Textual analysis of music videos

Mise-en-scene

• Lorde - Royals: Bus stop, links to the lower class not being able to afford cars, with the male character conveying misery through a lack of enthusiasm.

 

• Dominant colours in the video are brown and grey, particularly in the main setting of a house, with this having connotations of a lack of vibrancy and luxury, suggesting that this music video presents the lower class in a stereotypically negative light - sad and financially inferior to the other classes.

• The male character having very short hair has connotations of aggression and is stereotypically associated with crime.

• The old television in the house demonstrates the lower classes lack of wealth, while the minimal furniture also suggests that the lower class is similarly empty and shallow.

• The characters in the video are either looking up at the sky, which connotes hope, or looking down in despair, presenting the lower class life as unpleasant and particularly negative.

• Lea Michele - Cannonball: The settings in this music video are all very distinctive, with the main one being an old house, with the low key lighting relating to getting out of the emotional abyss, while the others are contrasting with the high key lighting and vibrant colours having connotations of hope. 

• The artist is wearing white, which connotes purity and, in context with the lyrics, suggests this resembles a new beginning.
• The use of bright lights in otherwise dark locations link to the kind of set up that would usually be seen in the theatre, making the video very dramatic and stylised.
• Direct mode of address is used consistently, showcasing the artist's talent.
• The artist playing with her long brunette hair conveys her as stereotypically feminine and helps to present her character in a more sexual light. 

 

• Ed Sheeran - I see fire (Mise and camera): The opening contains an establishing shot of the recording studio, so that the audience can put the setting into perspective with the real world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The video contains multiple shots of the equipment used in the studio, as well as the crew members to highlight the effort that goes into making a soundtrack.

• This close up of a guitar helps to identify the genre of music as being pop/folk, while it also showcases the artist's talent as being both a singer and guitar player  

• There are numerous extracts and shots from the film that the soundtrack is from to help promote the film as well as put the lyrics of the song into context. 

• This mid shot is of the artist and composer, to demonstrate the artist's input in the post production process, making him seem more involved and therefore make his contribution to the music all the more significant. 

Sound

• Lorde - Royal and Lea Michele - Cannonball: There is no diegetic sound used in this music video, making the main focus the non-diegetic music. 
• Lea Michele - Cannonball: The only diegetic sound used in the music video is the moving chimes on a chandelier knocking against one another. This creates a sense of verisimilitude that's contrasting from the rest of the video.  

• Ed Sheeran - I see fire: Unlike the other two videos, this begins with diegetic dialogue of the artist preparing to record, and communicating with the crew via a headset. This helps to incorporate verisimilitude by conveying the artist as a more  relatable person with a passionate and professional attitude towards his work. 

Camera

• Lorde - Royals: There are consistent close ups of the artist throughout, putting a face to the music that the audience is hearing.

• An establishing shot of a row of houses is shown, moving in a backward trajectory to make the lower class appear insignificant.

• A particular mid shot of the male character stood out because it cuts out his head, which connotes a lack of identity, while it also addresses the lack of formality that is stereotypically expected within the lower class.

• This high angle longshot reflects social hierarchy, with this lower class character being physically looked down upon by the audience, highlighting his inferiority and also suggests that his attempted suicide is a reflection on the lower class order.

• Lea Michele - Cannonball: The use of sunlight is echoed throughout to embed the idea of hope, framing the shots in quite a concealed manner to reflect the artist's emotions.

• This shot links to the male gaze theory, with the camera following the stereotypical male's eye, tracking up her body and presenting her as quite flirtatious. 

• This mid shot contains symbolic meaning, with the mirror connoting a split personality and a lack of identity. 

• In this mid shot, the lights go down so the only visible thing in shot is the artist, highlighting her significance in context with the video.

Narrative

Lorde - Royals: The storyline of this music video is about a male who lives a very boring and empty life and decides to make some changes, such as shaving his hair. These changes lead to him attempting to kill himself, as a way of escaping. He then starts to return to solitude.

Lea Michele - Cannonball: The premise of this music video is about a woman who is trying to get to a more emotionally happy place, with her first being seen as secluded and dark and ending with her as free.

Ed Sheeran - I see Fire: This video incorporates verisimilitude by beginning with the artist entering the recording studio and then proceeding to sing the track. The video then concludes with the crew evaluating the recording and taking a picture together.

I have analysed these music videos so that I can compare any aspects that are reflected in all three, which may be a critical component in any music video, such as a wide variety of shot types and the editing mirroring the beat within the song.