Video AnalysisBarenaked LadiesIt’s been

Instantly you can tell the genre is indie rock as from the start you hear guitars, the colours and handheld cameras are all shown a lot in indie videos. As soon as the vocals kick in it shows the band which is a common thing in this genre. The parties and loads of people about is not often used along with the band playing in the same place, normally the band plays and then cuts to a different shot of the party, but this music video challenges this and puts them in the same place.

The song hints at the fact its all been done, perhaps to create the idea that they are the same as other indie groups but they use other video techniques that aren’t usually shown in the clique band videos. The Barenaked Ladies use the animals about the party to show what they see rather than what the audience would normally see. This is an interesting way of showing the band and still stays with the genre, as they use different ideas in their videos.

Genre

• The Narrative was meant to be about a change in the way things are done, and to do this they have the camera as the household pets (Cat, Dog, Fish and Bird). This change in cameras shows you that they are amongst the people as well so they see this too. This video was filmed in the former house of the comedian Andrew Dice Clay, which helped the narrative as its meant to be remotely funny concept with the animals.

Narrative

Representation

• The video represents the way that animals are part of the video and the peoples lives, they are used to show the audience how they see people at a house party. The age of the band are middle aged and in their 40s so their songs and videos are aimed at people of the age, but other cultures and nationalities do like these songs.

• The representation of the way people act in society is show in this video as they are at a party and people act different as they are more social and relaxed. This is portrayed through a very clique and Stereotypical way as you normally expect from people at a party, but the intermix of the pets are a different and new way to look at the party.

Media language

• The mise en scene in this video are more based on formal house parties so they dress up in smart/casual suits and have the drinks, pool, celebrity’s house. These are the props that are backing up what is going on and really give a sense of place.

• The use of camera in this video are different to other videos as its mostly handheld cameras at a low angle to represent the household pets watching the party. Then later in the video they use a high angle for the escaped bird which makes good use of this camera work

• The editing in this video at one point when the camera is in the perspective of the gold fish the sound is muffled as water bubbles past the shot. There is a lot of eyeline matches to the camera as if the people are petting the animals.

• Most of the sound in the video is the actual song although they do add some ambient sounds in which are there to make you think the animals are part of the video.