R.E.M - Everybody Hurts Music Video Analysis

The representation of long strenuous days, hurting, and glum feeling is shown throughout the video, by the use of theon going traffic jam within this music video. It is a visual metaphor. Nobody likes being stuck in traffic and it can leave a tired, bored aching feeling in your stomach and can seem like such a long occurence. Which is why this is a really good visual metaphor to help represent the meaning of the song. Also a traffic jam can be an average day occurence which many people, all from different backgrounds can get them selves caught up in. This is important because the song is about reminding people that everybody faces struggles, hard and tricky times. Were not alone when we feel down, theres aother people going through the same thingswe can turn to. The different shot of individuals in their cars shows this through the representation of being stuck in traffic.

Many subtitles appear throughtout the video. one of which, the shot is showing a boy who looks trapped nehind a car window. Whilst this is in viewm at the bottom of the screen subtitles "they're all stuck" appear.this suggest that before the child has even faced adult life and begun, he is already facing restrictions which is being represented through the closed window, not opening for the child. This could be a simple restriction, like he's bored of traffic and just wants to go outside and play but he cant. This restriction seemed like a bug problem when you were younger and the end of the world.

Lyrics occasionally appear on screen also, throughout the video. This suggests that the lyrics are very important to the artist; he doesnt want the lyrics to be lost by the visuals. the general meaning of the song has a strong narrative and context, which is why the lyrics are so important to get the message across the artist is trying to portray. Even when times get tough, theres always a brighter end at the tunnel and that everybody goes through hard times. We shouldnt give up. "cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes" is an example of how this is shwon throughout the lyrics. The singer is basically saying that the video represents people as a collective.

The use of unknown actors connotes that the lyrics and meaning can be applied to anyone. every character we see is different ot he other. for example the woman stroking her car door at 0:42 seconds is contrasting to the large man behind the steering wheel of another car with his dog at 0:55. This shows they all have different lifestyles and backgrounds but can face the same day to day struggles and pains, such as a traffic jam.

The composure of the shots mirrors the feel of the music and the lyrics. The camera movements are smooth, suggesting to the viewer "keep calm". The cutting between shots also advocates this. Also, we see alot of the subject's backs, especially at the very begining. these shtos represent hidden feelings. Your hurting but your not necesarily sharing these feelings, you may feel people are turning there backs on you. It suggests lonliness.

At 2:17 it focuses on the cra door shutting as Micheal Stype
is getting out of the car. This connotes the closure the song is                  
trying to present. The lyrics are constantly repeating

 "everybody hurts" so dont feel alone.
The shot of the closing door is mimicking them letting go and
escaping their inner feelings and being prepared to share this
with the world. Michel is escaping the car, the traffic jam,
the dullness, and stepping out into the real world, the fresh air.
 This metaphor is being continued through the video.

The feeling of being alone is really pushed forward again at 2:51 with the subtitles of the lyrics appearing "you are not alone" with a single low angled shot of Micheal Stype. It's dark aroudn where he is, he's dressed in abig black coat creating a shadowy look about him. He's standing under a birdge which creates this feel of darkness, and before him from the use of shot we can see he's walking into light where the unnel comes to an end. He's stepping out of the dark and into the light.

When the enitre band has left the car, and the build up of tempo and power in the music has settled in, they are all standing on a high level. On a bridge, on a lorry and on the top of a car. This resembles them gaining the strength to up lift themselves and rise above all the worries, and not let the worries get on top of them. The height resembles their strength.


It's only towards the end of the music video, that we see Stype singing his lyrics. When he does, we see everybody getting out of their cars and start to march together, like their in it together and there going to get through it together. "Everybody" is now in the exact same position. I think waiting till the end to see him lip synchig his lyrics adds a great effect to the video, because this only starts happening when everybody is joining together. It's not like hes communciating to the viewers at this moment in time, he's actually communciating to the poeple in the video and he's calling them all together. Almost as a cry for help to everyone.

By all the subjects in the music video marching boldly and strongly down the street between the parked cars enforces that inner power you can find. If it showed them walking weakly or timidly down the street, it wouldnt connote the message correctly.

The bird’s eye view shot at the end is a great shot and portrays a great meaning. It starts off with just the traffic filled road, everything in standstill, a hectic clammed up situation, where everyone feels trapped. Then as the camera rises, two highway’s appear either side of the traffic filled road. This is symbolising how even though we go through struggles and hurts at stages in our life time there is always a way out, and on the other side things are better. This is being shown through the uses of roads. The traffic filled road is showing the hurt and troubled times in your life, then the two roads with freely travelling cars and clear spaces is resembling the happy and free times we go through and can get back to after working through the struggle. This shot shows that if you think of the world as a whole, and don’t get to caught up in what’s happing right now and think of the bigger picture, there’s a way through and you will eventually get out of the traffic jam and reach the roads that are clear and free and easy to drive down, even if you cant see them from where you are.

The mise en scene throughout the video works really well. The costumes that R.E.M are wearing are dull black suits, which don’t really resemble emotion. If it’s any emotion it’s sad and negative matching the melody of the song. Then when everyone comes together at the end and the music starts kicking in with a stronger beat and the people from the other cars are getting out, colour starts to emerge. Oranges, yellow and reds, brighter colours appear, which creates a more claiming and loving atmosphere. It creates happy and positive vibes, which the song should end on to cheer those feelings of hurt up. This also gives the audience something to take  away from this music video which is the whole overall statement of the song.