The 'Stressed Out' song has had some incredible success. They won their first Grammy for "Best Pop Duo/Group Performance" with 'Stressed Out' and Blurryface (The name of the album which 'Stressed Out' featured in) has been officially certified a platinum album.
As of June 2017, a total of 66 videos have exceeded one billion views, 12 of which have exceeded two billion views. And Twenty One Pilots are part of those 66. 'Stressed Out' has also had over 764 million listens on Spotify.
Narrative and Theme
The video tells the story of two childhood friends spending a normal day together by going to each others houses and doing what they enjoy - singing and playing music. All technical aspects of the music video help establish this narrative in the music video. The music video also shows a narrative of people growing up what seems to be over a very small time scale. This is shown in the music video when the video cuts to them and their families in the white background set. This part of the video shows them being judged for not living a normal life, having a normal career and not acting the same as everyone else.
Although the music video creates quite a normal and relatively simple narrative it definitely helps to further promote the lyrics of the song. The genre of this song is Hip-Hop/Rap and Rock. The institution behind this song is "Fueled by Ramen". The person who wrote the song was Tyler Joseph and the lead producer of the music video was Mike Elizondo.
Although the music video creates quite a normal and relatively simple narrative it definitely helps to further promote the lyrics of the song. The genre of this song is Hip-Hop/Rap and Rock. The institution behind this song is "Fueled by Ramen". The person who wrote the song was Tyler Joseph and the lead producer of the music video was Mike Elizondo.
The editing in this music video isn't very complicated as it is slow paced during the verses and fast paced during the chorus or, in other words, it follows the tempo of the song. This helps make the song and the video seem part of each other which helps to promote the ideas that the song is attempting to put across. This simplistic editing can signify how the characters of the children have quite simple lives as they don't have to worry about things that adults do.
There isn't much diegetic sound if any at all in the music video other than when the music stops and the two main characters of the music video do a secret handshake outside the house. The diegetic sound along with the sound helps to promote the idea they are children as a secret handshake is a rather immature and childish thing to do.
Just after a minute of the video passes there are some quick jump cuts which is done to add excitement. This is done to match the song and to show a lot in a few small moments may mean it contributes to the story that is being told.
Furthermore, at the end of the video, it begins to fade out and the camera moves away from the main character, this is done just like how the beginning was filmed.
The mise-en-scene in this music video plays a big part in linking the songs lyrics to the music video. The setting of the majority of the music video is in suburban America which is shown instantly whilst the singer is riding the big wheel. It is also shown whilst they are in the houses there is quite dated furniture and a family friendly environment.
The lighting in the video was quite effective in setting the suburban scene, especially in the house as the lighting is warm and looks very natural. This helps create the feeling that the children characters are secure and don't have to worry which is contrasted when it cuts to the white and well lit setting as the two band members are then adults and are in a harsher environment.
The costumes of both the band members are a contrast. The clothes the characters are wearing aren't aren't what a child would wear which shows how this is them looking back at their childhood as adults.
Furthermore, as the singer is on the tricycle the black on his neck and hands shows his insecurities.
The use of the colour red on the houses and the clothing on the characters attire connotes danger but also connotes passion. Furthermore, due to the colours in the shot, it is also done to make the musician stand out and show that he is the main character. The low angle shot also shows confidence and that possibly throughout, the musician has grown up a little.
There are some aspects of the music video where the is some script written down. This is done so that the music continues to play and there isn't any pauses for any reason.
Moreover, as the camera cuts back to the house, the audience can see that there are no outfit changes and because the outfits they are wearing a similar, it shows that they are united in a band.
Once again , the colour red is shown, this is done in order to connote danger and passion.
CameraThe use of the colour red on the houses and the clothing on the characters attire connotes danger but also connotes passion. Furthermore, due to the colours in the shot, it is also done to make the musician stand out and show that he is the main character. The low angle shot also shows confidence and that possibly throughout, the musician has grown up a little.
There are some aspects of the music video where the is some script written down. This is done so that the music continues to play and there isn't any pauses for any reason.
Moreover, as the camera cuts back to the house, the audience can see that there are no outfit changes and because the outfits they are wearing a similar, it shows that they are united in a band.
Once again , the colour red is shown, this is done in order to connote danger and passion.
These photos and trophies on the mantle piece are used to show that they had a generic family life and they grew up living normal lives.
The red contact lenses on the black background adds real connotations of danger, plus due to the fact its on a dark background, the colour red stands out more. I feel that this may be some sort of alter ego talking or possibly his conscience. It was known that this album which this song involves has symbols of mental weakness and therefore I feel this is what it may be.
