Lyrics:
Please allow me to be your anti-depressant
I too am prescribed as freely as any decongestant
We kick back and let the pills do the talking
People hear a distinct rattle when we're walking
Then there's the extra two stone that's our only guarantee
Our vivid dreams are just like big production movies
They get entangled well within our daily routines
So please re-think or use my trademark strategy
And please allow me to be your anti-depressant
I too am prescribed as freely as any decongestant
It's hard to smile when you're as flattened as a pancake
The only tears come from our heads when we concentrate
Perhaps I'm being unjust or perhaps you agree
Still I've thrown away my citalopram
I needed more than what was in those 40 milligrams
So cast away with the doctor's plans
And please allow me to be your anti-depressant
I too am prescribed as freely as any decongestant
Still I've thrown away my citalopram
Although I felt as grim as the reaper man
So cast away with the doctor's plans
Like me
Essay:
The video I have chosen to analyse is The Wombats - 'Anti D'. It is the third single to be released from their album 'This Modern Glitch' and was released in the UK as a digital download on 11th April 2011. The video was directed by Marc Klassfeld and is meant to represent front man Matthew 'Murph' Murphy's mindset when he was on anti-depressants. The Wombats are an English indie pop group and the video isn't incredibly typical of this genre. It is quite sunny and bright which is typical of some indie pop videos and some of the characters and events within the video I find similar to 'Panic at the Disco's' video for 'Nine in the Afternoon'. The characters and focal character (Murph) are dressed quite typically of the genre in suits or in more fun-extreme costumes (commonly found in videos, like Panic's Nine in the Afternoon or Two Door Cinema Club's 'I Can Talk'.) It is untypical in that most indie pop videos are quite lively and fun and this one is quite slow to start and Murph persistently has a straight face throughout. It also appears to have been filmed in one take and there is no editing involved in the whole video. It purely involves him walking down a street singing (as if telling a story) with other characters telling various other parts to the story.
The actual music (discarding the lyrics) is fairly calm and slow, I'd say the main instruments are violins but their is a steady drum beat as well; with piano's and guitars also coming in later. The visuals of the characters fits with the music as the characters almost seem to be slowed down from a normal pace (even though I don't believe they are by effects in any way). The music does pick up to be slightly more upbeat in the purely solo musical parts as well as backing vocals accompanying singing 'arrrrrrgggghhhh' over and over. Something I noticed about when the music does this is that the camera doesn't continue tracking Murph, it does a complete 360 around him. There are 2 incidents when a solo musical part occurs, the first time Murph gets beaten down and the camera goes 360 degrees around him clockwise. The second time this happens Murph has just been lifted up and their are lots of people supporting him and cheering and the camera goes 360 degrees around him anti-clockwise. I thought this could show him spiraling into depression (and feeling beaten down) but then spiraling out of it (when he felt supported). See diagram above for further explanation. The video stays at the same pace throughout regardless of the music pace which stays fairly consistent throughout also. I think that the record label was looking to sell this song as a personal song which can relate to one of the most rapidly growing worldwide illnesses. It's something that people can relate to lyrically but the video makes it stand out more so and is also fun and interesting. Murph does look fairly depressed and serious in this video, in a way he also looks like he's suffering from a hangover. This is also present in other recent videos by the The Wombats, such as Jump Into The Fog and Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves). However, in another recent video for Techno Fan Murph looks really alert (probably due to him not wearing sunglasses throughout) and fairly happy at parts. The video for Anti-D doesn't conform to these videos in the sense that it's not got elements of performance from the band in it, it's not edited and it doesn't center around a party or occasion. I feel that the video is different from a lot of their others but doesn't demonstrate a shift in image, I just this it's appropriate for the song to have a video like this accompany it. I wouldn't actually say that The Wombats as a group are being portrayed in this video, I'd say Murph is being focused on for this video to demonstrate HIS struggle. This is also an element not commonly found in their videos as the group are almost always shown together on more than one occasion.
The only inter textual references I could pick up on was the overwhelming sense of almost saying 'screw you' to society and how people are meant to behave and how they try and fix everything with medication and label everything. I guess you could say it's similar in a way to the punk era where there was a lot of revolt and anarchy towards society and expectations with influential bands such as The Clash, The Ramones and Stiff Little Fingers. I also like the way that they challenge societies judgments towards young people by having the well respected 'doctor' figures causing trouble (and obviously being the people who prescribe and label people with illnesses it seems appropriate) and the young people (the other two band members) helping Murph up (which may show how music helped him out of his depression).
I'd say the video is concept based as it centers around one idea and is filmed in one take, it isn't performance based apart from you being able to see Murph sing and there isn't really any narrative to it as it's completely random.
I'd say that The Wombats music video for Anti-D is a modern, unique twist on similar videos and music which has been used to protest and stand up against society. I really like the song and the video for its bluntness and forward approach on a difficult topic which is common in today's society. I feel that the video is incredibly well directed and appropriate for the message trying to be conveyed and I like the subtle use of techniques to convey other meanings, such as the camera work and use of no editing (perhaps used to show how the illness never stops). I think this is probably one of my favourite music videos by The Wombats as the message to people is clear and strong and portrayed excellently by the visuals.
(Sorry I was unable to post this sooner, had previous problems where Blogger wiped my entire essay and have since had internet problems at home whilst trying to re-post. Ta)
