Music Video Analysis; The Maccabees

The Maccabees - First Love




First Love was the third song released by the band.

Throughout the video we are presented with a number of different characters, all are seen on their own playing with a prop for example, one of the males is playing with lipstick. The action on screen helps to anchor the song lyrics. The song is about heart break and how people are trying to get over it as they go through a repetitive patterns of doing things. Love being the main theme of the song is very stereotypical of indie bands therefore will appeal to their target audience.

The main stock setting in the video is an empty house, this could be to help to portray the characters feelings, they feel empty inside because they're heartbroken and alone. Also another thing which anchors this idea is that the interior of the house is white, white has many connotations to it but is seen as quite a cold colour, therefore maybe referring to that maybe if the people in the video hadn't been so selfish then they wouldn't but feeling they way they do now.

Throughout the video there are many straight cuts, this is to show that all of the characters are going through the same thing and our feeling the same way, which is being hurt and heartbroken. This therefore makes the audience feel empathy for the characters and want to continue watching. As the music speeds up the edits get quicker and there are more jump shut. Anchored by the music lyrics it portrays to the audience that the characters don't want to feel like this anymore and really hurt.

There are many high angle shots of the characters, this shot it very effect as it helps to portray the narrative to the audience. Using this shot on the characters its showing that they have lost all their status and credibility that they have lost everything that meant a lot to them. This appeals to the target audience as many of them would have gone through heartbreak so therefore will be able to relate to the characters.

The target audience is clear from watching the video, they are targeting a young people round the age of 18 and over. As a lot of people around this age are falling in and out of love they will be able to relate to the music. Also because the band are around a similar age then the audience are likely to be more intrigued and have more of an enigma to watching and listening rather than to someone who is a lot older of younger than they are.

Like the Arctic Monkeys, The Maccabees in this video are dressed very conventionally indie, again like Arctic Monkeys going for the 'mod' style, wearing jeans with shirts and ties, long hair and going for the un-maintained look. They do this because they know it appeals to their target audience, therefore make the band seem more appealing to them.

The use of props through the video really help to anchor to the audience how characters are feeling, for example, lipstick, dress, flower, heart etc. Most of these props are not stereotypical for an indie band, we usally have props like guitars, alcohol, cigarettes etc. But in this case it works really well, have these strange props for the characters to play with help the audience connect with each character therefore understand the song better.