Video Analysis: Sub Focus - Turn It Around

This is the video for one of the singles off 'Torus', 'Turn It Around (ft. Kele Okereke)'. This particular song is more drum and bass orientated, with electro synths creating this unique Sub Focus sound.

The lyrics talk about turning it around, regarding perhaps a relationship or a metaphor for perhaps life itself, and this is demonstrated by the journey of the video. It seems as though the lead role is unhappy with her life in this busy, urban place and she wants to find happiness. In the end she seemingly does turn it around as she screams and lets her emotions out by the waterfall.

The scene when she enters the club is a convention of dance music video, as mentioned by Andrew Goodwin, as it is a genre stereotype to show dancing and partying in a dance music video. The particular scene is representative of Sub Focus' live shows where the lighting is a key part of the whole production. There is also reference to Goodwin's ideas of looking, with the objectification of the women dancing in this scene satisfying Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory.

The appearance of cats is also a common theme in modern dance music videos as animals and animalistic features, such as the masks used in Martin Garrix's 'Animals' video, have become a popular feature in dance music videos.

The use of the unknown, the natural world, is also an interesting idea that has been adapted in to many dance music videos. In my genre research I noted the common use of fire, a natural substance, and in this video we see an emphasis on the nature of the forest the lead role travels to and the water, in which the audience may become fascinated by, due to the many close ups of the waterfall.

In the woman's hand there is also a bracelet with the 'Torus' logo on it, a reference to the album and Sub Focus' live shows.