Cocoon Analysis

Background Information

• Catfish and the Bottlemen are an British Indie/Rock Folk band that formed in Wales in 2007. The band formed after lead singer Van McCann and Billy Bibby learnt to play guitar in Bibby’s parent’s B&B in Wales. They were joint by Benjamin Blakeway who became their bassist and third founding member. The band promoted themselves in small car parks and other artist’s gigs before replacing two members of their band with drummer Bob Hall in 2010 and Johnny Bond in 2014.

• In 2013 they signed to independent label ‘Communion Records’ where they released their first three singles ‘Homesick’ ‘Pacifier’ and ‘Rango’.

• Later in 2014, they signed to ‘Island Records’ where they released their forth single ‘Kathleen’. They featured on Zane Lowe’s hottest record in the world.

• Since then they have played at festivals around the country including Leeds and Reading festival, Latitude, T in the Park and Ibiza Rocks.

• On the 15th September they band released their debut album ‘The Balcony’ which entered in at number 10 in the UK charts. Shortly after, the band announced their headline tour around the UK which finishes November 2015.

‘Cocoon’ Analysis

The music video for ‘Cocoon’ follows a narrative storyline where the two protagonists meet at a rehab centre. At first the two appear to be distant from one another however, as the video continues the audience learns that something has happened

between them which has challenged their relationship. After a series of flashbacks from the male protagonist’s point of view, we understand that he misses his girl friend’s company since something happened to her mentality whilst being at the rehab. He tries to bring her back around my repeating activities they once done together and putting up with other people rules in order to stay with her. The climax occurs during the instrumental of the song when the male protagonist tries to escape with his girl friend and results with being caught by the staff where he is punished for going against the rules. Although he tries to

struggle from their grasp, he remembers the flashbacks of his relationship and decides to endure the punishment so he can be reunited with her mentally. It finishes with him and his girl friend sitting together at the end of room and holding hands.

In an interview about the song, leader singer Van McCann said that the song was based around being away from a loved one and wanting them to just be together despite what anyone says. The music video follows Goodwin’s theory of illustration as it

suggests an alternative scenario where two people want to be together and ignores all the rules so they can be.

The music video also does follow a performance element, but takes an alternative approach. During the instrumental bridge of the song, the patients in the rehab centre are playing the instruments. This fits the protagonist’s situation and follows the

music video’s storyline as well as showing the audience that the band are responsible for their own music. It also shows that the band is different and experimental from mainstream indie/rock bands as the lyrics are explicit and very honest which

would usually not get air time because of its lyrics.

Camera Mid-shots

At the start of the music video, there is a great use of mid-shots used. This automatically indicates to the audience that there is a distance between the two protagonists and makes the audience feel a little uncomfortable. The protagonists are rarely central in the shots which suggests that they feel lonely or that they are missing the other person and needs them to be in the frame for the shot to be complete. The use of mid-shots help illustrate the meaning of the song and sets the mood for the audience to feel.

Camera extreme close ups

Extreme close ups are only used when the male protagonist enters and exits his flashbacks. The

focus on his face shows emotion and longingness for the female protagonist which the audience can connect with on a personal

level. The shots are effectively connect with the lyrics as McCann sings ‘I remember when you…’,

and first extreme close up premieres followed by a mid shot of him meeting the girl. This illustrates the lyrics and helps the audience understand the key moments of the song.

Camera Close ups

During the protagonist’s flashback, there is a variety of different close ups used. This

allows the audience to see a different side of the characters’ relationship and to be apart of it. The juxtaposition of the shots used are

effective as it represents the difficulties of their relationship as well as the positive

sides to it.

Camera Positioning

Camera shots are also used to help introduce the different characters and show their role in the narrative.

Those who play the authority in the rehab centre such as the female doctor and the staff are always centre of the frame. This is deliberately done to show the audience that they

have the biggest influence on the storyline and determine the two protagonist’s love story. This makes a change as usually the artist or the main actors would be centre of the

frame however, this has a greater impact on creating an entertaining piece of film. If it wasn’t for these characters, then the equilibrium would not have been disturbed and the

video would have not connected with the lyrics and meaning of the song.

EditThe editing in this music video is very limited.

• The transitions are all straight cuts which is very commonly used for narrative music videos since they tell a story like a film. • The shots have been edited together to help tell the story and create

emotion. This is most effective when the protagonist enters and exits the flashbacks as the audience finally understand the relationship he had with his girlfriend. • The shots follow Goodwin’s ‘Cut to the beat’ theory.

Sound • The sound falls within the Indie/Rock bracket. Being associated with this genre enables

Catfish and the Bottlemen to explore and experiment their alterative sound and express themes and emotions other mainstream genres may be advised against. Although many

people associate Indie Rock to be more grunge, the lyrics of the song take a more reinsuring approach which is a positive outcome of sticking to an independent image. • When asked about the sweet nature of the song in Diffuser’s interview, lead singer

Mccann said… ‘I actually wrote this tune in New York when I came to the city for the first time to write some songs. And I kind of already had been writing a few and been doing a few things, but then this one came along. And I thought, “Man, this is f—ing good. I’m gonna keep this one.” It’s a tune about, whether it’s your best friend or your dad or your missus or

anything, as long as you got someone else with you or you’ve got a direction, it doesn’t matter if people try to get at you. As long as I’ve got you and you’ve got me and we love

each other, then that’s sweet. We don’t need anything in life. It’s about whatever you want, whenever you want and being positive, especially when people are trying to get you

down. Be happy, and that’s it.’

Mise-en-sceneCostume:• The mise-en-scene in this

music video is a key component in making it successful and realistic. As the video is set at a rehab centre, the patients and staff need to look like they belong there. The medical staff are dressed in white clothing which is the stereotypical image for doctors whilst the patients are given something different to express their unique individuality.

Make up:• The make up used give the

audience a good indication about the different characters and emotions. For example, the nurse is wearing red nail varnish which we would relate to as danger or power. This might influence the audience to think a certain way about her and the impact that her character creates.

• Another example is the female protagonist. When the audience is first introduced to her, she appears to be very pale and ill. However as we enter the flashbacks, we see more colour in her face which suggests that something has happened in the rehab centre to make her look different.