Analysis Of The Foo Fighters:The Pretender (2007) Directed by Sam Brown
This video sends off a strong political message. It shows the Foo Fighters performing the song in an ice hockey rink, evenly lit by strong strip lights on the ceiling. The ice rink is the only location in the whole video, and it is very interestingly laid out. It is a very simple set, featuring the band on one end of it, with a very large solid glossy red screen above and behind them throughout the video. Also, opposite the band on the other side of the set is stood what appears to be a riot police officer standing behind a black line on the floor. Due to the set’s simplicity and general emptiness, we are made to wonder what the massive red screen is doing there, and if it has a purpose. As the video progresses, other similar officers who again stand in line along the black line on the floor facing the band, looking intimidating, join the single police officer. The video seems to build up to a bridge just before their last chorus, where there is a very quiet and light music part, and the officers then start running and charge at the band in slow motion, and just as they get closer, the massive screen behind the band suddenly erupts a red water-like liquid jets shoot past and through the band and appears to overwhelm and throw the officers off guard. This of course coincides exactly as the band plays their last chorus, this time louder and angrier than before. It is clear that the guards were defeated as the song ends, and the front man slams his guitar on the floor and falls to his knees to what I assume is to represent the exhaustion after the battle.
The video is composed of mainly pans, zooms and tracking shots, and close ups of the front man since he is the best-known member of the band (having belonged to Nirvana). The fact that the director isolated them in an empty ice rink makes the political lyrics stand out, as the singer shouts “What if I say I will never surrender” and “What if I say I’m not...
THE FOO FIGHTERS:The Pretender Lyrics
keep you in the dark you know they all pretend keep you in the dark and saw it all begin
send in your skeletons sing as the bones come marchin' in again the knee you buried deep the secrets that you keep are ever ready, are you ready?
I'm finished making sense done pleading ignorance that whole defense spending this energy but the wheel thats spinnin' me is never ending, never ending same ol' story
what if I say you're not like the others what if I you're not just another one look at your face, you're the pretender what if I say I'll never surrender x2
in time I'm so I'm told I'm just another soul for sale, oh well the pages I repress they are not permanent, they are temporary, same ol story
what if I say you're not like the others what if I you're not just another one look at your face, you're the pretender what if I say I'll never surrender x2
I'm the voice inside your head you refuse to hear I'm the face you have to face mirroring yourself I'm whats left, I'm whats right, I'm the enemy I'm the hand that takes you down and brings you to your knees
so who are you, yeah who are you, yeah who are you, yeah who are you even in the dark, you know they all pretend
what if I say you're not like the others what if I you're not just another one look at your face, you're the pretender what if I say I'll never surrender
what if I say you're not like the others (even in the dark, you know they all pretend) what if I you're not just another one (even in the dark, you know they all pretend) look at your face, you're the pretender (even in the dark, you know they all pretend) what if I say I'll never surrender x3
so who are you yeah who are you yeah who are you yeah who are you...
The music video begins in whats looks to be his home, there are antiques around which suggests he has been collecting them all his life. Johnny Cash is sitting in a big chair, possibly representing the thrown he once sat on. A shot of the American flag is used representing the American Dream, or Johnny Cash once been an American icon and his importance in American culture. There are exterior shots of a converted house that had been turned into a museum dedicated to him when he reached stardom. When we hear the lyrics "I remember everything", archive footage is shown from his past. Black and white images of a steam train and images of his early career are shown. There is then a cut to a picture of his mother in a photo frame, at this point we hear the song lyrics "everyone goes away" symbolising his mother has now left him and he has nobody; no friends, no family. There is footage of Johnny cash performing to his cell mates whilst in jail, even though he'd done some bad things he could still inspire others. Images of broken and smashed records are visible, they are from the museum, showing that nobody cares about him anymore; the museum is run down and has just been left their to rot, just like him. Johnny Cash has now lost his status and fans have stopped listening to his music. We then see a shot oh what looks like his childhood home, he goes back to visit as he feels lonely and isolated, but once again everybody else has moved on from him; nobody's home. The music video then cuts to Johnny Cash sitting in his thrown like chair with a table full of food, including champagne on ice, there is a Close up shot of caviar, and lots more food and different antiques he owns symbolising he has all the material wealth a person could want, but nobody to share it with; he's alone. A shot of a picture of him and his wife on their wedding day is shown, he is reminiscing about the good parts of his life as he wont be getting many more now. A range of shots are used to show images of the people he used to be friends with throughout his career, as Johnny Cash is pouring away red wine, representing pouring his life away, there's nothing worth living for any more. Archive footage of johnny performing in the past is used to represent 'the good times'. Images of Christ are used, he could be a religious man and now be persecuted like Christ for all the bad things he did in his life. The world has passed him bu and he's now close to death. The final shot is of his first ever performance on television, where his life began as an artist.
