Analysing a music video: Take That - The Flood

Take That - The Flood



The video opens with a dark lighting, gradually drawing us in as the music begins. This is done with the use of shadows and lighting, looking much like the sun rise; this is exaggerated to us with the use of a sound effect of birds. With the use of lighting in this way, we are also drawn directly to the writing on the boat with a close up, as we read the word ‘progress’ - this has been done, cleverly giving meaning to the song for the audience, linking the lyrics and video together, whilst also allowing them to send out a message without having to include it in the lyrics themselves.

Showing evidence of a sun rise and birds chirping gives us the feeling that it is very early in the morning here, causing the audience to wonder why they are up at this time and that it must be something important. Lots of close ups are shown to us here, also allowing questions to be asked by the audience, through not giving to much information away to quickly as we cannot yet see the whole picture. They also allow us to focus on key information, such as the boat and ores, telling us that they will be rowing. We are shown a medium shot of the bottom of the teams legs as they are all seen walking at the same pace, this could be to connect them together, showing them doing the same thing and that they are alike and a team again, showing a relation to their lyrics and the bands real life story as well. The motion and speed they are made to move at also fits cleverly with the tempo of the music and it is a very well framed shot. Close ups are then used to show the faces of each member of the band individually in which very similar camera angles are used. The picture here is very clear and it is likely this has been done for promotional purposes, ensuring the band is recognised. Using the same camera angles also adds a connection between each member of the team but yet still showing that they are individuals. It also helps to show their facial expressions in which portray their emotion, in which I’d say, was seriousness and concentration in this case.

As the camera moves away, we see them carrying the boat together, again helping to show them working as a team. This also allows the audience to feel as though they are there; watching the band walk away from them and making them want to follow. The mise en scene in terms of the closes they are wearing also helps to show this, dressing the same, showing they are all equal and bringing them together. They are also dressed in white, being viewed as a peaceful colour whereas we later see that the people they are racing against are in red, a colour of danger and nastiness perhaps.

We are placed in lots of different positions with the use of the camera, keeping us entertained and allowing us to get a good picture of what is going on. We are placed looking up at the boat from the water at one point in which it is made to look like they are placing the boat on top of us, this not only ensures the audience feel they are involved but could be a subliminal message to show that they were falling but have now brought themselves back up as the camera moves before the boat has time to touch us, not falling into the water like it was going to, showing a relation to the lyrics. They are shown lowering the boat down as a team using almost an establishing shot here. They use the same movements in which look very controlled and swift like, going along with the beat of the music, which is at this point smooth and soft. It could also be to show they know what they are doing and have practised, again adding importance to the event. Having them look down on us may relate to power and how they are now ‘shouting up to the world’ and are certain of themselves and what they are doing, relating well to the lyrics.

We are shown an extreme close up of the water here, using it as a cut away from the main action. This prevented the camera from having to show the team getting into the boat, in which may have looked messy compared to the rest of the video in which very smooth and slow movements have been seen. Taking us to the water and going back to them sitting in the boat already provides a more effective and quicker way of doing this and getting the message across. The water is made to look pretty and fresh, along with the rest of the scenery, done with very well constructed lighting and shadows throughout.

Showing Robbie standing now allows the audience to be taken away from the rowing for a little while to prevent boredom and keep them engrossed. Showing only one scene can often be too little in which I will consider when completing my music video. As we revert back to the rowing, the camera angles are very effective and good photography is used. There is evidence of close ups again here, showing hands cracking and support for one another with the batting of backs etc, being determined not to be ‘held back by the flood’. Robbie has a tattoo with the word ‘love’ on his hand, in which could have been made use of out in cleverly showing it to the audience. Reverse shots are using showing both the teams in which will be competing. At the moment where we have to look past the other team to see Take That, we do find ourselves doing this in which proves to be effecting and that we are being drawn into watching them and supporting them efficiently, putting our concentration on them. There is also less focus placed on them in terms of the quality of the shot; blurring them out slightly to help achieve this.

The gun is made to go off with the music as the lyrics speak the word ‘no’. This not only allows them to add sounds to the video without disrupting the song but can also be used to help in strengthening the meaning and importance of what they are saying. They also use this bang to up the tempo, noise and speed of the song, making it loader and more intense. The editing follows this - speeding up and showing quicker close ups. Splashes of water help add a chaotic effect here as well as showing the effort they are putting in. They also talk about how no one dies in the lyrics here, adding a relationship with the gun as well as using it to show the beginning of the race. Birds eye views, panning shots and establishing shots are seen here, keeping the angles varied. A cut away is done of children waving at them here, showing that they have support or even that that they had support at the time, allowing them to get back together, ‘learn’ and ‘hold back the flood’. It also helps to keep the video look realistic and relatable, adding general members of the public in now and again.

The opposing team are seen to win the race but Take That carry on rowing anyway, showing that they should never give up or that winning isn’t actually that important or that they gave up to easily in the past? We are shown them rowing through a building at one point, only allowing us to see them through gaps. As well as being an interesting layout, it helps connect us to the story as we feel we are watching. Much like the shadows, we are clearly shown the reflection of the band members in the water; this may be a message to show that they have nothing to hide.

As the video falls to an end, we are shown many establishing shots, showing us just how beautiful of a place they are in and that everything is okay as we begin to fade away. The sun then turns to thunder and the light dims, relating heavily with the lyrics and could mean a number of things. They may have failed to hold back the flood after all or this could also be there to show that it doesn’t matter as they are still rowing in it and haven’t given up. It could also be that maybe the video is what people thought of them in which they are in fact wrong.