The Hives

‘Hate to say I told you so’

Camera Work

The main shot used in the video for ‘hate to say I told you so’ appears to be a long shot of the band all together performing in a room with blank white walls.

However, the video often cuts away to individual members as they are performing, particularly the lead singer showing his emotions and expressions.

On most cutways of band members individually performing there is often a reflection in the shot, whereas when it cuts to the lead singer there is always a sort of out of focus/camera shake effect that has been created, which made me think of a flashback, as if the artist has been shot to re-create a flashback or a memory. This could then link with the lyrics of the song, as if it is personal to the singer.

Editing

• Editing wise the video is fairly simple, and is mainly made up of 3 or 4 longshots of the band performing cutting between one another, and then the odd cutaway to a shot of a single band member performing alone.

• However there is one specific section in the video which I found particularly interesting (2.10) when everyone except the lead vocalist/lead guitarist appears to be frozen, whilst the vocalist/guitarist carry on performing.

Band members appearing to ‘freeze’

Mise en scene

• Once again, the members of The Hives are presented to the audience dressed in formal clothes, perhaps more so in this video then any others. All the members are dressed in white shirts, black jackets and black formal trousers.

• Location wise, the band are seen to be performing in an empty room with blank white walls again, like in the video for ‘Wait a minute’ I think they do this to emphasise the members and ensure they are the focal point, that full attention is on them. The contrast in colour between the walls and the band members’ clothing also helps to make the members stand out and be ‘important’ in the video.