Timed Analysis of a Music Video

t=0:00

The music video at the beginning is black which shows there is use of a quick fade from black transition into the main music video which matches the first chord in the song. When this occurs there is a close up of the main singer. Close ups are useful because they portray mise-en-scene in terms of emotion and appearance, and here it can show that maybe the singer is reminiscing. It can also contribute to the enigma code as there is an element of mystery as to where the singer is, what has happened, and what are the surroundings? We can also see that bird's eye view is being used by the camera which could create the idea of spectacle as he is looking up, which is directly into the camera.

t=0:05

At this point the camera has been panning outwards away from the singer, revealing more of what is going on. We can see clearly that he is laying on the floor with his arm over his head - this body language creates the idea that he is quite relaxed. At this point he is also performing the lyrics, making it clear that this video has the genre of performance, or perhaps mixture.

t=0:15

There is a fade/dissolve transition here, changing from a medium shot to a medium long shot. We can see he is lying on a mattress outside. There is graffiti in the shot, suggesting it is a public place, such as a street. This creates connotations that perhaps he no longer lives somewhere that feels like home - as this is a breakup song, it can be assumed that this is because he has been kicked out of a former partner's home, or simply moved out.

t=0:25

At about this point the camera stops panning, finally at a long shot where the audience can see the whole setting. The pause in movement is good because the verse is coming to and end, which makes this particular shot feel like it is complete. The mise-en-scene doesn't connote much positivity due to the grunge setting, which can contribute more to the engima code as the narrative hasn't been made clear.

t=0:28

Another dissolve transition is used, changing from birds eye view to a high angle side shot of the singer.

t=0:33

As the camera pans out, he seems to make sudden odd movements which appear almost like a seizure. This is disorientating to the audience as it is not what is expected. The audience might have already realised this is due to a reverse effect, but if not then it will contribute to the enigma code and keep the audience interested.

t=0:38

At this point he stands up (or reverse falls down), as a bike goes past backwards. This reveals to the audience that we are currently seeing the end of the story, making the narratology fairly unconventional. We can apply Neale's genre theory here as he believes a genre should include a few typical and unusual conventions of a genre to make it more interesting to the audience, but still be clear about what they are watching. As we are seeing what may be the new equilibrium, the audience will still be hooked to see the disruption in the same way as if the narrative was chronological.

t=0:41

There is an action match cut here, although not significant as it is still medium long shot at a slight low angle - it has moved slightly which changes the composition. There should usually be frequent shot changes in a music video so the audience does not get bored, which might be why this is so effective.

t=0:48

Here the camera changes to a low-angle fast panning shot around the singer, making him the centre. It almost creates the effect of the camera orbiting around him, which keeps the audience focused on him and his lyrics to emphasise his talent. As well as this it can portray some of the emotions he might be feeling - a breakup may have made him feel that the world is spinning quickly around him and leaving him behind in a state of sadness.

t=0:53

A low angle shot shows the bike rider doing a stunt. Perhaps the bike is acting as a motif in the video to represent the singer's feelings.

t=0:55

A dissolve/fade transition is used to take the audience back to a slightly low-angle of the singer, back to him performing. A tracking shot is used to follow him as he walks, seemingly still in reverse as everyone else is walking backwards around him.

t=1:05

This shows him jumping over a wall in reverse. Due to the backwards effect, it is quite unusual how he us able to jump backwards. It is fairly disorientating to the audience but it keeps them hooked due to the enigma code.

t=1:09

A transition fade takes us back to a tracking shot of him walking in reverse while singing into the camera.

t=1:18

He walks backwards against the wall and watches everyone else go by. This presents him as quite passive and can show how he is not happy if he is not taking part in everyday life.

t=1:20

A tracking shot begins by showing his feet walking backwards, and pans upwards to a medium long shot where we see him jump backwards again. The audience can get the idea that he is eventually going to end up somewhere and builds tension and suspense as to where he is going/coming from.

t=1:25

A fade transition is used to show a low-angle medium long shot of two men playing basketball. Various cuts are used which creates the idea of a montage of their game, which creates the idea that time is passing. In some of these shots we can see him walking through - though not all - which also adds to the effect of disorientation. This creates the connotation that life is going by without him taking part, and perhaps this shows he is concentrating on one particular thing, that the audience are not aware of.

t=1:38

A high-angle shot of his feet walking again add to the idea of a journey and narrative.

t=1:40

An action match cut is used to show the side of his upper body as he is still walking, adding to the performance element again. The medium shot is quite effective as we can see his emotion clearly but also the setting around him, helping the audience to figure out where he is going.

t=1:45

The camera pans around him until it is at a low-angle shot, in front of him. The active camera is quite effective as there is constant movement around him, eventually going back to a closeup. The constant use of zooms can be linked to Kaplan's theory of the singer's face being a motif in music videos, which emphasises the importance of returning to closeups throughout the video.

t=1:52

At this point he is still walking backwards but at a different setting on a train track in slow motion.

