Semiotic Analysis

Blink-182 - Stay Together For The Kids

This video is about divorce and its effects on children that perhaps adults don't consider. This is evident in the title 'Stay Together For The Kids'. The lyrics also portray this, for example 'If this is what he wants and it's what she wants then why's there so much pain' which show the anger and lack of understanding by the children who are a victim of their parents' divorce.

The video is structured in two main parts, following a non-linear narrative of the children in the house as well as the performance of the band. The change in pace and editing between the verses and chorus correspond with the change in music, thus creating a more angry mood in the chorus versus the sad mood presented in the verse.

The way in which the video begins with a statistic about divorce sets up the theme of the video in an informative way. The wrecking ball represents the destruction of divorce, and the fact that it's in a house shows its effects on their home. However, the fact that the house is already abandoned and vandalized could portray the fact that their home is already destroyed by the prospect of divorce, foreshadowed by the lyrics 'this house is haunted'.

This semiotic analysis helped me to understand the crafting of a music video to convey a message. I learned the importance of signs and codes within a music video, as well as the relationship between the music, lyrics and visuals.