Song: Beggars
Album: Signals
Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative Rock
Director: N/A
Year: 2013
Audience: 16+
Country of Origin: UK
Opening shot shows a group of five people walking away from the camera into the night. The light in front of the band throw the long shadows behind them, thus creating a ominous effect. Leading lines are used via the walls reflecting the bright light, guiding the audience's view towards the band. It poses questions to the audience- who are they? where are they are going? No lyrics are sung, there is only a short instrumental. In the next shot, we see the musicians properly, dressed in 'Clockwork Orange' inspired clothing (The hats are a dead giveaway), representing the 'droogs', the leading singer acting as Alex. White usually carries connotations of innocence and purity, but in the book it is subverted to mean the opposite: danger, fear menace. This comparison also explains the repeated use of orange lighting throughout the video.
In this shot we come to the titular character of the song: the 'beggar'. As soon as he sees the menacing droogs appear, he flees, accidentally leaving his blanket behind. Again, various shots indicate that the setting is urban, subscribing to the theory that rock is centred on industrialisation and urbanisation. Similar to the previous shot, there is no singing, only the tension-building instrumental is to be heard. Below is an example of the common orange lighting used, alluding to the book. This lighting creates a sinister, menacing effect- only the person standing in the headlight can be seen. The colour orange typically has connotations of danger- like fire. Singer Mikey also has auburn hair, but this appears to be natural.
This mid shot shows the 'droogs' walking by where the beggar had previously sat (see the blanket). "Alex" dragging his hand along the fence suggests comfort or casualness. Lyrics sung at this point are: 'See I can't find the way out of my mind', subtly hinting at the the 'correctional brainwashing' in the novel. This is 'restraint' is actualised by the fence, with him grazing the fence- he can't find his way out. The concept of being trapped is extended in this shot, where the beggar is 'caged', the lyrics state: 'You need me, but I don't know how to reach you', perhaps foreshadowing the droogs turn to good. So far, the audience have not seen them them 'do' anything, but they assume from their clothing and stance that they are up to no good, their reputation precedes them.
In this shot, the droogs appear after the beggar has been harassed by a group of insolent youths, finally showing the audience that they are not what they appear to be. A contrast is created not only through actions, but also through clothing: the droogs wear white, the bullies black/gray and the homeless man half naked, symbolising vulnerability. A wide shot has been used to encompass the action. Although not a positive representation of young people, it does give the audience a sense of hope for those less fortunate than themselves. The final shot shows the droogs restoring the lost blanket to its rightful owner, the now less ominous lyrics saying: 'I'm coming to get you…' Again, orange lighting has been used, but now it appears less threatening than before. This whole video could be seen as the next 'part' of 'A Clockwork Orange'- Alex, after his brainwashing is somewhat rehabilitated from his previous history of orgiastic violence. He takes less and less pleasure in senseless violence, perhaps he would have become something like the Alex depicted in this video. It is interesting to note that there are no women in the video, perhaps alluding that the song is not about love.
MALLORY KNOX- BEGGARS OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
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