Genre and Mood exploration

 Here, I aimed to explore the genre and mood of similar songs to examine how the music video concept has been developed, and to investigate how the music video's narrative (the story) relates to the song's actual theme.

The main theme and genre of my choice of song (Numb little bug )   

• Main theme - mentalillness, post liminal sad but beautiful
• Genre - Indie pop

Some songs that depict a similar concept to the post-liminal theme and the genre of indie pop

• Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine
• Heather by Connan Gray

Ceiling By Lizzy McAlapine 

• Theme - Grief and blurred memory after a breakup
• Genre - Indie pop 

The main meaning of the song can be interpreted in two ways: as a lingering feeling of a broken relationship or as the aftermath of an imagined scenario. The song can be taken as an understanding of the real-world situation of a breakup, even though the relationship wasn't real.

How does the song lyric match the post-liminal concept? 

First chorus -

The chorus gives the effect of being in a relationship, the flustered feeling one feels in a relationship.

Second chorus -

In this chorus, it shows how the girl comes to her senses of an imaginary or the realization of the feeling of breakup is lingering around her, and it is not a real relationship.

Based on the chorus, it shows how the actual effect of the imaginary relationship has developed into a post-liminal effect of a real broken relationship, and the sorrow of knowing that it was not real.

How does the music video concept relate to the song lyrics? 

 According to the above lyrics, the music video conveys the same meaning in the same order in a more narrative way. It is seen in the music video how the singer actually narrates the song,

Based on the lyrics of the first chorus and the second, the music video depicts the breakup in the exact order of the lyrics (Chorus) has been positioned.

As it is shown, the couple that was once or imagined to be in the first chorus is now one person thinking of that moment in the second, showing the broken relationship stated in the song.

How is the song similar in terms of concept and genre to my choice song?

My song numb little bug highlight a postliminal concept of depression and depicts how it makes people feel. This song also shows after math of the sorrow of an expected relationship

How does the concept of the music video inspire my end project?

 According to the music video, it uses different kinds of ways she remembers her partner.r I want to try to add that element to my music video,o and how the concept of the music video is an actual follow-up of the lyrics and matches the situation of the lyrics (even though the lyrics are not that direct, it follows the concept the lyrics give)

Heather by Connan Gray

Theme - Unrequired love, jealousy, self-doubt

Genre - Indie pop/ Bedroom pop

Main meaning of the song - unrequited love and jealousy;  it's about watching someone you love fall for someone else and wishing you could be them. "Heather" represents the kind of person everyone loves effortlessly, including the person you care about.

How does the song lyric match the post-liminal and mentle illness concept? 

The song "Heather" fits the post-liminal concept because it captures the emotional aftermath of unrequited love  a state that comes after a pivotal emotional realization and also has the concept of sorrow and over thinking high lighting mentle illness.

• The liminal moment is realizing your love isn't returned, and the aftermath of sorrow causes mentle illness.

• The post-liminal phase is where "Heather" lives - stuck in quiet pain, jealousy, and reflection after that realization.

Lyrics like

"I still remember, third of December..."
and
"You gave her your sweater..."

Show how the narrator is lingering in memories and emotions after the change has occurred. They’re not in the moment of heartbreak itself, but after it, trying to make sense of what’s left — which is exactly what post-liminal means: the space after the turning point, filled with grief, longing, and introspection.

How does the music video concept relate to the song lyrics? 

The song more likely gives a meaning with the mix of the music video concept and the lyrics side by side. 

The main way the music video in Heatherr is built up is through day-to-day sequences that combine with the lyrics to make up a story. It shows how he goes on with his day,  how he still has the past lingering in the air, and everything reminds him of it. 

The music video concept of "Heather" (official or fan-made visuals) often mirrors the song’s emotional depth through its simple, soft, and intimate visuals, which closely relate to the themes in the lyrics:

• The lyrics reflect quiet jealousy, longing, and emotional isolation.

  "Why would you ever kiss me? I'm not even half as pretty."

• Visually, the MV (or its conceptual equivalents) uses:

  • Muted tones and soft lighting to reflect vulnerability.

  • Slow pacing and minimal movement, emphasizing stillness and introspection.

  • Close-up shots to show facial expressions and emotional tension.

  • Empty spaces or solitary characters, matching the feeling of being unseen or replaced.

In essence, the music video enhances the lyrics by visually placing the viewer in the same emotional limbo, watching from a distance, longing for something they can’t have, perfectly syncing with the post-liminal state of the narrator.r

How is the song similar in terms of concept and genre to my choice song? Similarity of this song to my choice of song is the post-liminal effect and how the whole effect carries throughout the song. 

How does the concept of the music video inspire my end project?

According to the music video, it uses different filters to elaborate on emotion and also the different colour schemes to bring emotion, and the way the music video carries on a day-to-day kind of vibe that builds up a story with the lyrics.