Mumford and Sons - Hopeless Wanderer (Genre: Indie/Folk)

This is the opening shot of the music video. It tells you the band’s name and title of the song. The colours used are black and a dark cream/grey. This presentation looks quite old as if this is from a western area which gives the audience an insight as to what the music genre will be. The writing is bold so it stands out and is easy to read and the title of the song is bigger than the rest of the typing so it is easily remembered and is the most important thing in this shot. The band’s name also stands out as it is curved above the other writing. It reminds me of a halo and is connoting the song and band to be holy. This could suggest that this song means a lot to the band and so it seems a privilege for the audience to be able to listen to it. It also conveys that because the band is ‘holy’ they are extremely good and highly thought of.

This is a medium shot, slightly low angled. The lighting is high key and the sun is blocking the band member’s face so this adds a sense of mystery. The trees in the background show that he is outside and close to nature. This conveys that their music is very natural and hasn’t been auto tuned or edited majorly. This makes their music genuine and realistic. His hands are on the guitar indicating that he is the one playing in the song; the synchronisation is strong and matches the tempo of the song. He is wearing a light blue shirt and tweed waistcoat. These are country clothes and enhance the mise-en-scene of them being surrounded by forestry. At this point in the song this man with the guitar is singing ‘you heard my voice’ which in the middle of a forest suggests that he is isolated and so this lyric could be quite contradictory.

 

The following shot is another band member playing the piano which is also outside. This is a long shot which allows the audience to see the scenery and the full length of the artist. The grass looks green and healthy which can relate to their music being alive and good for you. Maybe it can put you in a good mood. The sun is beaming down and there is a theory that good weather can put people in a joyful mood. This again enhances their music being happy and alive. The mise-en-scene is very random to place a piano in the middle of that scenery. By having this here it seems like their music can transport you to a faraway place of isolation so when you listen to the music you can’t be distracted and it’s just ‘you’ and the ‘music’ which is authentic and real. It also makes it more special for the audience to listen to and it seems a privilege. This is also an older piano which matches the opening title being old and western like. This gives the audience an insight into the genre of the music.

The camera is tracking very slowly to the left in order for the audience to see the band walking along the dirty track. This shot has also been edited to a slow motion to make everything more dramatic. The band is seen carrying a cello, banjo, guitar, tambourine, shakers, a drum and a piano. We still haven’t seen the artist’s face yet which elongates the mystery of why their faces aren’t being shown. In a conventional music video you would see the band members face in the video. It is also very abnormal to carry these instruments around by hand, it shows the length’s they will go to make their music and this makes their music so much more special to the audience. The entire band is wearing country clothing which suits their surroundings.

 

Before this shot there are some close ups of the band members faces and now it becomes clear why we weren’t shown their faces earlier as it would have ruined the surprise. The four men are famous actors who have been in many films and are easily recognisable. This is humorous for the audience as they are almost mocking the band as they are being so over dramatic. This is the same scene as an above shot; except this time the pianist has been joined by the rest of the band. This is a wide angled long shot so the whole band and the scenery can be visible. The camera tilts to this shot at a strong, up-beat instrumental moment. The band members start playing quicker and the two on a guitar and banjo start spinning in the stir of everything changing.

 

This is a medium shot of the hanging light bulbs in the next location. The bulbs are taking turns in their lines to flash. Due to them being out of sync with each other it enhances the craziness of this music video. Also, it looks as if the lights are dancing and creates a happy vibe for the audience.

This is a medium shot of two string members of the band. The actor with the banjo is leaning on the other’s back which connotes a supportive band who cares about each other as well as their music. The man leaning on the other also looks very soulful and doesn’t care about the conventions of a band to have routines and be very ‘showy’, he is more focused on his music and making it sound as good as possible. Both are wearing grey shirts which are considered dull colours so this contrasts to their lively music. The lighting is high key and you can see the sun blaring through the cracks of the barn. This is almost a representation of them breaking into the music industry once again with another hit song. Both men have facial hair which is quite a country look and so links to the genre of their music and also reiterates the fact they are impersonating the real ‘Mumford and Sons’ so they must look realistic. Due to them mimicking the band it shows that they have a sense of humour and that they music is light hearted which also enhances the soulful approach.

