Editing Investigation: Spectrum - Florence & The Machine

In Florence & TheMachine's, 'Spectrum', I have observed that there are 122 cuts, which at first glance seems like a large amount whereby we would assume it is a constantly fast paced video, however considereing the song is over five minutes long, comparitively it is not quite as fast paced as initially thought.

 

A notably unique element of this music video is the fact that the first cut of Florence sitting on the Atlantis-like throne holds for 40 seconds. This is a huge amount of time in music video terms, and would usually have taken up a good third of the video in a more average three minute music video.

However the music video does fit in more cuts following this powerful opening scene which acts as a huge build up alongside the soft, harp chords which are the backbone of the song. The pace of the visuals speeds up immediately as the song bursts into the more instrument heavy chorus when , "Say my name" is sung.

Not only does the content within the video speed up - for example, the dancers become increasingly more fluid and dymanic, starting in textbook ballet shapes but evolving into more abstract shapes as the song develops - but the actual cuts themselves do too. The most cuts occured during the chorus and teh least during the more toned-down verses which demonstrates how the editor(s) built in this mirror-like set of visuals, as it makes it easy and interesting for the audience to watch; it makes sense for them and fits conventions.