Tame Impala

“Let It Happen”
General Conventions Analysis
GC1: Lyrics and Visual Narrative
• The video is a narrative presented as a short-film,
with no performance included
• The video features an older male as the protagonist,
which removes the relatability for the younger
(under 25) target audience
• The visuals are surrealist and appear dreamlike or
hallucinatory which fits with the artist’s aesthetic
• The video follows a businessman feeling unwell at
an airport, boarding a plane, and then flying through
the sky
• The ending is unresolved, making it open and the
narrative elliptical (Vernallis)
GC2: Genre Characteristics
• The genre of the song is electronic and
indie, so it is surrealist and subversive
• The protagonist is a stereotype character of
a businessman and is relatable for an older
audience, but acts as an everyman character
everyone can relate to
• The video reflects the way the melody is
meant to make the listener feel
• The setting is empty and recognizable, and
the colours are muted which fits the
alternative genre characteristics
GC3: Intertextuality
and Postmodernism
• When he sinks into the ground,
this intertextually references
(Kristeva) the 1996 film
“Trainspotting”
• The ambiguity and surrealist tone
of the video is very post-modern
• The narrative is non-
chronological, and cross-cuts
between scenes which distorts the
viewer’s sense of time and reality
GC4: Representations
• The protagonist is a stereotype character of a
businessman and is relatable for an older
audience, but acts as an everyman character
everyone can relate to
• There is a range of representation with the
background characters, and a female hostess
who acts as a Proppian helper, which
conforms to female gender performativity
(Butler), as females are often portrayed in
carer roles
• The airport location is relatable and accessible,
as well as not anchoring a specific area for
wider reach
GC5: Cinematography
and Editing
• The editing is discontinuous and has a
fast-paced tempo, this gives an effect of
confusion and is overwhelming to the
viewer
• There are beat matches and the pace
changes in the song to reflect the tempo,
as well as movements from the actors
• It is shot through continuous movement
appearing discontinuous, and there is a
lot of panning and zooming
• There is edited drawing over the
character at the beat drop
• There is frequent use of wide angle and
distortion
Notable Marketing
• There was a popular unrelated TikTok trend associated with the song
which helped boost its popularity
• Tour dates were released shortly after the video and it was promoted as
a single for the new album
• Concerts at prominent music festivals to promote the song
Possible Influences
• Use of airport location
• Following a singular character
• A disjointed narrative
• Cartoon effects drawn on
• Non-linear narrative