 

This is a wide angled long shot so we can see the whole band and the setting. They are in an old barn which conveys their music genre again being fairly older compared to music nowadays. This also links this shot back to the opening title being quite western and so we are constantly able to create a cycle for the video. The genre of Mumford and Sons is Folk/Rock and Indie. As previously seen the men have been carrying all of their instruments and appear to have taken over this old, probably unused barn. This connotes that they are not on a high production budget and are more concerned about their music then materialistic items and expensive venues. The lead guitarist is also kicking a drum; this multi-tasking is once again amusing for the audience and shows they are making the best of what they have.

 

This is a medium close up of one of the band members. Throughout this scene they take turns in saying one of the choral lyrics ‘hold me fast’. The camera is swerving in and out and he just jumps in using direct mode of address which connects the audience to him. This movement is very funny and so lightens the mood even more whilst watching this video.  The transitions between each shot have always been a cut and will most likely remain this way as it is faster and this is important because of the tempo of the song.

This is a wide angled long shot of the four in a small boat. What makes this music video humorous is how random and unexpected everything is. The four still have their heavy instruments (except the man with the piano, he has downgraded to an accordion) and so you would think that the boat may sink or tip over at least. Before this shot there is a shaky pan which stops and starts to the beat of the song. The pan doesn’t initially tell you they are in a boat; it is only until this long shot which is slowly zooming outwards. The audience can see that they are very isolated and appear to be shut off from the outside world highlighting they just want to be with their music. This makes it more special for the audience to listen.

This is a two shot and medium close up. Before this shot the four men are huddling together and seem to be supporting each other. One member wipes the tears away from another’s face and then licks his fingers. Even though this is disturbing and yet somewhat funny it shows that the band will look out for each other and treat each other as equals. This enhances their music being wholesome and true. As they are all singing the two at the back (above) turn to each other whilst singing the last, long note and in doing so get caught in the moment and kiss. Now the audience is so lost to why this is happening but still remains incredibly funny and unexpected. As the two are looking into each others eyes the music is quiet and as soon as they touch the music speeds up, enhancing the impact of what has happened.

 

Immediately after the kiss the video cuts to the four in an outfit change, on stage, bobbing up and down in cannon. All are smiling and so the audience smile. The red velvet curtains, glossy stage and bright spot lights are conventional to a performance area. This time, juxtaposing to above shots where there hasn’t been a routine they are now dancing together. This video has been a journey for the band. They start off with little, making music for themselves and each other. They don’t have transport and they support each other through tough times (crying) and now they have been rewarded and are on a stage performing. They are in matching clothes with matching instruments and have a full dance routine. This could represent what the music industry can do to you and how some artists, not necessarily Mumford and Sons, change dramatically for the industry and in hope of becoming a big star. It is an honour to be able to have an insight into their lives and for an audience member this makes their music so much more than what it seems.

 

Now the band is in a pub, maybe rewarding themselves for their good performance. This is a medium shot and the camera is positioned to be in their conversation which makes the audience feel involved. The four all have beers in traditional glasses which match the traditional setting. The four are singing together and have their arms around each other, creating a unit which conveys their friendship.

Before this shot the men go to ‘clink’ their drinks together and they smash and then everything goes crazy and out of control. The man with the banjo starts playing his instrument as if it was an electric guitar which is extremely funny and the pianist no longer plays properly and is banging the keys with his fists. Then the man with his banjo swings it against the piano. He looks angry and the man in the background is completely shocked of what’s happened and then turns angry himself. Everything is still so dramatic which continues the hilariousness of this video.  This is a medium two shot. They could be smashing their instruments up to represent how they don’t want the music industry to change them – relating back to my earlier theory of showing their journey. All four members join in to destroy their instruments.

 

This is the last shot the video and is an extreme, wide angled long shot. The four are in the same order as before when walking along the dirty track except now they are heading in the opposite direction. All instruments are in tact and so maybe the destruction earlier was all pretend and represented their mental state. The music fades out and then the screen cuts to a blackout and the record label name fades in and out. As apposed to earlier the sun was rising and now they are walking into the sunset so this whole video seems like a days work to them showing they put a lot of effort into their music.

The target audience for their songs are 18-40 years old, female and male.