MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS

USING GOODWIN’S THEORY

Bethany Carter

SUB FOCUS – TIDAL WAVE FT ALPINES

TAKEN FROM SUB FOCUS’S ALBUM ‘TORUS’

1. MUSIC VIDEOS DEMONSTRATE GENRE CHARACTERISTICS There is a woman who is singing the lyrics of the song, she is seen in various locations around the coast relating to the song. She is dressed up to look very glamorous. The girl is called Catherine Pockson of Alpines who have collaborated with Sub Focus to create this song. She isn’t the only person on screen as it also shows Nick Douwma, also known as his stage name Sub Focus. He is seen in a similar the girl is presented with special effects and editing waves into the picture. He doesn’t sing the lyrics. This fits the genres characteristics by having a female artist and male artist to feature in the video singing the lyrics. They are equally shown as much on screen which promotes them equally.

2. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS. THE LYRICS ARE REPRESENTED WITH IMAGES

The lyrics of the song based around the theme of ‘Tidal waves’ and relate to the ocean. Most of the shots in the video are on location of the beach and waves which relate to the title of the song. In the lyrics of the song she sings about love and how it feels like a wave washing over her. There isn’t a storyline to this in the video, but showing her singing the lyrics creates the idea its her relating the problems like a ‘tidal wave’. Nearly all the shots are on this location of the beach and the sea. There are more shots in different view points of different of waves crashing, the visuals are showing off the lyrics and theme.

3. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MUSIC AND VISUAL. THE TONE AND ATMOSPHERE OF THE VISUAL REFLECTS THAT OF THE MUSIC.

The cuts and edits of the video are in sync with the rhythm and beat of the song matching cuts and effects. The build up in the song is portrayed on screen by using quick shots of different images, which changes on the beat of the song. For example, right before the drop it shows the waves crashing which mimics the beat of the song at this point. The visuals and song connects especially when the beat drops, the waves move to fit the tempo of the song which is aesthetically pleasing.

When the beat drops, this shot shows the tempo with the wave crashing at the same tempo as the song.

3. All the cuts are in sync with the beats of the song. The editing also made so two shots overlap with each other which gives a good visual effect. It links the shots together smoothly, also giving it an abstract effect.

Another example of the visuals fitting with the music is at the beginning where there is a one strong beat, the video visually shows this with a foot hitting the sandy floor at the same time.

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)

The music video shows the theme of the ocean/rocky scenery which is a very similar setting to the image of Sub Focus’s front cover for their album. By using the same location, it promotes the album through the video as it has occurring images as themes for the artist. Sub Focus ‘Torus’ album

cover

The style that is recur across their work is the motif shown at the end of the music video. This is also the main image on Sub Focus’s album cover. The image is also used across his other songs in their artwork. It stamps his mark on each of his songs, and is recognisable image to the artist

Also featuring both of the artists in their own video promotes themselves as artists. As they haven’t just used actors to be shown for their music, it makes them representative to their song.

5. THERE IS FREQUENTLY REFERENCE TO NOTION OF LOOKING (SCREENS WITHIN SCREEN, MIRRORS, STAGES, ETC) AND PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTIC TREATMENT OF THE FEMALE BODY

They way they have represented both artists in the video its in the notion of them looking out into the ocean and looking for each other. As its only until the end where they are both shown on the same screen. As they are both shown on screen by themselves it reaches out to both genders of the audience. There is both a strong male and female gaze. The male gaze is more obvious as the camera lingers on the females curves in the video, showing of her body.

FEMALE GAZE Not only does the video show off the artist Alpines, it also shows off Sub Focus as well. It doesn’t show him off in a sexual object but it shows of the artists personal looks. It makes him more recognisable to the audience.

TYPE OF MUSIC VIDEO The music video would be classed as a performance. Both the artists are shown in the video, with the female singer lip syncing to the track. Its shown mixed with other shots so its not all sung.

I would also say the video is also slightly conceptual as its set in an unusual setting. Also the theme is very strange, as it uses special effects to create the sub focus symbol at the end, which isn't clear on what it is or doesn't make much sense. It allows the audience to put their own their own meaning to the video as the song fails to give us the whole narrative. The artist is both narrator and participant which increases the authenticity but the lip sync remains the heart of the video.

THOUGHT BEATS You can see the sound in the cuts and edits of the shots. There are quick shots during the faster bits and build up. The chorus has a change of shot as it slows right down with the visuals and shot changes.

They have a unique voice to the song, as Alpines is a unique artist. Sub focus also has his own style and by collaborating they have created a unique song. The artist have both used their own touches in the video, the Girl has a large majority of the song lip –syncing as she sung the vocals. Sub Focus also has large touches to the video with the location and symbols which link to his album