Music Video Analysis:Painted By Numbers

By The Sounds

This is meant to be an embedded video of the song but I don’t think it’s working. Hopefully you’ve already watched it anyway.

• Shot of the mic in the centre of the shot suggests that vocals are important part of the music. This links to the new wave view that the voice is a unique instrument.

• The fact that we can’t see the vocalist yet creates suspense as we are waiting to see the star and for her to start singing.

• The woman’s black dress matches the black mic suggesting that she is the vocalist. These colours also make them stand out from the white background.

• This long shot allows us to see all the band together. This is significant as previously we have only seen individual members as their instruments’ music starts playing. Thus, they are know all about to make music together. This links to the illustrate theory of Archer and the visual-

music link theory of Goodwin.• This shot also allows us to see what the whole band is wearing. They are all colour matched

in black to signify them as band members and to make them stand out. They are all dressed quite smartly which I feel is a convention of the genre.

• There is also a link to the lyrics here as there are numbers in the background.

• These relatively quick cuts match a relatively quick tempo. Though its not like there's a cut at each beat or anything as the song is not that full of energy.

• In all of these shots the artist is more or less in the centre of the shot, although as the last moves she goes more towards the right. The centricity represents the artist as impulsive and

independent. This could have tones of girl power to it. It also makes the artist literally the centre of attention and makes her stand out.

• We gradually get closer to the vocalist. This is perhaps because going straight into a close up would not make sense – you need an establishing shot first.

• The second and third shots in particular make the artist quite imposing with the use of a high angle and steadfast body language.

• Voyeuristic body language is used in shot 1 and 2 in particular. This builds the star image and is attractive to people who are into females (desperately trying not to be sexist there).

• The lighting is high key which perhaps links to the positive vibe of the song. This along with the black clothing also makes it seem almost black and white which is a convention of indie

genres.• Close ups essentially advertise the artist (demand of record label) and build/make use of the

star image• Many of these shots also make use of the rule of thirds to be visually appealing. The reason

for these multiple shots are also to make the video visually exciting.

• Something interesting to pick up on – this guitar is clearly not plugged in, so he cant be properly playing it can he? (I don’t know much about guitars so maybe I’m just an idiot though). Anyway, this means that my video won’t look stupid if I use unplugged guitars.

• This shot uses the rule of thirds as the figure is about a third from the left. This is inexplicably visually appealing.

• The little box at the bottom is zoomed in on until it is effectively a whole new shot of the drummer. I think this effect would be easy enough to replicate, and works as a good

transition too.

• These shots demonstrate the positioning of certain instruments. Both of these members are positioned at an angle from the camera, so as to not directly face it. The keyboard is also at this angle whilst the drum is all around the drum player. I theorize that these two band members are at such an angle to give a better view of what they are doing on their

instruments. It’s easier to see which keys the pianist is using. This gives the video authenticity and makes the star look more proffessional.

• The drum has the band’s logo on it and this is directly facing the camera so as to advertise it to viewers and not obscure it’s view.

• I thought that these three camera angles were note worthy• On the left we have a close up of a guitar which links the visuals to the music as well as providing authenticity. The focus on the instruments emphasizes the music and importance

of the music to us and perhaps makes us think more about them. This shot also uses the rule od thirds to appeal to the viewer.

• The second image is an interesting shot of the drummer, it has the symbol in the foreground when the drummer hits it, this has pretty much the same effect as the above. This shot also

gives us a close up of the drummer’s suit which is a convention of new wave.• The third picture is a visually appealing shot of the keyboard and pianist. The piano creates

leading lines which your eyes follow to the artist. We get a good, detailed shot of the pianist playing his keyboard and there is good rule of thirds too.• Basically all these shots are used to the same effect.

• Though this is an entirely performance based video, the performance is interjected with brief clips of the artist messing around and not singing (even when there is singing in the song).

• These shots can be used to a wide range of effects, from creating light humour to voyeurism.• These shots also give the viewer a break from the constant performance and are thus

appealing in their freshness and differentness.• I imagine that some of these took place when filming during the entirely instrumental parts

of the song when the vocalist has nothing to do. However, they could equally have just planned to do stuff like this. I think I will plan this just in case for my video.

• This shot uses the rule of thirds to be visually appealing• There is voyeurism as the female vocalist is showing off her legs, she does that a lot in this

video. This tells us that the target audience is predominantly male.• The wall she is leaning on contains numbers and looks, in general, very mathsy. This links to

the lyrics.• The lighting is high key. This is more visually appealing than normal key and there are high

key and low key parts throughout the video.• Black clothing is in general quite formal. Formality is a convention of new wave.

• The contrast between the white and black could represent the contrast in the lyrics ‘painted by numbers’

• This uses a high angle shot to make the subject (the drummer) seem more powerful and important. This emphasizes the role of the drummer.

• The angle allows us to clearly see what the drummer is doing with his drumsticks. The viewer can see that he is playing which improves the drummer’s star image and creates

realism. This is also a link between the visuals and the music.• The lighting creates a very artistic atmosphere as it looks almost as if it is shot in black and

white. It is possible of course that filters have been added on afterwards.• The drums are used to almost frame the main subject of the drummer.

• A high angle shot is once more used to emphasize the importance of the band member. I think high angle shots must be a convention of band videos.

• Rule of thirds is used to emphasize the guitar. This once more creates realism and a link to the music.

• The lines in the corners and on the roof of the setting become leading lines pointing to the artist.

• The artist’s clothing is conventional of the rock genre, though this is not something I particularly want to put into my video.

The End