Lyrics Timing

Wake…from your sleep 0:23 – 0:28

The drying of your tears 0:31 – 0:37

Today we escape, we escape 0:39 – 0:49

Pack…and get dressed 0:55 – 1:00

Before your father hears us 1:02 – 1:10

Before all hell breaks loose 1:11 – 1:20

Breathe, keep breathing 1:26 – 1:34

Don't lose your nerve 1:36 – 1:43

Breathe, keep breathing 1:50 – 1:58

I can't do this alone 2:00 – 2:06

Sing…us a song 2:17 – 2:22

A song to keep us warm 2:25 – 2:32

There's such a chill, such a chill 2:34 – 2:44

You can laugh 2:49 – 2:53

A spineless laugh 2:57 – 3:01

We hope your rules and wisdom choke you 3:05 – 3:20

Now we are one in everlasting peace 3:21 – 3:35

We hope that you choke, that you choke 3:36 – 3:46

We hope that you choke, that you choke 3:51 – 4:03

We hope that you choke, that you choke 4:07 – 4:18

Exit Music (For a Film) Lyrical Analysis

The song Exit Music (For a Film) by Radiohead was originally written for George A Romero’s film Romeo and Juliet; however the writer of the song (Thom Yorke) had completely different intentions than to simply write a song suited to the themes of the film. The song comes in the film in the credits although it does not feature in the soundtrack to the film by request, only their 1997 album OK Computer. This could be interpreted that it suits the concept of their record which it features in; where Thom Yorke explains the technological advance of mankind through two characters who are in love. This is considered similar to the themes of Romeo and Juliet in which the song features, yet it seems suited to both the album and film.

Thom Yorke claimed to be thinking of the 1968 adaptation of the book when writing the song. He stated ‘I saw the Zeffirelli version when I was 13 and I cried my eyes out, because I couldn't understand why, the morning after they shagged, they didn't just run away’[1] This furthermore gives the idea that the song was written with the story of their lives in his head. Although this may be the general idea given here, it is almost traditional for Radiohead to give an abstract approach to their songs in meaning and lyrically.

The general idea when most artists are asked to write a song for a blockbuster would be to suit it to the genre and attitude which comes with it. However, Thom Yorke (and Radiohead)’s intentions when creating this song was to write something which suited the style of their song writing in general and on OK Computer. Thom Yorke’s attitudes towards the ending of the film were shown heavily in the creation of this song in concluding with the line ‘we hope that you choke’ on a dreamy, shoegaze inspired climax.

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[1] Quote: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_Music_(For_a_Film)

Music Video Analysis #3

The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - Low Light Assembly

Language

The debut music video of The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is controlled by not much narrative but displaying the bands image. This is through the video featuring calming shots of the actors swimming in light green water, which is noticeable on the front cover of their album ‘Whenever, If Ever’. This reflects the bands image through their shoegaze influences and calm tempo in which they produce their songs.

In terms of cinematography, this video uses a range of long and short distance shots. This is normally to reflect the feeling which is going through those jumping into the lake through birds and worms eye shots. There are several shots which are underwater to reflect the calming feeling of swimming and floating in a lake which is as desolated as the one which is pictured. There is also usage of panning downward which is very slow to suit the mood which comes with the video and the depressing manner in which the song is presented. The editing in the music video is far from excessive where the shots only differ between the top of the cliff and under the water. Only simple transitions are used here.

Ideology

Low Light Assembly does not take any themes from the song through to the music video. The lyrical nature of the song brings ideas which are represented throughout their album Whenever, If Ever where the band are trying to keep a peaceful mind-set to the negativity around them. The ideology shown in this video is simply to enjoy the little things in life.

Institution

The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die belong to a record label named Topshelf Records which are one of the leading American labels for ambient punk and alternative rock (mainly featuring bands which converse with the 90's emo revival). This label belongs to bands such as Pianos Become the Teeth, Touche Amore and Into It. Over It..

In this sub-genre, there is often a lack of high budget music videos (if any at all). The bands which belong to this label often make it to a maximum of two videos which are always only shown online through social networking sites. Being a part of such a small independent label, they only have a small fan-base. The video was directed by Alex Henery who has a large role in the hardcore and punk scene through creating a range of video products.

Audience

Through this representation, their alternative genre is shown through simplicity where the video is used to enhance the lyrics of the song. As the band take inspiration from a variety of ambient bands using a minimalistic approach is appropriate here to appeal to their target audience. Although this area of alternative music is dominated by 90's inspired emo orientated style, the audience is often young to old adults unlike what the stereotypes give imagery for. This is primarily because of the era in which their influences came from with bands such as Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral.

Representation

There is representation shown in a variety of ways where  colours are used in the mise-en-scene of the video showing healthiness and calm whilst the actors (or band) jump into the lake. This works in convergence with the lyrical nature of the song related to appreciating where you are at any given moment. The band are shown as mellow and peaceful people in the video through these uses of mise-en-scene. This is because of the lack of intense narrative where the main focus is a group of people jumping into a lake as a basic human enjoyment. 

