Music Video Research - My Way

Music Video Research

Artist: Calvin Harris

Track: My Way

Director(s): Ang Lee

Camera/Editing:

From the beginning, the shots look as if they are glitching and gradually get worse as the video progresses, suggesting the very minor annoyances that we face in third world countries. The use of strobe lighting, futuristic costume and props such as a spaceship help to set the scene of the music video and form the narrative. Quick cuts are used, when the pace of the song picks up and the editing is in sync with the pace and tempo, which is typical of a generic music video. The video features what we assume to be a heterosexual couple (reinforcing stereotypes) and when they are pictured together, mainly medium and long shots are used, making the lyrics match the visuals. An example of this is 'You are the one thing in my way'.

Narrative:

The narrative of this music video is quite complex and is open to interpretation. The beginning shot focuses on a man, wearing a virtual reality headset. This is followed by shots of the country side and what we presume to be him, it looks as if he is looking into his past from the future and the shot reverse shot suggests this. We also see a woman, presumably his girlfriend and the editing used makes her glitch, implying she could be a robot and tying in with the lyrics, as if she is 'the one thing in his way'. The underlying message of the music video, from these features used suggests that we are infiltrating and ruining our environment with technology and that is stopping us from living our lives now. The blank computer screen in the last shot, points towards a resolution in the narrative, that the way to get the most out of life is to switch off electrical appliances.

Conventional/Unconventional:

Aspects of both within the music video:

Conventional - 

The use of dancing

Performance to character throughout

Visuals matching the lyrics

Unconventional - 

Not what you would typically imagine when listening to the song (breaks audiences expectations)

What Works:

The editing fits the song and the dancing used reminds the audience that they are watching a music video. But the confusing narrative is very hard to follow and is subject to lots of different interpretations, which actually could be seen as quite positive.