Directed by Jamie Thraves
Overview of the video:
The video depicts Martin (lead singer) walking in reverse through a city, out into the suburbs and eventually the woods, picking up various pieces of a suit as he goes.
Upon arriving at his car, he gets in and passes out as his girlfriend, lying on the ground in front of the car, is shown reversely flying out of the car. The car backs out of the woods and through a broken barrier, which mends itself upon the car's passing. As the video closes, they are shown driving back up the road. It is revealed that Martin's girlfriend took off her seat belt prior to the car accident, leading to her death.
Genre characteristics – the genre of Coldplay music and of this song is the sub culture Brit pop, formed from alternative rock. The typical characteristics of their songs are about social concern, such as depression, loss or drug use. In the video it is evident that the characteristics portrayed are loss, with the lead singer having lost his love, and wishing to meet her again. “Let’s go back to the start” and “Oh tell me you love me” feature heavily within the song.
Relationship between lyrics and visuals – lyrics constantly say ‘Oh take me back to the start’, this ties in with the visuals with the video going backwards, seemingly taking the singer literally back to the start.
Relationship between music and visuals – the music is supported by a constant piano rift, which supports the fluid visuals. Other instruments such as classical guitars, drums and electric guitars are introduced throughout, supporting the complexity and dynamism of the visuals.
Close ups of artist – there are many close up shots of the lead singer, straight from the start, right up until the very end. Most shots are of the lead singer moving backwards, with the camera firmly orientated around his face.
Performance based or narrative based – performance based, the audience is drawn into the visuals on screen, rather than necessarily the lyrics (however the lyrics are very important!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWLpTKBFcU
Lyrics –
Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I've set you apart
Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start
Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads on the science apart
Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start
I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
Oh tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles
Chasing our tails
Coming back as we are
Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I’m going back to the start
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ah ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I've set you apart
Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start
Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads on the science apart
Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start
I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
Oh tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles
Chasing our tails
Coming back as we are
Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I’m going back to the start
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ah ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh
