One of the first shots we see establishes the scene. We see the road filled with cars stuck in traffic. This is the first sign of people being stuck in the same position which links to the lyrics which describe everyone going through pain at some point in their lives. It also implies that the song relates to lots of people, not just one particular group. This is developed later on in the video when we see shots of people of all different ages and
At the start of the song we see shots of
the band members in a car. This is key to the music video because its prime
purpose is to publicise the band as well as their song. We are only shown shots
of the sides of their faces, shots of their backs and the side of their bodies. This
makes them seem undistinguishable and therefore more relatable for people
watching the video. It makes them seem like ordinary people and allows the
audience to empathise with them and the situation they are in. It also makes the video enigmatic since we don't see a clear shot of their faces since they are always looking away. This makes the audience question why the band are in the car and what message they are trying to deliver since it seems as if they are keeping something hidden.
Throughout the video we are shown
various shots of lots of different people, accompanied by a subtitle
which gives an insight into how they are feeling at that moment. All of these
individual narratives are very different and vary in sincerity. The mixture of serious and humorous messages such as 'They're going to miss me' and 'Stop singing. Stop singing. Stop singing,' keeps the audience captivated since it creates an interest in the rest of the stories to follow. This interest in the narrative is effective because it makes the song more likeable and popular, therefore increasing sales and popularising the artist. The music video
depicts a very diverse group of people – old, young, male, female, religious,
different ethnicity – this makes is relatable to almost anyone who watches it.
The more people can relate to it, the more interest they will pay to the video
and therefore also to the song itself and the band.
When the lead singer begins to sing in
the video, his performance becomes part of the narrative and everyone leaves
their cars and decides to walk together. This represents their unity and links
to the repetition of the word “everybody” in the lyrics. At this point the
shots become much shorter and change more frequently to fit with the increase
in tempo and to emphasise the climax of the narrative.
Religious iconography is key to this
music video. The symbols subtly appear all the way through the video like a
figure of Jesus in the back of the car, the man ripping pages out of a bible up
on the bridge, and the shot of the lead singer lying on the car in a crucifix
position. All of these symbols, along with the lyrics of “hold on” indicate
that the overall message is that people should struggle through the pain but God
is with them and will reward them. Because these symbols are so subtle it could
mean that R.E.M are trying to make the point that God’s presence isn’t always
obvious but he is always there regardless. Alternatively, it could be suggesting that people should seek support from others around them since everyone is suffering in their own way.
The narrative subtitles alongside
shots of people helps to create the individual stories which feature in the
narrative of this music video. Each person that we see a shot of has only one
line to tell their story. This means that there was time to include lots of
different characters and show the varying causes of grief and pain. This is
effective because it means the video doesn't get boring and the audience are
kept interested for the entire song.
The final part of the music video is
a news report. The music has stopped and the report is showing the queue of
cars that have been left on the road. It adds a sense of reality to the music
video, making the situation seem like something that could actually happen. It
also suggests that if people join together and unite then they can have a huge
effect and make an impact on the world around them.
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