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.