Semiotic analysis

Pegasus Bridge - 'Ribena'

• In my opinion, this video is about a group of friends who escape detention and are running through the school trying to escape from their head-teacher, because of the beginning exchange of 'I can have you here for the rest of your natural born life' and the response of 'Do you really think I give a sh-'.
• While that's my literal interpretation of the video alone, with the lyrics, I'd say that the video is about growing up and changing; 'I drink coffee, not just Ribena, and I like it, I like it' suggesting that they are still the same person but just grown/growing up now to like different things, no longer a child.
• The video has quite a simple structure, following them through the school as they run away, while cutting between the performance and a few shots of the teacher.
  The performance consists of several different shots, each ones of different band members, but the majority include some camera movement, with the majority being circling of the band member. There are CUs of the band playing the instruments, and the framing jumps between CU to LS and back quite a lot. The editing is based around the lyrics and the music, cutting to shots of the lead singer when there are lyrics being sung, and then sometimes will cut based on the music, but during the narrative it often cuts when the action changes in the frame.
• The adult in the video is portrayed as quite oppressive, the use of close framing at the start, the use of low angle shots and also his costume. The close framing at the start shows him pointing at the band member and leering slightly, gradually getting closer to the camera, connoting his cruel character and his power in the relationship. The suit jacket and shirt (while practical for a teacher) also helps to connote this, the grey suit lacking colour, being very dull and business-like. This links to the lyrics, as they are addressing someone who doesn't understand that the band are growing up/moving on, so it would make sense to represent this through the oppression of the teacher and the teens being in detention (connotes their rebelliousness)

  

  MCU during the beginning (gradually moves closer to become a CU)

  
  

  

  Walking down the stairs smiling - obviously enjoys having power over the teenagers. Adjusts shirt cuffs smugly.

• The teens in the video are portrayed as quite fun and rebellious. This is done through the dialogue at the beginning and also through references to 'The Breakfast Club'. In the film, it's about a group of troubled teens put in detention (and there are two girls and three boys, which is why one of the males is dressed in a skirt and wig), some of whom are neglected by their parents and have therefore grown up and changed, but are still scolded by adults for being the way they are. The fun is represented by the colour and bright lighting during the performance, as well as the shots of them all running through the building and re-enacting the Breakfast Club dance during the bridge. The lyrics also show this growth/rebelliousness, 'when the conversation dried, I'd end up kissing, kissing, kissing you' indicating the growing of the child into an adult and experiencing these things, but also as a memory of the past, saying that 'that's archaeology', meaning that it is no longer what they want and people should learn to accept that. 

  

  The bright lighting and bright colours used make the scene seem very happy and calm

  

  Fight breaking out between two of the males - teenage rebelliousness

• In interviews after their first tour, the lead singer described how some of the band were unhappy with the way the lifestyle were leading, especially after the stick they received after their first breakthrough single 'Yoko', so this song could also reflect what they wanted to say to the people criticising them, telling them that they are not little boys, and that people need to respect that they have changed.