Video Analysis – Queen - Princes of the Universe

For my video I have decided to do Queen, Princes of the Universe which was created for the Film/TV Series Highlander.

The first few seconds are narration from the movie saying that in the end there can only be one, accompanied by Connor (the actor) on his knees, a bright light hits him and then the scene fades it into the band where the music starts up and is loud. The band stays in the shadows only to once again fade into movie scenes. This is all done very quickly as by 0.25 seconds they are showing the band again, with the lead singer in focus.

This is when you first get to see the bands costume denim, which is typical of the time era and is their ‘star image,’ also some are wearing trench coats as that is what the members of the cast are wearing. This ties the images and the band together simply but effectively.

The band member’s performance fit the actions of what is happening in the movie scenes when the music gets high and tense we see them playing their guitars. When the music changes so do the pictures, they become faster and less fluid but still fit together and give the audience an idea of the narrative without giving too much away. Graphic matches are used when the drummer lifts his sticks up and is about to slam them down only to switch to someone slashing a car tire with a sword the same movements are used and replicated putting them in sync.

The stage the band members are on is rough and looks about to crumble, a steel junk yard, sparks are flying with again replicates the when the swords clash in the movie scene and when lightning strikes (the quickening). The main actor, Connor, walks from the film onto the stage in the same clothing and pace. The lyrics sung ‘I have inside me blood of kings’ is straight from the movie, as they believe that their blood is superior thus stopping them from dying outside of being beheaded.

At 1.40 the music speeds up considerably, when they sing about fighting, the mages shown are of a challenge in the Middle Ages between the cast members. At 2.00 Conner once again strides on the stage and engages the lead singer, Freddie Mercury, in a sword fight, once again incorporating the music and movie sequence.

Towards the end the drumbeat becomes louder reflecting the tense images shown and the climax of the song. As the band play the set falls around them showing they are coming to the end, but they paly on not affected by the changes.

At 3.14 the lyrics say ‘princes of the universe’ they then show a man lifting his arms in triumph over a cliff after defeating another man. The last few seconds consist of ‘born to be king’ and are sung with his head held high shouting it to the heavens. The last image is of the band back in the shadows with sparks falling around them, like stars in the ‘universe’.