Goodwin’s Theory

The Kooks – Naïve

Scott Woodsell

Genre

Indie - The indie genre is represented throughout the music video by the use of representation of the artist and environment of the location. The lead singer and principle character is very effective in representing the genre as he is presented with long curly hair, which is very common on the indie scene. The artist is also presented in a slim fitted leather jacket which is also seen as fashion within the indie genre and advertise the image of the band for the audience to follow. The location of the video also seems to be set in a run down possible off radar party which is common to teenagers within the indie scene as all characters in the video are represented with the same sense of dress and image. Some shots of the toilets and other scenes in the video also seem very run down and unclean which can also be very effective in relating the song back to their target audience of lower class background.

Boy band- the band, the kooks intervene during the video on a number of occasions but as they do not perform or stand out during the video, they are not well advertised to the audience and do not seem to matter as much. Although all the band members are not advertised, the audience to the band would already know the members of the band anyway and therefore know the band members already. The band are also represented similarly to the lead singer as they all follow the indie image of long curled hair with a loose neck shirt/t shirt.

Lyrics and Images

The lyrics to the single from the kooks seem to be based on the break up in a relationship by the male and female. The lyrics are used to describe how the male sees and views the male as beautiful on the outside although ugly on the inside. The video presents the male scouting around for the girl which shows that he still has feelings for the female as he also portrays the lyrics “such a smiling sweetheart” to represent the female which represents that he must still have feelings for the girl. We know that the boy and girl where once together due to shots back and forth of the male and female together in a separate location. We know that this is the female he is looking for as a long shot is taken towards the end of the video as a reaction shot is used as the female steps out of the bathroom with another man which gives the audience that they may have been up to something. This is then made more definite as the camera switches to a long reaction shot of the boy as he portrays a disappointed facial expression and looks away. Whilst this happens on screen, the lyrics “please don’t let me down” shows that he was hoping she would stay true but this was not to be as she is naïve which mirrors back to the basis of the song.

Visuals and Images

The music single to the kooks ‘Naïve’ is generally based at a slow pace which is reflected back in the music video via the rather slow cutting pace of the music video. Although the cutting rhythm and music to the video is at a slow pace, the music single tends to increase in tempo which is again related back to an increase in cutting rhythm as a faster cutting rhythm is produced.

For Example: 8 shots in 12 seconds (2.44-2.56)

Selling The Artist

The principle character to the kooks music video is the lead singer of the band, Luke Pritchard. This is important as the Lead singer is presented throughout, which can is used to represent the artist to the audience throughout the music video. The artist is represented using the indie image via the use of costume presented and also the natural image of the artist due to the long curly hair and clean shaven face.

The location is also used to represent the bands target audience as the settings are based in a very urbanised location. Research into my target audience shows that the audience are predominantly of a urban setting within the middle social class.

Notion of Looking

Throughout the music video a number of close up shots are used of the artist. When theses shots are produced, the principle male character to the video portrays a down and slightly sad facial expression. This could be used to effect ton represent the male in a good light as he is shown to keep an eye on the girl and shows that he really does have affectionate feelings for the female.

The principle character does not look into the camera during the video. This could show that the audience are not supposed to be in the location and represents his true private feelings in the video given that he plays as if he is not being watched by an audience.

Shot as male scouts for the female

Narrative Questions

1) Where is the story set? What does this tell you about the genre of the music video?2)How many principle characters?3) How is the story told?4) what questions are you left with?

1) The story is set in a number of locations but opens to a run down possible block of flats which seem to be dirty and the audience are able to notice the rubbish left on the floor in the background in the run down setting. This is effective as it follows the theory of other indie music videos as it is set in a run down, dirty and common location which relates to the audience of the indie genre.

2) The music video generally presents two principle characters, one boy and a girl. This is important as the video represents the relationship between the two principle characters.

3) The story to the video opens to a chronological story of the boys night out but then cuts back to shot of his past with the female characters. The shots from the past present romantic times between the boy and girl as the present shot represent the now relationship between the boy and girl which could represent a breakdown in their relationship/love. This is effective as it shows the attitudes of the boy and girl over time and shows the allows the audience to understand the story between the two in the present.

4) The questions I was left with from the music video are:What has happened between the boy and girl?Do the boy and girl get back together?Was the whole video based on a dream?