THE S

TRUTS

– COULD

HAVE B

EEN ME A

NALYSIS

EL L E

AH

ST A

NT

ON

This clip is a narrative and performance clip, defined by Sven Carlsson. The narrative aspect of the video involves the protagonist going about his daily life and seeing an opportunity arise (in the form of a woman) . The video then revolves around the day/life that he could have had if he had plucked up the courage to pursue the woman of his dreams. Two types of performance clips are used in the video, one of the whole band playing and then one of individual band members using close ups or conspicuous lighting.

The band are shown to be extremely exuberant in their stage presence, particularly the lead singer, which shows that this music video’s primary function is ultimately to promote the band’s live performances.

The concept of the video matches the lyrics to the song because the lyrics talk about how he wants to live a full life of danger, love and emotion with no regrets, “don’t wanna look back and say, could have been me.” The general ethos of the song is about grabbing the opportunities that arise, and even seeking out new chances to better yourself. I think that the directors really capture this idea in the music video with the dream like editing, lighting and mise en scene.

Narrative

Performance

The lyric “Don't wanna live as an unsung melody” is possibly a clear link to the singers own experiences in the music industry. This song can be interpreted to be about Luke’s musical career, and the struggle with radio play alongside the long road to success as a band. This idea is portrayed through the use of performance clip as he is shown against a blaring light, creating his silhouette, symbolising his struggle against the mainstream music industry and the band’s persistence to glory. This type of imagery is used throughout the video, all showing the fantasies and dreams of Luke’s character.

GENREThe Struts are a rock band from Derby, they call themselves “glamourous indie rock n

roll”. Their music and ethos is influenced by Queen and The Rolling Stones and their songs have anthemic tinge to them.

This music video stays tightly within the conventions of a rock music video which are:

-Lead singer is almost always the main focus

-The videos have a hidden/deeper meaning to them

-Follow a story or narrative to match the song/lyrics

-Break in the video for dialogue to match the narrative

-Instrumental breaks

-Dark, low lighting and often set at night.

The lead singer, Luke Spiller, plays the protagonist and fills most of the performance shots.

This music video doesn’t necessarily have a hidden message as the meaning of the song is laid out quite plainly and obviously, however there is a deep meaning of self motivation.The video follows a narrative yet doesn’t follow the convention in break in the video for dialogue. It does however have a part at the beginning without music with diegetic sound of birds etc.There are no instrumental breaks in the song, however the instruments are shown through close up shots to emphasise the performance element to the video.

MISE-EN-SCENEIn the beginning of the video, the character is shown

gardening, presumably employed by the large mansion owner. His clothes are plain and fit for purpose. These clothes aren’t regarded as dream like or flattering symbolising the fact that this character does not want to be in this job. His dreams are connoted through his excessive use of jewellery on the job, which show that his dreams are still at the fore front of his mind, but are hard to reach. The massive house behind him is shown to have elaborate metal work, large pillars and balconies. The house represents, along with the women, this dream of bigger and better things, either in the music industry, mentally, or economically.

The women are shown in little and seductive clothing when the character lays eyes on them, which symbolises his lust and desire for a relationship. Even the robe one of the girls is wearing is bright red, which connotes lust.

When the character finally goes into the house, he is shown using a medium shot from the inside of the doors opening them. The light is pouring in from behind him, engulfing him slightly, resembling his transition into his dream world. He then picks up two items, one a cane with an elaborate silver décor on the top and another a hat with gold trimmings, both representing his dreams and aspirations.

The setting that he then walks into is very traditional chic which is a popular style among rock culture and is often used in rock music videos.

He is then shown putting on eye liner after changing into different more stylish clothes in the form of a black vest top. The eye liner is symbolic of his transformation into the man he wants to be. It is also iconographic of rock music and culture, again conforming to the conventions of rock music videos.

Then a long shot is used to show the room in which he is applying his make up. Ait is stylishly clustered, carrying on the theme from the previous room shown in the house. It has a large house plant, a large bed and gold plated objects, all reminiscent of a wealthy Victorian house but with a stylish modern twist.

The Leather Jacket: The jacket is used as a reccuring motif through out the video. When the dream begins to occur, the performance clips show him wearing the jacket which is clearly the musical dream that the character is dreaming of.

After he and the woman have finished rolling around on the bed together, representing his sexual desires, the woman puts the leather jacket on his back then walks off frame. This could be a sign of possession and how he is now part of her world and she is now part of his. She is giving him this new status of a ‘rock god’, so to speak, by giving him the most iconic rock piece of clothing.

In the shot of the whole band sat around the table, he wears the jacket with grace and proudness, accepting this new role of the ‘rock god’ and embracing it. A degree of arrogance is shown in their facial expressions, which could connote their sense of achievement, matching the visuals to the lyrics about chasing your dreams and honing them. The lighting is extremely dark

throughout the dream world section of the video, which is slightly strange as one would normally associate light with dreams. However the use of dark conspicuous lighting creates the rock n roll style atmosphere that the band desire to achieve.

EDITING

A dream like atmosphere is created using various editing effects including slow motion, jump cut and fade.

The slow motion is used at the start of the video when the women are walking out of the building to the car. Low angle shots of their boots are edited to look like they are walking in slow motion. This gives the effect of admiration. The audience imagines this is how the male character is seeing the women as they seem unreal and dream like. Slow motion is used in this way repeatedly through the video to emphasise the dream world.

Fade transitions are used as the character gets closer to the woman, again creating this fantasy-like atmosphere. Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory applies here, the director has depicted this woman from a masculine point of view by making her seem like a fantasy.

Jump cuts are used in this section of the video too, enhancing the make believe scenario and the characters eagerness to live the life he wants.

Parallel editing is used to show the narrative aspects apart from the performance parts of the video.

The amount of screen time that the main character/ lead singer gets is large, which ultimately creates the Star Image. Artists want to construct a unique persona to remain appealing to the audience, and the best way for them to do this is through music video.

When this editing is put together with the use of extravagant costume and a charismatic performance, a star image is born.

Michael Shore:

He said that music videos are an information overload of pictures and views of adolescent male fantasies. This theory could be applied here as the women are portrayed in quite a sexual and seductive way. He also said music videos contain power, wealth and girls, which is clearly evident in this song through the use of the large mansion, the seductive women and the central powerful stature the lead singer takes in the performance clips.

Camera WorkIn the clips of the band performing, the lead singer is central in the frame and a close up shot is used so that his face takes up the majority of the frame.A handheld camera is used to shoot the scenes in front of the light and the scenes with the woman in the house. This gives the video a natural feel, as if the relationship between the couple is pure. It could also connote uncertainty as the character is stepping into a world the audience can only assume he has dreamed of.

PROMOTIONAL MEDIAAt the start of the video, the production company logo is

shown, then a credit reading ‘a film by Rhys Frampton, then ‘in conjunction with Jeffery West, then the name of the band and the title of the song. It is treated as if it was the opening to a film which is something I may adapt when I come to filming my own music video. It creates a bigger sense of a narrative and storyline which may intrigue the audience more.

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