Using Andrew Goodwin TheologyBy Harry Pattison

Music Video Analysis

Andrew Goodwin: 7 Key areas to identify

1 Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). 2 There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 3 There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 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). 5 There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.6 The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)7 There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc).

Aiden Grimshaw: Virtually Married

Aiden Samuel Grimshaw (born 4 December 1991), also known simply as Aiden, is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He successfully made it to the live shows and finished ninth in the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010. After his elimination, Grimshaw was signed by RCA Records.On 3 June 2012, he released his debut single "Is This Love", which debuted at number 35 on the Uk Singles Chart. His debut album Misty Eye was released on 20 August 2012 and reached number 19 on the UK Albums Chart.

After a year long absence from Music following the Aiden EP, Grimshaw uploaded an image to his Twitter page with the caption 'New Music’, On 30 July 2015, he unveiled a new track called Virtually Married under his original name of Aiden Grimshaw. The track was written by Grimshaw, Dan Dare, Paul Harris & MEMEB, the latter was also producer of the track, Virtually Married was met with positive reviews from fans and many of them believe that this is Grimshaws 'come back' track. The song tells a story of the lead singer chasing after a girl he is into. The entire video is a lyric video meaning that every lyric is displayed in time with the music so the audience know what the song is going to say before it is even said.

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). 

Andrew Goodwin’s theory indeed states that each genre of music video state the same characteristics, Aiden Grimshaw’s Virtually married is a sort of Indi-dance song, here are some examples of features of this song that conform to its genre characteristics. The genre characteristics for this sort of music video is a very slow calm video with not a lot going on plot wise, the odd exception being songs such as Duke Dumont's “I got U”. The colour scheme will be very dark is and the shots will be very edgy and aesthetically pleasing. Often telling a short story just through a few well placed and timed shots.

A key convention of Indie dance music videos are that of the use of clever shots that often show completely different shots then you are used to seeing in common pop videos. This is done to reflect the individual nature of the song and therefore showing its massive difference to the so called “norm” in which the audience will rebel away from.

Here are two examples taken from the music video

Another key convention is the way that the video is edited, in this video there is not a single special effect cut its very short

and abrupt, this is common in the indie genre for dance music. As it is mostly fast paced are trying to different to the

big pop songs.

Here is an example of two screenshots taken in the clip, the top of which then cuts to the bottom, nothing fancy

but follows genre characteristics

Also another genre characteristic shown in the video is used through the use of colour scheme. During this music video the colours used don't change massively as they use dark bland colours then contrasting with the colour of the lyric helping the lyrics to be highlight using the use of contrast. This is different to many music videos meaning it sticks to the genre conventions of trying to be different. Also the use of certain colours helps also to create a mood and effect to the audience, the colour used in the music video helps the audience the relax and enjoy the visual experience of the well placed shots within relation to the good music.

Finally the last convention that i see displayed in this music video which links it directly is obtained through the use of setting and also costume. This helps to add again a vibe that relates to the music. The setting used is very pictures and good for framing nice shots but also shows the characters strong bond as they are shown to be living all in the same house, this paints the convention of this band sort of against the world as they are all sticking together against all of the mainstream media music. Also the costumes used are very indie clothing that will be seen as very trendy, also the haircuts. This helps the audience to relate to this music video as they either aspire to be like this brand or dress similarly. This all fits the genre conventions.

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)

Aiden Grimshaw’s lyrics paint a picture of a man who is chasing a women, and not being very successful. The music video itself doesn't paint too much off a narrative compared to other videos such as Coldplay’s “paradise”. But it does indeed hold some subtle links to the lyrics. An example of which being the final shot in the whole music video showing that girl finally replying to his text. Here is the

example. But just because the narrative of the lyrics isn't 100% linked in the video it doesn't mean that the lyrics on a whole also don't link with the video. this is not the case. The lyrics in my opinion link very well with the video. This is because they create the same vibe making them work hand in hand. This is

helped massively through the use of displaying the lyrics primarily. But also because of the shots illustrative nature. This being apparent as it the shots show the main singer to be not too fussed about

life in general through his actions, highlighted through special effects such as slow motion.

The last shot in the music video Coldplay paradise

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

The way that the video is edited suggests that the music does indeed form a relationship with the

visuals. This is because as the music changes mood or pace so does the cutting speed. But it sticks to the

rule of still only using cross cuts in order to maintain genre convention. The visuals also at the beginning of

the video suit the start of the song as the music and lyrics talk about the way that the characters are on bit

of a come down and a reality check. So the visuals show them lumbering around in their apartment.

