The Fray - How To Save A

Life
Artist - The Fray
Track - How To Save A Life
Genre - Pop / Rock
Released - September 13
th
2005
Producers - Aaron Johnson and Mike Flynn
American based band

Genre Characteristics
The main characteristics of pop rock has emphasis on live performances
which is identified in this music video and mainly appeal to general
audiences rather than niche audiences. Another characteristic is stage
performance but also a narrative or collage of images which is used in
this video.
This music video shows the band performing the song in places which
shows off their piano-rock style of this song which has references to
the British bands such as Coldplay. This shows the current styles which
are creating powerful and successful music and showing off their genre
of pop rock within their music videos.
The visuals also show the band members and actors in the videos to be
wearing high street brand styles such as t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and
jeans which are genre characteristics in the pop rock genre to be seen as
casual.
Pop rock is also known to be associated with rock guitars as its a new
alternative to the rock sensation and the image shown of How To Save
A Life shows two rock guitars in the middle of the drums and piano
which shows the dominance and importance these instruments still
have in this genre of music.
The traditional representation of gender is that males are seen as
serious artists whilst the women are represented as passive and
vulnerable which is emphasised in this music video.
Both lead vocalists are playing the piano is
these music videos which puts emphasis on
the alternate genres and the instruments
being added together for great music
How To Save A Life The Fray
Fix You - Coldplay
Relationship Between Lyrics And Visuals
Sit down. its just a talk. The eye shows its a serious talk and the extreme close up shows to emotion in the eyes of the
girl. Listen is shown just after it which shows the relationships between the lyrics and the visuals to listening to someone
when theyre talking. Relationships require being able to listen and its expressing that its important to be respectful.





Had I known how to save a life which cuts to a visual of a faded, blurry person with their hands in the air which looks like
a plea to save a life or some has died and they are looking to the sky. Then it cuts to a close up of a girl looking up in the
air and the top right of this visuals shows the letters dad which is fading away and dropping down the screen. It shows
that the person singing has tried to help in many different steps but doesnt know how to save a life and unfortunately
there is misery and sadness for the girls losing someone the love and care for.
Relationship Between Lyrics And Visuals
Between the lines shows a relationship with the visuals as there is someone
holding a necklace with a love heart on the end of it showing the love is there but
may be hidden. 8. Hold still is shown in this visual which could be interpreted as
stopping and focusing hard to read between the lines to fine the love that is
hidden away and it is because they have just lost someone they love and are
seeking comfort from the male in this situation. The next shot is a close up of a
girl which her water filled eyes stand out so looking into her eyes could be the
answer to what she is trying to say.
Relationship Between Music And Visuals
The music and the beat is synchronised with the visuals as it is clearly seen that
the instruments being played are real to what is being heard which shows a clear
connection between the music and the visuals.

There is an image of a girl with tears filled in her eyes and she looking up to the
heavens for guidance. This visual is shown after the line If I known how to save a
life which is the end of the chorus. The sound and beat of the quietens and slows
down and then this shot is shown to be respectful to people who have died and
gratitude to the people grieving.

How to save a life could be interpreted as a number of steps to be taken in order
to do this. At the beginning of the video shows the number one, then in a couple
of shots later the word listen in shown. At the end number 99 is shown which is
the final step which is say goodbye. Looking at the relationship between the
music and the visuals being in sync to a possible narrative of steps to take to save
a life could be interpreted as the steps needed to be taken to get over someone
who has died and the final step is to finally move on.

Notion Of Looking
There is voyeuristic treatment of the female body as there many close ups females
throughout. Some are more sexual than others and alternate shots of females can be
viewed differently. For example, some shots are of girls looking upset and in need of
comfort and others, females are looking into the camera and their eyes stand out which
males can see as a connection to speak to the females
An interpretation could be that they are all done to show the females emotions in times
of pain and suffering and they are being shown to need comfort which can be voyeuristic
because males can see it as an opportunity to take advantage of the females and are
seeing them as sexual objects.
Girl is angry and in need of comfort
The bright green eyes stand out and the slight
smile can be seen as sexual
This shot is voyeuristic as her face is to the side but her
eyes are moving towards the camera showing she
cannot look away from whats in her sight.
Notion Of Looking

Most of the shots are of people staring into the
camera and it is as if they are speaking to someone,
possibly the lead vocalist, so the shots could be point
of view shots as they could be looking into the
someone elses eyes to show they need help and
comfort or theyre just staring into the horizon.

All staring into the camera with blank faces and its a
high angle shot so they are looking up to the camera
in disappointment or also they are upset and
disillusioned. With their blank faces and a bright light
shining on them, they could be seen as being lost
from the real world and just staring into the light,
where their lost ones are there. There are all standing
still which shows they are waiting and the notion of
looking suggests their innocence.
Close Ups
The use of close ups is important to this
genre of music as it identifies the main
vocalists within the band but also the story
which goes on in between. The use of close
ups in this music video is similar to another
one of Goodwins theories which is the
notion of looking. There are many close ups
of females throughout the video with a few
close ups of males in between which again
emphasises the voyeuristic perception of
females in modern day music videos.
There is a collage of melancholy close ups
which shows the song to be upsetting and
down heartening which is done to make the
audience connect with the track and feel the
passion and emotion of it all.
Intertextual References
One of Goodwins theories shows that there is Intertextual references within
music videos. I noticed that in this song, it has similar references to the song I am
currently promoting. In Summer Song, the title sounds happy and uplifting but it
has words such as pouring rain and tore out in it which contradicts the title of
the song. This is similar to How To Save A Life because the lyrics suggest that they
dont know how to save a life but in fact there has been death and they are trying
to help them through the tough times and contains words such as cry and
scared of death in the visuals. The lyrics contain words such as lost and
bitterness which doesnt suggest words of saving a life which is heroic and
uplifting which can be an interpretation.