Textual analysis 3

Oasis- Wonderwall
Written by: Noel Gallagher (the band's guitarist and main song writer)
Director: Nigel Dick with his regular collaborator DOP Ali Asad
Genre: Alternative rock - Subgenre Britpop
Structure: Performace, abstract/conceptual and small narrative

‘Wonderwall’ The song was released as the third single from the album in October 1995. "Wonderwall" reached the top ten on 13 charts, including topping charts in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. The single was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry and certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

"Wonderwall" was written for Gallagher's then-girlfriend, Meg Matthew as Gallagher told NME in 1996: "It's about my girlfriend, Meg Matthews However, after Gallagher divorced Matthews in 2001, he said the song was not about Matthews: "the song was about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself” therefore my understanding and the ideology I felt from the music video gave me the message that is was about his girlfriend and it tells me this through the lyrics. The song has reached 80 million views on YouTube indicting its still being successful.

I found the first scene effective as the use of the long shot/ wide shot of an LP (Long Play), or 33⅓ rpm microgroove vinyl record, is a format for phonograph (gramophone) records, an analog sound storage medium. During this you can hear the diegetic sound of footsteps but cannot see it making the sound asynchronous then the man walks into the scene. He touches the ‘on’ switch and the cinematography goes to a point of view shot of this action and the diegetic sound is emphasized to make it a key focus. It straight cuts to a close-up shot showing that the vinyl is an Oasis record this develops the narrative more implying  the song is about to be played. The long shot/wide shot appears again but a band member is on a stool replacing the LP. He’s playing the guitar which is matching the instrumental music; this is conventional of an alternative rock music video. The mise-en-scene of the costume he is in black casual clothing and this is also a conventional feature. At 0.37 seconds we see the Vinyl record spinning around clearly stating that the song is in full motion. The editing has been done very clever here as where it says ‘Oasis’ in the circle it fades into Noel’s Gallagher’s face as he is looking into a circled mirror which is therefore showing us his reflection this gives more of a personal feel and he is miming the lyrics as they begin. Also this is the use of graphic editing as two similar shapes come into one.

I wouldn’t say that there is a main narrative but there is a small narrative which is the first scene of a man turning the music on and then goes into the other narrative of the band singing it when in the first scene they was only being played on a record. It shows more performance and it’s more abstract and conceptual. As straight cutting from the band members miming and to other characters and props makes the audience feel a certain mood and feel. A alternative rock music video that does have a narrative would film the artist/band miming and cut back to the narrative and even though this music video doesn’t focus on a key narrative very similar it films the band members and then cuts back to the props and extras. Noel Gallagher is always at the front of the band connoting who is the lead role for example 0.54 seconds the wide long shot has the band and instruments behind the lead then at 1.10 close up shot the prop of the sunglasses on Noel connotes the rock lifestyle. At 1.23 the visual connects with the lyrics ‘ and all the roads that lead us there where winding’ the prop of the black and white circled illuminate patterned back drop as Noel is sat down and turning therefore trying to connote the winding effect, then again editing fades to a close up of the guitar matching the music.

The use of the clown throughout connotes that fun but childish attitude towards the audience. At 2.19 the mid shot through all the people you can see a dart board again implying a relaxed and playful side. The music video is in black and white however as the music video develops there is added colour, blue on the clowns hat, blue guitar, green guitar, guitar yellow and there are random props and extras in the music video for example, clown, swinging guitars, swinging saws , Go-Go dancer, ladder, darts board, and two men using a saw as an instrument these may have no obvious message however these may be important messages or stories behind these therefore these use of props make the audience feel a certain way. A few times the camera pans the band members when they are sat down, reinforcing it’s a band and basically showing the audience what they want to see and that is the artists. At 2.41 I found that the choice of lighting was effective as the verse says ‘ And all the lights that lead us there where blinding and lights flash fast and frequently on Noel’s face of the medium close up shot, this makes the lyrics more visual.

 Also he has his prop of sunglasses on again and through the reflection you can see the actual lights, this gives us as an audience an insight of what lights he is looking at we can see from his point of view as well. At 3.21 I found it interested that Noel sings in a close up shot and fading in the back ground is all the band members’ faces flashing again connecting with the lyrics showing that they are a unit and it is a band not a solo artist.