The visuals also show a very strong relationship with the music as the music is produced by Aiden Grimshaw and he is definitely the key focus of the whole video as the visuals are 90% of the time focused on him and his actions. The visuals portray him as the male counterpart in the narrative of the music. Again showing the audience that he is the singer and possibly songwriter, making him the only focus of the video with a few features of his ‘mates’ in the narrative. Visuals of Aiden Grimshaw

Early featured shots in the video

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). 

As this is one of few songs produced by Aiden Grimshaw his producer/record label will use his music videos in order for him to form his own unique style and brand in order for him to gain more of a

following. This is done through the use of his costume and also his general appearance in his videos. You can see clearly that when directing this music video the producers/record label have thought about

developing his motifs. They have done this sheerly through the amount of close ups used showing his facial appearance through close ups. Also medium shots that show off his fashion. The whole music video from start to finish follows the story of Aiden showing who he associates with and the way he lives. This is all used to develop motifs and is orchestrated by not only the artist but indeed the prouder and or record

labels

Close ups used in his music video Medium shots in his video

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)As i have said when looking in depth on other

areas, Aiden Grimshaw is a fairly new comer on the scene so will be trying to create his own brand image as quickly and effectively as possible to help grow a fanbase. This will be achieved through the way he is portrayed in his music videos. As this is one of a few videos he has featured in the artist is still developing his motifs and his iconography to assert into his future projects. This video is helping to assert this at the video doesn't feature massive special effects and is mostly filmed by the artist themselves. Very amateur but effective.

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc).In this music video I cannot see any clear intertextual references from other areas of the media, this is maybe done on purpose to again relay the idea that this artist doesn't follow mainstream conventions and only follows the conventions of his given genre. An example of of an intertextual reference can be found within Katy Perry’s song “thinking of you” in which the music video is basically telling the same narrative of that of “Dear John” a popular of film. This is shown as both male characters in the video and also the film are shown to be leaving their female counterpart to join the army. Effects such as this are used in order to gain wider audience as people who like this film are more likely to enjoy the music video therefore the music itself.

This is shown in Aiden Grimshaw’s music video as a lot of the shots show the notion of looking but not in the way you'd assume. It shows it through Aiden looking at himself through mirrors and car window reflections. There is no voyeuristic treatment of the female body is this song as the genre is less mainstream and this normally features most prominently in that genre rather than this one.

Examples taken from the music video

Shots from Katy Perry’s “thinking of you” music video and “Dear John”

Reception Due to the music video following Andrew Goodwin's theories on what to include and how to go about creating their video. They gained recognition from the fans as the audience, shown in these YouTube comments, enjoyed the video.

Vance Joy: Mess is Mine James Gabriel Keogh (born 1 December 1987), better known as Vance Joy, is an Australian singer-songwriter. He signed a five-album deal with Atlantic Records in 2013. He released his debut EP God Loves You When You're Dancing in March 2013.

His song "Riptide" was voted number 1 on the 2013 Triple J Hottest 100. Joy released his debut studio album Dream Your Life Away on 5 September 2014 in Australia and on 9 September 2014 elsewhere. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015 he won Best Male Artist. July 2014, he released "Mess Is Mine" as the third overall single from the album, and the song peaked at number 37 in Australia.

The video tells the tragicomic story of a hapless polar bear exiled from his ice floe (presumably by global warming), who swims to a nearby city where he wanders through seedy neighbourhoods full of degenerate humans. Luckily (and however improbably) he happens across an abandoned car, manages to teach himself to drive, and starts his own taxi service. Unluckily (however probably) he seems to pick up all the worst customers and a veritable procession of vice proceeds through his vehicle. Prostitutes, drunkards, and various types of deranged people all leave the detritus of sin in his car. In a very visceral way their mess becomes his. The weirdness, however, is a language of modern metaphor. The polar bear is a symbol of wronged innocence. In addition to being purely white, he has done nothing to deserve losing his pristine home. He is the blameless refugee trying to make the best of a bad situation. The car is another modern metaphor. Lamentably perhaps, in America the car is an extension of the self. It is an expression of one’s identity. The defilement of our bear’s car is an offense against himself, a degradation of his dignity. Additionally, cars enable a type of intimacy. Passengers in a car share an experience as they travel together to the same destination, united in physical space. However casual and common, it is a communion. A taxi driver invites strangers into this personal space in an infamously vulnerable way. In this case we have the innocent and vulnerable one allowing a succession of grossly disordered people to enter his personal space. They use what he has to offer them while offering nothing in return but a deposit of mess. Rather than a beautiful picture of intimacy, of what it means to give and receive according to one’s essential design, our bear is a picture of what it is to have “communion” with a series of unworthy people who can only hop aboard for a quick ride. Despite the impermanence of the relationship they leave their mark on our lives. It may not be vomit or urine, a broken window or graffiti, but still “your mess is mine.”

