Music Video Analysis Questions

Massive Attack- Unfinished Sympathy

Radiohead- Burn The Witch

What are the songs about?

Unfinished Sympathy is a love song. The meaning of Massive Attacks, Unfinished Sympathy is about becoming involved with somebody who then pulls away-' How can I have a day without  night, you're the book that I have opened, and now I've got to know much more'. The lyrics suggest she's had some kind of limited contact with another person which has left her wanting more. 'Like a soul without a mind' conveys the feeling of emptiness as a result of this desire, she is missing something that she needs. Also perhaps a recognition to the fact she won't get what she wants. The line 'You really hurt me baby' expresses her angst and despair about the fact the other person does not requite her love, the meaning may not reference a previous relationship but questions whether she will get hurt if she enters this one. However, Radiohead's, Burn The Witch provides a completely different alternative meaning. The song is about the recent media and politics of the US and the UK in 2016, playing on natural fears and encouraging people to mistrust and accuse each other. Just like the music video confirms, the entire analogy of the witch hunt dominates the material, while an ongoing subtext pushes a related narrative. It has been considered a song that raises awareness bout Europe's refugee crisis.

How Have the Artist Been Presented in Their Respective Videos?/Why Have They Been Represented in Such a Way?

Massive Attack are presented in their respective video, 'Unfinished Sympathy', as individual members who fit in with their everyday society. This is shown through each band member walking down the street throughout the course of the video. This offers an alternative perspective to other videos as it does not centre around a main feature/'star' at any given point, which contrasts with other artists who may strive for fame and want to stand out amongst others. Massive Attack may want to try to bring about a positive change in society and bring together communities, something which the band does and emphasises. On the other hand, Radiohead's videos, 'Burn The Witch' does not feature any of its band members, instead, it is a stop motion animated music video. This is unlike many of Radiohead's other videos.

Do the Videos Represent the Artists Successfully?

Burn the Witch is a criticism of authority and a warning against groupthink, expressing a 'deep sense of dread and skepticism'. The Guardian felt it addressed mass surveillance or the threat to open discussion posed by the self-policing users of social media. Pitchfork writer Marc Hogan suggested that the use of the Trumpton Trilogy style in the video, which portrays an idyllic, crimefree rural Britain, reflects the rhetoric of family values used by right-wing politicians and members of the UK Independence Party. One of the animators of the video, who worked on the video, interpreted the song as a comment on the European migrant crisis and scapegoating Muslims. The visual style of the video was deliberately lighter in tone than the song, as Radiohead 'wanted the video to contrast with what they're playing and to wake people up a bit'. Many would argue that the video is somewhat positive within its representation. Likewise, Massive Attacks single, Unfinished Sympathy' is said to be one of their most commercially successful songs/videos. this is suggesting that their video represent the band in a positive light.

What Styles of Filmmaking Have Been Used? Why Utilise Such Styles?

The video for Massive Attacks, Unfinished Sympathy, was directed by Baillie Walsh and was filmed in a continuous shot. The video, filmed on steadicam, begins with a shot of a street gang before moving to follow Nelson walking along the pavement unaware or uncaring of her surroundings, which includes drunks, bikers and disabled people. As the video progresses, 3D (having finished

making a call in a public phone booth) and then Daddy G ( pushing a cart) can be seen walking several paces being her, slightly out if focus. At the end of the video, Nelson walks past the camera and off down the road into the distance. The video was originally supposed to conclude with an overhead shot of Los Angeles, but the scene was ultimately scrapped. In comparison, the video for Radiohead's, Burn the Witch was created using stop-motion animation. According to the son-in-law of Trumpton creator Gordon Murray, the family was not asked permission to use the style for the video and saw it as a 'tarnishing of the brand'. The video homages the 1973 horror film The Wicker Man and depicts mob rule in a rural community. An Inspector is greeted by a town mayor and invited to see a series of unsettling events, culminating in the unraveling of a Wicker Man, whereupon he is locked inside as a human sacrifice and The Wicker Man is set on fire. As the flames gather, the towns people turn their backs and wave goodbye to the camera.