the 1975
//somebody else
The 1975 are an English indie/rock band that formed in 2002. The four piece band consists of;
- Matt Healy
- Adam Hann
- Ross MacDonald
- George Daniel
The video is a conceptual/narrative video that primarily focuses on lead vocalist, Matt Healy, representing that he is the main man of the group.
The video initially starts off in black and white, the beginning gives the impression of a silent film, as the camera is static and is placed as a long shot, allowing the audience to establish the setting – which is a mundane, shabby apartment with a single sink and sofa. During this beginning bit, there is no soundtrack, only diegetic sound and foley that we see and hear. The foley consists of the laughs and claps that you would hear added during sitcoms that are possibly filmed with a live studio audience
The soundtrack for the song doesn’t start until 3 minutes in, this engages the audience due to the use of minimalism in the beginning, it makes them want to continue watching the video in order to receive some sort of explanation from it. The 1975 tend to use this technique often as it allows them to maintain their audience throughout their videos and upholding higher viewing counts.
MISE EN SCENE
Around 3:01 the footage gradually changes from black and white to colour. The lighting is still very low-key as it is set during the evening, but by using artificial lighting, such as the fluorescent lighting from shop signs to help brighten the footage. Connoting with the lyrics the artificial lighting is blue and pink, the blue connoting with the sadness of his lover finding someone else and the pink for the lust/love that he is finding for himself.
Matt wears the same costume throughout the video which consists of a long black duster coat, black skinny jeans and a plain ribbed grey jumper. The use of no colour shows the audience that he is mourning something he has lost but at the same time he is mysterious due to the use of black clothing. He also has a skateboard as a prop which represents him as youthful and rebellious.
CAMERAWORK + EDITING
Throughout the video we are following Matt around mundane areas such as alley ways, a club and a diner. A lot of the time, to establish the setting the camera is shown in the perspective of someone else following him throughout the night. We rarely see things through his perspective, we only really see him through someone else’s.
Throughout the video, a lot of tracking shots and pans are used to make the audience feel like they are there with him and it also allows them to hold focus on Matt as the camera doesn’t break away from him.
There is also use of speed manipulation throughout. When he reaches the club, we can clearly tell that he is intoxicated through his stance but also through how they have edited the video. A lot of the footage is slowed in this area and the footage is also blurred slightly.