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). Vance Joy’s “Mess is mine” is of that of indie pop genre. Therefore the conventions that I am looking out

for include a number of different areas. Settings, Indie Pop music videos are known to be lowbudget. Main settings are in: studios, cities, parks, woods etc. These locations create mysteries which makes the audience focus more on the performance. Performance, Most Indie Pop music videos includes a live performance from the artist which makes the audience focus on the talent the artist has. It makes their career about their passion for music rather than success Live performances promote the artist/s too. This enables audiences to see the atmosphere the artist creates in their concerts encouraging the public to watch the artist/s live. Performance is often partnered with a narrative to break up the music video thus, creating the music video memorable. Narrative, A narrative is used to tell a story by using a sequence of images and videos related to the song; not literal, but still enables the audience to understand why it was given that certain narrative which links with song (Goodwin‟s Theory of Illustration and Amplification). As technology advances, music video directors are able to create a variation of storytelling created by special effects making the video a lot more interesting for the audience and keeps them engaged in the music video as the scenes are always changing. This can also help gain success and status of the song, artist/s and directors.Vance Joy’s music video fits the genre conventions set for settings as the video is shot all outdoors and features many different public places. They have done this to make the narrative feel a lot more believable also as it would fit the genre convention. Also it fits to the genre conventions when relating to the narrative. The video tells a story of a lonely polar bear who has been forced away from his habitat due to global warming and he ends in the big city, this isn't told at all through the music or lyrics but thoroughly using different shots.

It doesn't follow the genre convention of having any feature of a live performance as the music video concentrates sole on telling the narrative. It doesn't even feature a visual image of the artists at all. This doesn't follow the genre conventions and indie pop artists are mostly trying to break on too the mainstream market and they do this by creating their own image. They wouldn't of been able to achieve this as they don't physically feature in this video

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)

Vance joy’s “Mess is mine” lyrics:Talking like we used to doIt was always me and youShaping up and shipping outCheck me in and check me outDo you like walking in the rain?When you think of love, do you think of pain?You can tell me what you seeI will choose what I believeHold on, darlingThis body is yours,This body is yours and mineWell hold on, my darlingThis mess was yours,Now your mess is mineYour mess is mineSee you in the marketplaceWalking 'round at 8amGot 2 hours before my flightLuck be on my side tonightYou're the reason that I feel so strongThe reason that I'm hanging onYou know you gave me all the timeOh, did I give enough of mine?Hold on, darlingThis body is yours,This body is yours and mineWell hold on, my darlingThis mess was yours,Now your mess is mineBring me to your houseTell me sorry for the messHey, I don't mindYou're talking in your sleepOut of timeWell, you still make sense to meYour mess is mineYour mess is mineThis body's yours and this body's mineYour mess is mine

The visuals used in Vance Joys video are very illustrative and are very effective when promoting the narrative. This is apparent as after i had seen the video for the first time i already knew the gist of the narrative and could understand the visuals. I do not believe that these lyrics (talking about an ex partner and reminiscing on the good times they had) has much to do at all with the visuals and the relation to narrative being told through these visuals. Maybe the idea is that the partner being the polar bear and thinking about his old home and he wants to get back his home being the guys ex partner in the lyrics.

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)

The tone of the music and the atmosphere that the image reflects are very similar and indeed possess a relationship. The music is very slow paced this is matched by the small amount of action in the visuals and also in the editing speeds. And also the videos visuals do not use any special effects or filters its very basic in that sense. This has a positive affect on the audience as this basic editing fits with the basic song lyrics. Making it more pleasurable to watch a video where as which the music fits to the tone through many different ways.

Also the exact shots used are very good at elaborating on the narrative as they show this polar bear looking rough

and beaten up emotionally at the same time that the music hits that kind of tone, again helping the visuals fit

the music.

Examples of polar bear emotion in visuals

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). During the video the lead singer features in a few cameo scenes. Nearer to the beginning he features as the polar bear looks into the waters reflection and sees back the lead singer with a guitar lip syncing the song. And also near to the end when the polar bear becomes a taxi driver, the lead singer again features in his rear view mirror. This doesn't 100% actually fit the narrative very well as it doesn't make much logical sense. This will be the work of the record label trying to help build Vance’s name. He does this through cameo performances in his videos the majority of which being close ups.

Examples of Vance’s cameo appearances

Vance also does similar things in other music videos helping to develop motifs.His other most popular song being riptide was very similar in its music video as it was very contemporary and bit more upbeat compare to “mess is mine”. This song also features the odd cameo appearance, something that the fans look forward too.

Shot from Vance Joy’s “Riptide”

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)As I touched upon when answering the last point,

Vance joy’s work is very contemporary and very different to the mainstream as shown through his music video for his first big hit riptide. This video used very weird shots and sort of told a narrative but at the same time sort of didn't. This is what his focused audience enjoy. Something different from the norm. I believe that this is Vance’s iconography and visual style. He likes to be different even from music in the same genre. This is conveyed again through his music video for “Mess is mine” as this idea for a music video has only really been touched upon in coldplays “paradise video” but Vance’s is more of adult version. If an artists successfully creates a marketable visual style such as that of vance’s it will ultimately boost their popularity and help them to establish a mean audience.

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc).

This notion is clearly used throughout the “Mess is mine” video. but mostly, again like the previous video, used through reflections as shown here.

Also in this video there is a brief encounter with voyeuristic treatment of women as in one of the scenes when the polar bear is a taxi driver in the back a woman is being objectified by a male and she is portrayed as a sex object. This is done commonly in music videos that are more mainstream. Artists such as Rhianna and Nicki Minaj are portrayed in this way and that is a big some of their overall marketing, pure sex appeal.

The only major intertextual reference in this video is that off cold plays paradise which i have mentioned in other areas of my 3 music video analysis. it portrays an elephant lost and trying to escape the city to go back to “home” being back in the wild. This is a similar plot to that of the video Vance has created. They are similar in many ways as both show a person dressed in an animal costume and both struggling in the city. Showing the audience that the artists (represented through the animals) are also outcasts, this is more so in Vance’s case. This is a very clever video idea as it can be used for its comedic values aswell as its deep emotional and metaphorical meanings. Example of the comedic side is when the polar bear has it own taxi rank and also when it goes ice skating just to lay back on the ice symbolising him missing his home.

ReceptionDue to the music video following Andrew Goodwin's theories on what to include and how to go about creating their video. They gained recognition from the fans as the audience, shown in these YouTube comments, enjoyed the video.

Imagine Dragons: I’m On Top Of The World

"On Top of the World" is a song written, recorded by

American rock band Imagine Dragons for their

major-label debut extended play Continued Silence, where it appears as the

third track. The song also appears on their debut

studio album Night Visions as the fifth track. "On Top

of the World" was released digitally as a single on

March 18, 2013.

Imagine Dragons is an American rock band originating from Las Vegas, Nevada and consisting of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, lead guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band gained exposure following the release of their debut studio album, Night Visions (2012) and first single "It's Time". According to Billboard, Imagine Dragons topped the year-end rock rankings for 2013;

Billboard named them "The Breakthrough Band of 2013",

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). In the music video created by Imagine Dragons there

are many different ways that the director uses Andrews theory that it uses many of the same characteristics from similar genre’s. These are which used through the stage performance and also the narrative used is very diverse and not as clear as a pop narrative would be (love story). A lot of hidden meanings are used in the plot of this narrative also, including the Beatles and the conspiracy theory that the Americans were indeed not the first on the moon. This is common within this genre as the audience craves something different from the mainstream. Therefore by imagine dragons doing this they please and gain an audience within their genre.There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). The lyrics in the chorus talk about being on top of the world and the video tells the story of 4 completely different characters all saying goodbye to the families and supposedly going to the moon. This is a direct reference to the chorus talks about being on top of the world. And is indeed a metaphor. This means that the lyrics are indeed represented with the images used in the music video. This type of video is actually a narrative but also slightly contradictive. This is because the song goes on about being on top of the world so to speak but the 4 characters (who are actually the band members playing as the Beatles) never actually reach the moon they infact create a fake moon landing that is filmed in a studio, the president (Nixon) is also there. Meaning that they never legitimately touch “the top of the world” that is spoken about in the lyrics. The director has done again to please the audience and also it fits the genre characteristics of indie music videos as they are often contradicting. As this is different from the mainstream.

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). This Music Video created by

Imagine Dragons as a strong relationship between the

visuals and also the music. The vibe off the whole song is very chilled out and positive. This is

followed by the visuals as everything is very positive. An

example of this being the come down of the song. This is

when the whole dancing sequence comes into tuition

and the whole room are shown to be happily dancing to the

music. The tone and the astrosphere of the video is

made to match the music as it its and offers the audience pleasure as it reflects this

happy, joyous emotion onto the. This is a common theme in

all f the imagine dragons video. A popular example which being their popular

single “Demons”. This song tells the story off every bodies

inner anger. This kind of vibe is matched by a performance o

the band showing the reaction of the audience who ae madly

dancing to their use. These videos help to developed the

imagine dragons iconography which I shall talk about in the

next segment in further detail.

