Theory of a Music Video

Theory of a Music Video

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I will analyse the video for the Foo Fighter’s song “Everlong” (link above) using Andrew Goodwin’s principals for features of a music video. Each principal will have its own subheading.

1. Music Videos demonstrate genre characteristics

As with almost everything in life, there are stereotypes and traits that people expect certain social groups or genres of music to have certain aspects present.

For rock music, the most prominent characteristic is a heavily performance based music video, this video follows suit. Although the performance section does not appear until later on in the video, it is the most prominent feature on the screen when it does finally appear. The footage focuses mainly on individual band members, instead of the band as a whole, mainly to capture the chaotic instrument solos and the raw emotions that is expected in rock music.

The second major characteristic is the dark appearance that rock music brings due to the appearance of stereotypical “rockers”. Often wearing dark or black clothing, the lighting within the video reflects this, with its dull, low key lighting throughout.

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals

Although the link between lyrics and the presented visuals is subtle, it is there. For example, the very opening line of the sound is “Hello”, and at that precise moment in the video, one of the band members (in full character) walks through the door, into a party, As if he has just arrived.

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals

This mainly protracted through the editing of the footage (changing pace, style and amount as the song increases and decreases in tempo), as apposed in the footage itself, however the characters often move in time with drum beats.

For example, the small “fight” scene between 1m20secs and 1m33secs during the Foo Fighters video, every hit / punch makes contact on the drum beat, adding to, and enforcing the importance of the actual audio in the video.

4. The demands of the record label

This is most often than not, close up shots of each of the individual band member, as after all, music videos are just another promotional channel for the record company, and use the band to maximise profits. Hence the need for close up shots, so that the audience is constantly reminded that they are watching the band.

Close up shots also allow for product placement within the video this something the band member drinks, eats, wears or interacts with. The fact that it is a close up shot shows the full branding detail of the item being used.
5. Frequently reference to the notion of looking

The opening scene of this video really encapsulates this point perfectly. The camera is flying through the scene, firstly through a window, one of the main things humans “look through”. After this, the camera keeps looking onto a series of photo frames, this sets the scene, and slight background, of the two characters within the video.

Once the character first reaches the “party scene”, he appears to be looking around, and does this for some time, before he finally interacts with someone else. This fits in with the lyrics..

“Hello
I've waited here for you
Everlong”

This implies that the character is looking for someone in particular, possibly a girlfriend?

6. Intertextuality

Again, this point does not happen until much later on in the video, however, it uses stereotypes and key, iconic scenes from films to form Intertextuality. Below is just a few examples of Intertextuality within this video:-

*The “Here’s Johnny” scene from “The Shinning” – When one of the characters uses an axe to break through the door

*Various generic “horror” film shots – such as the hand breaking through the glass panel of the door to open the handle

*The Blonde, female victim – the most common horror film victim.