Music video analysis #10- Massive Attack- Teardrop

Music video analysis #10

Act: Massive Attack

Track: ‘Teardrop’

Year: 1998

Director: Walter Stern

Genre: Trip hop/ Experimental electronic

Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7K72X4eo_s

Main audience: M 15-34+ Audience from the 90’s + Aspirational teens (15+)
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Genre characteristics: Genre characteristics of an experimental ‘trip hop’ song are not explored that often due to the niche nature of the genre. However the experimental element of the genre allows for a large spectrum of creativity and with this, the video in question certainly fulfils this demand through the sheer abstract nature of the premises of this video.

Performance/ narrative/ concept: This video does not have any performance qualities to it other than the lip-syncing of the animatronic fetus in the womb. The video is completely concept based with very little narrative and performance elements to it. The video features a fetus in its mother’s womb moving its lips with some of the lines of the song. This is a highly abstract concept and is conventional of the music genre in that sense.

Linear/ Closed narrative: The video could be classified as being closed due to the fact the mother’s womb darkens towards the end of the video and the fetus closes its eyes indicating a finality to the song and video.

Looking/ mode of address: The fetus sometimes makes eye contact with the viewer, however this is rare at best and for the most part the fetus looks distant and disorientated, similar to what a real fetus would behave like.

Star treatment: The protagonist of the video being the fetus is shown often through a variety of shots and seems to be the main focus of the video. However there is very little subjectivity shown in this respect as the star treatment of the fetus is not supposed to mean much to the audience other than stimulating the imagination.

Pace+ Any variation of pace: Throughout there is a relatively slow tempo (Synergizing with the song) The video changes in pace towards the end of the song. This is indicated by longer shots of the fetus and slower cuts in between shots. We are also shown the fetus in its entirety for the first time during this section. This creates a great sense of finality to the video as well as a feeling of conclusion.

Shot variety: The production hosts a number of differing shots including that of close ups, extreme close ups, medium-long shots, POV shots, low angle shots, and long shots.

Close up

Extreme close up

Medium-long shot

POV shot

Low angle shot

Long shot

FX: The production seems to avoid any kind of CGI or non-practical effects. This increases the authenticity of the production due to the realistic representation of the fetus and womb alike. This is due to the fact the fetus is made from silicon and the womb setting is made from a similar material. Towards the end of the video a flashing light is seen outside the womb and this was also achieved with the use of practical effects.

Location/ Mise-En-Scene: One location is used for this video and that is the inside of a mother’s womb. This location is practically constructed and was filled with liquid for filming. As well as water in the womb there are often bits of floating debris in the waters that are often seen floating around in addition to the fetus’s umbilical cord. In addition to this there is a large amount of low-key lighting used, reflecting the low light conditions of a mother’s womb and conveying the artistic side of the production across.

Director’s style: The director’s style is highly synchronous with the music track itself and would conform to Vernaillis’s theory of music videos in this sense. The slow paced editing and long drawn out shots are highly in tempo with the musical track.

Elements linked with your idea: Elements to consider relating to my music video could be the use of practical effects due to their low-budget and effective outcomes as well as the low-key lighting.