounds but are all going to do the same task, this shows a message that the band is trying to get across which is that we are different but we are still all the same. It also helps convey the conventional indie message of don't let anyone restrict you.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

The next scene is a montage of everybody getting ready for the lift off, during the montage they show this clip of them recreating the famous beatles album cover of them crossing Abbey Road. This shows that they aren't just talking about the controversy of the moon landing but also with everything in the media, as the beatles were notoriously controversial. Meaning they could be trying to convey the message whether you believe something or not just enjoy it based on your opinion. Which would appeal to a teenage audience, however this reference wouldn’t.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

They end the montage with the 4 men preparing their space suits, by the end of which they all look the same dispute how they all came from different backgrounds this again reiterates the message they try to send the message that although we are different we are all the same, this would appeal to the teenage target audiences which indie music usually does.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

The next scene although still in the preparation montage is showing them walking towards the apollo 11 spacecraft, the lighting is used to show promise in their future and in the direction they are heading.

However, despite the alleged magnitude of what they are about to achieve they all have blank expressions on their faces, this is a counter-type of the usual ‘just enjoy yourself’ message that indie music tends to convey.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

At the end of the montage, also coming up to the chorus they board the spacecraft and another montage is played, this montage shows more events happening, this conveys the message that you should just enjoy life while you still can, thye use a close up of a man pushing a knob to the full setting, showing that he is going to the extreme which is another convention of indie music videos.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

There is then a montage of people from all different backgrounds watching this as it happens again conveying the message that we are all the same. It also shows some political knowledge as it pokes fun at the soviet union, which is a counter type of what would normally come up in an indie music video as it wouldn’t typically aim towards a teenage audience.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

In the next scene they reveal a staged moon landing which, is quite political and therefore is a countertype of a typical indie music video. It would also appear to an older audience than indie music videos typically do.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

Again they are trying to recreate famous images of the past this time they create Neil Armstrong landing on the moon and saluting the american flag, this would appeal more to an adult audience as they would be stereotypically more interested in the politics than the younger generation.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

Next in the scene, after the landing has been shot they show a montage of the band in spacesuits messing around having fun, this show the stereotypical indie message of just have a good time and don't be restricted by norms, just enjoy yourself. This would appeal to a teenage audience as they would be more motivated by this message,

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

Then for the first t8ime in the video it shows the band behind their instruments playing the song and singing along, as they are an indie band, despite being popular, they may be trying to make a name for themselves and are doing this by showing what the band is like.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

The video ends on the stage getting surrounded by fans who are all cheering ajnd enjoy themselves this would appeal to the teenage audience as it is like a concert scene which teenagers typically attend it also sends the message of just enjoy yourselves.

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Imagine Dragons- On Top Of The World

To conclude, the video shows several conventions of being a typical indie song with a teenage audience however adds in some features which would hint it was aimed at an older/ more educated audience which would suggest as they are an indie badnt that they are trying to appeal to as many groups as they can while still sticking to their own unique style.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The first shot in the scene is a blurred image of the band with their instruments. This is a literal demonstration of the metaphorical idea that the video is unclear whether it is real or fake. It also follows the indie convention to have the musicians in the video.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The next scene starts with a man sitting alone at a bar, this image appeals to the teenage audience that are maybe lonely and without friends therefore suggests that it is aimed at teenagers. It is also ironic as the title of the song is “The Best Day Of My Life” and he is alone in a bar.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The next clip is a cross cut to the lead singer of the band singing the lyrics, this is a convention of indie music videos as it helps promote the band. The lyrics also coincide with the video as he is referring, in the song, to a dream he had and the video is depicting a obscure reality that could be a dream.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video then cuts back to the man at the bar only this time the camera pans to reveal a create who looks like a character from children's book ‘where the wild things are’. This again reinforces the videos theme of being a dream.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

During the montage of friendly gestures between the man and the monster the lyrics again coincide with the video, it also fulfills the indie convention of love and although it's not romantic love it would still appeal to a teenage audience who would have a close knit group of friends.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video then cuts back to the original image from the start of the video and focuses the camera this suggests that the idea is that the viewer has now gained some clarity on what the video is going to detail. This idea of an epiphany is a convention of indie music videos.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

