Post 2 - Professional music videos
This music video was released in 2016, and was made in conjuncture with Warner Bros. and DC to promote the film "Suicide Squad". (coincidentally, an example of synergy.)
The music video takes a darker, more gritty tone compared to other twenty one pilots music videos, which typically take lighter and more fun tones. This is probably done to match the lyrics of the song, saying things which would be considered quite sensitive subjects or more twisted. Lines such as "you're laughing at the psychopath sitting next to you" and "doesn't mean our brains will change from hand grenades" support this explanation.
Also seen in the music video is scenes from the movie it's promoting, Suicide Squad. Typically, these are small shots of the characters, e.g. Harley Quinn treating her baseball bat like a gun, various shots of Killer Croc, etc. This was done to show some kind of link between this song, the music video, and the movie. It also helps with the overall tone of the music video, since the scenes selected match the tone and mood the music video is trying to establish.
The music video shows the musicians actually singing the song, but it's not live. They're all set up to seem like they're playing the music in the fictional prison, presumably the same prison as the Suicide Squad's. This is, once again, done to suit the overall arc and tone of the music video; if it cut to a live performance of the song being performed at a real concert, it would detract from the narrative they had already laid down.
The editing is quite basic, and just seems to match whatever the speed of the music is. As in, faster lyrics have faster editing, and slower lyrics have slower editing. This makes the music video seem quite bland and basic.
There's no overarching story or narrative, it just seems to be a mashup of random shots that don't really correlate to each other, with some Suicide Squad clips thrown in for good measure. This doesn't give the music video any rewatchability, since there's no hook to draw you back in, and no story that you remember and stay with you.
ALL STAR by Smash Mouth
This music video was released in 2001, and drew inspiration from the film "Mystery Men", a film in which the song is featured.
The music video is meant to be quite light-hearted and slightly comedic, to match the more fun nature of the song that's playing. There are lots of oversaturated colours onscreen, as opposed to the muted, dull colours of the Heathens music video that made it look more like wet concrete. The mise-en-scene of the music video is also more relaxed and fun, with the characters and lead singer, Steve Harwell, wearing more casual clothes. Some characters at the beginning are wearing superhero costumes, emphasising a more fun element of this music video.
The music video exclusively revolves around Steve Harwell, as he recites the lyrics. Alike the Heathens music video, there's no sign of a live performance, as Harwell just sings as the rest of the music video happens around him. For the most part, the song is the ONLY thing you can hear. However, during scenes where there's no lyrics, there is some diegetic sound, mostly of cars and other sound effects.
The editing can be described as the OPPOSITE as the video for "Heathens". Where that goes in a fairly basic, cliche direction in terms of cut lengths, "All Star" goes for the polar opposite. When there are lyrics which are slower in pace, the editing is quite fast, and cuts are frequent, such as in the build up to the burning house sequence. However, faster lyrics, like in the chorus, have fewer cuts and longer shots.
YOU BELONG WITH ME by Taylor Swift
This music video was made in 2009 for the Taylor Swift song "You Belong With Me", for her album "Fearless"
The music video is very clearly aimed at one specific demographic specifically; teenage girls. This is suitable, seeing as they are the main consumers of Taylor Swift's products. This connection with the audience is done by making all of the characters being around the same age as the audience, and focusing it on the prom, an important event for teenagers in America.
The storyline is simple, and somewhat relatable for the audience; Taylor Swift plays a teenager trying to win the affections of a boy in her school. Eventually they fall in love at the prom and live happily ever after. All the usual American teenage media tropes are present.
All of the editing used is fairly basic, with there being no rapid cuts between shots, or any fancy transitions. It's all just straight cuts, with shots lasting quite a long time. This matches the tone of the music itself well, since the general tone of the music is quite calm and slow. Fast editing for a song this slow and mellow wouldn't really fit.
The colours are, for lack of a better term, quite sharp and harsh. There's no soft contrast between colours, they really seem artificial. This isn't the case with the other music videos; colours seem more natural and organic.
LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR by Aerosmith
This music video was made for the Aerosmith song "Love in an Elevator" in 1994.This particular video has one thing that sets it apart from the other three music videos; a live performance of the song as if it's a concert, and not just characters singing it in the same setting as the music video it's even in.
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