Music Video Analysis - The Blackout - The Storm

The Blackout is a post-hard-core band from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, formed in 2003. Their video – The storm is a very popular song from their album “Hope”. The video starts with the band performing their song in what looks like a flooded warehouse. There are various shots of the band performing throughout the music video, signifying to me the influence of the music label trying to advertise the band.

 Many bands of the hard-core genre use a lot of band footage within their music videos, this generic convention is seen in videos such as “Young Guns – “Weight of the World

The background of the music video is filled with water which could connote to the audience a symbol of drowning or trapment. The lyrics to the song can be linked to these visuals - "Wash it all away" reffering to the water as taking something away, in this video it seems to be washing away emotion. This music video seems to follow the principles suggested by Goodwin for a generic music videos - the visuals link to the lyrics that are being sung. The band members are surronded by water throughout the video. Also the use of rain generically conveys the message of depression and sadness. For example, within a lot of films, to create a sad atmosphere on the screen, the use rain as a symbol of that emotion. This is used in the same way within this music video.

The quick edits of the shots link to the beat of the song. Many songs of this genre have a fast beat, for example While She Sleeps and Bury Tomorrow. The editing which creates more flow between the visuals and the music is also fast and quick cutting which would synchronise with the music.  

The close ups of the band members singing signifys the influence of the record label on the music video. By adding a lot of close ups of the members, they are advertising them to their audience. The mise-en-scene in this shot is like a factory setting with bright non-ambient lighting. The lighting creates a contrast and acts as a confusion towards the audience as it is so harsh to watch. This compared with the dull coloured clothing the band are wearing creates a contrast between colours. This could link with the lyrics "I’d never take the sun away", the lighting act as a source of sunlight for the band.

This shot can signify a lot to the audience. The falling into the water connotes that the person is drowning and out of his depth. It could also represent fear of being out of control as when you are drowning, you cannot control what is happening to you. Your whole body panics, this is what this shot is trying to portray to the audience, to make the audience identify with the emotions that is at play in the music video.  

It could also show that he is entrapped as there is a wall within the water not allowing him to get past. The wall acts as a looking glass for the band member, showing the truth to the music video. The use of mirrors is a generic convention within music videos. The voyeruism that is suggested by Goodwin shows reflection and maybe obsession with themselves (Narcissim)

The use of the flare creates an effect of fire with the contrast of water. These two elements act as oppositions, which could signify a cross between two opposing people. Fire shows fear and entrapment reinforcing the effect of the water on the audience. It could also show that the member is choking and cannot escape this fate, fire traps people, you can't escape it. It surronds you. The flare also is connoting a help signal as it is normally used to flag down someone else. Suggesting to me that they are need of assistance, maybe because of the water drowning the male lead.

The hand held camera for the argument between the couple shows anger and confusion. It creates a chaotic atmosphere within this shot to show to the audience that they are par taking in a fight with the disagreement. This could be linked to the fire and water; that the characters have the same situation. They are two opposing people who do not correspond.

This last show shows the rain going upwards rather than the normal convention of it raining downwards. This could suggest that the factors are looking up, or it could connote confusion and disorentation. It could show that this is a dream like world where gravity does not exist.