Conventions Within a Music Video of the

Indie Folk Genre

Damien Rice – 9 CrimesDaughter - StillSauzanne Micael

Damien Rice – 9 Crimes

Damien Rice - 9 Crimes

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The music video is initially introduced with the use of a wide shot. This automatically enables the audience to set the scene and presents an idea of how the rest of the music video might appear. The audience is first able to see this isolated location, which appears to be an area at the back of a building, with large garbage bins focused in the foreground and centre of the shot. With reference to the rule of thirds, audiences are drawn into the significance of the prop bins as they can then question whether they have any relevance to the actual music video itself, as a result keeping them more engaged. The smooth, slow-paced tracking movement follows the first shot which juxtaposes with the sharp cut to the next close up of the bins. The jump is used to keep the audience aware as it manipulates the attention to the current shot, so audiences are constantly aware of what they are seeing.

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The natural lighting used throughout the music video is somewhat dim and lacks brightness. As a result, the time of day is questionable. The lighting suggests the motif of this music video is not uplifting or ‘positive’ necessarily as brightness generally connotes emotions such as happiness and joy, which there could ultimately be a lack of within in this video. Therefore in terms of uses and gratification, the audience will not be viewing this piece of media as a source to boost their self-esteem and using it more so for entertainment value. As the next shot jumps in an extreme close up of feminine lips, the first question can be asked of whose lips they are? The audience is aware that the music playing and the lip synching movement of the mouth contrast as the song predominantly sounds like a male voice, as well as the fact the artist is actually a male yet a female is singing along. As the camera continues this slow-paced theme which flows with the gentle nature of the song, the audience can now confirm this is a female, as the female is using direct mode of address to connect with the audience, staring directly at them. The pace of the editing allows the viewers to take in this females beauty. After analysing her face, it is quite clear there is a lack of make up which contributes to the mise-en-scene greatly, adding to the natural, calm atmosphere created thus far.

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As the progressive zooming out movement of the camera continues, 1 minute and 10 seconds in it is made clear that this face the viewers have become familiar with, is made to look like she does not have a body with the use of editing. This can be interpreted in many ways with some people finding this amusing and comical whereas others would find this deranged image slightly concerning. In a way, the unnatural head positioned in the way it is juxtaposes with what the audience has seen so far. The unnatural vs. calmness of the video contrasts. A sense of enigma is created as the audience now has a puzzle to solve, creating interest for them. We can also wonder whether there will be an anchorage within the video and hoping the rest of the video explains this possible message, adding to the suspense.

The second character is introduced 1 minute and 30 seconds in, using a mid shot. This character is male, his costume consists of him wearing a puffer jacket with the denotation being a vibrant, orange colour and plain denim jeans. This character, unlike any other prop, lighting, background etc. used in this music video could be the first initial sign of hope for the atmosphere or storyline. This is because there is a symbolic element to the character introducing the audience to the first stand out colour which is connoted as and often related to the idea of adventure as well as being one of the ‘healing colours’. The audience can also associate his need for a quote with the subtle wind blowing the leaves as the time of year is autumn. It is evident that all the sounds are muted out, such as the leaves blowing to exaggerate the focus solely on the music being played throughout.

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It is made obvious the male character is in pursuit of something as he is looking around the area. The assumption can be made that he is looking for the females head as the audience can combine the two characters as those two people are the only ones around in this isolated area. The male then comes across a prop penny, shown in a close up of the ground, positioned the queens head head facing upwards.

Questions arise from this particular prop such as is it relevant? Or does this link to the females head? Seconds later, a close-up captures the mans facial expression as he notices the head a feet away from him. This proves the earlier assumption that the two are linked is correct as most people would react differently if they saw a head laying on the floor, however this man looks more intrigued.

As the man proceeds to try and touch the head, the female head floats up and away from him which is shown with an over-the-shoulder shot. Viewers are made aware she is tied by a piece of string around the neck. This can be associated with the balloons which are usually used in times of celebration which again contrasts in this music video.

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After displaying signs of frustration such as a sigh in a close-up shot, the scene jumps to a static wide shot of the man walking away from the head. Moment later, we recognise the head is actually following him. Those viewing this music video might feel there is a deep connection between this head and the male character as his happiness to see that she is following seems deep-rooted. There is a certain level of innocence attached to this happiness, which is peculiar as the man is clearly an adult, but in a way the idea of this female in the shape of a balloon giving him joy could be similar to the way a child experiences joy with balloons.

