Music Video Analysis

'POISON AND WINE' - THE CIVIL WARS

Overview of the Song:

You get the impression that the main theme of this song is divisiveness, implying the coming together and need for departure. As an audience you sense you are witness to the silent aftermath of an argument, one that's been building for a long time.

Analysis:

This video has become our main inspiration for our music video. We particularly are interested in the mise-en-scene of this music video as it has a rather antique/old fashioned feel to it set against a modern back drop. We have found the formal attire of the characters have taken our fancy and will consider using this in our own music video. What is also appealing is how the video is neither just performance based or just narrative based and has an excellent balance between the two. The lyrics being song represent the narrative which has been constructed in the video.

The use of camera shots in this video is stunning, one in particular being the tracking of the characters as they walk into the house and each go into separate rooms. One other shot that we found excellent is when the characters are singing the chorus, how its a close up shot of the characters faces, standing relatively close together, as if they are singing to one another. What is important to note is that this is the only time the two characters are in the same frame, juxtaposed to the rest of the clip where they are in separate rooms. I think we should consider using this idea in our video. 

'I WAS BROKEN' - MARCUS FOSTER

Over View of the Song:

This is a stunning loss/breakup song, acknowledging the pain a person may feel and the scars someone will carry afterwards. However its ending is an uplifting crescendo celebrating bravery, strength and courage in the face of this loss and ending in a confidence giving a person the courage to continue with life.

Analysis:

What is particularly appealing about this song is the fact that it has been shot in black and white, which is something myself and my co-worker have considered for our own music video. There is something ethereal and mysterious about black and white and I feel as a break up song, the black and white effect adds to the emotion of the narrative and song. It is important to notice the clothes the actress and singer are wearing. The clothes are either black or white which makes it easier when converting the footage to the black and white effect because as an audience we won't be left guessing at the colour of clothing.

What I also liked about this music video is the experimenting in the editing. The overlap of a piece of footage onto footage of the singer is really interesting and something to be considered. It allows a story to be told while the song is being performed. This music video is very simplistic, not very experimental with camera shots however this adds to the video.