Music Video Analyses

As indie track, the overall sunbleached and soft grading used in each layer of shot is synonymous with this genre. Reverberant vocals compliment this overall aesthetic, as well as the layering of vocals starting from 1:29 mimicking the continuous use of double exposure effects; overlaying one scene into another, similar to masking an image in Photoshop. As a result, this video corresponds with Goodwin's theory that: "there is a relationship between the music and the visuals."

This video in particular really sparked my imagination for the potential of my music video, with the use of green screen and layering of clips creating this double exposure aesthetic which I really love.  Lip-syncing is used throughout this video, which is subtly evident through the layered exposures. Applying Jon Gow's 1992 theory, this video would definitely encapsulate the 'special effects extravaganza' whereby, "videos with human performance is over shadowed by spectacular imagery."

Whilst the imagery used is conventional to a music video of an indie genre, the combination of multiple exposure is seemingly unrelated to the lyrics. Under Lynch's 1984 theory, this would lead to this video being classed as conceptual in nature, with lip-syncing throughout adding the performance element.

Multiple locations are used in this video, with the lyrics "Bout time to pack my bags", "Another plane, another land", and "Never been the type to stay tied down" demonstrating a link between the lyrics and the visuals. Because it is the actual use of seemingly unrelated locations which, in Goodwin's theory "there is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals", here used to amplify the lyrics more than illustrate them (e.g. no clip of plane when 'plane' in mentioned in the lyrics).

As seen in these screenshots, the clear muted tones compliment the slightly vignetted cream background, replacing where the green screen would have been. The clip varies between mainly medium shots, to close up and long shots, which correspond with the subtle varying intensity of the song. Each shot appears to be angled slightly below the subject, which I believe is not used to conventionally portray power in this piece, but rather to heighten the possible shadows and features to be retained after the multiple exposure.

This video also somewhat applies Goodwin's theory that "there is a demand on the part of the record company for lots of close ups of the main artist/vocalist." Whilst this is not overly evident, the whole video does feature both people in the duo, demonstrating that their is a need for them to be forefront in their videos; likely due to them needing exposure. In order to further the consistency in this video, each edit falls on a beat, causing the video to be both conventional and easier to follow, with the strong beat of the track guiding the viewer through the various scenes.

Interestingly, it is largely natural forms which are featured in this video, with only the female appearing in solo shots. This could suggest a link between nature and it's feminine connotations (mother nature). As a jacket collar is evident in the previous screenshot, this shows that she is not wearing especially tight clothes, and therefore the focus here is not on the links shared between the female body and natural forms. The fact that the same images are overlaid on to both members of the band, suggest that the images were most likely selected to correspond with the stereotypical indie genre, appealing to their target audience of younger 16-25 year old females, who will stereotypically be attracted to this aesthetic.  

Similar to the concept of Vance Joy's Riptide video, this video by Young Liars mainly follows Goodwin's theory that "there is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals" with each line interpreted within the piece. The video also includes some subtle stop-motion elements which both illustrate various sequences (boots moving along floor) as well as exaggerating and fragmenting the various zooms used to illustrate the performance elements. A quite unconventional use of stop motion in that it is not used as a pure animation element, I really admire the consistency and almost smoothness that I could definitely use in my video.

Visual effects are also utilised, with the shot below demonstrating what would otherwise be a fairly rigid composition of the man playing the guitar, made more visually exciting through the addition of repeating the image three times in the same sequence. This was likely done through a split screen, and would not be unachievable in my own project as long as the background remains as clean as possible, preventing the viewer from seeing the join.

The clean and slightly muted colour grading is synonymous once again with indie music videos, as well as including elements such as the older window frame rather than a modern one, conventional to the indie genre's stereotypical retro style. However, their outfits are quite modern, and white is a colour which is considered to be fresh, perhaps fitting with what the indie genre encompasses; higher quality music with borrowed retro sounds.

This video also utilises multiple exposure in parts, with more of the artist visible. Presumably the contrast and transparency was set differently for this particular video, but this does show the possibilities of multiple exposure technology. As multiple exposure is evident quite coincidentally in both of the videos I have studied, the process is now a definite consideration for my video, and I want to test this feature using a green screen and Adobe After Effects rather than Premiere Pro.