I just had to talk about Oasis' 'The Masterplan', because I love the video for this so much and I also love this song so much and Oasis so much that there was no way I would miss it out. Oasis is one of my favourite bands and the fact that they have an animated music video makes me so happy I could cry.
'The Masterplan' is Noel Gallagher's favourite song he has ever written and its message is about (to me) growing older and trying to not be afraid of doing things. Like the line 'Dance if you wanna dance' and 'All we know is that we don't know / How it's gonna be', like there's no master plan so just do what you want to do and not be afraid of doing it.
Because this piece I wanted to talk about is a music video, there are several ways on how you can interpret it. Two main ones being, 1) what you get from the lyrics and 2) what you see. But I think what is more valuable is whether the two have the ability to come together and enforce an even greater message.
Instantly the audience can recognise that the music video pays a tribute to L.S Lowry, just by looking at it. The video involves animated forms of Oasis in Lowry's signature style walking through the streets until they perform a live show and then go back to their home, all the while applying Lowry's favourite 'perspective' art style. I think this is so successful in its cohesive element because everything links with the city of Manchester. Oasis are from there, L.S Lowry made works of Salford, and then the music video is set there, everything is so well thought out. There is a sense of pride, unity and love for their city. (I may bit a bit bias because I am also from Manchester). But I think for a time where Oasis were at their peak and this video was released, I am 100% sure there was so much admiration and respect for the honour they held for their home town.
The video opens up with the Gallagher's appearing from their houses on the streets of Burnage, where they were actually raised, the last of all is Liam who appears and illustrates his signature swagger. I think the way there is genuine personality to the characters in the animation is very clever, especially since they are actual little snippets of Oasis themselves. They then cross Abbey Road, which is an intertextual reference to The Beatles and their famous album cover. Liam is in the lead perhaps because he is what audiences would consider the 'lead' role or perhaps because it is an association to John Lennon, who is also the lead in The Beatle's album cover, and Liam was very fond of him. Then when the chorus starts up with 'Dance if you wanna dance...' there is a switch in reality to the future of when Oasis were performing live and having concerts. Their animated selves perform a show and I think this represents the future. As in what Oasis have/will become by not being afraid to make decisions. The previous part of the music video displays their average, mundane day to day lives and then when they are performing, it is what life has brought them from not being afraid. Oasis themselves could perhaps symbolise everyday people, I mean they are relatable, they grew up in a working class background and in a pretty rough neighbourhood.
I just love how there are so many personal elements to this video where you can see where Oasis grew up, what their favourite record store was and the many references to The Beatles. The band members in it have character, and the Lowry style just makes this animation an absolute classic. This video is so relatable to it's audience, which is anyone who is Mancunian, loves British pop punk, and who loves Lowry. There are so many different types of people who could appreciate this piece, and there are so many messages to be communicated that in the end, all I can get it a sense of pride.
This animated music video reminds me of how much I love Oasis and also how much I love animation.
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