Analysing music videos

Ed Sheeran-The A team








Illustrative
This music video presents a large amount of illustrative meaning between the lyrics within the song and what is actually happening in the video. From the very first lyrics this is obvious. The video links to the lyrics "white lips, pale face" by using a black and white element on the camera, to create a pale, cold atmosphere and to present her skin as literally white. Mise en scene has been used to support this effect. The setting of a cold park comes in at the same time of the lyrics. We can see it is a cold park via the lifeless trees, adding a realistic and illustrative aspect to the video.



Amplify
Within the video a large range of below angle shots are used; amplifying the metaphorical meaning of the video that this girl is out of her depth. However, there is a wide variety of contrast between the video and the lyrics. At these points there is a clear metaphorical link between what is being said and what is happening in the video. Such as the point when it is revealed she is homeless, linking metaphorically to "long nights, strange men." Whilst having no direct link within the video, we understand how they could be seen to link together. This is amplification because she is clearly homeless in every clip, repeating the idea she is helpless.



At this point in the video the lyrics directly contrast what is being shown to use by the video. Here the girl is looking longingly at the flowers whilst the lyrics say "sell love to another man" This would suggest she wants the natural generosity of unforced love, not the cold hearted forced love she is being made to have. This adds a poignant, dark contrast to the music video which helps amplify the actual meaning of the song. This would be something I would consider using in my own music video. I think that showing something which is the binary opposite of the lyrics could help enforce a meaning a lot harder than just straight forward illustration. Mise en scene is used to offer a direct link between the lyrics and the video. Location has been used to provide a train station named "Angel Station." This directly links to the lyrics, providing realism to the song.



Following this is a verse of dysjunture, the lyrics are wholly ignored by what is being presented in the video. In this video this is an effective technique to support and project a meaning. This meaning being that she needs help. In someways it could therefore be argued that the lyrics are presenting the metaphorical meaning of the video-that she needs help but that this moment in the video doesn't relate to the lyrics. I think this is an interesting technique that can allow the audience to think about what they are seeing. By doing this, the meaning is projected in a way that is more thorough, as the audience are consciously absorbing that via thought. If I choose a song that has a definitive meaning behind it, this will be a technique I will be certain to use.



This point in the video presents a very long shot of the girl with no editing involved. This works as illustrative and as a tool to amplify at the same time. Here there is a certain link between the lyrics and the video. It is an illustrative technique as the camera shot is of her face whilst the lyrics are "her face seems so sinking wasting." The miss en scene seconds this by using the black and white technique and well as make up to make her face seem hurt and tired. Again, if my song I choose to do has a strong meaning behind it this is a technique I will choose to use. As slow cut editing gives a large amount of time for the audience to recognise the meaning being projected.



Later in the video, an illustrative technique is once more used. The lyrics, "go mad for a couple grams" is accompanied by the image of the girl being handed a bag of drugs. This is hard hitting and brings a message across. It is a bold illustrative technique. This is accompanied by the lyrics "she don't want to go outside, tonight" whilst she warily looks over her shoulder.