Analysis of Lyrics

ANALYSIS OF LYRICSThe music video Centipede by Knife Party is a narrative as the song has only a few lyrics to it. At the beginning of the music video there is a narrator that tells facts about the actual centipede insect. “Giant tropical centipedes share their territories with tarantulas. Despite it's impressive length, it's a nimble navigator, and some can be highly venomous. As quick as lightning, just like the tarantula it's killing, the centipede has two curved hollow fangs which inject paralyzing venom. Even tarantulas aren't immune from an ambush. This centipede is a predator...” These are the only lyrics that are in a sentence structure throughout the music video. Whilst this is being said in the music video they begin to introduce the main character of the narrative with quick shadows of moving centipedes in the background and around him. Also the main characters face is never shown throughout the introducing speech. Below I have taken screen shots at different moments through out the introduction to show how the dark effect works well with the lyrics as they are talking about dark and sinister facts about the centipede. At the end of the introduction the music begins to build and the character shows the mirror in which he uses to see the centipedes out of and the shadows of the centipedes being to run away and disappear.

The use of only having dark images and effects with shadows, smoke and reflection works really well with the beginning introduction as it helps to meet the expectation of the music video to go with the song which the audience will expect. Also whilst the lyrics are being said there are no centipedes until the build up of music; this works really well and compliments the music video by causing suspension and as in the beginning they start by saying “Giant tropical centipedes” this makes the audience expect large insects to fit with the theme of the music video so far.

ANALYSIS OF LYRICSAnother lyrics that is used throughout the duration of the music video is just the word centipede alone. Every time this word is used the camera focus’ on a specific image which I relevant to the section of the music video each time. This works well with the music video as it helps the audience to focus more on the beat of the music with the music video causing suspense and greater interest. Below I have taken screenshots of the images each time the word ‘centipede’ is used.