I have chosen to analyse the song ‘Spanish Sahara’ by the indie/alternative rock band Foals – I was initially interested in what the music video would be like for this song as I love the actual song a great deal so I have been intrigued for a long time to analyse the actual music video. The music video is rather dark and haunting… I believe it follows the narrative style as it would seem the protagonist (which is the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Yannis Philippakis) we as the audience can watch upon the protagonist pulling a bag out of the see with rope around it, it follows the conceptual style here and steering away from performance style… It leaves us asking what is in the bag? Why is it so important?

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But as more focus draws upon the bag it leads us to believe it may be a body bag through the skin and blood perhaps showing through the bag; this can therefore link to the lyrics; “now I see you lying there, like a lilo losing air.” This has very dark connotations definitely something I wont be following with my own music video. Then we watch upon the protagonist frequently looking at the camera and singing, this can link to the performance aspect of the music video. The depth of field, rule of thirds shot allows it to be a very interesting and artistic shot even when he stands in front of the fire there are orangey colours glowing upon his face changing the mood to a more dramatic feel throughout.

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The music video then follows onto the protagonist burning the body in flames that is rather shocking for the viewer and arguably contrasting the title of the song, ‘Spanish Sahara’ one would believe the music video would follow the narrative filmed in a Sahara desert or something along those lines; but it actually completely contrasts to this and is filmed in the cold snowy hills. I feel it is rather unexpected. The music video follows the conceptual style due to the fact it has frequent aperture shots of the scenery especially the icy floor, it allows it to be more interesting – this is something I want to follow through with for my own music video.Overall I feel it is a very successful music video and in one sense rather beautiful and strange but the story can be argued to be interpreted how people like, it isn’t really set in stone; but does link to the lyrics well which I feel is very effective. Although I doubt my music video will follow a specific narrative, I merely want to stick to performance and conceptual styles but I do want it to have interpretations of what my audience would want to make from it. this specific music video is good to analyse as it links to my genre well and very closely although I doubt mine would be as dark as this one – I aim for it to be rather uplifting and happy it is a good music video to contrast to my own in the analysis as I aim for them to be both similar to each other and different. I am happy with the analysis of this music video as it is very interesting and unique which I want my own music video to radiate, as well as the indie style which goes along side the alternative cinematography.