EU - Paolo Nutini Deconstruction

Paolo Nutini – Rewind
Video Deconstruction


I have chosen this video because I think it is perfect for the style we want to do as a group because it has a very interesting way of cutting between narrative and performance. I think this way of performing with specific narrative actions happening behind the singer is a very clever idea. It shows a lot of good meat shots of the artist and also because the song is sad, things happening behind him connote that this could be his past and the audience may be able to relate to it.
Paolo Nutini does have a sad genre and motif about him so this video definitely fits in with his genre as an artist and it also amplifies his sad style with very bad things happening to the main character in the background.
When applying Goodwin’s theory to this music video you can notice that there is the obvious link of lyrics and visuals with the lip syncing performance of it. It does however end there because the video is all one continuous shot and there is not cutting rate in time with the music but I think this works and gives the video a more authentic and honest feeling showing the artists emotion, nothing fancy just and emotional performance. There is no reference of looking because even with all this drama happening around him Paolo focuses on the camera which makes it seem as though what he’s singing is the most important. There isn’t a direct link between the lyrics and the narrative but it is obviously linked with the lyric “going from bad to bad” being sung each time something bad happens at the scene, like the fight or the police turning up.
If one were to apply Adorno’s theory to this video I think it would definitely disprove his arguments. One of his main arguments was that the media creates and exploits the false needs of man but nothing in this video is either glamorous or desirable to the audience. It is in quite a deprived location and doesn’t advertise any sort of luxury in any form. It is quite a gritty very true to life video with a grotty location, average cars and regular people in all shapes and sizes, hardly anything desirable.
The main camera technique in this video is the pull back focus of the camera to switch between the performance and narrative. But other than this there is nothing special being used, no CGI, no expensive camera movement of any kind. But this in itself creates a style of music video that a lot of people aspire to.
Paolos star personar is reinforced in this video with the simplicity and rawness of the video. With the first person mode of address and breaking the 4th wall it gives a more personal feel to the video and to the artist. This reinforces Richard Dyers theory that all stars are created and if we think we know paolo through this video because of the vulnerability we feel from his performance it is just a motif that has been created.