1. Rebecca Gooch
Textual Analysis of a music video
Name of video: All Time Low
Artist: The Wanted
Date released: July 25th 2010
Producer: Steve Mac
Writer: Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, Ed Drewett
The music video I am analysing is All Time Low by The
Wanted (a British band) released July 25th 2010
produced by Steve Mac. The video is set in what
appears to be an abandoned warehouse falling apart, dusty, dirty and messy which fits in
with the lyrics of “all time low”. This song has a genre of dance pop and indie pop which
include the characteristics of upbeat and fast pace; indie pop is a genre of alternative rock
music. The music video I am analysing includes some of the genres features.
Links between the lyrics and visuals are clear and pronounced in the music video.
In the first two verses the band use their hands and there facial expressions to act the
lyrics out and make them more realistic singing with emotion; this is particularly shown in
the chorus where the pace of the music becomes faster so the band really act out the
lyrics. The line “how do you get up from an all time low” is sung the band all crouch down
this is a perfect example of the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals. When they
repeat “low” many times the band are waving red lights around as if they are trying to get
up from an all time low when the pace of the music is reasonably quick.
There is also a relationship between the music and visuals an example of this is the
video cuts from shot to shot in time with the beat e.g. as shown in the two pictures below
the shot is changed on the beat.
In this particular music video no
solo instrumental bits are
illustrated by the video which I
personally feel is a good choice
because this wouldn’t fit in with
video and wouldn’t make the lyrics
more realistic. Towards the end of
the song when the pace becomes faster the video changes with the pace an example of
this is when the change over from shot to shot becomes quicker and changes on the beat
an example of this is when there is a wide shot of the band and on the beat one of the
singers puts his arms out then the shot cuts to a big bang of smoke on the beat to the
exact second as shown in the pictures below.
The Wanted is a
new boy band
formed in 2009 so
throughout this
video the audience
see them perform
start to finish just the
band singing and
really emphasizing the lyrics. The record company look to sell this track by using the music
video, the new band boy band and their publicity. All time low is there first song released
with the music video. Throughout the music video there are many close ups of each of the
artists and the band together but also other types of shots included such as medium to
close up shots as well as a wide shot to show the whole band singing together as a band.
These close up shots allow the audience to see the band clearly and in a way it promotes

2. Rebecca Gooch
them and there new song using the music video. From the video the image of the band
being offered to the audience is they can clearly see the band sing with a lot of emotion
and sing from their hearts putting a lot of effort into the singing of the lyrics to make them
more realistic. The music video is also performance based.
My conclusion of this music video is a very simple video allowing the band to sing
with emotion making the lyrics more realistic. The song is upbeat with a fast pace towards
the end and in the chorus. I have mentioned the relationship between the lyrics and the
visuals and also between the music and visuals. I personally really like the band, the song,
and the style of the music video. The video includes many of the characteristics of its
genre as I have pointed out earlier. This song and music video would appeal to teenagers
and young adults as its more upbeat and dance pop. I think the video is successful and
really promotes the band and there new song.
Lyrics
Praying won't do it
Hating won't do it
Drinking won't do it
Fighting won't knock you out
Of my head
Hiding won't hide it
Smiling won't hide it
Like I ain't tried it
Everyone's tried it now
And failed somehow
So when you gonna let me
When you gonna let me out - Out
And if you know
How do you get up from an all time low
I'm in pieces
Seems like peace is
The only thing I'll never know
How do you get up
Get up
‘Cos driving won't do it
Flying won't do it
Denying won't do it
Crying won't drown it out
What you said
When I'm standing on the yellow line
Waiting at the station
Or I'm late for work
A vital presentation
If you call me now girl
Without reservation
I would try to break through
But if you know
How do you get up from an all time low
I'm in pieces
It seems like peace is
The only thing I never know
How do you get up from an all time low
I can't even find a place to start
How do I choose between my head and heart

3. Rebecca Gooch
Till it ceases I never know
How do you get up from an all time low
A low, (repeat)
Can you hear me
A low (repeat)
Can't you hear me
And if you know…
Repeat chorus