During the build up to the chorus they man and monster at the bar get thrown out for misconduct, this fulfills the indie convention of just enjoy the moment, the band are also fulfilling this convention as they are just singing down the street.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The bright colours and lens flares of the next part of the music video depict a very idealistic scenario, which would appeal to tennagers and would also help convey the message of enjoy the moment. They also reinforce the belief that the video is all based around a dream.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video then shows a montage of things that the man and the monster do throughout the day, this includes going toi s atrip club, a park drinking and getting tattoos this again conveys the message of seize the day.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The man and the monster get a tattoo together which suggests that they are seizing the day, but also the tattoo has a youth phrase on it ‘thug life’ which suggests that it is aimed at a teenage audience.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video then cuts to the band who are now on stage performing at a bar, this demonstrates both conventions of enjoy yourself and having the band playing in the music video, ot would also appeal to a teenager as it is set out as a concert like scene.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video then shows the man and the monster attending the bar gig and dancing having fun, this shows the band promoting themselves which is a convention of an indie music video.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video then cuts back to the man again alone at the bar but this time just waking up which gives the illusion that all the events of the music video were a dream.

However when he gets up and leaves the camera reveals the photos from the photobooth left on the bar suggesting that it wasn't all a dream.

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American Authors- Best Day Of My Life

The video is obviously aimed at teenagers which is typical of an indie music video, this is shown by it being very story oriented which frequently matched up with the lyrics, and also the reference to ‘thug life’ a popular saying at the time.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The video starts in sync with the drumroll at the start of the song, the man opens the doors as the song starts this suggests that the band are opening up to you suggesting again that the song has deeper meaning, this would appeal to the typical indie teenage audience.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The doors open to reveal an old asylum, this could be a way of the band representing that they are the people in the asylum and the people running the asylum is society, the metaphor would appeal to teenagers as they may be seena s crazy tos society as they are going through change in their lives. The change is also represented by the name of the song ‘cocoon’ which is the stage between a caterpillar and a butterfly.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The video then focuses on its protagonist a man and the girl he is interested. This sets up the stereotypical boy meets girl with a twist. This would appeal to teenagers who are the stereotypical audience for indie music videos.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The video then demonstrates the tight grasp of control the asylum works have as the lady spots the man looking at the woman and teases pushing the button to break them up, suggesting that she doesn't want any relationships going on, this relates back to the time when mental patients would be treated as subhuman before the The Lunacy Act of 1845. They are comparing societies restrictions on them to this extreme example. This would appeal to teenagers as they like to be dramaitc.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

Later in the video a close up of the protagonists face is used to show his emotion howveer to signify he is different it is only showing half his face and it is off to one side this woudl suggets that half of him is missing as if he is unfulfilled, teenagers would relate to that as they will fill restricted by what they aren't allowed to do.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The video then comes to the point in the story where the boy meets the girl, obviously it is very contained and restricted as they are both asylum patients, this would then appeal to the teenage audience who may feel their relationships are controlled by their parents.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The next shot is a close up of a flower suggesting innocence and purity which is like a form of silent protest against all the people in the hospital, which could be a metaphor which teeenagers can relate to having to protest for their relationships.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

They then use the same image as last time however he is centred now as if since meeting the girl he has found purpose, also as before it signified that half of him is missing this now signifies he is complete.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

Next there is a compilation where the girl seems to have switched and become more like the others in the asylum, depite the boy still trying to impress her, throughout the video there is always staff nearby to reinforce the message of being controlled.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

They use the same close up of the boy's face however this time it was just after a montage suggesting that that montage was just a dream and he has woken up to the idea of the two of them together, this could relate to teenagrers who are first experiencing heartbreaks, which is a typical audience for indie music videos.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The penultimate scene is of the boy trying to run away and escape with the girl upon realising they can never be together while to asylum has control over them, this sia metaphor for the idea that you have to break free of control in terms of people's acceptance of your relationship, which would appeal to a teenage audience.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The final scene shows the man being restrained while remembering all the good times he had (shown by a montage), this again is used to represent people trying to control you and your relationship which would appeal to teenage audience who have people who disapprove their relsationships.