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The angle of the camera is positioned to capture the man walking down with the balloon like head. Through the use of facial expressions of both the male and female, it is quite clear they are both content. The close up of a young male boy with a slingshot is shown, again using direct mode of address, gazing directly at the audience. This is cleverly manipulated to make it seem as if the child is aiming the slingshot towards the audience. As a result of this, these kids are stereotyped to be antagonising. The shot jump cuts to the reaction of the male character who responds this using body language that displays his horror. The irony of children ruining an adults childlike state holding a balloon allows the audience to sympathise for this character, referring to the Uses and Gratifications theory. The last shot is a close-up of the girls mouth in pieces. This eerie, unnatural camera shot finalises the storyline quite bluntly as the ending was completely unexpected.

Lyric Break DownLeave me out with the waste

This is not what I doIt's the wrong kind of place

To be thinking of youIt's the wrong timeFor somebody new

It's a small crimeAnd I've got no excuse

Is that alright?Give my gun away when it's loaded

Is that alright?If u don't shoot it how am I

supposed to hold itIs that alright?

Give my gun away when it's loadedIs that alright

With you?

Leave me out with the wasteThis is not what I do

It's the wrong kind of placeTo be cheating on you

It's the wrong timeShe's pulling me through

It's a small crimeAnd I've got no excuse

Is that alright?I give my gun away when it's loaded

Is that alright?If you don’t shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it

Is that alright?I give my gun away when it's loaded

Is that alrightIs that alright with you?

Is that alright?I give my gun away when it's loaded

Is that alright?If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it

Is that alright?If I give my gun away when it's loaded

Is that alrightIs that alright with you?

Is that alright?Is that alright?

Is that alright with you?Is that alright?Is that alright?

Is that alright with you?

No...

1. 2.

• A strong sense of narrative• Themes of love• Use of extreme close-up shots• Simple editing techniques• A narrative based on two main characters

Conventions Used Within the Music Video

Daughter - Still

Lyric Break DownI'll wrap up my bones

And leave themOut of this homeOut on the road

Two feet standing on a principleTwo hands longing for each others warmthCold smoke seeping out of colder throats

Darkness falling, leaves nowhere to go

It's spiraling down Biting words like a wolf howling

Hate is spitting out each others mouthsBut we're still sleeping like we're lovers

Still with feet touchingStill with eyes meetingStill our hands match

Still with hearts beating X3

Two feet standing on a principleTwo hands digging in each others woundsCold smoke seeping out of colder throatsDarkness falling, leaves nowhere to move

It's spiraling down Biting words like a wolf howlingHate is spitting out each others

mouthsBut we're still sleeping like we're

lovers

Still with feet touchingStill with eyes meetingStill our hands match

Still with hearts beatingx3

I'll wrap up my bonesAnd leave them

Out of this homeOut on the road

Two feet standing on a principleTwo hands longing for each others

warmthCold smoke seeping out of colder

throatsDarkness falling, leaves nowhere to

go

Mise-en-SceneThe lighting used throughout the music video is all artificial lighting. This is due to the action taking place at night. Lighting is mainly used in the foreground of the shots to highlight the females facial features and expression. This enables audience to relate to the young female as they can identify with her young youthful appearance. The range of colours remain consistent in a dim theme, which combines nicely with the melancholy motif.

Lighting

Facial Expressions & Body LanguageBoth the male and female characters body language is tense and stiff. The audience can attach this aspect of the video to the title of the song and lyrics ‘still’. At one point, the female character curls up into the foetal position. This action generally connotes a sad state of mind as people usually revert to it when they are feeling stressed, depressed etc. The audience is engaged in response to this as they question what could have made her feel that way.

EditingThe video manipulates the use of cuts to explain the narrative in a sequence of shots. This allows the audience to understand the storyline quite easily. Besides this use of editing, the simple editing techniques means those viewing the video are solely focused on the content of what they are watching and not extra added aspects that could potentially distract from the synopsis. Also, the pace of the music combined with the editing connects well. However, the artist is seen in all the televisions shown with the use of editing and a pre-recorded shot as she sings the song. This is a physical link between the song and the music video.

Transitions

SoundThe general sound of the music is strongly conventional to the contemporary sound of indie folk music. Indie folk is the combination of indie rock melodies with the acoustical sounds of contemporary folk music. Daughters gentle and whispery like sound is personified in the music video as the setting and time of day is night therefore the whispering is relevan

Conventions Used Within the Music Video

• Slow movement• Dim lighting• Simple Editing• Narrative • A narrative based on two main characters