They have released five studio albums and their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) is the fastest-selling debut album by a band in British chart history.
Record Label
The Arctic Monkeys are signed to Domino Recording Company, it is a British independent recording company based in London. The company has other divisions in Germany, France and America. Founded in 1993 by Laurence Bell and his partner Jacqui Rice, it signed many American artists but found its most success during the Britpop era during which they began to get a more steady stream of signed artists. They have had recent more high-profile releases from artists such as the Arctic Monkeys, which aided in it's growth.
Domino had the first UK #1 single in October 2005 with the Arctic Monkeys' 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'
Lyrics
The mirror's image
Tells me it's home time
But I'm not finished
'Cause you're not by my side
And as I arrived I thought I saw you leaving
Carrying your shoes
Decided that once again I was just dreaming
Of bumping into you
Now it's three in the morning and I'm trying to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you reply,
"Why'd you only call me when you're high?
Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"
Somewhere darker
Talking the same shite
I need a partner (hey)
Well, are you out tonight?
It's harder and harder to get you to listen
More I get through the gears
Incapable of making alright decisions
And having bad ideas
Now it's three in the morning and I'm trying to change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you reply (message you reply),
"Why'd you only call me when you're high? (why'd you only call me when you're high?)
Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"
And I can't see you here wonder where I might?
Sort of feels like I'm running out of time
I haven't found what I was hoping to find
You said, "You gotta be up in the morning, gonna have an early night.
And you're starting to bore me, baby.
Why'd you only call me when you're high?"
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?
Lyrics and Visuals
There is a definitive link between the lyrics and the visuals seen during the music promo. There a certain key moments in the promo where the audience can specifically see the link between the lyrics of the song and the visuals produced, for example when Alex Turner is looking into the mirror in the bathroom, the audience see what he is meant to be seeing in his drunken state; his mirror image moving around. This visual links to the start of the lyrics 'The mirrors image tells me it's home time'. During the introduction there is another moment where a clock face changes into a smile, this called also be a reference to the same lyric.
However throughout the music promo there are clear references to the title and chorus of the song 'Why'd you only call me when your high' The camera shows the audience what Alex Turner is seeing and then what is really there, illustrating to the audience that he is drunk or maybe high. The introduction to the music promo also helps to promote the idea that the main character is drunk or high as he has been at a bar and drinking.
Another link between lyrics and visuals comes from the lyric 'Left you multiple missed calls' and in many shots Turner is shown with a phone, but once again the overriding lyric 'why'd you only call me when you're high' is portrayed again; post production editing has been used to show the phone slipping inside Turner's hand.
There is a definitive link between the lyrics and the visuals seen during the music promo. There a certain key moments in the promo where the audience can specifically see the link between the lyrics of the song and the visuals produced, for example when Alex Turner is looking into the mirror in the bathroom, the audience see what he is meant to be seeing in his drunken state; his mirror image moving around. This visual links to the start of the lyrics 'The mirrors image tells me it's home time'. During the introduction there is another moment where a clock face changes into a smile, this called also be a reference to the same lyric.
However throughout the music promo there are clear references to the title and chorus of the song 'Why'd you only call me when your high' The camera shows the audience what Alex Turner is seeing and then what is really there, illustrating to the audience that he is drunk or maybe high. The introduction to the music promo also helps to promote the idea that the main character is drunk or high as he has been at a bar and drinking.
Music and Visuals
Clearly there is a more distinctive link between lyrics and visuals to music and visuals. The track has a deep bass throughout creating a darker feel, this idea has been relayed through miss-en-scene, the whole promo is set at night and is quite dark; matching the feel of the song.
Narrative/Concept/Performance
The Arctic Monkeys music promo for 'Why'd You Only call Me When You're High' has a strong narrative base and no concept or performance elements. The narrative has been extracted from the lyrics of the song, the basis being 'why'd you only call me when you're high'. The music promo has a minute long introduction helping the audience to understand the narrative of the story.
The music video focuses on a man who is clearly drunk after a night out with his friends, the audience are taken with him as he stumbles his way home. The man appears to be distressed about something as he keeps checking his phone and seeing things on his walk home. In the end the audience find out that he has been pining after a girl as he ends up at someones door by the end of the song, but has the wrong door due to his drunkenness as the camera shows the girl in the house opposite pick up her phone to look at the messages sent from the man.
Narrative/Concept/Performance
The Arctic Monkeys music promo for 'Why'd You Only call Me When You're High' has a strong narrative base and no concept or performance elements. The narrative has been extracted from the lyrics of the song, the basis being 'why'd you only call me when you're high'. The music promo has a minute long introduction helping the audience to understand the narrative of the story.
The music video focuses on a man who is clearly drunk after a night out with his friends, the audience are taken with him as he stumbles his way home. The man appears to be distressed about something as he keeps checking his phone and seeing things on his walk home. In the end the audience find out that he has been pining after a girl as he ends up at someones door by the end of the song, but has the wrong door due to his drunkenness as the camera shows the girl in the house opposite pick up her phone to look at the messages sent from the man.
Location
There are two main locations for this music promo, the bar and city streets, with other places such as a bathroom and a girls house. Together these locations help to carry the story narrative.
Costume and Makeup Props
No makeup has been used in the music promo, making the costumes more significant. The man is dressed in all black with a leather jacket, this could suggest that he is more of a darker character who spends a lot of their time at a bar. The dark clothes also blend in more with the dark streets, implying that he may be a 'night owl'.
The main prop used during the video is a phone which the man keeps looking at, like he is anticipating a message or a call, moving the narrative forwards.
Lighting
The bar where the man is first seen is dimly lit, suggesting that the video is set late at night. In contrast to the dimly lit bar the bathroom is very bright and the white walls make it seem even brighter, this transition could be the man realising that it is time he goes home. The bathroom also has a small red glow coming from the door, like it could be beckoning the man back into the bar.
The streets that the man is seen to walk along are dimly lit by street lights as well, suggesting that the area may be slightly run down and that it is very late.
Camera Work and Editing
For most of the music promo the camera follows the man as he walks home, there are several over the shoulder shots and close ups. The closeup shots mainly show the man looking at his phone, and with post production editing the texts are shown to the audience, making the narrative more immersing.
Focus Group Thoughts
'The music video has amazing visual effects that help the storyline along and brings to light some hard hitting issues in it.' - Alexia 16
'The storyline is quite relatable making the video more enjoyable to watch and the visual effects like the mirror make it more interesting' - Jack 17
No comments:
Post a Comment