Music Video Analysis - 'Worried About Ray' - The Hoosiers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtpeiXgBiIA

According to Goodwin's Theory;

1. Demonstrate genre characteristics; Again, this is an indie pop group and so the conventional performance/narrative hybrid is used. However, differing from 'Famous', the narrative plot in this video is much more bold and distinctive with a beginning, middle and end structure. Additionally, the video focuses on the main vocalist Irwin Sparkes, and features frequent moments of direct address.

2. Relationship between the music and the visuals; The images are illustrative of the music in that the manner they are edited closely fits with the beat and tempo of the instruments. There is also a distinctive cut whenever the song moves from chorus to verse.

3. Relationship between the lyrics and the visuals; Similarly, the images are also illustrative of the lyrics. This is most evident through the line "I'm starting to worry about Ray...I'm seriously worried about Ray" and the corresponding image of the interaction between the band and the exaggerated character of Ray.

4. Demand of close-ups from the record label (motif); There are frequent close-ups of lead vocalist Irwin. The motif of the band is much created by the indiviual fachion style of the members and the reacurring quirky nature of the music videos.

5. Frequent reference to the notion of looking; The whole concept of the video originates from the work of Ray Harryhausen and so there are frequent references to theatrical productions and stop-motion animation.

6. Intertextuality; There are strong, solid links to Ray Harryhausen in this music video, as his style of a stop-motion monster is a mojor part of the narrative. The meaning of the song could also be related to Ray. The lyrics "I'm worried about Ray" and "They say the futures out to get you" could arguably be related to Harryhausen's dying art and the impact that the technological age has had on traditional film-making.