Indie music has come out of the 'Alternative Rock' genre. These subgenres are 'Indie Rock' and 'Indie Pop'. Indie pop originated in the UK and started back in the early 1980's with bands such as 'Primal Scream' and 'The Pastels' leading the way. Back then they never made music videos and were only ever seen on TV's 'Top of the Pops' and at live gigs, however current indie pop artists such as 'Kate Nash' and 'Florence and the Machine' have the capability of making one.
Kate Nash's 'Foundations' is very typical of the Indie Pop genre. Like the majority of pop related music genres there is a love interest and this is no different. Both of the characters are wearing typical indie clothing, Kate Nash is wearing a bright yellow checkered dress with yellow leg-gins and her boyfriend is wearing skinny jeans, pumps and a v-neck cardigan. There are lots of close ups and extreme close ups of Kate to create a link between Kate and the audience. The cinematography is very varied, with high angled shots of Kate and her boyfriend sleeping in bed, over the shoulder shot of Kate miming the lyrics, a medium shot of Kate miming on the stairs and longs shots of Kate pretending to box. The editing is very typical to the genre but very relevant to the song, it shows socks that were rolled up as one going apart, toothbrushes rubbing together falling apart and watches that are linked together going apart, this symbolizing the gradual splitting up of Kate and her partner. The lighting is very high key and the colours are all primary. It is set in the house that Kate and her boyfriend share it also has the typical props that you would expect from an 'Indie Pop' music video, teddy bears, cards, skateboards and beer.
Indie Rock is also very similar to Indie Pop as it also originated from the 'Alternative Rock' Genre in the 1980's in the UK. Bands like the 'Stone Roses' and "Happy Mondays' are iconic bands of the 1980's that started off the whole Indie Rock scene and current modern bands like 'The Killers' and 'Kasabian' have kept the scene going today.
The Killers 'Mr Brightside' is very experimental however it can be criticised for the intertexuality of Adam Ants 'Prince Charming' and therefore not being so original and inventive. The first thing that jumps out at you is the costume. The costume is very theatrical and pantomime and in keep with the image that The Killers want for themselves. Eric Roberts is a famous actor that features in the music video and he also featured in many other music videos such as Mariah Carey's 'We Belong Together' and Akon's 'Smack That', therefore this would bring in an already pre-prepared audience. There are lots of extreme close up shots of the main singer to create a bond between them and the audience. Very typical of the genre it shows lots of people together having a good time, flirting and showing a sex interest in one another with the women being viewed as the sex object, being made to dance for the men. Side lighting is used on the main singer when he is trying to impress the women, unveiling two sides of him, the singer and the flirt. The women is all dressed in white with very pale skin to make her look innocent and vulnerable. Towards the end of the video the editing becomes slightly faster, especially when the women is dancing with the main singer and trained dancer, this therefore showing the tension and mimicking the pace of the song.
Callan Wheatcroft
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