For my next music video analysis I decided to look at Arctic Monkeys’s song ‘R U Mine?’ because I thought it was an interesting example of genre relation.

The music video starts off with a man talking, appearing as if he is a radio host of some sort as he introduces the track “you’re listening to Jones’ jukebox, this is a brand new song by the arctic monkeys, it’s called R U Mine, take It away”. This seems to fit in with the style of the video as it appears to be a kind of simple, self-videoed by the band.

The next thing we see is a black and white effect over the Frontman, Alex turner and drummer, Matt helders as they sit in a car. Linking to the mise-en-scene, the outfits appear to be dark clothing, paired with sunglasses which link in extremely well with the rock or alternative genre. The fact that it’s in such dark colours is conventional and conforms to such stereotypes as bands like Arctic Monkeys, who produce rock songs are well known for possessing characteristics which make them fit so well with the genre.

Although the video has no narrative behind it, it’s still very interesting to watch as it looks as though they have simply gotten a video camera, or even a phone, to record them singing or lip-syncing to the song in the car. The frontman, Alex turner sits in the passenger side lip syncing to the song whilst mimicking the guitar and drum as he does hand gestures to match them. The driver, who is also the drummer, Matt helders sits there and lip-syncs to the backup vocals he sings and bangs his drum sticks on the steering wheel. The whole feel of it relates to a kind of amateur vibe as it doesn’t exactly look professional or costly to make, but still show a certain perspective from a rock star as they make it feel very ‘Rockish’

Next, the singer Alex turner grabs the camera to angle it to a close up of his face, as he sings the lyrics “I guess what I’m trying to say is I need the deep end, keep imagining meeting”. He looks in the camera for a few seconds, then out the window which could conform to a stereotype “rockstars” possess, that they are quite arrogant. Throughout, many stereotypes of the genre are conformed, quite possible on purpose. An example of this is when the singer flips down the mirror to comb his hair back into the slick style he has. This arguably is conventional as they are also known for being vain and overly careful of maintaining their appearance.

The next shot we see is of another member of the band, lip syncing to the back up vocals “R U Mine tomorrow, or just mine tonight?”. He is sat in the back seat, previously an angle of which recorded Alex and Matt, as to give off the impression that the new member we’re introduced too hand-held recorded it. Thus, enhancing the feel that it’s being made by them, and not by a team of fancy directors and producers. Nick O’Malley, the one we’re just introduced too only stars in it for a short amount of time, perhaps showing the audience that he isn’t the most important member as Alex Turner hogs the spot light for 90% of the video. Understandably, as he is the lead vocalist. They are all continuing to lip sync and do hand gestures suggesting banging drums etc, thus enabling the video to maintain its rock-genre vibes.

Throughout the video, there are very limited shots as the camera doesn’t really cut at all. It seems as though it recorded the whole thing by hand and kept it continuously recording as they lip synced along. Alex turner gets out of the car to mimic playing a guitar with his hands, continuing to give it the rock feel. It also emphasises the movement of the camera as it literally follows him out of the car, instead of cutting and recording it separately. The amateur feel is very enhanced in this video, compared to others by the Arctic Monkeys as it gives off more genre characteristics than ever.

The next shot we see is of a girl walking to where the band start actually playing guitars, and singing. This is the first time actual instruments are introduced as it starts looking like an actual performance because the front man is singing into a microphone, as opposed to lip-syncing the entire video. This could be a climax to a previously long build up to the point where the song reaches it’s rock atmosphere, because of its excessiveness. For example, using a girl is stereotypical as people from the rock genre are known to be ‘womanisers’, also there’s smoke and lights which give it a very real stage-like presence; even though it’s still being hand-held recorded and they are literally on a floor, not far from the car they just left. The shot is a wide shot, as it shows the entirety of the band, rather than just close ups of the lead singer. We zoom in on the drummer as he drums to the pace and the song comes to an end.

The genre of the video is very easily seen, as the amount of conventions and genre stereotypes are countless. The lack of narrative could arguably make it less interesting, but because it’s so different from other videos, being hand-held and all, it becomes very unique. There don’t seem to be any relation of visuals to lyrics as it seems to purely be based off lip syncing through the entire thing, but the use of linking the visuals to the beats, for example banging drum sticks on the steering wheel when drums are heard in the song becomes very interesting as it plays into the song pace and band perspective as it comes to an end and they are performing the thing for real. Amplification seems to be the key here, as it has no illustration, but instead plays of the actual song itself.