Music Video Analysis - In Too Deep

Goodwin’s Music Video Analysis

Sum 41 – Pop Punk Music

The early 2000’s were an era for pop punk, as teenagers around the world related to the rebelliousness that the type of music portrays in the music videos. This is also relatable to bands such as Sum 41, and their song ‘In Too Deep’ which is still often played today. The rebelliousness of the band is in theory what drew the audience in and it portrays itself in the music video as well.

• The characteristics of a pop punk music video are simply…
• ·         Particularly All Male Band
• ·         Rebelling against the stereotypes
• ·         Live Band playing
• ·         Doesn’t always have a link to the song
• ·         Large area of people

The music video ‘In Too Deep’ ticks almost every single one of the characteristics to the pop punk music videos codes and conventions, there are multiple moments during the music video where you can see the rebellious attitude come off of the band members, and while there is a more closer link to the song itself and the music video, there aren’t many moments when this link is clearly visible, and may even only spot it if you are paying close attention.

One of the biggest links between the music video and song are during the chorus, as its more than obvious they’re in a pool, while they do a live performance, and the camera quickly switches to them diving into a pool during a diving competition, the lyrics ‘Cause I'm in too deep, and I'm trying to keep, Up above in my head, instead of going under.’ Obviously relates to the idea that they’re too deep within the pool, or they’re getting deeper, which is why they are trying to keep their head up above. In the music video they are also in an empty pool near the shallow end, and diving off the boards.

‘Just as things were looking up, you said it wasn't good enough. But still we're trying one more time.’  This line is a link to the music video as when they arrive at the swimming pool, the crowd was cheering for them. This relates to the line ‘Just as things were looking up’ as the crowd was cheering for the, the line ‘you said it wasn’t good enough. But still we’re trying one more time,’ in the music video the other swim team was being booed and they were putting down Sum 41, so more or less the band is trying one more time to rise above.

The last line that relates to the music video is ‘because I'm bending over backwards to relate.’ This line links to the music video as when the band sings in, one of the members is also doing a back flip off the diving board, bending his back, linking it to the music video.

During the music video, it’s set up almost identical to All the Small Things, by Blink 182.  During the music video there is a lot of close up’s of the lead singer mainly to show the emotion on his face and to add to the rebelliousness of the band itself within the music video, there is also a lot shots of the band when doing a live performance in the pool, just like Blink 182 when they’re in the airport, there are also close up’s of the band when they’re diving off of the board.

By Danniella Chapman