Music Video Analysis #2

Radiohead - No Surprises

Language

In Radiohead’s ‘No Surprises’, the video is very up front in which there is not a lot of depth to the narrative. The video features Radiohead’s front man Thom Yorke as he sings to the camera in what appears to be a helmet slowly filling up with water. In the reflection of the vocalists’ helmet, the lyrics to the song are seen as if he has not rehearsed the lyrics preceding the filming.

The use of cinematography in the video solely focuses on the vocalist’s helmet filling up with water as there are no other edits used. The shot is at an extreme close up in which his face fills the whole shot. This is to show the only thing that matters is the person in question (in terms of the theme), it is also to give a perspective on the singer as the helmet fills.

Ideology

Although this video lacks in depth; the abstract approach which Radiohead show towards their music videos (e.g. Paranoid Android), there is often hidden meanings shown behind them. In this case, it is rather suiting as the song is about giving up on an average, uneventful life and as the water starts filling up, the singer begins discussing his decline in a more ironic tone. Ultimately, the video can be interpreted as a symbol of suicide through the vocalists inability to show any change in expression following the moment his helmet fills with water.

Institution

Radiohead are signed to Capitol Records which have a lot of historical relevance in terms of alternative rock music. Following their signing of The Beatles in 1940, Capitol have signed a number of artists from different genres. This gained them a large reputation for putting out records from Nat King Cole and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The music video for No Surprises gained a response from music video institutions such as VH1 and MTV in addition to gaining 14 million+ views on YouTube.

Audience

This music video reflects the alternative genre through the themes of self-awareness and reflection in the lyrics and symbolism in the video. The text is filmed in a minimalist style which reflects the genre through the other artists in this scene which cover similar ideas (e.g. My Bloody Valentine).

Radiohead reach a number of audiences in terms of their music and imagery. This is through their representation as a classic alternative band who use a range of influences. From this perspective, it is impossible to place an age range on their target audience, although it tends to be over the age of sixteen. This is because most of their most popular songs are from the past decade and trends change in mainstream music.

Representation

The song is represented through this video by the lack of excessive editing, this is used to suit the tempo of the song. The main lyrics which represent the song appropriately are shown on screen as singer Thom Yorke sings them in tune with the song (such as 'I'll take a quiet life'). 

The band are represented in the music video through the general attitudes in which the singer appears to have little emotion in his face even whilst he is submerged in water. The video and song can be interpreted in a variety of ways including the fact that the video can be a metaphor for suicide. This gives the band a depressing outlook.

Music Video Analysis

Interpol - Evil

Language
In Interpol's video, there is no use of spoken language except the music which is playing in itself. In terms of the language of the text itself; the way that it is filmed features a steady pace to match the tempo of the song. Although, the video uses fast editing to represent what is happening in the shot in a more appropriate manner. With that said, the shots occasionally slow down to match the speed of the song and to establish the reaction of the characters in the video. Through use of cinematography, there is also often a large amount of close-ups on the main character’s face (pictured above); this is to reflect the emotion that the song tries to bring upon its audience. The whole video besides the occasional shot only includes the main character as he sings the song with the situations going on behind him. 

Ideology
In this music video, the story features a car crash (pictured right) in which the two parents involved are shown upset about the damage caused. The main character is a puppet which is shown to look like a young boy. Whilst his parents are left to sob, he sings the song and later gets rushed to hospital to receive treatment. By the end of the video the doctors leave the emergency room and he is shown dancing on the stretcher; this gives the impression that he died in the hospital yet he is not shown to be caring at any point.

Institution

In terms of institution, Interpol are signed to Matador Records who produce music from bands such as Queens of the Stone Age and Fucked Up. This shows that they distribute music from bands which are more focused on creating deeper imagery in their music than the likes of bands on major labels. The music video was directed by Charlie White who later directed the video for 'Lights' by the band on a following release.

Audience
The audience of this video would be alternative rock fans of any age from teenagers onward.The genre is represented in this video by the themes of despair and misfortune. In the post-punk area of alternative music, there is a lot of focus on negativity and downbeat, shoegaze inspired influence. Due to the nature of the lyrics in synergy with the video itself, there is a focus on trauma and tragedies which reflects the outlook that a lot of similar bands (and including Interpol) use.

Representation
The themes of the song are highlighted metaphorically by the events that occur. The nature of the song itself is about losing yourself whilst experiencing trauma, this is shown through the traumatic experience that the parents go through with the car crash and later their son being rushed to hospital (and questionably dying).

The band is represented through this video as people of a dark nature in terms of their songwriting. In their album 'Antics' which this song features in, there are a lot of songs of this nature which reflect on negative imagery. This video is partially used to represent the attitudes that their album gives off as it is their only individual release from Antics.

Music Video Brief

A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:

• a poster for the film;

• a radio trailer for the film;

• a film magazine review page featuring the film.