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Catfish And The Bottlemen- Cocoon

The video very clearly appeals to a teenage audience that are finding out things about themselves and are entering their first relationships, this is also a common target audience for indie music videos.

The video also sticks to the stereotypical indie message of ‘don't let people control you’ by using hyperbole, especially considering the nature of the video.

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Seafret- Oceans

The first shot is a mid shot of a teenage girl entering an empty house, she is calling for her mother, immediately this gives off the impression it is aimed at teenagers.

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Seafret- Oceans

The next shot is a close up of a note from her mother, this is used to shown the girl is old enough to be independent, this gains more meaning as the video progresses, this would also be relatable for the stereotypical indie target audience of teenagers as they may be becoming more independant themselves.

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Seafret- Oceans

Next as she changes out pf her uniform it is revealed someone has graffitied on her shirt, this would implies he is being bullied an issue that the target audience of teenagers may be dealing with, this again reinforces this audience.

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Seafret- Oceans

The next major shot is a close up of a box that appears to be of items from her childhood, this could remind her of a happier time, it could also symbolise an escape from what she has to deal with now. The teenage target audience would also be able to relate to this.

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Seafret- Oceans

She then puts on a superhero costume that's he got out of the nostalgia box, this is particularly obscure as the video clarifies she is old ought to be responsible earlier on, therefore shows that it is even more out of the norm, however again the costume could represent more than being a superhero it could represent an ‘out’ which some teenagers would be able to relate to it is also emphasised happiness on her face when she puts it on initially. However this happiness goes when she sees herself wearing it as if she knows its ridiculous.

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Seafret- Oceans

They then use editing to show as if she has actually got super powers, although they don't show it in the mirror, as if to say it is fake, it also coincides with the lyrics “we hide our emotions, under the surface and try to pretend” which would suggest again that the superpowers are a metaphor for her escaping her new issues, which teenagers would relate to.

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Seafret- Oceans

The next montage is of her leaving the house wearing the costume, and a combination of her face and a lense flare show it to be empowering which conveys the stereotypical indie message of express yourself despite what other people think.

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Seafret- Oceans

She then see’s people she knows and she still maintains a determined facial expression this expression then, again, conveys the stereotypical indie message of express yourself and don't allow other people to judge you. This would again appeal to the stereotypical indie target audience of teenagers as they may be starting to realise whon they are are would be able to relate to this girls problems.

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Seafret- Oceans

The camera then shows a close up of her getting surrounded, to emphasise that she is alone and trapped, which is a literal way of showing how people can be metaphorically/ emotionally isolated when suffering similar issues, specifically teenagers.

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Seafret- Oceans

Throughout the scene it becomes apparent that while she is wearing bright colours all the others are in dark clothing this could symbolise again that she stands out but also that that isn't a bad thing which is a stereotypical indie message to convey to a teenage audience.

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Seafret- Oceans

After tolerating emotional and verbal abuse she decides to draw the line at physical abuse, this conveys the message the band are trying to show which is stand up for what you believe in, this would appeal to teenagers who may be bullied for things that they believe. The lighting again is also empowering to her showing that this is what the band want you to believe.

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Seafret- Oceans

Again the music video uses editing to represent her emotions this time it shows her using her powers to do what she always wanted to however a sit shows her using her powers which it showed weren't real previously it is showing that you beat them emotionally which would convey the band's idea of ‘killing them with kindness’ which would appeal to a teenage outcast audience that maybe have to stick up for themselves.

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Seafret- Oceans

Contrasting with the first scene it shows the girl being completely dependant on her mother which would appeal to a teenage audience that although have a large number of new responsibilities are still dependent on their families and therefore could relate.

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Seafret- Oceans

To conclude, the band use a range of camera and editing techniques to convey a message of stand up for yourself buta slo don't conform to what other people to believe, they make it clear that you should believe in yourself, which makes it clear that their audience is teenagers therefore they follow most conventions of an indie music video.