t=1:56

The low angle shot of his feet remind us that he is going somewhere, adding to the enigma code. It could also arguably be use of the action code as we know that this walking will cause something else to happen later in the video, as he will reach his destination (or start point, as it is backwards).

t=1:58

The extreme high-angle, even reaching onto birds eye view, shot establishes the location.

t=2:01

The camera returns to a tracking medium shot, following him. There is a fade to black, which is quite unconventional halfway through a music video.

t=2:06

The fade in from black shows an establishing shot of a forest. The singer appears again in the video walking and jumping backwards, but he is a very small part of the shot.

t=2:10

A high angle long shot is used to show him in the forest, still moving.

t=2:13

The camera is now behind him, showing his back coming towards the audience. There is low-key lighting now which can show how a lot of time has passed in only a few seconds.

t=2:16

A panning medium shot goes around him singing again, which is typical of a performance mixture video.

t=2:18

He moves into complete darkness. This shows how it has been a lot of time passing, but also contributes to the semantic code as low-key lighting represents his mood of sadness and maybe also heartbreak.

t=2:21

He jumps up into the low-key lit shot and falls down again. These quick shots are clearly for cinematic purposes and to draw out the narrative to increase suspense.

t=2:23

A medium shot shows him sitting with his back to the tree, as leaves float up around him. This is fairly dreamlike and unrealistic which supports the theories of Rubin and Kinder, who think that these elements heighten the emotional arousal in audiences.

t=2:25

A panning medium long shot shows him performing again. This is typical of a performance music video as singers are often shown to perform in strange or unconventional places in music videos to make it more interesting to watch.


t=2:27

He seems to catch a stick (or throws it in reverse) which creates the idea that he is likely angry or upset. Low-key lighting supports this as he is alone in the dark setting.

t=2:29

The video reverts back to a tracking shot, following him as he sings to the camera.

t=2:31

A high-angle shot shows it is day time again, as well as clothing on the floor.

t=2:33

A low-angle medium shot of the singer shows the clothing, which is a jacket, come towards him and he puts it on. This shows how at some point in the story he threw it off and left it in the forest, perhaps because it didn't mean anything to him anymore.


t=2:39

We follow him walking backwards and singing again, at a slight low-angle medium shot.

t=2:45

A medium close up uses the rule of thirds to follow him now, with him being located on the right of the shot.

t=2:52

A close-up of a girl lying on the floor is revealed and in focus, as he continues walking in the background.

t=2:56

We are behind him as he walks backwards. A medium shot shows him approach a black car and the camera tracks him as he gets inside.

t=3:11

A medium shot of him waking up in shock is put into reverse, to show him actually closing his eyes. We realise he must have been in an accident while driving this car on the field.

t=3:14

A close up shows steam coming from the wheels, indicating something bad has happened as the engine is still running.

t=3:17

A medium shot of the back of the girl lying down is used, as glass floats up and drifts away from her.

t=3:21

A close up shot of the girl shows her face and it is clear once again that she is unconscious. We see her fly upwards and it becomes clear that the audience are about to be shown the incident, making this the climax of the narrative.

t=3:21

A medium shot shows her in the air with glass around her. This is fairly cinematic and arguably uses the rule of thirds to present her in the centre of the screen. The edits are now very fast which matches the tension and danger that is being presented in the storyline.

t=3:23

We see her on her way back inside the car - the narrative is now extremely clear in the audience's mind and so there is finally somewhat a relief as to what has caused the sadness throughout the video, even though it is not still clear what caused the accident itself. We can now assume that she is his girlfriend and has been killed in a crash that he may or may not have caused, leading to the intense emotion and then lack of in the beginning as he was clearly drained. This moment gives the previous parts of the video a whole new meaning, signifying loss and heartbreak all at once. The reverse effect is effective because it shows how the character wishes he could go back to before everything happened and start again. There is use of slow motion despite the fast cuts to create disorientation.

Many similar shots are repeated such as the car wheels so I am only including those that are actually significant:

t=3:31

A long high-angle shot shows the car reverse rolling down a hill. This creates the effect that the drivers have no control or power in this situation, which led to the sadness throughout.

t=3:35

A perspective extreme long shot from behind the trees creates the idea of a person or maybe just nature seeing the incident and makes the audience feel as though they are in the scene and witnessing it. The action match cuts of the car crashing and rolling is very effective as it emphasises what has happened and even makes it appear more realistic as we can see every angle.

t=3:44

A medium long shot shows the car coming back onto the rode, and shows that there is another vehicle. This provides context to the rest of the video, which provides closure for the audience.

t=3:49

A shot from inside the car provides perspective from the characters and can increase the amount of tension that the audience are feeling.

t=3:53

A medium shot shows both characters smiling and laughing, showing that we have reached the new equilibrium.

t=4:07

We see a slow motion shot of the girl (who we know is likely dead now) taking her seatbelt off which acts as the backwards narrative of disruption, creating a weird emotion in the audience as they feel dramatic irony.

t=4:10

A long shot of the car almost acts as a final establishing shot. The camera does a tracking shot but gradually stops following until the car is further away, and there is a fade to black.