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Music Video Analysis - Foals

Date post: 11-Jan-2017
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MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS 1
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Page 1: Music Video Analysis - Foals

MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS 1

Page 2: Music Video Analysis - Foals

ANDREW GOODWIN – KEY IDEAS IN MUSIC VIDEOS

Here are 7 key points:

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. live performance in rock & indie bands, dance routines for pop artists/groups)

2. A relationship exists between the lyrics and the visuals (Either abstract, amplifying or contradicting)

3. There is a relationship between the music and the visuals (Either abstract, amplifying or contradicting)

4. 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 (e.g. Colour scheme or Visual style)

5. Frequent references to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic (sexual) treatment of the female body

6. There is often intertextual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc) 

7. Whether the video is primarily performance-based, narrative-based or concept-based and how element of each is used in it

Page 3: Music Video Analysis - Foals

FOALS – MY NUMBERThe video itself fits many conventions for the indie rock genre, allowing it to seem suitable & fitting to the song and its context. The whole video is

based around a live performance / gig , which is typical in the indie rock genre. Fitting this convention allows the band to portray the image of a ‘real’ band. This could be due to one of the labels demands or the band continuing to fit genre conventions.

This is emphasised by the large amount of shots of band members playing instruments at the correct points in the song, which makes up the most of the video’s shots.

(See above and below)The inclusion of many shots of the crowd continues to further this image of Foals being a ‘real band’ who do play live. This can also be related to Trevor Millum’s theory on male representation. He states that men are represented in specific ways and in the video all of the band are male and play instruments live, which shows the men are talented and ‘practical’ as it’s a skill to be able to perform live.

Page 4: Music Video Analysis - Foals

FOALS – MY NUMBER

The video also attempts to fit real life conventions, and this is most obvious during the scene which pans into the toilets. It first shows us a girl who is laid on the floor, a couple kissing (which may be a reference to voyeuristic treatment of the female body) and a group of girls taking liquid-based drugs. The shot allows the director to suggest the scenes we would expect to see at a predominantly young gig and modern youth culture in general.

Another prominent shot in the video reflecting this is the shot where a crowd member appears to be heavily under the influence (See top right), and falls back as the lyric “Far from here” (Andrew Goodwin “A relationship exists between the lyrics and the visuals”) and fades to black. This may symbolise to the viewer that even though they show substance usage in the video (Which may be seen as them condoning use), they show that too much can be dangerous.

The large panning shot is used effectively to follow a narrative throughout the video, contrasting the inside of the venue and outside. There is also a contrast which is clearly made to show the changes in the influences of drug use on both the audience members and the band. Post-production effects such as mirroring and coloured shadows are used energetically to show this, alongside a far more active crowd as the song progresses.

Page 5: Music Video Analysis - Foals

FOALS – MY NUMBER

The video and lyrics show are relationship (Andrew Goodwin) in certain parts of the song, one of the most obvious areas being the lyrics “Now the wolf is knocking at my door, bang-banging, asks for more”. This firstly shows some intertextuality (Andrew Goodwin) between the song and the children’s story ‘The Three Little Pigs’, as well as the frontman interacting with the lyrics through gestures. The lyric “knocking at my door” is accompanied as if Yannis is knocking at a door, and “bang-banging” is similarly followed with larger more violent gestures. This allows a relationship to be made with the lyrics which perhaps makes them far more memorable.

Throughout the song there are a large amount of close ups on the lead singer, alongside many side shots of him. This fits in the areas of vocals, as it engages the audience with the lyrics but may also be due to the fact that the frontman is hugely recognisable with fans. The large number of close-ups also suits genre conventions, showing that he can sing live, furthering the image of Foals as a ‘real band’. He may be a ‘symbol’ of sorts for the band, being a prominent speaker in their interviews. It also can be down to the demands of the record label, as they may feel its necessary to show their lead singer as often as possible.


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