Music video analysis: 'Just' by Radiohead

'Just' was written by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and was directed by Jamie Thraves, who was handpicked by the band for this video. Yorke wrote the song about a narcissistic friend of his which, upon later, inspection is mirrored in the imagery of the lyrics. The song fits into the alternative pop genre and the video helps to enforce its place there. The video follows a middle aged man having a bath and appearing to be on his way to work, when he suddenly lies down in the middle of the street. 

After tripping over a passer by, a crowd starts to gather around him and persist in asking him what he is doing, thinking that something must be wrong with him. The narrative is intercepted by shots of the band performing the song, but also paying attention to the man in the street. A conversation occurs between the man and the crowd of people, shown in the video through subtitles, yet he is reluctant to tell them why he is lying there. The man finally gives in and says "yes i'll tell you, i'll tell you why i'm lying here... but god forgive me... and god help us all... because you don't know what you ask of me." The camera then zooms in on the mans mouth but the subtitles disappear and the reason is not revealed to the viewer. The camera pans out and we see the crowd of people lying on the ground just like the man. 

The video intends to gain a mixed reaction from the viewer. The fact that we are unaware of who this man is and why he is lying down creates a sense of enigma; which would intice an audience. However the lyrics of the song help us to create a character profile of the man by saying, "Can't get the stink off, he's been hanging round for days" creating an image of a particularly lonely man. However the lyric "You do it to yourself, you do" being repeated several times throughout the song also may cause the viewer to think he deserves what is happening to him, as he brings it on himself.  The genre characteristics demonstrated in this video convey the ideas of Andrew Goodwin's analysis (Dancing in the distraction factory, 1992). 

The brief shots of the band playing the song show both the performance as well as the narrative aspect to the video. There is not a variety of exciting shots used in this video, however this is effective in creating the mystery of the narrative. The simple edits enforce the normality of the character. The visuals along with the lyrics are seen somewhat as a reflection on todays society. The conformity of the crowd at the end of the video suggest this is what the band think of the public today, and the mystery of the man's reason also imply how they feel we are kept in the dark and not told the truth about certain things. The performance aspect of the video is crucial when discussing Andrew Goodwin's analysis (Dancing in the distraction factory, 1992), where the demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist. This is clearly displayed throughout this video. 

The mise-en-scene, edits and shots are not particularly exciting yet they are effective in reflecting the story this song is trying to tell. The costume is basic and all characters are dressed the same emphasising the normality of these people and how they are all alike in some way. Radiohead are well known for making controversial videos that stimulate and engage the mind, and this one is no exception. The simplicity of the lyrics are also mirrored in the visuals; a lot of the lyrics are repeated, as are many of the shots, however the video is still engaging and very popular, as is the song.

There is a clear relationship between the lyrics and the narrative, which are amplified throughout the video, as Andrew Goodwin's analysis states should be. The video is extremely popular and the song if one of Radiohead's biggest hits to date. The simple yet effective concept of the video match the lyrics and the visuals perfectly.