The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

The Verve, Bitter Sweet Symphony

This is the official music video for the song "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve. The song was released in 1997. The concept of this music video is relativly simple. It features the lead singer, singing whilst walking down a busy street. The singer seems to be looked down upon by the members of the public in the video. He often bumps into them and never changes his direction. The main character is very scruffy and dirty, but looks in place on the old and rough street. The mise-en-scene is very interesting and overall gives a cold and dark feeling to the video. This is done through the lack of lighting and editing afterwards making the video look colder and darker than it was shot in. The camera angles are very simple and almost always show the singer walking towards the camera. This shows that the video was probably shot on a proffesional dolly, a tripod with wheels travelling the same speed as the singer is walking. A variety of differant shots are used so that the viewer doesn't get bored with the same shot repetitive main shot. There are often close-ups of the characters face, walking feet, first person shots from the characters perspective and also shots of the other people on the street. I have also noticed that there is a small section of silence with visuals before the music starts, this is something i am also hoping to include in my production. The video also shows a journey, this is something i am hoping to implement into my music video. I have always thought of the song as a cheerful song, but the video shows otherwise. 

Overall I think the video is very simple which could easily be replicated with some camera equipment. However i think that it is slightly boring and isn't quite as good as the song. I have always thought of the song as a cheerful song, but the video shows otherwise.