Analysing music video's - Bring Me The Horizon = The Sadness will never end

Analysing Music Videos

Use the following questions to analyse Music Videos.

Relevant key concepts: Genre/Audience/Codes and Conventions/USP

1. What is the purpose of a music video?

A music video is used to promote the band and the song they are performing. With this they create a short 3-5 minute “film” with the band playing in an environment that matches the song and sometimes a narrative i.e. a story that goes with the song. The video can sometimes promote a film/TV series that the song is from. In this case both the band, and the movie is being promoted and clips from the movie will be shown in a stylistic way that matches the song.

2. List the elements that make up the majority of music video.

      The band themselves

Instruments

Close-ups of at least one of the band members (especially the singer)

Lighting – matches the pace and tempo of the song

Sound

Props

Location for band and for “narrative”

Watch a selection of music video closely and answer the following questions:

3. What genre of music is this? How do you know?

Rock/heavy metal.

The name of the band (Bring me the horizon), video is slightly distorted/jumpy, close ups of singer and guitar’s. How the band is behaving (jumping, head smashing), the colours of the “video” are gothic and dark. Setting – woodland (scary). It is an angry video and the song is about revolting/rioting.

4. Comment on the style and song used.

The style is simple, jolted and distorted and mysterious. The setting and colours of the video are gothic and stereotypical for a heavy metal band. The song includes “screamers” and shouting and a lot of movement. The music is loud and boisterous. The video is quick and moves from one “scene” to the next. Constantly in movement.

5. Who do you think is the main target audience for this video? Why?

Fans who enjoy heavy metal – loud music and they are a heavy metal band.

Goths – stereotypical colours used, setting and the song itself

Girls – the whole band are guys

Fans of the band – previous music, relate to music (fans of similar genre)

Teenagers e.g. 15-21 – stereotypical and more teenagers appear to listen to this genre

6. How does the music video attempt to interest the audience?

Keep the audience entertained. The narrative behind the song tells a “story” about rebellion. The camera emphasises the movement and feeling that the audience are similarly feeling whilst watching this video. The quick cuts engage the audience into wanting to know what is going to happen in the narrative. The song itself is upbeat.

7. What atmosphere is created?

Chaotic, riot, revolution. Darkness, destruction, fighting back/fighting, being alone, anger. A feeling of “shouting out” and causing a riot.

8. Comment thoroughly on how the technical aspects: camera framing, angle, movement, editing, sound and mise-en-scene are employed within the music video.

Camera framing:     

Angle movement:   

Editing:                     

Sound:                      

Mise-en-scene:       

Do particular genres like Rock and Hip-Hop use stock methods of promotion? List these methods for two genres you can think of.