Music Video Analysis

The video for Uprising, by Muse, has many of the characteristics of the rock music genre. A large part of the video is taken up by the band performing the song. This is typical to rock videos. There is also a small narrative, involving giant Teddy Bears that rise up and begin to destroy the city. The explosions and flying sparks are also visuals you can find in many rock videos. These fly across the screen in slow-motion, which gives the song, along with the video, an epic feel.

The bears are matching the lyric in the song ‘rise up and take the power back’, as they take control of the city. This shows that the lyrics connect to the visuals. Something that also connects to the visuals, this time the explosions and glass smashes, is the music. The glass smashing only occurs in time with the drum beat, while the explosions start when the chorus of the song beings.

Because the record label requires shots of the band or artist to sell the product, close-up shots of the lead singer, the drums being played and the guitarists guitar are all included in the video. Some of the motifs that run though Muse’s video, are also in this video. The use of explosions is common in Muse videos, as is their unusual costumes. These help the record label, and the band, have a clear and unique image, so you can tell that you are watching a Muse video.

The video has a clear intertextual reference to monster movies, such as Godzilla (Honda), King Kong (Cooper & Schoedsack, 1933) and Cloverfield (Reeves, 2008). The bears are destroying the city, much like monsters from monster movies. By using teddy bears, something that is not very monster-like, instead of monsters, the video creates a unique twist on a classic story.