RM - The Human League - Don't You Want Me Deconstruction

Artist: The Human League
Song: Don’t You Want Me
Genre: Pop
Director: Steven Barron
Audience: 30-55
Year Released: 1981

Establishing shot of the film being produced and music video

The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” is a performance and concept music video. The concept element of the music video features the band as part of the characters and production staff for a murder mystery film, with the music video being a behind the scenes looking at the film the band this is anchored by production crew, cast, and camera equipment and lighting rigs being included in some shots.

Film being edited during the music video

During the performance elements of the video the majority of shots used are close-ups and medium shots however this is overshadowed due to the concept idea which uses a wide variation of shots that an audience would expect to feature, this includes establishing shots, long and medium shots as well as close-sups. During the editing element of the music video close-ups are again use to allow anchorage to what each member of the production team is doing, for example there are close-ups are a male editing the film together. As well as this how the video has been edited reflects the procedure of how a film is created, this is done in the video by the first half showing the audience the filming locations as well as behind the scenes footage of filming the film whereas the second half of the film is the editing of the film. These are anchored by the changes in location as well as the duties of each member of the film crew and production crew.

Medium shot during the performance sequence
with production crew in the background

As a whole the focus is on each member of the group equally however at times the majority of the focus will be on Philip Oakey, Susan Ann Sulley or Joanne Catherall. This was unusual for the group as Ann Sulley and Catherall were normally used as backing singers. However the concept idea is more focused on then each member of the band therefore it doesn’t follow the common convention of the majority of the focus is on the lead singer.