"Burn Burn" (Start Something)
This music video is entirely performance based. Long shots of the crowd and band with hands in the the foreground of the shot, as well as quick editing and fluid camera movements give a sense of a live band performance by Lostprophets, and the atmosphere or scene associated.
The video and nature of the song is aggressive in style, and this is portrayed in the fast cuts, mise-en-scene and camera shots. The single location conveys the idea of underground performance, connoting rebellion against conforming, linking with the lyrics and overall message of the song itself. The majority of shots are overflowing with people, either in the background or dominating the shot. Exceptions to this are band shots and various and continuous shots of the lead vocalist, Ian Watkins. Distortion of shots add to the idea of chaos as the melody of the song suggests.
In order to suit the sense of an underground live performance, floodlights are used and emphasis are drawn to them throughout the video. This use of lighting also creates epic shadows, used to add drama as well as link with the rock genre. The floodlights also occasionally create a filter effect and accompany the distorted, jumpy shots of the crowd. Sound in this music video is diegetic, and only the song itself.
Mise-en-scene is used effectively in this video, and codes of the rock genre are shown through the use of props (skateboards, motorbikes, BMX bikes, guitars, drums, keyboard etc) to present images associated with the rock genre as well as the type of scenes you would expect to see at an underground live performance. Similarly, costume and accessories are typical of Lostprophets in style but also of the rock genre, and Ian Watkins' costume is used to make him stand out from other people in the video, as well as from other band members.
"Last Summer" (Start Something)
This music video uses the theme of memory and flashback to compare society from past decades to present day. (1974, 1985 and 2004). Effective use of editing and camerawork makes known the differences, as a structurally repeated ordering of shots are used three times, once for each different time period. Examples of this are: the close up shot from Ian Watkins' perspective through the windscreen looking at the man washing it, (often used to switch from one decade to the next respectively), the medium shot of the couples, the close up shot looking through the window of three cars, and the close up shots of the banner saying "Class Of..."
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This music video is narrative and performance based, and fittingly with the song title, the location of the band is on a beach with a sky, sun and sea background. Before the first chorus, a transitional shot looking up at the sky as a plane flies past is used. In addition, in terms of lighting the sun's glow is used on close up shots of Ian Watkins and other band members. This music video is upbeat in style. Ian Watkins is used as an observer in the narrative sequences.
A slight filter is used on the shots from 1974 to give a nostalgia feel. The theme of skateboarding is shown in all three decades, and shows how it has changed in style over time. Diegetic sound in terms of dialogue of the man washing Ian Watkins' windscreen and how his language has adapted and altered over time also adds to the theme of memory and change. Mise-en-scene is essential in this music video, to display images typical of the decade in each of the three sequences, connoting the society and in order to paint an accurate image of the time. Mise-en-scene is used effectively in this music video to capture the essence of the time.
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"4am Forever" (Liberation Transmission)
Similar to "Last Summer," this music video also has the theme of memory and makes use of flashback to remember what used to be. This music video is a deeply emotional song, and the mise-en-scene, camerawork and editing maintain this.
Like all other Lostprophets music videos, close up shots of the guitar as well as individual shots of band members are shown. As expected, there are many close up shots of the lead guitarist and different parts of the guitar as he is playing the solo. These shots are done possibly handheld, as the shots are shaky for added dramatic effect. Close up shots of Ian Watkins are used to convey emotion of the narrative and storyline. In addition, close up shots of Ian Watkins' hands are used for a similar effect. Shots at varying angles (such as low angles) are used to show dominance over the camera. Mise-en-scene and a key use of black is used, typical of the rock genre. Focus is also used effectively in this video. Lighting is a key feature of this music video in establishing the dark emotional. In the band performance parts of the music video, the shots are dark with lighting drawing focus to the band member in the shot; an example of this being the shots of the lead guitarist, who is placed in the centre of the frame.
A filter is used to highlight the shots of the girl as a memory or flashback, and shots are slow in pace, suiting with the idea of remembrance and the depressive nature of the song. Use of layering is effective in this video, both for the use of distortion in the flashback sequences, much like a memory fading itself, but also for the dramatic vocals by Ian Watkins. The positioning of Ian Watkins on the stairs sitting down makes him appear vulnerable, in-keeping with the emotion of the song.
Record Company
Lostprophets are signed to Visible Noise Records, but as part of Sony Music. This allows them to have a creative input in terms of music video, songs, and other aspects of production.
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