Research: Codes & Conventions

 L/O: To analyse codes & conventions in similar products.

Meaning of "It’s Golden Hour Somewhere" by Lovejoy

"It's Golden Hour Somewhere" by Lovejoy touches on the theme of materialism and its potential negative consequences. The lyrics describe the narrator's observations of an individual who is so obsessed with material wealth and status that they are willing to betray themselves and others. The narrator questions why this person would prioritise possessions over genuine human connection and intimacy. In the first verse, the narrator examines whether the material possessions that this person has accumulated are worth sacrificing authentic connections for. The lines "Is this what you needed? Is this what it's worth? To see the hidden folders/Toe-tipping out the dirt?" implies that this person values the superficial over the genuine. The second verse examines this person's infatuation with status symbols, such as owning a luxury car and watch. The narrator implies that this person's attachment to these possessions can be a form of insecurity. The line "His grass is the wrong shade of green but he can pay to make a change" suggests that this person may be trying to compensate for something lacking in their life by relying on material possessions to fill the void. The lines "They'll sell you the rope so you can hang yourself" suggest that the more one leans into the world of consumerism and hedonism, the more one puts themselves at risk. In the final verse, the narrator reflects on their own part in this person's life. They question whether they are being used as a way to "break what he can't chew" or impose their beliefs on someone who may not be receptive to them. The line "Our father thou art the central Monterey" may be a reference to a religious doctrine or figure, suggesting that the narrator is coming from a place of faith and morality. Overall, "It's Golden Hour Somewhere" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritising material possessions over genuine connections and values.

Music video analysis:

This music video is age-restricted due to the depiction of suicide. I have decided to view a Spanish-subtitled version in its stead. 

Age-restricted video: Lovejoy - It’s Golden Hour Somewhere (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Spanish subtitles: Lovejoy - It’s Golden Hour Somewhere (OFFICIAL VIDEO) // Sub Español

At the beginning of the music video starts with a long shot of two boys, one lying on the bench and the other on his knees begging for money. It then shows a shot of two men in suits walking past leading into a close-up shot of the hat that the two supposed 'main characters' are using as a pot of donations being kicked away. We cut to a close up shot of a tree stump and a log on top, eventually showing a boys feet as he steps onto the log before we get a wideshot of the boy in question tying a rope around his neck and falling backwards....

(This music video felt too difficult for me to analyse. I don't want to push myself past my capabilities and struggle to complete it)

Music video Analysis of Taunt by Lovejoy

The video starts off with a mid-shot of George with a neutral expression with a text edited over him reading the band's name, Lovejoy The camera then zooms out to wide shot where you can see the empty room he's sitting in. While it's zooming out, the text of the song title, Taunt, flashes over the screen with the non-diagetic sound of an automated voice repeating the title. This puts the viewer's focus solely on George as well as the text so they know what the song is and who it's by. When the camera zoomed out, the diagetic sound of the empty room smoothly transitions to the non-diagetic sound of the song. 

The title of the song is in a bright magenta with an 8 bit font., suiting the overall aesthetic of the music video as it's edited to look like a retro-style video. The video is a bittle blurry, especially around the edges, and is framed as a square to mimic old fashioned TV screens. The color grading is a light pink which further enhances the old retro style. These effects evoke a feeling of nostalgia as it makes the video seem homemade. 

During the intro of the song, the video has a montage of the band members surrounding George in different places which is edited to be in tune with the beat. In the different section,, the band is seen waving their arms around his face, loitering in corners, playing loud instruments right next to him, and lifting weights.  This establishes what's going to happen in the rest of the video as they repeat these activities throughout it. George insinuates that they're trying to get a reaction out of him to which he isn't amused. 

The lyrics appear at the bottom of the screen when they start signing in bright yellow, mimicking how old music videos and movies would often have their lyrics and subtitles in yellow to make them easier to read as it stands out.

During the second verse, the scene cuts from the mid-shot to a close-up on George's face with the text "YOU'RE INSECURE" flashing in front of it in the same font and colour as the title. This is meant to emphasise his insecurity in the lyrics as the focus is taken away from the band around him as it's only George who is now visible on screen. The singer (Wilbur) is also seen lip-syncing the lines directly to him, further amplifying this point. This is repeated at the end of the verse but Wilbur replaces George in the chair, this is ironic as the whole song is sung from Wilbur's perspective but the whole video implies that he's just the sane as the person he was signing about.

The only other time text appears on screen again is during the bridge, where the lyrics "I DON'T THINK SO" flash on the screen. This is to, again, amplify the lyrics and differentiate the bridge from the rest of the verses.

The location that the entire video is set in an empty room with white walls. This makes the rest of the people in the video stand out from it, telling us that the location isn't significant. Having George sitting while the others stand singles him out as the band is targeting him through their actions as well as the song, this distinction also makes the message of the song clearer. 

Recurring props that show up in the music video alternate between different instruments, a wooden sword, and dumbbells. The band is seen to be playing instruments to sync with the music or to annoy George. Only Wilbur is seen using the dumbbells and this is to try and get George's attention as it is random compared to the instruments. Another band member (Ash) is seen holding the sword over George's head, showing us that he doesn't like him, reflecting the song's frustration.