Typical Synopsis of 4 Indie Pop/Rock Music Videos

The 1975 - Settle Down 

The music video is completely black and white and is set in a working class industrial town. The video features 3 main scenes, two include a storyline following two boys who are being kept by their parents at home or with them at work. The other scene is of who we can assume is the lead singer. I think he is one of the older boys grown up, walking back through his old town, reminiscing of the shots shown. I interpret the story line as the two boys being in love, and despite the gay prejudice they receive from their parents who are trying to keep them apart, and the church, they still want to be together, defeating them (the falling). This gave me the idea of maybe using a child to represent my artist in some shots of my music video.



Paramore - Ain't It Fun
This music video has more of an unconventional story with the band trying to break as many world records as possible in a music video- for example: fastest time to smash 30 clocks with guitars, most vinyl records broken in a minute and most cartwheels done in 20 seconds while wearing boots. There are some lip synced shots including all 3 band members not doing any tasks but this is the only deviation from the main goal of breaking world records. (The record is now 10.) I could use these types of tasks seen in the music video as shots in my own to add some un-conventional themes to the story line. 



Coldplay - Midnight
A 1920s tune in the introduction introduces the plot of a 1920s magic show. The lyrics link to the plot line of the video as the lead singer talks about 'not want[ing] anyone else but you' as he is in love with his boss (the magicienne) but unfortuanetley, he cannot be with her until he makes her husband disappear. At the end of the music video, there is a dramatic plot twist, that he can actually perform magic instead of tricking the audience by using allusion - I could use this same idea in my own. 


5 Seconds of Summer - She Looks So Perfect 
There is no direct link (like Paramore's video) to the lyrics and the videos plot line accept for the in the chorus the line 'in my american Apparel underwear' where people strip to their underwear. The music video has a 'self pride' message with people of all ages, sexes and sizes striping near naked, exuberating with confidence.
Lots of close up shots of each band member lip syncing / playing are what we inter to do for out music video. 

Updated Story Board and Lyric Brainstorm

9 Frame Analysis of 'Foundations' by Kate Nash

Kate Nash - Foundations

• 1s long
• The first shot appears on first beat and then changes quickly on next
• Cassette tape - very retro which links to the genre

• 1s long
• Appears on the second beat and changes quickly on the next
• The blue and pink toothbrush represent a male and female - linking to the theme of lyrics

• This is a longer shot lasting 3s
• This time there is an action in the shot appearing on beat changing the pattern shown previously
• This shot of her shoes lined up neatly are ruined by his football introducing a theme that runs throughout the video of their confilcting relationship

• 1s long
• The shot changes on the beat
• Represents two characters, one on the right we are yet to see. 
• They are playing a game - this may represent that they are playing a game also in their relationship

• 1s long  
• The music contradicts visual (rule 4) because the tempo has quickened while the video shows the woman looking bored.
• Close up of artist abides by rule 6 - demands of the record label. 
• Her exasperated look confirms the earlier suggested theme

• 2s long
• The action in this shot is a dice hitting a table on the beat, emphasizing it 
• The action of the die hitting the table is quite violent and emphasizes the lyrics which have the theme of a slightly violent, argumentative relationship. 

9 Frame Analysis of 'Don't Stop' by 5 Seconds of Summer

Collage - 'Indie-Rock'

In our music video we plan on showing shots of real action playing of instruments, performances of the 'band' playing the song and having 'qwerky' ideas to portray the lyrics like in the images above of The Killers (middle) and Kate Nash (left).

Conventions of Music Videos -Andrew Goodwin

Goodwin’s Theory is based on 8 main principles.

1. Links between the lyrics and visuals - the video describes some parts, if not all of the song visually. These links can compliment, contradict or amplify the lyrics. 


2. Genre characteristics - certain traits associated with the genre will always be seen. For example, a rock music video = live band performance, dance routines = girl/boy groups.


3. Intertextual references- references to films, tv programmes or other music videos. 


4. Notions of Looking - direct gaze, other people looking at artist, insight into artists life, screens and mirrors


5. Voyeurism - men or women being portrayed sexually 


6. Demands of the Record Label - certain demands from the record label that the artist must uphold, for example, close ups of the artist in music videos and portraying a certain image (Lady Gaga, always looking wacky)


7. Relationship between music and video - often illustrative but could amplify or contradict the music 


8. The artist may develop motifs or iconography the recur across their work

Lorde - Royals

Lorde obeyed nearly all the conventions of music videos accept for conventions 5 and 8. She did not have any visible motifs or iconography that I recognised linking to her. She didn't have any obvious examples of voyeurism although she did have to men shirtless which could be counted?

30 Seconds to Mars - Up in the Air

30 Seconds to Mars we able to abide to all 8 of the conventions having a coin with their emblem and name in the first shots, several shots of the lead singer Jared Leto's face abiding by the record label's demands and live band performance, typical of a rock video.

Coldplay - Paradise

Coldplay didn't have any close ups of the artists face as it was soul-y about a person in a elephant suit, defying convention 6. They didn't show any motifs or have any voyeurism but did have a live performance scene which abides by rule 2. 

Award Winning Indie-Rock Music Videos

LORDE - Royals 

Award Show: MTV VMAs 2014
Award: Best Rock

In Lorde's video, it follows the basic narrative of the song; about their life being so mundane and basic.The first shot is an establishing shot which is circular as it is also at the very end but reversed, showing how their life repeats itself.

There a several shots of just her against a plain background lip syncing but everyone is different: either from different angles or distances making the video more interesting.

There is an awkward long shot near the end of the song at 2:18 that lasts for 26 seconds while she makes awkward eye contact with the camera. I've called this 'awkward' because it was very awkward to watch being used to the quick editing beforehand. However, we liked this idea and many use it in our video but maybe not for so long.

30 SECONDS TO MARS - Up in the Air

Award Show: MTV VMAs 2013

Award: Best Rock

At the beginning of the video we see the musicians dramatically walking towards their instrument, matching the tempo and tone of the introduction- setting a mood for the audience.

Differing from Lorde's, the shot changes with the beat, sometimes staying on the same shot for two counts at a time.

When the chorus is played "I wrap my hands so tight around your neck with love", the actor/ess in the  shot it miming the words and acting out the action of placing their hands around their neck. This is the only time where the video directly imitates the song.

COLDPLAY - Paradise

Award Show: MTV VMAs 2012

Award: Rock

The music video has a comedic value with the main character dressed as an elephant, escaping from a zoo and running around London. 

The chorus turns the video into a lyric video with the character holding up pieces of cardboard with lyrics on it as the song plays that line or phrase. We may want to use this technique during our verses. 

Like the 30 Seconds to Mars video, the shots change with the beat of the music. This seems to be a current occurrence sue to the genre having such a definite beat and rhythm. 

The video is also illustrative of the music, talking about escaping to a 'paradise'. We plan to take this approach quite literally in our music video.