The second video I has chosen is Flash Delirium by MGMT, unfortunately they have disabled the embed code on their YouTube account so I can only paste the link. I have chosen this video as the song I have chosen for my music video is also by MGMT. MGMT are an alternative psychedelic pop rock band and this song is from their 2010 album Congratulations. The director, Andreas Nilsson, decribes the video as "lending a visual clue into the maelstrom and chaos of modern times."
The video tells the narrative of the band going to the keyboardist's, Ben's, home after the success of their first album for a homecoming party. It is obvious that they do not fit in with the family as they are all middle aged or older people who seem very upper class due to the mise-en-scene such as their costume and the stately house they live in. The characters all seem very quirky which is shown through their costumes for example the old man with an eye patch and the girls dressed as if their from the 1960's. This 1960's reference could show the fact that the band are psychedelic as the genre originates from the 1960's.
There are clues that the family are not what they seem and have a sinister undercurrent, an example being right at the beginning when the driver looking in his rear view mirror at the band with suspicion. Another example is when the video cuts to the bald man sat with what looks like satelites and radio communincations which connotate he is listening or spying on people.The video is very surreal with random dance routines, ventriloquist dummies and even a man with breasts at the end. This matches the representation of the band as they have surreal lyrics and their songs often change tunes many times as with this song. An effect used a lot through the video is blurry shots which then come into focus. This adds to the surreal and dream like nature of the video. The strangest thing in the video is the fact that Ben has a singing hole in his neck (?!) which he tries to hide from his family throughout the video. When they find out about this they pull an eel from the hole. For most people this would seem totally random and again surreal but for fans it is an self reference. The band often talk about how they don't want to be a mainstream band and one of their most popular songs has lyrics about an electric eel. This eel is then pulled out and destroyed in a machine which represents how they want to lose the mainstream image of them as it is not who they really are.
The climax of the video is when the eel is being destroyed and the family start to dance. The lighting keeps changing colour and paper is blown around the room for dramatic effect and to show the machine is having an effect. The editing pace quickens and jumps rapidly to the different characters to see their reactions. Different camera techniques such as handheld shaky camera and low angles are all used to disorientate the audience and show the chaos of the scene.
At the end the video turns almost nightmarish when they start counting. Different images quickly flash on the screen which correspond to the numbers including the family members crying or looking sinister. This shows that not all is perfect within the family and there is a sinister undercurrent to them. Seemingly random images are juxtaposed together with very fast paced editing to add to the chaos and nightmarish nature of the video. Old film footage is shown of children within this which seem to connotate the ideal American suburban living with hot dogs and face painting. This again backs up the idea that not all is what it seems within the family.Overall this video represents the band well as it matches the surreal and alternative music style of the band. It entertains none fans because of the random nature of it but there are also self-references in it for bigger fans.
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