Plot & Story / Song Analysis

For my project, I have chosen the song “Riptide” by Vance Joy. Before planning my music video, I researched the artist, the meaning of the song, and its structure so I can understand it better and create ideas that fit the music.

Research about the artist and the song

Vance Joy is an Australian singer-songwriter whose real name is James Keogh. Before becoming a musician he actually played professional Australian Rules football, but later decided to focus on music. His style is usually described as indie folk or indie pop, which often includes acoustic instruments.

“Riptide” was released in 2013 on his EP God Loves You When You’re Dancing and later on his debut album Dream Your Life Away. The song became very successful internationally and helped launch his music career.

The idea for the song actually started years before it was released. Vance Joy first wrote the opening chords and some lyrics around 2008, but he did not finish the song until later when he started performing at open mic nights. The final version of the song was recorded quite quickly in a small studio in Melbourne.

The title “Riptide” was inspired by a motel called Riptide that Joy used to visit during family holidays when he was younger. The song mixes personal ideas with imaginative imagery, which makes it more interesting.

Musically, the song is very recognizable because of its ukulele melody, which creates a relaxed and catchy sound.

Structure of the song

After researching the lyrics, I identified the structure of the song. Like many pop and indie songs, it follows a clear structure that repeats the chorus several times.

Intro “I was scared of dentists and the dark”

Verse 1 The narrator talks about his fears and introduces the girl he likes.

Pre-Chorus “Lady, running down to the riptide…”

Chorus “Lady, running down to the riptideTaken away to the dark sideI wanna be your left hand man”

Verse 2 More descriptive lyrics and references to movies and magicians.

Pre-Chorus

Chorus

Bridge “I just wanna, I just wanna know…”

Final Chorus

Outro

The chorus is repeated multiple times, which makes it the most memorable and emotional part of the song.

Meaning of the lyrics

The lyrics of “Riptide” are creative and imaginative. Instead of telling a simple story, the song includes lots of different images and references.

The opening line “I was scared of dentists and the dark” suggests insecurity or fear. This helps show the narrator as a nervous or awkward person.

Another important line is “I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations.” This suggests that the narrator feels shy or unsure about approaching someone he likes.

The chorus line “Lady, running down to the riptide” is more symbolic. A riptide is a strong ocean current, so it could represent powerful emotions or being pulled towards someone.

The lyric “I wanna be your left hand man” could represent wanting to be close to someone or being in a serious relationship.

Overall, the lyrics feel like a love story, where someone is nervous but very attracted to another person.

Initial ideas for my music video

For my music video I would like to create a calm, beach based storyline that matches the relaxed and emotional feel of the song. Because “Riptide” has a soft ukulele sound and a slightly nostalgic mood, filming near the beach or seaside would match the atmosphere of the music.

The video would follow a simple narrative rather than a complicated story. It could show a character walking along the beach, thinking about someone they like or miss. The storyline would focus on emotions and atmosphere rather than lots of dialogue or action. This would fit well with the reflective tone of the song.

I would also like to use long shots and wide shots of the beach to create a peaceful feeling. For example, there could be long shots of the ocean, waves, and the character walking along the shoreline. These types of shots would make the video feel more artistic and visually engaging.

The beach setting would also allow me to use natural lighting, especially during sunset, which would create warm colours and a relaxed mood.

Overall, my idea is to create a minimal but cinematic music video, focusing on atmosphere, emotion and beach visuals.