Video Analysis - Coldplay - Viva La Vida

Video Analysis – Coldplay - Viva La Vida

The video that I am going to be analyzing is ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay. Hype Williams directed the music video. The music in this video comes from the Alternative Rock Genre. 

There is some relationship with the lyrics of the song and the video itself. However, in my opinion I don’t think that the director or the artists have tried to do so. The video is performance based and shot on which seems like is green screen because of the various graphics behind them. Ways in which the lyrics are represented in the song is by the actions of the lead singer. Chris Martin holds his head when the lyric “for my head on a silver plate”, he holds his head to describe the song and what it means to the audience. Although some parts relate really well together there is the lyric “bells are ringing” and in the video we get the various visuals of a bell being hit.

The music and the visuals in my opinion go very well together. I really warmed to the idea of having the band playing the instruments played in the song actually playing in the video. This gives a clear message to their audience that they are a live band and are all individually and collectively very talented. The camera cuts to the rhythm of the beat. It is very jolty and unstable when it focuses in on the main singer. Also the video cuts with how the instruments are played, for example when the bell gets hit is when it is being played in the song, This also goes for when the violin is playing too, it cuts to one of the band members playing the violin in an over the shoulder shot. The lead singer is shown a lot singing the song. A lot of mid shots, and close ups of his face have been used to show the emotion of the song and captivate the audience. The video goes along with the pace and temp of the video and at times it cuts in time with the pattern of the kick drum, which is playing in the song.

In this music video, there are lots of close-ups of the main singer in the band. This makes it very clear who the main singer/attraction is. This also gives the audience the chance to see the emotion of the singer as his tries to get them to feel the song and to empathise with him. Also there are close-ups of the musicians playing their instruments for example the close up’s of the guitarists hands playing. The record company is trying to sell the track to a pop/alternative rock audience. The video is dark and the lyrics are not the brightest that I have ever heard, however they want to show the live band and how they are unique and have a unique playing style. For example, the use of the big bell in the song and in the video shows that they are not a normal band and that they are trying to stand out. Plus the use of a violin in an alternative rock song is not really a normal think to do – because when you hear the work rock, you almost automatically think electric guitars and heavy drums, rather than the more classical and vintage violin. The motif that reoccurs is in the background that is used. The same colour themes appear time after time. Also the main singer does seem to have his solo parts throughout the video.

This video is far from sexual, and I do not believe that Hype Williams or Coldplay have tried to make it sexual either. Artists are fully clothed at all times, and there are not any scenes of a sexual nature in the video. The lyrics do not talk about sex or have any link with the topic, so there was no need to show scenes of this topic. However, the lead singer does have close ups of his upper body and you it is evident that in music videos, that the artist is heavily maintained, to look good and to get attention. However, if that attention comes from the other sex, that it could be a big selling point for the band. But, overall I think this video really is just about the music and performance of the band itself.

This video does link to some of the band’s other videos. For example the main singer is the main attraction of the video, because that is what the record label want to sell. Also it links with the live band, as it shows how the band constructs it’s music and it also shows that they are all real musicians which is a huge selling point in itself.

In my opinion the majority of this video is performance based. The inclusion of all of band in the video and all of them playing their own instruments that are played in the song proves this. There is very limited concept based work in the video. It mainly features mid shots and close up’s of the lead singer and close ups/over the shoulder/2shots of the band throughout the music video.

This video is a performance based video shoot aimed at a musical audience who would appreciate the music for what it is. With the use of the band and the instruments in the video and without any clear sexual references, I think this video was made for the fans that enjoyed their music and was not a gimmick that could have been used to sell the song with. The editing of the video is great in the way it has been cut to go along with the music and the way it stutters through the song really brings the video to life and keeps the video moving at a decent pace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE&ob=av2n