Music Video Research - The Pretender

Music Video Research
Artist: Foo Fighters
Track: The Pretender
Director: Sam Brown



Camera/Editing:
Constantly, ECU'S and LCU'S are used mainly on the lead singer, as he performs to the camera. The camera then tracks backwards from being in this position into a wide shot, therefore we get to see the whole band, before there is another LCU of a man in a protective body suit. Shot reverse shot is used through the singer and then to this unknown man, showing the audience the eye contact that they are holding. Following this, there are a number of quick cuts from shot to shot and this matches the overall pace of the song. Slow motion is used in parts and this puts emphasis on the actions that are taking place.

Narrative:
The first shot is each band member walking in one by one to collect their instrument, as they begin to play a single man marches into the same room wearing fully protective, black clothing including a helmet and shield. He stands behind a black line facing the band and this may symbolise a friction between them, while the red back drop behind the band show the building anger. More men join the single man and an army starts to form, meanwhile the song starts to slow down as they all stand watching each other building up tension. Instantly, the men charge towards the band and the red backdrop behind the band shatters, looking like blood. This looks like a war scene, however the band don't retaliate and carry on performing to camera suggesting that bad things happen in life, but you just have to push through. The last shot of the music video is the lead singer dropping to the floor and the main lights turning on, showing the audience that it wasn't blood, but water and suggesting that the underlying message is that not everything is always as it seems and that we shouldn't just jump to conclusions.

Conventional/Unconventional:
Aspects of both within the music video:
Conventional -
There is performance/miming to the camera, including the band
A range of camera shots are used, as well as quick cuts to match the pace and tempo of the song
Unconventional -
Contrapuntal sound is used at one moment - the song slows down and becomes more soft, while the 'army' scream and charge forward with their batons
The music video is shot in all one location

What Works:
The contrapuntal sound is a clever juxtaposition between the visuals and the song, which confuses the audience and breaks their expectations. However, at the beginning, the music video seems to be slow and boring, as it's just the band singing and performing. The likelihood of this is the audience will turn it off, because it doesn't get interesting until midway through the song.