Music Video Analysis 5 by Harry Lynch-Bowers

Music Video Analysis 5 by Harry Lynch-Bowers

'Pull Me Under' by 'Dream Theater'

The CGI heart starts the video off with barbed wire over it, representing the main character's heart, starting the story off with the concept of being trapped in the world. During the course of the video the heart is set on fire representing the main character feeling the pain of death. The story begins in black and white and then turns into colour to symbolise the beginning of the dream. Cross-cutting between the band performing and the story shows that they're narrating the story with their music. Inserts of a clock turning fast represents time passing, reflecting the lyrics, time bringing people closer the death. The main character feels the pain of death and is turned because of it, the lighting and location show that time has past through the use of darkened lighting and cobwebed rooms. The low angle shots of the band show that they are telling a story as the lead singer is looking at the camera. The close up and extreme close ups of the lead guitar during the solo appeal to the conventions of metal music videos as it closes in on the main focus of the music at that point. The bands apparel appeal to conventions as they are in leather and have long hair that they whip back and forth during the song. Also, they are wearing teared clothes and black shirts which appeals too. The long-shot of the old man dying is shown through CGI of the man coming out of his body. The viewers know that it's the main character because the panning shot zooming out after is of the main character in black and ferrel-like, representing his death. The final shot of the main character walking out of his room shows that it was all a dream, giving the song a conclusion appealing to the conventions of metal videos.