Music Video analysis

Example vs Laidback Luke

Sonia De Abreu

Example history

• Example is a rapper from Fulham, West London in the United Kingdom. Formerly signed to The beats label run by Mike skinner

• His music fits can be classified in to a mixture of genres such as dubstep, house, r&b, hip hop and dance

Music video analysis

• We are introduced with a wide shot and a teenager about the age of 17 looking timid and suspicious, the focus is solely on him and due to this we know that he is the main character of this music video narrative

• We then get a close up of another man (also looking suspicious and mischievous) turn up with his hood up and next a drug exchange occurs

• A car then drives past just as the drugs are passed over and money is exchanged, I interpreted this as having connotations ofeither, danger, running away as the car approaches and gets closer or the idea that the drugs are going to give you that buzz that ecstasy does, lights getting brighter, things looking better.

• A close up of the guy’s face gives us an idea of what he’s feeling you can see that he feels sneaky due to the smirk on his face. It is also noticeable that to the left of him there is dark and to the right light this could be connotations that the drugs could go two separate ways either good or bad and the fact that he is in the middle gives us that sense of enigma where in which we don’t know what is going to happen next

• He comes home to a normal family life, with the parents arguing and looking concerned for their sons safety. A high angle shot is used as he goes up the stairs insinuating that he is in control and has more status and role

• We see the main persona plugging in his usb in to the computer and this is almost like the drugs, the words ‘audio transfusion’ are on the screen illustrating the drugs going in to his system. There is also noticeable advertisement on the laptop with ‘Laidback Luke’ stuck on. This is done in order to try promote the artists work.

• As the beat changes and the drugs go in to his arm (0:44) we get a track in to his face. Example is also seen within this music video but instead of being part of the narrative he is the performer and as soon as the drop in the song comes, he drops his hand almost as a queue for when everyone can start dancing and raving.

• We then get an extreme close up (ECU) of the guy’s eyes and we can see that his pupils are completely dilated and the effects of the drugs are really coming through. A cut in to the people dancing could have connotations that not only this guyis on the ‘audio’ drugs but so is everyone at this club.

• From this point on it then goes crazy with strobe lights, people jumping, the DJ on his decks and we have continuous cuts to see all the action going on. Lighting then also goes from white demonstrating change of mood to yellow. Example posters are also behind the guy again advertising his work.

• 0:55-1:20 we see a montage of different shots and cuts of the drugs effects this is coupled with the upbeat tune.

• From here on the tone of the song changes and is less upbeat. Once the boy passes and his parents come in there the colour of the room changes back to white exposing the fact that he is now back to reality and that the drugs have now worn off.

• Once his parents take away his laptop we then see he is extremely dependent on it, like his drugs, he starts going crazy, looking and uncomfortable and in need.

• The lyrics ‘reboot computers’ could have connotations of this guy’s addiction he needs more drugs in his system. The drug dealerthen comes for another round but we see it from a different angle, instead of seeing his right side which it what we originally saw, we see his left showing that there is a change of story the second time round.

• We see a dispute between the two characters and I perceived this was because the guy didn’t have money for the drugs. The medium close up and the fact that there is nothing in the frame but then at this point (1:59) shows the things are scarce.

• The close up of the main characters face as he walks away unsatisfied from the drug dealer tells us that he is stressed, annoyed, and upset.

• We then get a shot of the guy looking at the puddle to see whether or not he gets the effects, the light intensity and the happiness that he was feeling earlier on in the music video.

• Once in the club the camera then tracks and pans out and in to the main characters face, he then gets excited and happy and thiscould be because he is listening to Example and this is what his music does but again he also looks drugged up opening his mouthwide and smiling and opening his eyes with excitement.