Blog - Music Video Analysis

Embed a music video in your blog post. Analyze the structure and production elements of the video.

Is it narrative, performative, conceptual or a combination?

This music video by A-Ha is a narrative story. 

What visual elements are used to style the video (color, shape, line, tone, light, rhythm)? Does it stay consistent throughout or does it change? When and why does it change?

The visual elements of the video constantly change, and that is part of the story. The artist of the comic book is able to use contrast and value to distinctly tell a story with very limited colour palette. The lines are specifically used to illustrate the world that he is in, and instead of making the video look unfinished, it tells part of the story and adds to the piece. 

What are some of the key moments in the video? How are they photographed?

There are distinct key moments, such as when she enters into the comic and becomes simplified. Another key moment is when she is looking in a mirror at him, noting how there is a distinct barrier between them, but despite that they end up falling for each other. Then when the cops/waste basket starts to attack is the point of the most dynamic visual changes. The comic gets darker and there are distinctly more lines throughout. 

Does the camera stay static or is there movement? Why does the camera move?

The camera moves throughout in order to keep pace with the figures. It moves constantly to keep pace of a graphic novel, drawing the eye and keeping the focus to tell a broad story in a short amount of time. 

Does the video follow the story of the song or reinterpret it in a new way?

When looking at the lyrics apart from the music video, they tell a very different story. For the lyrics, they tell a story of a temporary love with a shy girl and an impatient guy. Whereas the music video by itself tells a vibrant story, dynamic story as he comes to live in her world. It does not lead me to interpret the song in a different way, merely that the video does not match at all what the song is trying to say.