This is a band in which we consider to be very simular to Delphic in terms of their music and therefore tried to gain some ideas from their videos, knowing how successful the courteeners are now considered to be. We researched into many of their videos, new and old before becoming obvious as to what we found worked well and what did not. Here is one of their videos, giving an example of how i constructed them to allow me to see why the video is thought to be so good.
This video opens with a close up of the main singers face, drawing attention to the artist to enable promotion and acknowledgement; much like Goodwin’s theory explains. In relation to the lyrics, this could also be helpful in showing the belief and confidence he has in what he is saying, looking directly at the camera. Having the actors within a frame looking into the camera directly can also help with drawing the audience in to the particular story or feelings you are trying to create; there is evidence of this being used throughout the music video, an example of this would be when we see the woman moving towards the camera. Opening with a close up like this could also be to increase the videos attractiveness, looking at vulgarism here, although this seems unlikely in this video, as it seems somewhat unnecessary when you consider the meaning behind the video, as this is not likely the image they are trying to create.
We are then taken to an alley way, using a stereotype here and relating the video to the lyrics. Alley ways are often considered to be degrading - often seen to be hung around in by gangs, drug and alcohol users and relate to street/knife crime etc in terms of the media. The lighting is duller here than on the shots of the main singer, adding a shade of blue. This may be used in showing the woman to be in a less cheery or easier place than him; a ‘dull’ place, again relating to what is being spoken about along with the title of this song. We are then shown a close up of her hand and scattered paper being driven towards her. As the woman is introduced, we see her wearing black which is known to be a colour symbolising death and unhappiness. She is also seen lying on the floor here, meaning much the same thing.
After a close up of her hand, we are made to focus on the face as her eyes open. Just as they do, we are taken back to the lead singer, showing his eyes open in much the same way. This cleverly brings a connection between the two individuals, making it clear that there was a history here without having to show them together in a more obvious but less effective way. This is also told to us through the lyrics when he says ‘I know you...this is not the girl I used to whirl’. Shots between the singer and the woman are often done from similar angles, making the link even stronger.
In terms of the paper we see moving around her, this could also be symbolic in a number of different ways. The paper is scattered around and is seen to be unimportant here, even though it does have words written on it. Therefore, it could be used to say that ‘words don’t mean anything’ and ‘nothing will save her’ now perhaps - being too late for anything to make a difference. The way they are made to move around also may refer to how out of control the woman is, adding a messy effect to the scene.
Although the woman is clearly a mess - which is exaggerated by the lyrics as they repeat the line ’you’ll carry on until your dead and you drop’ - she is shown to be presented as a neatly put person, wearing a clean dress with her hair carefully placed. This could link to Levi-Strauss’s theory within media, using binary oppositions to get information across and could effectively cause the audience to question what is being said and also make them analyse the film themselves, again, drawing them in, in such a way. This becomes clear later on when we are shown two of her, almost referring to a split personality or her old and new self. She appears covered in brown and is made to dance with her original self that we have been following throughout the film. This is a very effective element which allows the audience to interpret it how they wish. The lady covered in brown could be all the woman’s bad elements of her personality and actions which is overtaking her or could simply be her shadow or her when she is dead or has ‘dropped’ as the lyrics suggest. Allowing the two women to dance together in a strange way rather than making them fight or repel one another is very effective, showing them connecting and counterbalancing the emotions the two of them have, as well as keeping the video unique.
There is never any eye contact from the woman to the camera until the very end, helping to show that she is not completely will it and not all there. This is also shown using clever effects, making her dancing look strange and almost confusing as she walks towards us. As her second figure appears in brown, the lighting darkens even more, showing the audience that the singer is right and things are getting worse before brightening up as reality sets in. The lighting stays bright almost all the way through where the singer is positioned, showing that he is knowledgeable and clear minded, knowing what he is talking about.
The lighting of the woman slowly brightens, giving us a clearer perspective of the two and it is the first moment where we are able to focus on her face clearly. She begins to get more vigorous in her dancing, falling further away from the audience in such away and more into herself and her own dancing, helping to show her slipping away from the world maybe. The music tempo dims here and the singer is now standing up, making this scene much more serious. The editing speeds up here, following the music as 
we see the woman beginning to literally break, again relating to the lyrics. We see her break into little pieces which are made to circle in the air much the like the paper was at the beginning - showing a relationship between the beginning and end of the film and keeping everything together.
The camera shots and editing is very effective throughout the video, linking with the tone and rhythm of the music throughout, speeding up and slowing down where necessary. There were lots of close ups used, bringing specific visuals to focus for the audience and also making the whole picture slightly unclear, keeping people watching. Flashing lights and faster editing was made to bring the more serious bits to attention and add chaos to the scene; along with the rise in tone of the singer and the speed the lyrics are spoken. Everything fits nicely together throughout the video in which has obviously been carefully constructed. Having the woman dance throughout the video also adds energy to the song in which we can almost feel, wanted to get up and do something similar.
When researching this film, people seem unclear of why this woman is going down the route she is and have many different understandings on what is happening here. Some believe the woman to be a girlfriend who he wants to stop taking drugs, even though he takes them himself. There are a lot of links to drugs throughout the lyrics, including 'put the fiddle down', 'teeth are starting to go', ‘shoot up’ etc. However, others believe it to be merely a woman he sees drunk often, who he never used to see in that way, believing it to be a shame. This is a very effective element to this music video, allowing the audience to interpret what is going on individually, yet still showing enough for them to have the ability to understand the basic idea and find a connection with the piece.
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