6 Features of Music Videos
The music video I have chosen to talk about is Son Lux- Change is Everything
1.Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).
What is the genre of the music video you have been allocated?
I have chosen the song Son Lux-Change is Everything and this music video falls into the genre of alternative. Alternative fits this music video as it match with the trades given to that genre.
What are the associations with this genre of music generally?
There is two associations with alternative music videos, the first one is that the video contains strange and creative ways to bring the lyrics to life and the second one is that what is shown in the music video is still creative and interesting but has nothing to do with the lyrics and or the atmosphere given from the song.
Does this music video reinforce the expectations of this genre?
This music video does reinforce the expectations of the genre alternative because the artist has cleverly used pins and string to create intriguing moving images that relate to the lyrics and the beats within the song.
2.There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustration, amplification or contradiction).
Describe the content of the music video - what happens?
The whole video consists of black pins and strings that have been placed and captured to create moving images that show the story of the song while including the lyrics being sung. There is a range of different shapes being formed by the string and moved to the beats of the song, there is some objects and images being shown that do not connect with the lyrics and there is some parts within the music video that shows the face of the singer lip syncing to the lyrics.
What is the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals? Is this a music video
The only relationship between the lyrics and the visuals are the short parts within the music video that show the singer lip syncing to the song, the other visuals shown have no connection to the lyrics but some do connect with the beats of the song.
which illustrates, amplifies or contradicts the lyrics?
This music video contradicts the lyrics because the video does in fact show the faces lip syncing the lyrics but all the objects and images used do not all match the lyrics. At the same time the video illustrates the lyrics at certain points for example, when he sings 'break free' a dove or an animal running highlights the idea of being free or when the heart beat monitor is heard pins are shown to move as a heart beat. On the other hand the video amplifies the song as the flower, mountain view, TV, window etc do not connect with the lyrics but they all do connect with the idea of 'changing' what is a clear message within the lyrics.
3.There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustration, amplification or contradiction).
What is the relationship between the music and the visuals?
The visuals illustrate the music completely as the range of different shapes move along to the beats of the music , the faces move to the volume of the music and the other visuals move and are shown to the tones of the music.
Does the pace of the editing reflect the pace of the music? What kind of atmosphere is
created through the visuals?
The editing has carefully been edited to the pace of the music which helps connect the video to the beats and lyrics of the song. There is a magical and upbeat atmosphere created through the visuals complimented by the music and this helps makes the music video interesting to watch and listen to.
Is there any lip-syncing used?
Even though there is not real people shown in the music video there is lip-syncing used by the pins and strings creating moving mouths and faces that lip-syncing the lyrics perfectly.
4.The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
This rule does not apply to this music video as there is no shots of the artist in this video. The only way the artist is slightly portrayed is with the pins and strings forming his face and mouth. I think this is because the artist wants to separate himself from the video and make sure that the viewer concentrates more on the song then himself.
5.There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
Is there any evidence of 'looking' as described above? What purpose do you think this
serves?
The only visual within this music video that may apply to this is the pin and string TV that has moving mouths and shapes with in the screen.
6.There are often intersexual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.).
Are there any references, either direct or indirect, made to other media texts?
In this music video there is not references shown. I think the director chose to do this to make the video more unique and connected to the music.
