it's not living
(if it's not with you)
THE 1975
OVERVIEW
It's Not Living (If It's Not With You) is a single by the English pop (lowkey indie) rock band, The 1975, from their third studio album released in 2018, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. The song has a trademark The-1975-vibe with an amalgamation of elements from different genre, mainly electropop and pop-rock, also making use of synthesisers and so, falling into the synthpop category as well.
It was written by all four members of the band and produced by Matthew and George.
TYPE OF MUSIC VIDEO
Standard Pattern
The music video shows several interpretive and surreal elements, making use of symbolism at many points throughout the video that all tie back to the main concept of battling with drug addiction and withdrawal.
Conceptual:
TYPE OF MUSIC VIDEO
Standard Pattern
Narrative:
The narrative element in the video, however vague, still appears to be present, such as seen by the end that the whole music video had just been Matty's dream.
The band is seen performing throughout most of the music video in a fixed set, as per their usual roles - Matty (who also plays the video's main character) as the main vocalist, Adam and Ross as the lead and bass guitarists and George as the drummer - as well as keyboardists (that word seems made up) Amber and No Rome, who aren't part of the band, as well as choir members.
Performance:
Codes
AND
CONVENTIONS
SYMBOLIC CODES
SYMBOLISM
Clocks:
We normally tend to be grounded into reality and in the "present" due to our own construction of time, to make it all appear linear and in a structured form. The array of alarm clocks of different sizes, each showing a different time, represents the loss of his grasp on time and hence loss of touch with reality. This could perhaps be why we see him waking up twice.
Most of the video contains imagery that symbolically and also straightforwardly
represents withdrawal symptoms that a drug addict experiences.
This may indicate the feeling that he's not being heard or is unable to voice his thoughts, as Matty has also said in an interview that "there’s been a real reluctance for [him] to talk about it". He also seems to be disappearing into
Dysmorphia
the ground, which could symbolise sudden reduction in self esteem and importance. It could also suggest momentary body dysmorphia in the way that one suddenly believes there to be something wrong with their appearance, even if other people don't see it.
Perceptual disturbances:
These include nightmares, hallucinations, illusions and other similar disturbances in interpreting surroundings.
The hallucinations included the one of the performers suddenly having an identical twin. His reaction to this is just momentary confusion which indicates that he's used to seeing odd occurrences, perhaps not even realising that they're not true.
Pants being on fire is part of a popular rhyme that we've either heard or used as kids. It's basically used to mock someone who's lying. In this case, where Matty's pants are literally on fire, could show the sense of guilt he felt, either for being an addict or for not speaking about it. Drug addicts often feel as though they aren't being true or fair to others when they hide their problems with addiction.
Pants on fire
continued
The jumping into the water was a very unrealistic element because it just seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and disappeared after that as well since we don't see any trace of water in the rest of the video. Jumping into water is often known to represent making a decision or choice that affects your life. Considering that he jumps right after his pants catch fire, it may represent the common course of action taken by drug addicts to drown out any negative emotions: relapsing.
Dissociation is a symptom of certain mental illnesses, such as anxiety, which are commonly experienced by drug addicts. It is a mental state of feeling disconnected from your reality, thoughts, emotions or the world around you. People can experience a confusion with their own identity, for example feel as if their mind and body are separate and so feel that everything is an out-of-body experience. Feeling mentally dissociated might also include being physically present somewhere, but being completely mentally and emotionally present elsewhere and deliberately having to bring oneself back to the present.
Dissociation
The dancers still dancing while he was gone from the performance, might show how he feels that the world seems to carry on functioning normally with or without him. This is a common stressful thought that comes with anxiety, that one feels unable to keep up with the pace everyone else is moving at.
Dancers continuing to dance
Dream within a dream
Extremely vivid dreams are part of perceptual disturbances. They feel too realistic to be false, no matter how strange they seem later on.
There are four locations in total seen throughout the music video:
Mise en scene
Sets/Locations
2) Backstage dressing room
This is where Matty wakes up twice and is the most realistic setting. The room is made to look natural and almost mundane, with a couch, a table with several glasses, and instruments at the back, and is also well-lit
1) The bedroom
This is where Matty first wakes up at the beginning of the video. This was, without a doubt, a dream, or a more specifically a nightmare. The numerous alarm clocks and empty white rectangular frame add an uncanny feeling, along with the dark lighting, which is associated with the element of horror.
3) The stage/studio
This is where the performance takes place. This location is very dimly lit save for the spotlight on the performers and the band. The background is black and nothing around the stage can be clearly seen. This is where most of the video takes place. It may also represent the outside world, where he is constantly in fear of exposing himself, being judged or criticised, and other fears that accompany the effects of withdrawal.
4) Filming location for another music video
The setting completely changes to a bright, outdoor location where we see the filming for a previous music video taking place. This location, with its comparatively brighter colour palette could represent longing for a happier past and a form of escapism, but one that's still not satisfying.
Technical CODES
Medium-close up shots
These highlight the facial expressions and hence help convey the character's feelings and thoughts, which play a big part in this song and music video.
Technical CODES
Medium-wide shot
Wide shot
POV shot
Portrays the character's state of mind through his body language
Technical CODES
Symmetry
High angle
Low angle
Technical CODES
Cutting on action
Acts as an effective and appropriate transition from a nightmare to startling awake.
