Music video analysisNeck Deep – Gold Steps

In the intro to Gold Steps it shows multiple long shots and medium long shots of teenagers looking bored and doing nothing. This immediately indicates that this song and video is being aimed towards teenagers. It is aimed at teenagers because people expect teenagers to be having fun and this will relate to them.

In the next shot it shows close ups of the vocalist spray painting the bands name on the ramp and then shows a close up of the bands name on the half pipe ramp. This also relates to a younger teenage audience as this is the expected age group to be doing things like graffiti and using spray paint in general.

A long shot is used to show the truck about to drive through the street in which the bored teenagers were shown. This means something is about to change in this street.

When the music starts close ups are used to show the band playing their different instruments and as the music is quite fast paced the shots change quite quickly. The change in the speed of the cuts represent being bored and then suddenly having fun

Tracking shots and pans are used to show the teenagers running after the truck to show they love the music and are excited about it. It then cuts to a slow zoom out to show this long shot of people running from different directions after the truck. Some of these shots are shown in slow motion so you can see the happiness on their faces and it is also used to show people doing tricks on their skateboards, again giving a younger feel

Medium close ups are also used to show the vocalist, Ben Barlow, singing. The shots of the band and what they are wearing also show that the band is aimed at a young audience as they were similar clothes to other young people who share an interest in the pop punk genre of music.

When the second verse starts there is a change of scenery. In the opening shot of this it uses jump cuts to show the teenagers making their way to the lake and undressing on the way. Multiple pans are also used showing people running and jumping into the lake to show them having fun.

In the second chorus it shows Ben in the foreground in a shallow focus and a lot of people in the background out of focus cheering. Ben is not joining in with the others in this as he is there to teach them to live while they’re young. The message in the chorus is that things will happen but you will get by and have fun. “Sometimes things will bend you, But trust me you'll be fine, I've been moving mountains that I once had to climb”. This indicates that he has been through things also.

In the third verse the time of day has gone and it is night. This high angle long shot shows the band doing a live show for the fans and people crowd surfing, this shows a lot about the genre of their music as at pop punk shows people will go crazy and crowd surf and get on stage. It shows they are all the same and the band isn’t any more special than the fans.

As the song slows down, due to no instruments being used, it shows a medium close up of Ben singing without a microphone and looking directly into the camera. This shows he is talking to all of his fans watching the video as well as the ones he is playing for. The camera then tilts upwards as it is lifted by a crane.

After that, the video goes back to normal with quick cuts and fast paced music showing the teenagers and the band having fun. The overall look of the band and the others really represent the genre by the way they dress.