'Always like This’ is a performance based video.
The Artist
Bombay Bicycle Club is an English indie rock band from Crouch End, London, consisting of Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar and piano), Jamie MacColl (guitar), Suren de Saram (drums) and Ed Nash (bass). They are guitar-fronted and have experimented with different genres, including folk, electronica, world music and indie rock.
The band were given the opening slot on 2006's V Festival after winning a competition and subsequently released two EPs and their debut single ‘Evening/Morning’. Since then, the band has released four albums including ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ which topped the album charts in February 2014. The band has toured worldwide as a headlining act, playing North America, Australia, Europe and the Far East.The Record Label
2009 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Island Records is a major American record label that operates as a division of Universal Music Group. It was founded by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica and has been based in the United Kingdom since 1962. The label are notably known for ‘Keane’ and ‘U2’.
Mise en scene
Setting and Location
The setting of the ‘Always like This’ music video is most like a town in the UK. Settings include coloured garages, flats and 60s housing. There is also shots of ‘local’ town shops including; ‘jumble-sale’ type shop, a ‘Nice and Cheap’ store and a chip shop, all of which are associated with a town in England. The setting is associated with the ‘middle-class’ and the appearance of the music video does seem to be quite ‘amateurish’ which perhaps fits in with the band’s ‘indie’ style.
Costume and Make-up
The main singer wears a green casual t-shirt and jeans, the others in band wear similar casual-style clothing including hoodies and jeans. As the video progresses into later in the day the band wear jackets/hoodies over their t-shirts/shirts earlier in the video. This look suggests the 'normal' look the band are trying to put across, playing on their 'middle-class' London roots.
Lighting and Colour
Throughout the majority of the music video there is mostly high-key lighting which is reflective of the 'upbeat' song. Near the end of the song there is more low-key lighting which could be reflect how the video appears to be quite 'amateurish' and so all the shots were filmed over the process of one day, thus there is low-key lighting at the end of the video. However, at the end of the video it returns to the high-key lighting used at the beginning of the video, repeating the same few shots, just on the opposite, ending on the same shot of the roundabout in an empty children's playground. This could relate to the title and meaning of the song 'Always like this' referring to how things have literally 'always' been 'like this' and so by repeating the same 'motif' and sequence of shots from the beginning it therefore portrays the song accurately.
Throughout the majority of the music video there is mostly high-key lighting which is reflective of the 'upbeat' song. Near the end of the song there is more low-key lighting which could be reflect how the video appears to be quite 'amateurish' and so all the shots were filmed over the process of one day, thus there is low-key lighting at the end of the video. However, at the end of the video it returns to the high-key lighting used at the beginning of the video, repeating the same few shots, just on the opposite, ending on the same shot of the roundabout in an empty children's playground. This could relate to the title and meaning of the song 'Always like this' referring to how things have literally 'always' been 'like this' and so by repeating the same 'motif' and sequence of shots from the beginning it therefore portrays the song accurately.
In general, there are not many dominant colours used throughout the video however, the colours are not particularly vibrant which could reflect how the town is not displayed as the 'perfect' town and how the band seem to dwell on the fact that they are 'relatable' and use their middle-class London roots to their advantage.
Camera Work
The music video opens with a shot that appears to be the start of a video, with the play button in the top left hand corner. There is a straight cut to a mid-shot of a children's roundabout which is spinning. Throughout the video there is use of this 'play' 'pause' 'fast-forward' typically from the old VHS format. It is though the video is being actually controlled by the viewer. Initially, there is the fast-forward sign as there are continuous straight cuts to various locations. Eventually, the video 'plays' as the bassist walks into shot and again fast-forwards until the video pauses to
introduces the main singer with his guitar in a mid-shot. The video follows the same pattern of fast-forwarding, pausing and playing throughout most of the song. There is also use of a four-shot as the whole band is playing which cuts to a medium close-up of the 'front men' or lead singer. This is most likely used to emphasise their importance and get their face 'out-there' and represent the band in an appropriate way. Close-up shots and medium close-ups are used to perhaps create a connection with the audience and make the video clear and easy to understand.
However, this being a performance based video, this is not so essential but, particularly for a 'new' band (as this was Bombay Bicycle Club's first single) they need to be represented in the right way and apply to the audience they are aiming for. Thus, there are a lot of close-up shots of the lead singer which in turn helps to promote the band, which is perhaps essential to a 'new' band since this may be the first time that many public would have heard of them and so the video needs to be both visually appealing as well as work from the 'business' point of view.
Editing
The pace of the video is quite fast, this is particularly heightened with the use of the 'fast-forward' and 'pause' aspect of the video which is used effectively to increase the pace of the video and slow it down, perhaps in a more literal fashion. There is also use of straight cuts which are used frequently to keep up with both the pace of the video and the cut 'with the music' which creates a sense of fluidity and makes the music video less 'jarring' and, in turn, match the visuals to the sounds.
However, this being a performance based video, this is not so essential but, particularly for a 'new' band (as this was Bombay Bicycle Club's first single) they need to be represented in the right way and apply to the audience they are aiming for. Thus, there are a lot of close-up shots of the lead singer which in turn helps to promote the band, which is perhaps essential to a 'new' band since this may be the first time that many public would have heard of them and so the video needs to be both visually appealing as well as work from the 'business' point of view.
Editing
The pace of the video is quite fast, this is particularly heightened with the use of the 'fast-forward' and 'pause' aspect of the video which is used effectively to increase the pace of the video and slow it down, perhaps in a more literal fashion. There is also use of straight cuts which are used frequently to keep up with both the pace of the video and the cut 'with the music' which creates a sense of fluidity and makes the music video less 'jarring' and, in turn, match the visuals to the sounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment