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Video Analysis:
The Script- The Man Who Cant Be Moved
Claire Angus
Goodwin identified that the visuals within a music video may be edited in time to the
lyrics/ change the pace of the song. He also stated that these visuals are commonly
repeated within a chorus to emphasise the repetition in lyrics and beats/or create a
motif.
Goodwin found that most artists have a trend of repeating certain actions within their
music videos in order to establish this as their 'trademark' action and therefore making
their songs recognizable due to it reoccurring often. This represents the style of the
music the artist is releasing and is a marketing strategy in order to be remembered by
many different audiences. Genre is also shown by location. For example, songs within
the rock genre are often filmed near a stage to convey a gig, and songs within the rap
genre are often filmed in an abandoned warehouse or street.
Goodwin identified that it is a common feature for record labels to use close ups of the
artist/vocalist in order to promote the sales in the single. This convention is used in
order to show the artist throughout the video, but is most common with female artists,
as provocative angles are often used to sexualize the artist, following Laura Mulvey's
Male Gaze Theory. This could create an intimate medium.
Goodwin acknowledged that it was not uncommon to recognize either the visuals or
lyrics of a song to be a direct reference to another media text. This is used to engage
audiences and provide them gratification, if they recognize the link.
Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
The Script, both perform and appear within the narrative itself, which
is typical of a pop rock genre. This convention is also seen in the classic
pop rock genre, in videos like Lets Dance, Dont You Want Me and
Love Shack by The B-52S.
The rock pop genre is also shown by location. For example, songs
within the rock genre are often filmed near a stage to convey a gig, and
you can see here, that The Script are playing in an abandoned car
park, creating a stage-like setting, with instruments and
Unlike the classic pop rock genre, this video doesnt show any signs of costume as a genre
characteristic. Danny, simply wears the same outfit throughout the video. He wears black skinny jeans
which is a characteristic of the modern pop rock, however, this doesnt relate to the regular costume
changes that we see in the classic pop rock genre.
The video is naturally lit, making it more simplistic and realistic. This shows that its modernised, as
the classic pop rock videos are mostly shot inside, as lighting can be provided and manipulated.
There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals (either illustrative, amplifying or
contradicting)
Just like the other examples, there is a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, making the video mainly
illustrative. The lyrics match perfectly with the visuals to form the narrative structure.
When Danny sings going back to the corner where I first saw you, he
is shown to be walking, and stops on a street corner, reflecting the
lyrics exactly.
The end of the song repeats back to the start, with a visual of Danny with his sleeping bag
on the corner, anchoring the lyrics Going back to the corner where I first saw you,
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag not I'm not gonna move.
The Lyric Saying if you see this girl can you tell her where I am is reflected in the mid-shot of Danny
singing this line to an elderly man, as if hes asking him this.
At 0:31 we see a mid-shot of a man offering Danny money, but he refuses, reflecting the line
Some try to hand me money they don't understand
The lyric Gotta stand my ground even if it rains or snows is reinforced, when a mid-shot of a
police woman in a car is cut to. She appears to be aggravated as Danny is standing his ground
and not moving.
you'll see me on the news is a lyric which creates a relationship with the
visual of a news report, making Danny look as though he is being interviewed.
The Man Who Cant Be Moved is primarily narrative based, but does include performance as well, due
to Danny being the lead singer and actor.
The narrative is the same throughout, with the same ideas and thoughts expressed, being repeated and
linked back to at the end. This supports the typical narrative structure of the modern pop rock genre, as
it is the same throughout, with a clear theme.
By the end of the video, the audience dont find out whether he finds the girl he is looking for. This could
be the reason why there isnt a climax to the narrative story, and why the narrative seems to be an
endless search for the lead character.