Analysis of music video

A2 Media Studies – G324 Advanced Portfolio, Pop Promo Planning

Camera shot, angle and movement

A lot of shallow focus is used throughout the whole video, especially when the shot is of her with a negative background. The shallow focus helps to engage the audience attention, making them focus on her and her beauty. However, at the same time they can see the background, which isn’t always so nice. In one scene, whilst the camera is focused on Lily Allen, the shallow focus allows the audience to vaguely see two men fighting. The shallow focus helps the music video to go with the narrative of the song, which is about how things may not always be as nice as you seem or imagine them to be.

Shallow Focus used to highlight Lilly Allen and to subtly show men fighting in the background

Lighting

Lighting in this music video has been used really well to make Lily Allen stand out from the dull, run down, background and to literally make her ‘glow’ to show that she is living in an imaginary, perfect world. Throughout the whole time that she’s moving, she’s lit up to the point that even her earrings sparkle. Because of the lighting, with all of the things going on in the video, the whole time it is on we don’t lose focus of the artist.

Mise-en-sceneCostume has been used well in this music video to represent the artist’s image. Lily Allen is well known for wearing eccentric dresses with trainers. This look is continued in this music video, so the audience will make an automatic connection with the outfit to the artist. This outfit makes her look very carefree, so it goes with the song quite well.

EditingSpecial effects have been really well used in this music video to tell the story of the song. A swipe along with the use of technicolour are used to show the two contrasts between the imaginary picturesque London and the boring, unattractive one that is more realistic. Special effects make London seem like a very ‘magical’ and facinating place. Throughout the video bright colours are used in contrast with dark, gloomy grey colours. In one scene there is a purple moon in a sky full of stars with a tropical bird. The next scene is a grey, unattractive setting with a pigeon instead of the beautiful bird that we saw in the previous scene.

The editing is very fast paced. Each scene doesn’t last more than a few seconds and there are lots of Scenes and different stories within the video. The fast paced editing could reflect the singers lifestyle. It also keeps the audience intrigued as there is a lot going on.

Special effects have also been used to make London seem like a very ‘magical’ and facinating place. Throughout the video bright colours are used in contrast with dark, gloomy grey colours. In one scene there is a purple moon in a sky full of stars with a tropical bird.