The document analyzes the music video for "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers. It finds: 1) The video establishes a relationship between the music and visuals, showing the band playing in sync with the song, and tells a narrative of a love triangle matching the song's lyrics. 2) The lyrics about a love triangle are directly illustrated by the video's plot of two men vying for a woman. 3) The video has intertextual references to films like Moulin Rouge in its story and costumes that make it unique.

1. The Killers – Mr. Brightside
Analysis for Goodwin’s features and audience
Joe Hindmarch

2. Relationship between the music and
the visuals
• There is a relationship between the music and
the visuals with lots of shots of the band playing
in time with the music. There is also a narrative of
a love-triangle to go with performance shots of
the band. This is a very common feature of Indie
and Rock music videos in particular and Goodwin
identifies this as a common feature.

3. Relationship between the lyrics and
the video
• The lyrics of the song are represented in the video. It is
more the story the lyrics that is being illustrated.
• The video and lyrics tell the story of two men and a woman
in a love triangle, played by Eric Roberts, Izabella Miko and
lead singer Brandon Flower.
• This mirrors the lyrics story of how the singer’s girlfriend is
with another man because he kissed another girl. “Jealousy
turning snakes into the sea” lyrics reflect this.
• The artist turns a realistic problem into a more artistic and
abstract concept, making the video more interesting and
unique. This also supports Goodwin’s theory that there is a
relationship between the lyrics and the visuals.

4. Particular music videos may have their
own style or iconography
• The particular style being represented in this
music video is very unique, being set within
the context of a Burlesque show.

5. Close ups of the main artist or vocalist
• The majority of camera shots that focus on
the band are close ups and medium close ups
of the lead singer.
• This is most likely due to the popularity of the
lead singer and the “face” he creates for the
band.

6. Reference to Voyeurism
• There are some references to voyeurism in the music
video. The main girl appears to be displayed as a
prostitute and being controlled by the other man.
There are shots of the girl lifting up her skirt for other
men’s viewing, showing the voyeuristic side of men as
they observe women as an object of pleasure.

7. Intertextual references
• The story line of the music video is
very similar to the film Moulin
Rouge, in terms of the storyline
consisting of a love triangle. It is also
similar to Moulin Rouge in the mise-
en-scene and costume.
• There are also references to Snow
White – with the red apple
symbolising poison and the biblical
story of Adam and Eve with the apple
causing the destruction as a result of
temptation. In the ‘Mr. Brightside’
video, the older man chucks the apple
towards the woman, making her sleep
with other men as a result of the
apple’s symbolism.

8. Audience
This screenshot of the viewing details
for ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers
shows that it is most popular with
Females age 13-17 and Males aged 18-
24.
It also shows that the video is most
popular in the UK and some parts of
America.
The video became most popular when
it is was able to be found when ‘First
referral from YouTube searchers’ for
‘The Killers’