Music Video Analysis 3Megalomaniac- Incubus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AeUBA-uY_0&feature=related

Genre

• Incubus have been performing and experimenting with their music style long enough to have changed genres. Early on in their career they were seen as a funk alternative metal group. However, through progression they have diversified and are now thought of more as an Alternative rock band.

• Although their album material has crossed genres, the songs still manage to echo their alternative rock background.

• They have also been grouped as Progressive rock, Alternative metal, Funk metal, Experimental rock and Rapcore.

• The bands early influences stem from the genres above. They can be identified as a rock band through the connotations of electric guitars in the music video.

• Alternative rock bands tend to vocalise social and political issues more than, for example, pop bands.

• The particular song that I am analysing has a political meaning to the band.

Visual/ Lyrics• The song is about megalomaniacs, who obsess over power, wealth and

sometimes knowledge. In this case, the megalomaniacs are rulers who let their desire for power take over the country. The phrase “Heroes don’t ask why” is covered by the president at a podium, which suggests that he is not considered a hero by the band.

• The band obviously have a negative outlook on this subject, which is expressed through the chorus lyrics: “hey, megalomaniac! You’re no Jesus! Yeah, you’re no f*cking Elvis! Wash your hands clean of yourself and baby, just step down, step down”. Through the reference to Elvis (known as the king of rock and roll), the band are clearly separating their allegiances; musicians stand up to oppressive authoritarians.

• The ‘eagle-headed’ ruler has a symbolic meaning. In the video the head of a certain president is replaced by an eagle head. This represents the animal-like behaviour rulers may have when given authority.

• The Bald Eagle then continues to eat the public from below the podium. This may represent the corruption that spreads throughout the country because of these rulers.

• The scene where the megalomaniac is at the podium much higher than the public suggests the fake inspiration that’s created for the president. The podium is then shown to be a gas pump, which indicates the power and authority over oil.

• The video consists mainly of different pictures and cartoons in a collage form, to give the country a dystopian view.

• The imagery was mostly inspired by anti-nazi photo-collages by John Heartfield.

• Along with the American presidents in this video, shots of Hitler can also be spotted, possibly as a comparison.

Visuals/ music

• The song as a whole is very low-pitched, and only increases in tempo on the chorus line and the intro.

• The visual pace of the music video corresponds to the pace of the music. • The visuals compliment the music well; as it is a slow, dark song, the lighting has

been shown dark as well.

Selling the band/ artist

• The video begins with a collage of a city, with the band silhouetted as cartoons on the buildings. This portrays their actual status as a significant part of the country.

• The picture of the band is unclear and dark. This adds a sense of mystery to them and their music style.

• The power and emphasis put into the lyrics and the music suggests their strong belief for the message they are sending across.

• The band are mainly conveyed as good musicians, from the performance style in the video.

• The members are shown separately rather than together. This may be to assist in focusing on particular talents rather than containing more band shots, where the singer would get more attention.

• Halfway through the video, Incubus are shown standing with angel wings. The connotations follow the positive attitudes towards the band’s opinions and beliefs.

Camera angles• The visuals seem to ‘pan out’ with the camera, giving the

impression that the viewers are directly involved with it.• The different shots give the video an artistic feel. The fast

pace of the shots, however, creates a sense of chaos and panic.

• Close up shots on the band members and the singer convey emotion and help visually identify group members.

• Long shots of the bomb explosions convey the horror and reality of the inevitable consequences of a bad ruler.

• Aerial shots also express the horror of the amount of power rulers wrongly possess.