Applying Goodwins theory to The Killers-When you were young

  When you were young by The Killers demonstrates Goodwins theory in various ways. Firstly as Goodwin suggests that genres of music have their own conventions, The Killers, being a rock band, follow the typical conventions of a rock band, as although the video involves a narrative, the band are still shown performing, typical of a rock music video. They are also seen with instruments, which too is conventional. The fact that the characters in the video and the band themselves are not dressed particularly smartly and some of the male stars have facial hair also adds to this, as they are quite unpolished looking, which is conventional for the rock genre, compared to the pop music genre where all the characters are seen as quite clean cut.
    There is also a very obvious link between the lyrics and visuals in the music video. For example the chorus mentions Jesus, and the whole video includes religious settings, the church, religious props, the rosary beads, candles, the crosses, and also the protagonist praying.  The lyrics also fit with the setting, as they refer to a mountain as the characters are sat on what appears to be the top of a mountain. It is as though the lyrics are narrating the story of the two characters.
    The link between the music and visual is too shown, as the music slows down the characters are seen arguing and facing some sort of dilemma. As the music picks back up the characters are seen happy at what appears to be their wedding. The visuals are unhappy and problematic as the music gets to the slowest part, and are then happy and quick as the music builds up tempo.
  There are also many close ups of not only the band themselves as they fit into the narrative very cleverly, as they are performing at the pub the main characters are seen in. The lead singer of the killers is emphasised the most, however the other band members are too shown, highlighting the fact that they are a well known band and so the audience can recognise them.
   Although rock bands are not usually known for sexuality women as much as R'n'B groups for example, there is still references to the female body and the female character. For example, as the protagonist is washing herself you see the male role staring at her seductively and the camera zooms into particular areas of her body in slow motion for example her legs. Also when the male is seen sleeping with another women, we are shown it quite explicitly and arguably unnecessarily, as the audience do not need to see as much of the scene to understand what the characters are doing, yet the director chooses to show it.

  Lastly, although there is not a great deal of intertextual reference, there is an ongoing referral to the idea of religion and Jesus throughout the video. These combined would support Goodwins theory, as all 6 of Goodwins point can be analysed and applied to this particular music video.