Music video deconstruction: Imagine dragons - Demons (Alternative Indie Rock)

Music video deconstruction: Imagine dragons - Demons (Alternative Indie Rock)

The structure of this music videos consists of different sections within the music video. The first section being a scene of the band playing at a gig that then zooms into one audience member and tells a story of their life and their struggles in life (section two), before flashing back to the gig (section 1) and then into another section with a different persons story. The effect of this music video structure is unusual as having visuals of the band playing at a gig, isn’t a normal convention of an alternative music video, however the use of the mutual interest (the band) reinforces the songs message and narrative:  We all have struggles and troubles and although people try to hide these feelings, your eyes never lie. There is also a united cry for help or for some sort of relief as humanity to say that life will be ok and that everyone has troubles – don’t try to hide them.

The united cry for freedom from this form is represented by the up build and crescendo of the chorus.

The music video opens with the first section of the band playing at a gig. The lighting is dark and the mise-en-scene has instruments and a shillouette of the main singer to create a realistic look of a band gig. The shot is a long shot to show that the audience is amoungst a big audience however the fact that an extreme long shot hasn’t been used means that as aundience members we already feel a connection to the established main character (lead singer), the lead singers importance in this video is also highlighted by the spot lights.  There are close ups of the singers face when he starts to sing showing that the songs lyrics have importance and the main focus of the audience is kept on this lead singer. The blue lighting also connotes the feeling of sadness and sympathy.

This medium close up shot has been chosen to portray this characters story across to the audience without too much explanation. The fact that she is loosing away from the camera so that we can easily see what the song is about and her story without forgetting our new main character.

The use of close ups in this scene focus the audiences attention on her story and the strength of the song.

The lyrics to Imagine Dragons – Demons

When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold

When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood’s run stale

I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There’s nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

Curtain’s call
Is the last of all
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl

So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you've made

Don't wanna let you down
But I am hell bound
Though this is all for you
Don't wanna hide the truth

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

They say it's what you make
I say it's up to fate
It's woven in my soul
I need to let you go

Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

There is another link to the music and the lyrics and the drop beat of the chorus starts when a bottle is smashed against a wall behind the son’s head in the abuse scene.