Music Video Analysis

"Animals" - Maroon 5

The music video for Maroon 5's song "Animals" is a combination of a narrative and a performance video. The story that the song depicts has been re-imagined for the video, as it follows a woman as she is stalked by a man portrayed by lead singer Adam Levine. The song itself seems to be about an intense sexual relationship that may have broken off, but goes on to imply that neither of the two involved will be able to stay away. The video has reinterpreted this narrative to where it is a man obsessed with a woman whom he does not personally know, fantasizing and following her wherever she goes, even watching her while she sleeps. Though the plot follows a fictional story line, there are some shots of  Maroon 5 preforming in the club that the man and woman are both at.

The visual concept for this video uses dark, high contrast lighting and cool colors, with red appearing in almost every scene. The repetition of the red helps to bring unity throughout the video, as well as to imply the carnal nature of the man. Often depicting blood, the red can be blatantly obvious, or it may not be as noticeable, such as a soft red glow from neon lights. It is interesting to note that the scenes which depict only Adam Levine are continuously cool and disturbing, while the scenes with the woman seem to be softer, with slightly warmer lighting and more natural coloring. This is done to underscore and contrast their differences; her innocence and his insanity.

One of the key scenes is when Adam Levine is in the meat locker, obsessing over the woman and becoming increasingly aggressive. The harsh lighting is created by using flickering fluorescent lights and steel walls, and the color seems dull. The entire scene appears washed out aside from the deep red blood that is dripping and splattered around. The shots cut quickly, which can be disorienting, but help to emphasize the insanity that is being portrayed. There are moments where the camera is static, and others that move with Adam or his motions. Another scene that stands out is a conceptual one in which a man and a woman are embracing in the nude. There is nothing but a gray backdrop, lighting up more than the figures themselves. The two individuals are centered and the shots come closer each time, eventually casting the two into complete shadows while the backdrop is lit up. Blood then pours upon the two, and the shots quickly cut between one another, changing camera angles each time. The two become completely covered in blood and it drips from above the camera. All this helps to create an uncomfortable and disturbing view of the subjects, highlighting the sensuous yet threatening nature that the video is trying to depict.