Shots from demons

Dancing scene from “I'm on top of the world

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). 

 There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors,

stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

During the imagine dragons video there is a lot of close ups as the characters are used as part of the narrative. All 4 band members each play a member of the Beatles. They all have their own segment showing them saying good bye to their families before supposedly going to the moon. This offers a lot of screen time for the actual band and also at the end they add an element of performance. This has done this way as it adds comedy to the fans as they will find it pleasurable to see them acting in such a manor. Also it helps to gain success through recognition for the song. This is caused through the demands of the record label but in this case it does really fit the narrative of the song.

This theology by Andrew Goodwin refers to the idea that there is a frequent notion of somebody looking or being

looked at. This is used commonly in music video. A good example of this is in Taylor Swifts “Blank space video”. The only feature of this notion is maybe loosely found

when each character has their own bit and they are shown to be getting ready to leave and they all are

positioned in the same close up and they all stare into the camera as if they are looking at the audience (as shown in the image above). Also a stage is used nearer the end

as the live performance is used.

Taylor swift “blank space” example

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)

Imagine dragons are one of the best at creating this, they have developed their own unique iconography and visual style in their music videos. They are quite famously very good music videos that explore deeper meanings sort of similar to the work of Vance joy. One of my favourite videos of theirs is on their song “Radioactive”;A music critic from MTV wrote this.. "We read through a ton of scripts from really talented directors, and we came across one that stood out to us in particular, because it put into visuals the general theme of the song, which is kind of an empowering song about an awakening, but it did it in a way that was very different," frontman Dan Reynolds told MTV News. "A lot of people probably see a post-apocalyptic world when they hear 'Radioactive,' understandably, but they wanted to deliver something that was maybe a little different from that ... a lot different from that."Different indeed. The Dragons shot the clip in Upstate New York, just before Hurricane Sandy swept through to the south — "It's sinister out," Reynolds said, "which is fitting for the video" — and though, on set, things were getting plenty dark, the song still managed to shine through ... mostly because, despite all its doomy trappings, it is first and foremost an anthem of empowerment. Radioactive" video features gratuitous puppet-on-puppet violence, ominous Old World scenery and, uh, Lou Diamond Phillips ... none of which have anything to do with the song itself, but all of which automatically make it one of the oddest clips of the year. Which was exactly what the band was going for”.

Shots from Radioactive

Following this sort of style for their video for “On Top Of The World”. They ironically use the stereotypical idea of being on top of the world as pretending to be on the moon Similar to the way they used the title of radioactive and took bits from this would but didn’t make it as everyone would’ve expected, post apocalyptic. This again is the bands iconography and will help them to create a greater fan base.

Shot from I’m on top of the world

There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc).

This music video is very successful in creating a load of intertextual references. As a part of the Palladia documentary Imagine Dragons: The Making of Night Visions, which originally aired on November 7, 2012, the band filmed a video of themselves performing "On Top of the World" and subsequently uploaded it to YouTube.On November 13, 2013 the band released an official music video for the song. The video satirizes a popular conspiracy theory that the 1969 Moon landings were faked, the footage having been directed by Stanley Kubrick, and that Kubrick then made references to the fakery in various of his subsequent films. In the video, a rock band similar to the Beatles (played by the members of Imagine Dragons) pretend to be astronauts for the faked moon landing. The taping goes awry as fans of the band stream into the sound stage and turn the event into a rock concert, much to the chagrin of Kubrick and President Richard Nixon, who is also on hand; the crowd might be discovering by being there, that the landings were fake or just be happy to be at the concert. The people at home might be agreeing now that the conspiracies were real, though just how many people are aware or not is not exactly shown. The video also briefly references another popular conspiracy theory from around the same time, that Beatles member Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike.The video was filmed in Provo, Utah, Imagine Dragons' original hometown, and includes cameos from various celebrities associated with Provo or Brigham Young University, including Jon Heder, the cast of the TV show Studio C, guitarist Robbie Connolly, and members of The New Electric Sound. Whit Hertford plays Kubrick, and singer Aja Volkman, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds' wife, appears as Reynolds' character's wife.

Reception Due to the music video following Andrew Goodwin's theories on what to include and how to go about creating their video. They gained recognition from the fans as the audience, shown in these YouTube comments, enjoyed the video.

Also in the comments the audience noticed all the

Easter eggs showing that it also pleased them seeing these subtle

references