Radiohead Video Research

 Radiohead No Suprises https://youtu.be/u5CVsCnxyXg?si=nopL59awNUNtuK8M

In the Music Video for Radiohead’s ‘No Suprises,’ which came with the release of their hit album ‘Ok Computer,’ we see the bands frontman, Thom Yorke, with his head placed in a glass dome, while water slowly fills up and submerges him. Scrolling text reflects off the glass, adding to the album’s technological themes. Large lights also reflect off the glass. This creates an eerie, sci fi atmosphere as Thom is trapped in a dystopian room, unable to breathe while technology surrounds him. This links to the album’s themes of technology and our reliance on it, as well as how it is emerging and taking over- similar to how the water is slowly doing the same. The video takes place at head height in an extreme close up, meaning his outfit is not seen. However, it could be interpreted that the glass dome worn by Thom in the video counts as part of his costume as his head was sealed inside. The music video features Thom, stuck in a dark room while bright white lights turn on and off around him. These lights light Thoms skin up a pale grey and light blues. These colours are particularly unnerving for a number of reasons, one of these being that this bright white light is seen as almost otherworldly and dissociated with reality- as they are unnatural and invented- nothing is naturally that bright and white, linking to the album’s technological themes. The bright white lights fit in the iconography of the sci fi genre- specifically one involving aliens, such as the titular Ridley Scott film by the same name. These sci-fi elements fit in with the albums repeated mention of aliens and otherworldly beings- meaning the video fits in with the theme of the album. The scrolling text helps with this theme of entrapment- as it is almost as if Thom is trapped inside of our screens. Another reason why the white comes off unnerving is as it could be associated with mental institutions or sterile hospitals. These are places that are supposed to be helping people, however, are often homes to death and disease. This creates an uneasiness while walking through hospital corridors, with the bright white lights in the video mimicking the same ones potentially used in surgery suites. Using motivated, high key lighting captures the illusion of entrapment in this strange place not only to Thom but also the viewer, who feel just as confused and isolated as Thom in the video. The bright white/blue lights help this place feel otherworldly, being off putting in a way which is hard to describe as lights turn on and flicker back off. The viewer feels similarly isolated and trapped. The darkness at the beginning of the video makes it seem like a laboratory which Thom is trapped inside of, as the machines are turned off until Thom is being studied/tested. The darkness also links to how without the technology that we have surrounded ourselves in, we are plunged in darkness with no escape.

Breaking traditional music video iconology- the video doesn’t feature and shots of the band playing music – something which is very prominent in the industry. However, this fits Radiohead’s aesthetic as an alternative band as many of their music videos, including ‘there there,’ and ‘burn the witch,’ similarly drop these ideas of traditional music videos in favour for more story driven and strange videos. Thom Yorke, the frontman of the band, is the only actor to feature in the video. Thom has a melancholic expression throughout, at first looking confused to his surroundings but quickly becoming emotionless and unreactive to it. Thom is mouthing the lyrics of the song throughout, which helps link the song to the video as well as create continuity.

The music industry is highly profitable, with revenue skyrocketing from $13.1 billion in 2014 to $28.6 billion in 2023. Of this, Music Video Production Market was valued at USD 13.57 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 24.74 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2024 to 2031. To produce, music videos can cost between £500 to £100,000s. Most mainstream videos cost from £15,000-£50,000, with high profile bands spending much more than that.