Music Video Research

Lazarus - David Bowie

What I liked:

- Abstract, poetic visuals with a tragic message

- Grey dull colour palette

- Shadowy lighting

- Fits the message of the song poetically

Dead Inside - Muse

- Edgy dance to the song adds lots of energy

- Flour/powder on the floor and drums creates some powerful imagery

- Edgy costume and styling choices (bandages around head, black contact lenses)

Wait On Me - Rixton

What I liked:

- 1920s theme with modern anachronisms depicted with Mise-En-Scene (e.g. headphones, microphones), black white and gold colour scheme

- Silent movie style - title cards are used for dialogue and for opening and closing titles

- Narrative of a singer invited to a party who has an affair with the host's wife

- Use of archetypes - the femme fatale, the security guard, the kingpin boss

- Alternative ending is given

- Dramatic slow motion

Wide Open - The Chemical Brothers

What I Liked:

- Incorporation of dance is intriguing and serves the music well

- Poetic transformation

- The long takes that capture all the action are exciting.

- Warehouse setting is really atmospheric

Born To Die - Lana Del Rey

What I Liked:

- Striking colour palette and lighting
- Cross-cut narrative is intriguing
- Bizarre, beautiful visuals (eg. the tigers, the manor house setting)
- Downbeat ending fits the music well and is powerful - the woman dies in a car crash

(Honorable Mention)

I found this trailer for the Netflix series Sense8 that although not a real music video does effectively function as a music video for "Need You Tonight" by Welshley Arms and contained some imagery and visuals I found inspiring:

What I Liked:

- The overlayed, transparent footage reflected was really creative and beautiful
- Interesting green and red colour palette
- Editing work is really fascinating

Last Year's AS Music Videos

My favourite music videos from last year's AS Music Videos

1. Bad Company - Jaws

The silent movie styling of this music video was really striking and it's engaging abstract story and comic elements kept it interesting to watch the whole way through. It had excellent lighting and some nice links to classic Hammer horror movies. The jump cuts, shifts in speed and boxed in aspect ratio looked great and the music fit the dark music quite well.

2. River - Bishop Briggs

In close second, this video employed some thought-provoking visuals and its use of bright bold colours and projection made it interesting to look at. It's technically excellent and quite effective in its  final scene if a little forward in its connection to the titular river. The shots throughout add an affecting sense of nostalgia and its overall very effective.

3. It's Only - ODESZA

While the story wasn't particularly interesting or well-paced, the music video made up for it in its well-filmed shots of Ilkley Moor. The drone shots looked really powerful as did the steady cam.

Welcome

Welcome to my A2 Media Studies blog. I hope you enjoy the upcoming content.