Textual Analysis of This Too Shall Pass by OK Go

The music video I am analysing in this post is This Too Shall Pass by OK Go. It is directed by James Frost, OK Go and Syyn Labs . The genre of the band is alternative rock and the music video shows some characteristics of this genre. There is lip-syncing in some of the video, showing some performance and the whole band are shown which is normally what happens in a rock video. However, the video is abstract based and doesn't relate to the song and lyrics, showing no narrative. Usually a rock video would mostly be performance based, but OK Go go against this to create an abstract and exciting music video.

The visuals have nothing to do with the lyrics as the video is abstract based. But the visuals sometimes match up with the music. For example, there is a point where the music cuts out and a guitar with spoons attached taps some glasses with water in to fill the silence and fit with the music.

Also, when the silver ball enters the little tunnel, the pictures are lifted to the beat of the music to let the ball through.




It could be said that the video builds up momentum with the music. Such as when the middle eight is playing, the things that are happening in the video calm down a bit, for example with the water pouring into the jug to open the curtains to the little tunnel. As the music builds up to the last chorus, there is more happening with the various objects ad a lot more is going on to signify the song coming towards the end.

There is a lot of reference to the band in the music video. In certain points in the video, the band's name appears in different places and this happens throughout the music video. This could be a motif for the band. Another motif of the band OK Go is that their videos are all done in one shot. The video itself is very creative and makes the audience watch intently to see what is happening. This could be a way they want to sell the track as it stays in your mind. All the band members are in the video to show them as a band and present their image. This video showcases their creativity and originality, and this may be the image they want to create and how they want to achieve sales. The amount of effort spent on this music video shows how the band and record company want to sell this track, through the video itself as well as the song.

There are intertextual references in the video to a previous video by OK Go. For example, when the hammer smashes the screen of the television, the music video of their song 'Here It Goes Again' is playing on the screen. The screen within a screen shot could be seen as voyeurism, although it is not in a sexual way. This could be to promote the music video for 'Here It Goes Again', and people who are their fans will get the reference and people who do not understand the reference will look for it, therefore increasing their views and fan base.


In conclusion, the band have created a very eye-catching and compelling to not only make their audience listen to their music but also to take notice of the video and remember it. The idea of doing an abstract based video is innovative. It also subverts all codes and conventions of a music, this keeps their audience interested - however this is what the audience have come to expect of OK Go. It also employs the technique of promotion by the video becoming viral as many people will find it interesting and through 'word of mouth' by people telling others of this video.