Thursday 18 June 2009

Conventional Music Video-(Strokes)



The Strokes- You Only Live Once.


I believe this video is a conventional video as the mise-en-scene of the music video itself seems to fit with a Narrative which links to the name of the song and combines in with the lyrics as well. The shot you see in the opening of the sequence is the band in a small room that looks a bit like the inside of a submarine, all wearing white outfits with their instruments to hand. The lighting is a feature you are immediately drawn too as it is very bright light illuminating the bands all white outfits. Their is a number of very quick cuts through out the music video, although in the opening they are more frequent, cutting to and from each member of the band, also drawing attention to the big holes in the side of the room. A fish eye camera lens is used from about 0:45 onwards this gives the effect of people closer being bigger than people further away, The lead singer Julian Casablancas is always the biggest (at the front) showing his importance in the band.

At about 0:57 as the song drops into the chorus, oil begins to run out of the holes on either side of the wall, there is a very interesting contrast you are automatically drawn too, that a think black staining liquid is beginning to fill up the room, where there is electrical equipment, musical instruments but most importantly the whole band are wearing white outfits. My perception of this contrast is that the song is about only living once so they have a i don't really care attitude, they don't mind their white outfits and instruments getting ruined. They continue to play without a care in the world despite being submerged by oil. They battle against the oil, trying to carry on playing their instruments, lifting their guitars above the liquid, and at later stage 2:45 they even use their instruments (guitars) and push them against holes to try and stop the oil torrent. Eventually the oil completely submerges them, with a wonderful close up shot of lead singer lifting one finger to his lips as he sings final line.

At the end of the video, all that can be seen is the bright lights shining down on the glinting oil surface with a few instruments floating on its surface and the lead singer face down seemingly dead. I believe that the narrative and song title link brilliantly with a simple message of make the most of it because you only live once.


First blog of Music Industry A2 Unit

This is my new media for the A2 unit of the course which is based around the music industry. There will be certain sections in particular we will be focusing on the effect of music market and industry as a whole, and the development of new technologies, we will also be looking at the use of music to form personal and group identities.