Goodwins theory in a music video - Gotye, Somebody that i Used to Know

Gotye's video for this song is a great example of how a music video can really illustrate and contradict the lyrics of a song. The music video starts off his the performer being naked whilst singing. This shows that he is empty and is perhaps singing for nothing.

By the sounds of the lyrics, he is talking about how he once had a perfect relationship but it is now over. He sings "I'll admit i was glad it was over". As this is happening, the video contradicts the mood of the lyrics and colorfull paintings start forming behind him, this could suggest that the bond is getting stronger between him and the woman he was once with, rather than him being glad of it ending.

The video contradicts the lyrics even more by the time the chorus comes along, the chorus makes it seem as if he is having a go at the woman "you didn't have to stoop so low", by the end of the chorus his whole body is painted and matches the patterns with the wall behind him, this would signify that it is a perfect relationship, but its contradicted by the lyrics.

The camera then takes a few steps backwards and you see that their is a girl to the left of him. She as well is nude and is painted to match the patterns on the wall perfectly. Her lyrics suggest that she wasn't the only guilty party in the relationship, and she is having a go at the man as well. She shuffles her shoulders and moves towards Gotye which could illustrate that she is coming out of Gotye's perfect view upon everything, and completley ruins the perfect matching of the patterns on the wall. By the end of the song, the woman (Kimbra) has had all her paint removed, this hear illustrates that the bond between her and Gotye is broken, and that the relationship has ended.