The camera movement in this music video is quite unstable, wobbly and are nearly all handheld shots. The shots in the white setting are a lot more stable and are tripod shots. The instability in the shots when they are children connotes how they are able to be unstable and do what they are free to do. The stable shots when they are adults represents how they are expected to be stable as adults and cannot do what they want if it is going to disrupt that. Furthermore, it shows things such as their strength has developed as well. This may be mental as well as physical strength.
The tracking shots as they are on the big wheels signifies how they as children are free to move around and don't have to worry as other people are making sure they are safe and comfortable which is contrasted by the very static shots as they are are adults because they are again expected to be stable, confident and strong.
The close up on the as the singer speaks shows the audience who is speaking. As he sings longer the shot sticks with him as it represents his passions through what he is saying.
The outfit that he is wearing does however contradict the stereotype of the suburban lifestyle. However, I feel that he has done this on purpose as he wants to stand out and tell the audience that maybe he isn't someone who lives in the suburbs etc and therefore he is more of a big time person living in the main roads as he is a rapper he is deemed important.
The static positions that they adopt when they are in the studio room about to sing builds up tension for the audience. Furthermore, the name on the drums in this same scene is also used for emphasis to represent who the audience is listening to.
Furthermore, around 1:50 of the music video there are very simplistic shots, I believe that this is done in order to connect to the audience and not to seem over dramatic.
The close up on the as the singer speaks shows the audience who is speaking. As he sings longer the shot sticks with him as it represents his passions through what he is saying.
The outfit that he is wearing does however contradict the stereotype of the suburban lifestyle. However, I feel that he has done this on purpose as he wants to stand out and tell the audience that maybe he isn't someone who lives in the suburbs etc and therefore he is more of a big time person living in the main roads as he is a rapper he is deemed important.
The static positions that they adopt when they are in the studio room about to sing builds up tension for the audience. Furthermore, the name on the drums in this same scene is also used for emphasis to represent who the audience is listening to.
Furthermore, around 1:50 of the music video there are very simplistic shots, I believe that this is done in order to connect to the audience and not to seem over dramatic.
These shots from the music video are here and they are used to represent the previous album.
Due to the fact that this is shot is continuous, it builds tension for the remainder of the music video.
Audience
In my opinion, the audience for this song is in the target audience of teenagers aged between 14-19. However, some of these lyrics may target some people aged around 25-30. Therefore, in my opinion, the audience for this film is very wide spread however, the primary audience is between 14 and 30. This is targeted to this sort of audience because of how much the lyrics relate to them, it will remind them of their early childhood and what they used to do, although it may not relate in the same way that they did music, it may be something else such as playing video games together, playing football together or something else. Furthermore, there is a part in the music video where there is a teenager sat in the bedroom nodding along as the music plays and therefore, this is another reason as to who it would be aimed at - generic teenagers.
Representation
As previously mentioned, the characters are represented as children throughout the start as they are going round each others houses and playing music together and how they sit on the curb of the road and drink their drinks. However, as they are surrounded by their family it seems like they are not children anymore and therefore their characters have changed into adults. I believe that my music video will be similar to this one on terms of the how the characters are portrayed.
According to online sources the stressed out music video was filmed at Josh Dun's (One of the two musicians in the Twenty One Pilots duo) childhood home which was in Ohio.
In my opinion, the audience for this song is in the target audience of teenagers aged between 14-19. However, some of these lyrics may target some people aged around 25-30. Therefore, in my opinion, the audience for this film is very wide spread however, the primary audience is between 14 and 30. This is targeted to this sort of audience because of how much the lyrics relate to them, it will remind them of their early childhood and what they used to do, although it may not relate in the same way that they did music, it may be something else such as playing video games together, playing football together or something else. Furthermore, there is a part in the music video where there is a teenager sat in the bedroom nodding along as the music plays and therefore, this is another reason as to who it would be aimed at - generic teenagers.
As previously mentioned, the characters are represented as children throughout the start as they are going round each others houses and playing music together and how they sit on the curb of the road and drink their drinks. However, as they are surrounded by their family it seems like they are not children anymore and therefore their characters have changed into adults. I believe that my music video will be similar to this one on terms of the how the characters are portrayed.
According to online sources the stressed out music video was filmed at Josh Dun's (One of the two musicians in the Twenty One Pilots duo) childhood home which was in Ohio.
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