Task 2 - 'The Prodigy - Omen' and 'Pendulum - Slam' music video comparison

Both songs are very similar and appeal to the same kind of audience, the genre of the songs are a mix between 'dance and drum and bass'. However the music videos to the songs are completely different from one and other. One uses comedy and the other uses the bands performance.

There are a few conventions within The Prodigy's music video for their song 'Omen', for example there is lots of flashing lights and lots of people doing fast pace dancing. It also shows the group dancing as they do in many of their music videos. However the music video for Pendulums 'Slam' does not really have any conventions in it apart from someone dancing to the music.

For both video there isn't really many links between the visuals and lyrics, for example, during The Prodigys music video it refers to an omen, and the visuals show a kind of possessed little girl. apart from one moment in the Pendulum video, when the lyrics say 'were marooned on a small island', the visuals show a man sitting alone on a small round monument.

There are a lot of links between the visuals and the music in The Prodigy's video, and there are also a few links in the Pendulum video. For example, in The Prodigy's video before the music drops, there is no quick shots and no flashing lights, but then when music does drop there are lots of quick shots and cuts, as well as a lot of different lights flashing with the tune. As well as that, when, for example, the drums are heard it shows the person playing the drums, it does this for the majority of the instruments and singer. In Pendulums video, at the beginning when the narrator is talking it just shows the man walking around like an everyday person, but then when the music begins, there are also quick cuts and shots that go with the drums in the music, and then the man dances to it.

During The Prodigy music video the focus is mainly on the band performing at a gig, and doing a lot of dancing, so this shows that they like party and that their performances are very hardcore. However, during Pendulums music video does show the performance of the group, but, it does show the group walking out to watch the man dancing. Also, when the man puts the CD in the stereo, it shows the groups album cover and on the disc it has their name Pendulum on and the name of the track Slam. This will appeal to the audience of this group as the video shows that you can just lose it and dance, so fans will buy the album for that reason.

I could not find any pieces of intertextuality in Pendulums music video, on the other hand, there is some form of intertextuality in The Prodigy's music video, for example the title of the track is called Omen and at the beginning and end of the music video, there is a small girl you might see in a horror film such as, the omen or the shining.

In conclusion, both tracks sound the same but the music videos for them are completely different. The Prodigy have gone for a video showing their performance and displaying what the band are like. Where as Pendulum have chosen to do a more humorous video but at the same time advertising their album. However both groups contain some dancing in it which really, is the only similarity when it comes to the music videos.