Music Video Analysis- The Lighthouse Family- I Wish

Aspects Of Performance/Mode Of Analysis

Direct mode of address was used as the singer in the video was looking at th camera and was singing to the audience. The man on the train is in the band and he walks up and down the train and looks in to the lives of people he comes across on the train. There is no dance routines in the video and no real elements of performance.



Narrative

The narrative is non-linear as there is flashbacks used to look in to peoples lives. However, there is a clear beginning, middle and end. At the beginning everyone boards the train, in the middle the flashbacks are used to look in to peoples lives and allow the audience to see the problems they are going through. At the end everyone gets off the train.


How Does The Video Create An Image For The Artist/Band

The Lighthouse Family are giving the impression that they may change peoples lives as the singer on the train is changing peoples lives by allowing them to talk through their problems. The video is creating more of a messege rather than a performance. The video and song is quite mellow and this creates a mellow, caring image for the band


How Do The Visuals Relate To The Song

The visuals amplify the song as the lyrics are about wishing you were free and in the video it shows people opening up about their problems and allowing themselves to be free in that way.



Mise-En-Scene

It is set on an underground for a majority of the song but we get flashes in to other peoples lives and see settings such as a prison, someones home, a kitchen, a strip club, an estate. Everyone on the train is wearing dark clothing so they all blend in with each other and no-one really stands out apart from the girl in the white coat. The lead singer also stands out as he has a hat on but he is wearing dark clothing like the rest of the people on the train.




Use Of Camera

Close ups are used of the singers face when he is singing directly to the audience. Extreme close up is also used here. A high angle is used to look down the escalator as everyone is going down to the underground. This could signify them being seen as vulnerable or going to a place they will be vulnerable. Mid shots are used to show everyone on the train and for the audience to see the setting of where we are. The camera tracks the singer as he walks down the train to make the audience feel as if they are walking with him. There is an extreme long shot used at the beginning of the video in which we can see the train coming in to the station.



Editing

There are flashes used to show other places in peoples lives. Match on action is used as the girl in the white coat takes the singers hand and leads him down the train. Dissolves are used to look in to peoples lives. Eye-line match is used so we can see what the singer sees and we can associate with the singer.



Representation

Everyone on the train looks like they are working/lower class. The singer appears to be of a higher class because he is wearing a suit, however he still blends in with the others are everyone on the train is wearing dark clothing apart from the woman who leads the singer down the train. She is a sterotypical 'pretty' girl as she has long blonde hair and porcelin skin. She stands out as she is wearing a white coat which contrasts with everyone elses clothing on the train. The white she is wearing could represent her as being an angel as she leads the singer and allows him to look in to peoples lives. The video has quite a religious theme as the underground train could signify hell as it is underground and an unhappy place as people are thinking of all the bad things happening to them. At the end of the video everyone leaves the train and goes up the stairs to outside in to the bright light which could signify heaven as everyone has shared their problems and now feels much happier and in a better place. Also the singer on the train has a follower which also links with the religious theme as jesus has his deciples following him.






Special Effects

Flashes are used to look in to peoples lives. The camera fades and melts to show the flashbacks. Lots of transitions are made.


Genre

The genre for this music is soul. It can also be considered contempory or soulful pop


Audience

The audience for The Lighthouse Family is both sexes generally between the ages of 25-40. The music is from the 90's so this is why they would not have a younger audience. The music is mellow and easy listening and would generally be played on the music channels VH1, Magic and Smooth