Analysing music promo - Coldplay - ''Every teardrop is a waterfall''

The extreme long shot of the city landscape sets the scene for the music video but it is cleverly juxtaposed by the watercolour drawing of the landscape as the mood shifts. The stop motion that follows keeps up with the high tempo which has just been set but it is also very clever as the camera pans across the wall to show the lead singer, Chris Martin, so people will instantly recognise it as a Coldplay song.

Because the lettering is colourful it reflects heavily on the song and it again contrasts with the damp warehouse. The stop motion creates an abstract vibe and the clothes that Chris Martin is wearing also mirror the song. The rule of thirds is utilised heavily throughout so the text and the band are in clear shot so there is very little blank space in the shot.



The quick, juddering shots and the vibrant colours once again create a motif of excitement and happiness which can be argued is a theme for the song and when watching the music video it instantly strikes you as something different and, because it is aesthetically pleasing and catches your eye, it can be popular simply because of the video rather than the song which is an important advertising tools.

Much like the previous two videos the entire band is in the video which shows that the video is about ‘togetherness’ because, for example, The Scientist shows Chris Martin alone and this is because the story and the song requires for him to be alone.

The pace of the video picks up in the second half when they enter a darkened room and this is represented by the glow in the dark graffiti, the quicker shots and the flashing effect. The graphic match where Chris Martin beats his chest shows the contrast (light) on his own and with the band (dark) and this is extremely effective.

The theme of paint running throughout the video really captures the meaning of ‘'Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’ as the paint gradually gets higher in quantity as the video reaches its end.
Overall, the song is extremely quick and it is matched by the quick editing. The angles and mise-en-scene lend to the fun nature of the video and the clever use of stop-motion sets the video apart from its competitors. Very clever editing.