Music Video Analysis 2

This video has a mix of narrative and performance elements but the main emphasis seems to be on the performance. This is because the narrative is done in a slightly more unusual and different way than usually seen in a traditional music video. The narrative is seen in quick glimpses that doesn't follow one person or storyline in particular but instead flashes from one teenagers face to face to another, the synopsis being that everyone is struggling with their own problems and fighting to 'save a life'.  In particular the difficult teenage period of your life where problems such as suicide are prevalent and increasing. These shots of teenagers are both moving and distressing as the use of close ups and medium shots reveal their devastated emotions and curled up body language. These are effective in conveying the extreme distress teenagers often go through, if not about themselves, then if one of their friends are going through troubling times and you are helpless to do anything. These narrative snippets aren't in the normal chronological order or following Todorovs Narrative story that tells of a distinct beginning, middle and end. Instead they're shown at random times dispersed throughout the footage of The Fray performing the song.
The performance parts takes place on the same empty white background as seen with the narrative sections. This gives it a sense of cohesion and as though they're all linked together and not on two separate sides of a wall where one can't understand the others situation. It is simple performance images of just the band playing against the striking background that allows for the mind to interpret any scenario or situation it wants which furthers the idea of everyone having different struggles. The band play in a passionate and fervent way which matches the heartfelt video and message.
Alongside visuals of different teenagers faces and their stories are words that act as help and advice. Examples are '7. Forgive',  '35. Cry', '13. Release' and '11. Remember'. These act as help towards people trying to 'save' themselves or others and are both a message to those struggling in the video but are also aimed at the audiences watching the video who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Finally, another clever way they have incorporated narrative in the video is with the frequent quick images of a caterpillar and a butterfly. This is symbolic of the change you are going through in your teenage years as you're growing into yourself, trying to find out who you truly are before becoming an adult. This is reflected in the transition a caterpillar makes when it goes into it's chrysalis only to come out as a butterfly. It is connoting that the caterpillar goes through this dark and scary time but comes out the other end as more beautiful and themselves which is what the message of this video is trying to get across that you'll only come out stronger on the other side despite whatever it is you're dealing with at the moment.




This is an example of an entirely performance based music video. The whole video consists of the two artists (Labyrinth and Emeli Sandé) performing the song 'Beneath your Beautiful' but made interesting with the use of different editing and positioning. The actual location of sorts stays the same the entire time but the two artists swap places in regards to whether they're being projected on the large screen or situated in front of it. This is done in a very clever way so that they are both always with each other when singing but without interaction as only one is ever actually there.
The way one is always projected is so effective as gives a comparison of different sizes and depth with the artist on the screen seeming to tower over the stage and appear larger than life but also in a way very vulnerable and naked. This is because close ups have frequently been used which shows the intricacies and emotions on the artists face as they emphasise with the music and the other singing; as well as helping the audience appreciate the 'star persona' of the two artists as Andrew Goodwin states is important.
The idea of this video is intriguing as no obvious plot or storyline has been used. There is no definitive narrative structure that Todorov proposes is in most media texts consisting of an equilibrium, disruption to it, resolving it and then returning to a calm equilibrium. When this type of video is done, the narrative must then be told solely through the performance itself which, if looked at deeper, can be seen in this video. The song speaks of wanting to see their partners true self underneath the guise; "take it off now girl..I wanna see inside..Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight". The idea of one or the other always being on the screen and not being there in person is particularly poignant and symbolic of the song and illustrates it's lyrics with txt image cohesion. As they're never actually there beside each other  it connotes that they're hiding behind a mask or hiding from each other in a way that doesn't let the other one totally in or allow them to see and understand who they really are.
This way of creating a music video is a subtler and more unique way of telling a story as it's done merely through he artists themselves performing their song.




This music video by a 'P!nk' is a balanced mix of narrative and performance elements. It follows the story of a relationship breaking down where she feels her partner is fading away from her and she doesn't know why but is fighting for them to stay together. The symbolic meaning behind this video is of course subjective to the person analysing it, as is any music video. The narrative begins with the equilibrium of where Pink is seen to be floating on a mattress in the clouds at night before Todorovs theory of the equilibrium disruption comes into play as the scene quickly changes and you see the mattress is actually floating on a misty sheen of water. Barthes symbolic codes can be applied here as this connotes that originally she thought they were both happy in their relationship, 'on cloud nine' so to speak. Instead when her partner draws away from her she feels herself drifting away from him as though on a raft in a river. Therefore comes in the mattress on the water, the loneliness and isolation of this image is also important as it shows how alone and lost she feels without him, just herself stranded in a vast expanse of water and night sky. Due to this, she feels as though she has reverted back to childhood when in times of loneliness and in need of comfort your companion is your teddy bear, shown next to Pink on the mattress.
The narrative moves back and forth from scenes such as this, to passionate scenes of Pink and, who we assume to be, her partner. These may be flashbacks or recollections of when they were together that Pink can't let go. In scenes such as this, there is no fog covering the water, instead it is totally clear connoting that when they were together everything made sense whereas, when apart, everything is confusing and unclear, disorientated and lost in the fog. Other scenes are dispersed throughout the video of Pink fighting her way underwater which could suggest she feels like she's drowning without the love of her partner and struggling to get her head above the surface.
The performance elements of this video take place with a muggy white background that has the effect of the fog filtering through. These scenes appear either as the whole frame or often displayed on the small and old-fashioned television that is floating near the mattress which Pink is lying on during the narrative. This is a clever way of linking the two aspects of the video together and furthering the sense that Pink is trying to find answers from anywhere.




This video is entirely narrative based with the artist (Ed Sheeran) only making a brief cameo appearance in it. The video starts immediately with a disruption to the equilibrium that you expect with the ominous sound of sirens and the image of a girl dead on a mattress and then a young police man walking towards her. This then rewinds to the start of the equilibrium when she's alive, sitting on her own in a dingy apartment. You get the sense that she is extremely lonely and desperate for some human interaction and companionship. This is subtly hinted at by shots such as an eye line match to a pair of models embracing which makes it distinctly clear that this is something that she doesn't have. The next scene shows her in discomfort before pulling out a bloodied feather from her back. This sets things into motion and ,after growing wings and chiseling a bow and arrow, she becomes a real-life version of 'Cupid'. In desperate need for love and unable to get it for herself, she makes it her mission to bring love to other, random, unsuspecting people. She seeks out people on the streets and in clubs, striking them with her arrow to make them feel affection for those around them. However, this has the opposite effect of what she wanted and instead makes her increasingly more lonely, isolated and depressed.
The narrative ends with her committing suicide with one of her own arrows in an attempt to end her loneliness. However, as the scene reverts back to the one we saw at the start and Todorovs idea of an equilibrium is restored, the young police man bends over her and instantly the blood disappears, her eyes fly open and breathes again. The symbolism being that she finally found someone to love her and that love is what ends her bitter loneliness and breathes life back into her.
This video is very meaningful and moving with the visuals perfectly illustrating the lyrics being sung. In this particular video, performance elements weren't needed as the narrative itself was so effective and moving on it's own that to bring in performance scenes would only distract from the stunning visuals and story of the girl who was desperate for love thus the repetitive singing of "Give me love".



Doing this task has been extremely helpful as it has given me a thorough understanding about the difference between performance based and narrative based music videos and the pros and cons that accompany them. Personally, I have found that I enjoy narrative based music videos the best, but I think a balance between the two is what's most effective. I will take this knowledge and apply it to my own music video, hopefully having a strong emphasis on the narrative, with performance parts thrown in at different parts.