Music video analysis.

By Peter Lucas

Radiohead Karma Police

• This is one of my all time favourite music videos, karma police by radio head.

• This video uses great cinematography and editing, it could almost be a scene from a film.

• The video is shot almost entirely from the point of view of an unseen driver, chasing down an unknown man.

• Thom yorke is also featured in this video sitting in the back seat of the car, occasionally the camera will swivel to show thom lip-syncing to the track.

• This video was directed by Jonathan Glazer, he has directed many different music videos including videos for massive attack and jamiroquai.

• This video does challenge typical representations of rock music, due to the lack of performance, apart from Thom yorke’s subtle lip-syncing.

• The lack of an obvious and clear plot to the video helps us engage with the video as we try and piece together what is happening.

• In pop music videos many shots of the artist close up will be used to aid recognition of the artist. By contrast in this music video there are only a few close-ups one of Thom leaning over the seat and others are of the pursued man. Who isn’t in the band.

• As far as I am aware there is little or no relation between the visuals and the lyrics. Though they may be suggesting that Thom and the unseen driver are karma which the running man deserves.

• The lyrics “This is what you’ll get, when you mess with us.” may also be a reference to the running man being punished for ‘messing’ with Thom yorke.

• When we eventually see the running man’s face he seems to be scared suggesting he is fearful of Thom and the driver.

• He eventually falls to the ground then as he gets up he turns to confront his pursuers. This is one of the few times the view is taken away from the driver and into another perspective.

• The video comes to a dramatic end with the car bursting into flames after the pursued man lights a stream of leaking petrol. The car is then enveloped in flames as the camera pans to the back seat for a final time revelling the absence of Thom.

• This video is full of mystery who is the driver, who is he pursuing, what is thom’s role in the video, what did the man do to evoke the pursuit. Where does thom go at the end? Was he there at all?

Aphex Twin – Window Licker

• As I have said in my favourite music videos post, this is truly one of the strangest videos I have ever seen.

• The unusual nature fits to the strange nature of the track it’s self.

• This video set out to challenge conventions and parody a lot of hip hop videos.

• Aphex twin (Richard James) is featured in this video as he is in most of his videos.

• Following the theme of his other videos, people posses his face, this can create unusual and mildly disturbing images. Such as bikini clad woman with Richard’s slightly less attractive face.

• The idea behind the video of taking the voyeuristic nature of most music videos and then changing our attitudes towards the woman in the video was quite striking.

• In the final stages of the video a rather typical scene is shown, the artist surrounded by women in bikinis. This derives false expectations in our minds.

• These are then shattered by the women's faces which have a stark contrast to there ‘perfect’ bodies.

• Whilst the other woman posses Richard’s (aphex twin’s) face one in particular has a rather unusual and perhaps rather scary face.

• Many shots familiar from typical videos are present here, but with a rather twisted side to them.

• The vulgar displays of wealth and false affection, half naked woman being sprayed with Champaign and dancing around. Again challenging all our pre-judgements of the video.

• One thing about this video that I really like is the fact that it could be a typical hip hop or RnB video due to the way it is shot. But due to the unusual circumstances this woman find themselves in it becomes quite an amusing Parody.

• Overall I think this video does a great job of challenging conventions and perceptions.

• Richard James and the director Chris Cunningham changing voyeurism into vulgarism in the blink of an eye.

Beastie Boys - Sabotage

• Here is a video I can watch over and over again from the comedy rap trio the beastie boys.

• A common theme in there videos is comedy or parody, this usually takes the form of them dressed up in forensic outfits dancing like robots in Japanese train stations.

• But in this particular video they spoof 1970’s American cop television programmes such as Hawaii 5-0 and Baretta.

• The main characters in the video are played by the band members.

• The whole video is set as though it is a trailer for ‘sabotage’ a police show.

• The band do a great job of spoofing the style of TV show with exaggerated acting and some completely un-necessary ‘combat’ rolling.

• This video was directed by Spike Jonze who has also directed music videos for daft punk and fat boy slim.

• The band are said to be a rock/rap band, but I would consider this song as more rock than rap.

• In which case it challenges traditional rock videos as while it does feature the band they are not performing.

• There doesn’t appear to be any links between the lyrics of the song and the video. Apart from the first time sabotage is said the title of the TV show sabotage is shown.

• Although there are a few clips cut in time to the music it’s self.

• The video contains a lot of quick cuts to fast paced and short clips, much like a trailer usually is.

• Many of the clips involve action, to show off how action packed the show would be. This can bring humours results as we struggle to take everything in.

• Overall I think this is a great music video and the clearly fake wigs and moustaches just add to that effect. I think Spike Jonze and the beastie boys did a great job at parodying a cop show as it looks so convincing if a bit exaggerated.