JOHNNY CASH:HURT lyrics
I hurt myself today to see if I still feel I focus on the pain the only thing that's real the needle tears a hole the old familiar sting try to kill it all away but I remember everything what have I become? my sweetest friend everyone I know goes away in the end and you could have it all my empire of dirt
I will let you down I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair full of broken thoughts I cannot repair beneath the stains of time the feelings disappear you are someone else I am still right here
what have I become? my sweetest friend everyone I know goes away in the end and you could have it all my empire of dirt
I will let you down I will make you hurt
if I could start again a million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way
This year as part of my A2 Course I have been asked to create either a documentary, a short film or a music video. After careful consideration, I decided that doing a short film is not something that interests me greatly, so over the next two weeks I will decide between a documentary or a music video. I am now going to weigh up the codes and conventions of a documentary and a music video to help me reach my decision.
Documentary Film - TYSON: The Movie (2009) Directed by Jason Toback
The credits have been made using lots of different colours, which could represent all the different parts of his life, how it lacks coherent and is all over the place. The colours could be eluded to his mindset. At the beginning of the documentary, non diegetic music is used which is iconic as it was also used in 'Rocky Balboa', who is also a powerful idol. You can also hear the crowds cheering in the background. The first shot is a long, establishing shot at a high angle of the boxing ring, which is archive footage of a previous fight Tyson had. There is a range of Close up shots used of the boxers psyching themselves up, really showing the emotions on their faces. A shot reverse shot is used between both of the boxers preparing for the fight, both seem to be really concentrating on winning. Multiple shots at once are used of Tyson's life, showing he was extremely successful during his career, however the overlapping of shots may show how hectic and messy his life was, he couldn't cope. We then see Tyson sitting in a smart house, he looks and dresses as if he is upper class. It looks as if he is been filmed within his own house as he looks comfortable with the environment. Tyson is constantly speaking about his career and the life he has had, during this transitions on split screens are used, this could represent his mental breakdown in the past. Some of the shots expand and shrink showing the constant changes he has had to deal with in the past. There is also vocal overlaps and fades in/out and swiping, all representing the chaotic nature of his existence. The freeze frames are all out of sync, he obviously had no order in his life. We then hear the sound of punches, made louder than they actually were showing the strength Tyson had. The bell rings, the end of the round, possibly representing the end of part of his life, possible the end of his career. The titles appear, "TYSON", big and bold representing the kind of character Tyson was. The titles are yellow and red, like a fire full on fury, anger and danger. A voice over is used for the narration of the documentary. The camera zooms in on his face, showing half of his face normal and the other half looking a lot darker, as if he has been shadowed, he may have a dark side to his life which will always stay with him. Tyson wears a white shirt, apposed to the black shorts he always wore whilst in the ring, maybe he's changed his life around and discovered a brighter side to life. Whilst speaking to the camera, it seems as if Tyson cant remember everything in significant detail, this may be because of all the damage caused by other boxers to his head. Archive footage is then used from Brooklyn, he may have been bullied as a child but now he can finally stand up for himself. Tyson has physically changed his appearance, trying to create another character for himself by having a tattoo on his face. He also has silver teeth to try and make himself look more of a threat to his competitors. A photo is then shown from when he was a child, the picture is in black and white which shows the time difference since the photo was taken. There is archive footage of Tyson and his coach before he was discovered, his coach teaches him about psychological fighting. This shows that before Tyson made it 'BIG', he already had followers that were interested in his life story and wanted to record his life. Whilst training you can see a Rocky Balboa poster in the background, Tyson may have looked up to him when he was younger and it may have helped him for inspiration, he aspired to be like him one day.
