Music Video Analysis

Chemical Brothers: Star Guitar



A completely different style of music and video to Stan. It is not illustrative in the same manner as Stan and is far more concept based. The concept would be a train journey, and is therefore also contradictory as you would not necessarily expect the video to be of a train journey.

The video is fairly abstract when compared to other modern videos. The images do not necessarily link with the music in a conventioanl and expected manner ( like a big crashing cymbol may be shown normally with a cymbol beinhg hit in a music vid). It is somewhat more like older music videos when they were first made. A short film shot to music almost. But done in an extremely clever manner.

This video illustrates the different instruments of the music rather than lyrics ( as there are none) with repeat elements. For a particular part of synth or beat, a train repeatedly will rush past the window. For the same beat in the video which is continuous at the end there is a piece of old track, and 3 power things which pass the window as the beat is repeated. ( 3:47 in the video )

The temp and changes in the song are marked with new scenery or extra elements. AS the temp increases, the speed of the train increases. If a new instrument is introduced, a new visual element will represent it in the video.

From 1:30 in the video a particular sort of keyboard is introduced, as a long synth, this is represented by fading from day to night, to day. A fast paced beat kicks in , and concrete blocks rush past the window in sync with the music. The tempo slows, so does the train and the images. Again representing visually the music and not relying on the construction of a narrative, an image for the artist, or performance.

The video is similar to the daft Punk around the world music video done by the same director. Instead for this one objects are used to represent the musical elements where as in Daft Punk dancers do.


Eminem - Stan



Shows the obsession of a fan, in the star image and success of Slim Shady. It illustrates on several levels his unhealthy fixation. The video starts with a zoom through a window. Showing we are being given an insight into this private obsession. Stan is staring into a mirror. It is shot in a bathroom which is decaying creating a depressed atmosphere. Matching the lyrics . There are green colour tones throughout the video , emphasising Stan's envy , jealousy and idolisation.
The video is illustrative and amplifies the lyrics. It is a narrative performance. The video shows Stans obsession with Slim shady, his dying the hair, writing a letter in a gloomy shrine like room...

The constant flashes of light in the video represent Stand chaotic mind set and create strong impacts on the audience.

The video uses straight cuts between shots of Stan, but has fades out and in when switching between the parallel narratives to signify the change and make it more noticeable. ( Stand to Slim Shady) There are longer shots on Stan particularly when he is writing the letter. It shows he is central to the song. The video cuts from MCUs of Stan writing to longer shots, which track in a circular motion around his shrine room. It creates the idea of how his world revolved around his obsession with Slim Shady.

As the video is very illustrative with a narrative it relies heavily upon the acting performance, and less so on the artist performing. The realistic and grimy low key locations that the video is shot in relate to how it links in with Eminem. The song and video have been linked with representing Eminem's relationship with Kim, and he himself said he wrote the song as he receives mail form crazed fans. The video is used to strengthen Eminem's image as one of his songs telling the truth.