Music Video Analyses - Bastille : Pompeii

The first music video that I will be analysing will be from Bastille, and the song is Pompeii. The reason why I chose this specific song to analyse is because, it is along the lines of one of the ideas that I have for my own music video. With the idea of using the narrative theory from Joan Lynch. Who discovered that each individual music video fits into a category. Whether that be performance, narrative or concept. However it can fit into more than one.

Moving on from this point, the music video that I have chosen is based mainly on a narrative storyline, as you can see a clear beginning and ending. However, throughout the music video it uses quick edits in order to put it all together so it makes sense. The music video starts out with the lead singer of Bastille, Dan Smith, who is the main focal point of the video, as it is based on him running away from the evil that has taken over the people from where he lives.

                   

Establishing shot 

Opening title credits on the music video - shown after the establishing shot

Above is the first shot that is seen at the beginning of the music video, this is an establishing shot that clearly shows that he is up high, looking down onto something. I liked this shot because it didn't give much away of what is going to happen further on. It’s just a simple shot that shows the person watching where the main focal point is. And in this case it is the lead singer. Furthermore, as the music video begins to progress you are made aware that he is living inside a large opened apartment which is not very well furnished, which may then suggest that he doesn't spend so much time there, it’s just a place in which he goes to for shelter. The screenshots of the apartment where he lives in are presented below. And it is clear that he doesn't plan on staying long. Not only this, but it validates the idea that this is a narrative piece as its starting to tell a story. With questions such as; where is he going? Why does he look so on edge?. This makes the person watching it want to continue. 

As the narrative continues, there are clear examples of other theorist's ideas going into it. For example, Andrew Goodwin said that there is a relationship between music and visuals, which is shown here. As the words of the song suggest something bad. Which could show why he is on edge and why he seems uncomfortable. While this is important, another key feature of the music video is the eyes. Because, at the beginning of the music video, the establishing shot turns into a close up of his face. And then at the end of the music video it also ends with a close up of the face. And I like the way in which it has that link throughout and it concludes the narrative of the music video as well. 

He's eyes before he lets the sin in

He's eyes once he has accepted it

Throughout the music video there are clear signs of time pacing, as some of the film is in daylight, where as other parts are at night. This also validates that it is a narrative as it suggests the events that have taken place over the course of a day.  Below are a selection of shots, that I have screen grabbed because it shows that it doesn't have to be shot all in one place and that the use of different locations help to make the story progress. In one of the screen grabs in particular, it shows the main singer on a bike, with the use of tracking and a long shot. So not only does it help to move the story along, but it shows that he is going somewhere, but we are the audience don't know where and we don't know why. These type of questions what you think of, are what I want to put into my own music video so it helps not only to move it along, but make it more interesting. 

Each of these specific shots, show a continuous edit of him running away from something that he can't necessarily control. However, they all use a long shot, which gives signs to the audience watching where he is and what the environment is like around him. Because, the surrounding areas don't seem to of changed. So that doesn't signify that there is a problem to environment around him. But it may be other people, because the only shots of people that are given are of the ones which have pure black eyes. Which signify that they are the things that he is running away from. The locations that are shown throughout the music video, playing a big part in helping to understand the narrative that is being shown. As the locations are not exactly of a high end budget and they are clearly in a town that has little funding as the colours are mainly dull and it does not look as if they have been cared for, for a very long time. It’s as if it’s based in the run down part of a city, where no one really goes to. 

The music video itself is full of long shots, are well as medium close ups of the lead singer, which help to promote him as a singer and also the band that he is in. Moving on from this, the theorist Andrew Goodwin said that some music videos use things from either of videos or film.  And in this case, when he is in the arcade and comes to two girls facing away from him, but wearing the same clothes. It make me think of the two small girls in the film 'The Shinning'. Which may be where they got this particular idea from, as they are both similar in the fact that both wear the same clothing and have similar facial expressions.

The shinning idea from the music video.

The actual shinning film, itself. 

As the narrative music video continues, he drives off in a car (the screen-grab is shown further up) to a different location, with the hope that he can escape the same fate that will eventually happen to him. From this point, he arrives in the wilderness. With the use of a different location, and the fact that the daylight has shown up again, suggests that he has been travelling all night, in order to get away from where he lives. 

The important part here, is that he's eyes will change. And it doesn't matter how far away he chooses to run, it will catch up with him. So it’s as if there is an underlying story going on throughout and that something that I want to produce when I do my own music video. I want to create something that is relatable and people will understand and also enjoy. Not only that, but this links into the theory by Andrew Goodwin with the use of the mirror as showing a different perspective of the lead singer, with the idea that we are looking at what he is looking at, with the hope that we react in a similar way. 

At the end of the music video, he's eyes change completely. Which in comparison to the start of the music video, shows that he has stopped running away and let it happen. And the fact that he is in the wilderness, which signifies peace and tranquillity, contradicts what he has been trying to run away from, as that has been the thing that has caused him pain. 

The reason why I chose this music video, is because it appeals me a lot with the idea that even though it is a narrative piece, you are still able to change things and mix it up with the use of special effects, which were used on the eyes and the quick match on action editing, which is shown throughout. This gives it a professional finish, and makes the overall presentation more interesting, which is something that i would like to portray in my own music video.