Music Video Textual Analysis: Boards of Canada

Dayvan Cowboy



The Boards of Canada music video was created using existing video footage from nature documentaries and sport action shots. As Boards of Canada are a relatively small band and only ever achieved modest success, they never produced many music videos. The music video for Dayvan Cowboy was therefore low-cost and quite simplistic, although it has received over 700,000 views on YouTube as popularity for the video grew.

The music video begins with footage from Joe Kittinger's record-breaking skydive and grainy shots of the world from above the atmosphere. Seeing images on such a grand scale gives the video an epic feeling, and enhance the feeling of the music being outer-worldly. The introduction of more instruments is marked by Kittinger's jump out of the plane reflecting the increase in adrenaline. Video footage from Kittingers harness is used as he descends towards the atmosphere, and as he begins to pass through it this in parallel with a lower tempo in the music. The director, Melissa Olson, has done this to make us feel like we are going on a journey with the skydiver.

As the music takes a break and changes, the images switch to a wide shot of the ocean, with alternating shots of Kittinger falling from his parachute into the ocean. The rest of the video is a series of footage, edited in slow motion, of Laird Hamilton surfing. It can be assumed by the viewer that it is the same man falling from the sky and into the ocean and surfing, a complete journey with nature. The video end with an interesting POV-style shot of the sunset in the ocean which gives the effect that the viewer is sitting there watching it, with water splashing into their eyes.

I believe the video promotes the electronic duo very effectively. The music video ensures the viewers concentration is just as much on the images as the sounds, as the two work together seamlessly. The inspiration for their music as a whole has reportedly been the National Film Board of Canada, which produces nature and sporting documentaries, and this obviously comes through in the film. I believe the audience for this music video is actually very broad- 18-55 as the images are relaxing to watch and of extraordinary sporting feats.