Theories
ANDREW GOODWIN
It's Not Living falls into indie Britpop and contemporary R&B genres. The music video contains elements that indicate these genres, for instance the video is mostly performance-based mixed with conceptual elements which is something very commonly observed in indie music videos. Also, like most indie videos, this one does not contain any voyeuristic elements or sexualisation of the artist, or even close-ups of the artist because indie artists usually do not have such a star image as mainstream pop artists.
Also, one characteristic of R&B videos is dim or faded lighting. This is also seen in most of the music video as the lighting in the locations is kept to a minimum, or is very mundane and monotonous.
Genre chracteristics
ANDREW GOODWIN
Relationship between lyrics and visuals
ANDREW GOODWIN
The music video is pretty relevant to the lyrics, depending on proper interpretation of the latter.
Most people (including me on my first listen) assumed it was a love song, as the title seems to suggest as well. However, the lyrics are actually about the artist's addiction and the way he can't stop thinking about taking them so he can feel less anxious and to avoid the effects of withdrawal ("And all I do, is sit and think about you", "you" being "drugs"). As mentioned previously, the video also shows his state of mind when he's undergoing withdrawal symptoms that are experienced by drug addicts.
His regret is also shows in the lyrics "If I knew what you'd do // Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes", in which he basically says that he should have paid more attention to the consequences his addiction could have had. He characterises all those harmful consequences ("collapse my veins", a direct reference to heroin which is an intravenous drug) being hidden under a guise of the good things ("wearing beautiful shoes") it seemed to bring him (calmness, relief, escape from reality).
Also, the first line of the bridge is where he directly addresses his symptoms ("Can't stop sweating or control my feet") which we have been seeing throughout the music video and ties it all down.
ANDREW GOODWIN
Relationship between music and visuals
ANDREW GOODWIN
A major thing to note in the relationship between the music and visuals in this music video is that the two are juxtaposed in a pretty paradoxical manner. We've seen that in the video, the character is constantly having to encounter disturbing experiences and thoughts - hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, nightmares etc. - and he is in a constant struggle with himself. Moreover, the overall mise en scene of the music video is pretty mundane specifically in terms of dim and monotonous lighting and dull color palettes.
In contrast to this, the music is very cheerful and appears to almost romanticising in a way, considering that if you didn't realise it was about drugs you would automatically presume it was about a lover and it would actually make sense. According to a top comment on youtube "this is the most upbeat song about drugs that I ever heard", which sums it all up pretty nicely.
Despite this, the pace of the music matches the events of the video, one obvious instance being at 4:38. The band is also seen performing through most of the video.
ANDREW GOODWIN
Notion of looking
ANDREW GOODWIN
The notion of looking is emphasised at certain points in the music video that are very noticeable by the audience. Firstly, when Matty first wakes up and looks into mirror. In this scene, which is actually a dream, the reflection he sees acts differently than him. The use of a mirror in terms of "looking" is reiterated when he suddenly feels that he can't talk, and looks at himself in the mirror as a way of reassurance.
Also, the notion of looking is used when the dancer splits into two and the twins turn to stare at the character (i.e. they stare at the camera) which may seem slightly uncomfortable or unsettling. This helps the audience understand the paranoia felt by the character.
ANDREW GOODWIN
Star Image
ANDREW GOODWIN
Since The 1975 is a lowkey indie band, there are no typical elements that highlight an artist's star image, for instance there is no voyeurism or even close ups of the artist. The artists aren't portrayed in an extravagant way or glorified as "idols".
The only aspect of the music video that creates a star image is the band seen performing for most of the video.
ANDREW GOODWIN
Intertextuality
ANDREW GOODWIN
This music video is a clear homage to the 1984 docu-film "Stop Making Sense", which is a movie capturing the concert performances of Talking Heads. Talking Heads was a popular American rock band formed in 1975 (coincidence? I think not). The documentary shows member David Byrne in an iconic white, oversized suit, which Matty is also seen wearing in It's Not Living. Also, the setting where the performance is taking place, and parts of the performance itself, are very similar to the one in the film.
ANDREW GOODWIN
Intertextuality
ANDREW GOODWIN
Another form of intertextuality is pastiche, which is what the artists do when they include the scene where Matty walks into the set of their previous music video, Sincerity is Scary. We actually see a sort of in-the-making clip of that music video, as we see the production crew and another Matty performing a scene from it.
Sven E Carlsson
Performance and conceptual
The music video has performance in the form of the band performing and lip-syncing to the song, as well as backup dancers. The concept, as previously discussed portrays drug addiction and the effects through symbolism.
Binary opposites
1) Sleep and waking
This is a theme that is presented throughout the video, with Matty waking up three times and the audience being left to interpret his stages of awakening and sleeping since the line between the two is pretty blurred.
2) Illusion/delusion and reality
This too is a recurring contrasting theme. The character's disturbed thoughts and unsettling emotional experiences are shown in realistic settings.
Conclusion
It's Not Living (If It's Not With You) is, in my opinion, an extremely well thought music video that presents the workings of a conflicted human mind as closely as possible. The video overall is very ambiguous, however it is done so deliberately, to portray the character's confusion.
Intertextual references to the production of their own music video was also a very unique technique which clearly showed how personal the whole narrative was to the artist themselves.