Analysis of Golden Silvers - Arrows of Eros

Golden Silvers are an independently signed band with a similar style and genre to the unsigned band we are using for our music video. Their video uses different editing techniques and a new romantic, late 70's/early 80’s style to create a mise-en-scene, fitting to the genre and the tone of the song.

Golden Silver's genre is described as indie pop/electronic/new wave. Conventions of this genre would include an 80's style tone or mise-en-scene- quite bright and colourful, lively, old wallpaper/furniture/features, emphasis on bass guitar and keyboard and focus on the band and their style. The 'Arrows of Eros' video is performance based. It lacks a narrative structure, which is conventional of this genre, it also confirms conventions of costume, with the New Romantic fashion style worn by the three members of the band. New Romanticism was a 'youth fashion movement from the 1980's' associated with the electronic/synthpop music scene, to artists like David Bowie and Duran Duran. The fashion entailed androgenous and totally unique clothing and the quiff was a common hairstyle. It is clear in the video that Golden Silvers have taken influence from this fashion movement, as seen in their shirts and the lead singers purple flairs and hairstyle. The wallpaper and props like the lamp, microphone and sofa also reflect the 80's feel of the song. The band's performance and dancing shows the liveliness of the genre and of their songs.











Most of the video, uses the effect of boxes/frames (?) on the screen, multiple or single, and it constantly changes with the beat. The edges are rounded, reflecting the style of an old photograph. This technique reverses conventions of most mainstream music videos and sets it apart as perhaps a more niche, independent band or song. Other techniques are used later, as they play around with animation, giving the lead singer wings and an arrow through his head to fit in with the lyrics. This holds the audiences attention and makes the video more aesthetically pleasing, showing off their animation skills and reinforcing the significance of the lyrics.










Close ups of the instruments are used at the start of the video, introducing the main instruments they use and emphasising that this consists of keyboard, guitar and drums as is conventional in electronic pop music. Editing skills are also later proven as the screen is split into three frames, the middle of the master shot, of the lead singer playing the keyboard and the frames on either side showing close ups of the keyboard being played, in sync with the central frame.



And again, this shot shows the drums/cowbell being played in a close up and from two different angles, at the same time.


Towards the end of the video, the screen is entirely split into square frames. This could be showing fragmentation, of the relationship talked about in the lyrics. 'Wouldn't it be sweet if you could die from a broken heart?'



Although the Golden Silvers are not mainstream, and not very well known they rely mostly on image in this video, focusing on their performance and including few shots of other characters dancing or acting. This again, confirms the conventions of the genre, drawing in an audience through their unique style, inviting the audience to perhaps copy their style or aspire to have an individual style themselves. It could also bring in a nostalgic audience, those still attached to 80's pop music and scenes. I think the video successfully captures it's audience through it's mise-en-scene and style and it's reliance on performance.