Vance Joy Riptide

Neil Gardner                       Media Homework


Economical Contexts

Funding: Riptide low budget small Atlantic records label, first single to be released in USA. Georgia- larger budget, special effects influences visual style. The funding of a music video effects how the video looks. Most bands will start with low budget music videos to try to get themselves out there in the eye of the public. When they get bigger they are able to use more budget on the music videos as they will be earning more so by starting with low budget music videos it allows them to build popularity and gain more money without spending much. 

 Consider how the combination of elements of the ML influences meaning

Montage style in Riptide is used to convey meaning and Intertextuality these cuts often give us a lot of information. Wide range of contrasting and juxtaposing shots used from seemingly disparate new and found footage. The editing itself invites the audience to have their own interpretations of what the lyrics and images mean causing them to fine new meanings which might not exist. Challenges typical codes and conventions of narrative. Cuts link to the lyrics coherence of narrative through links between symbolic and linguistic codes.  

Influences surrealist and avant-garde cinema (such as Luis Bunuel) these links to surrealist cinematography could mean that the meaning of the music video is actually darker than expected. The melody to the song is actually happy sounding compared to the lyrics and the images presented in the video. Subversion of video conventions to confer uniqueness or enigma (Barthes). This uniqueness benefits the band, as people will be intrigued by the music video so they will listen to more of their songs which means the band will earn more money.   

Semiotics- Signs and signifiers

Lyric: ' Oh all my friends are turning green'

‘Green’ could suggest a few things. These being money, sickness and envy. These all link together as it could mean all his friends are envious of him because he is now getting money as it links to the photo of the money. However it could also be saying his friends are sick possibly from illness or could be sick of how big they are becoming as a band and they aren’t getting any of the money.

There is a cut to TV screens and credits in ‘Riptide’. This is symbolic as it references back to told 60’s movies where I feel like a lot of the style in the music video comes from. The font and colours are like the movies in the 60’s. It also links to the general credits block at the end or beginning of a movie. It uses names from the band which gives publicity for the band.  

There is a scene with a cowboy this is an obvious reference to old or any western movie. This is because of the scenery and dress code. There are always cactuses in westerns and they are always set is deserts and the music video follows this. The dress code is usually a hat, boots, leather waist coats and a balaclava and they usually have guns.

The music video for ‘Georgia’ is very cinematic as it seems like it could be in a movie. As it uses a lot of actors and high budget props. It also uses a lot of complex shots which give the video and movie effect. The starting shot is a bird’s eye view which can only be achieved with a drone, crane or helicopter which all cost a lot the buy. There is a clear narrative in the music video and all films follow a narrative. Compared to ‘Riptide’ there is a clear narrative as ‘Riptide’ doesn’t really have one. To achieve this narrative they would have had to get someone to write a script.

Horror iconography

Film references

Steve Neale - Genres are dominated by repetition.

Vance Joy’s Riptide challenges the repetition. This is because they don’t follow the way indie music videos are usually shot, this is just the band playing on stage, but their music video is doesn’t do that is uses a lot of peculiar clips that link with the lyrics. Even though it’s a low budget music video it has more of an impact on the audience than most high budget videos. The only time the actual video repeats itself is in the bridge and the chorus or straight after the verse. A normal indie music video wouldn’t really bring in a big audience as they aren’t usually interesting but this music video brings in a big audience because it is peculiar so the audience will want to know more about the artist. The video also seems like it will be expensive compared to a generic indie music video.  

However, the music video for ‘Georgia’ conforms to the idea

What function does the video play for a band?

The music video plays a big function for the band. Firstly, the music video will increase the popularity of the band and they will start to be recognised around the world and by big name record labels. Secondly, the music video is a way to earn money from platforms like YouTube but it also allows them to earn money as people will like their music and they will sell more albums and more people will want to see them live so they will get more people attending gigs. The unique style to the video will attract more people. Finally, the music video could be made to get a message across because they might want to tell a story.  

How are the band represented?

The band stands out as they don’t really conform any of the ideas of a stereotypical indie band. Their music video isn’t just them standing on stage singing like most indie band. This is only because of the riptide music video. However, when you look at the video for Georgia they conform to most stereotypes for music videos as they are all like movies now. This music video could be classed as a movie and they all have a narrative to them.