Analysis of Sam Smith's Leave Your Lover for A2 Media Studies coursewokr

1. Music Video Analysis
Leave Your Lover (2014)
In The Lonely Hour
Sam Smith
R&B/Soul
By Aminatta Sylva 13H

2. This music video begins with a mid shot of Sam
Smith sitting in what looks to be like a strip club
lounge.
The camera slowly pans towards him, indicating
to the audience that he is the star of this music
video. He is dressed formally; wearing a suit with
a bow tie and his iconographical retro hair cut.
Deep space focus has been used on the star in
this shot, this implies to us that he is in his own
zone, the star looks lonely and isolated from the
chaotic background. This juxtaposes with the
lively, fun and sociable background that is in.
Who goes to the club feeling low?
This shot could also suggest to the audience
that this reality is not what he truly wants to
fulfil, it conforms against the Sam that his
fans know as well as the lyrics, the lyrics are
about envy and betrayal, that he wants her
to achieve.
Lighting is bright and sometimes low key in
this shot, this connotes to us that his
innocence s being tarnished by those
around him. The use of the red lighting in
the club, adds emphasis on the
atmosphere of the strip club; sinful and
tempting.

3. They are dressed in casual outdoor
clothing. Sam Smith is also dressed
casually in this montage of the music
video. He is still dressed kind of retro;
round sunglasses and cool casual trendy
outfit, same goes for his friends.
This suggests to us that Sam is tied
between the two- he is struggling to
identify his true sexuality. This reflects
the affairs in Sam's life, as he recently
came out as gay, perhaps this music
video shows us his journey from being
straight to gay.
There is then a cut to the three friends,
at first we assume that Sam is dating
the female- he is holding hands with
her, but then we see a shot of his male
friend being intimate and touchy
towards him.

4. Next Montage- 3 friends
The male friend seems to be close to
the female friend as well, this
confuses the audience, but reflects
Sam’s relationship status amongst
both sexes. This video may be perfect
for those that are confused about
their sexual identity.
The sharing of the cigarette between
the female and the male friend, hints
to the audience that Sam’s male
friend may be bi-sexual. Cigarettes
have phallic and sexual
representations towards when a
women is smoking it, but for a woman
to give the cigarette to a man,
suggests that he is into males.
Cigarettes also connote rebellion and
youth.
Natural lighting is used in this shot and it was
filmed through the use of a stedicam to give
us that personal glance into Sam Smith’s love
life. It also makes it feel as though we are on a
journey with the three friends.

5. Next Montage- objectification of
women and homoerotism
The female that plays between the
two men, is objectified in this music
video, to show his lack of interest in
women. Sam later does this when she
is dancing with him, but instead of
holding her, he pour himself a drink.
There is a shot in which again the
male friend is showing affection
towards Sam, by touching his
back.

6. In this shot the three friends hold
hands together by accident, this
shows us that they are stuck in a
love triangle as it is hard to find
out who really wanted to hold
someone’s hand. Holding
someone’s hand is a romantic
affection.
Sam gives the male friend a piggy
back ride, this further connotes his
bi-curious side, same goes for the
male friend
Sam also puts his arm behind the
male friend when they are sitting
on a bench, on the match on action,
he is holding the girl’s hand. This
suggests to us that he cannot
decide between the two sexes
which one he wants to be with.

7. Mid-shot of the three friends dancing
with the female friend in the middle,
who keeps on turning from one man
to another; this shows us that she is
indecisive, just like Sam and the male
friend.

8. Next Montage- hotel room
Male friend is scene smoking; could be a symbol for
his homosexuality which is later revealed in the
narrative of this music video. The female friend is
again objectified; we see her in a bra.
There is then a shot of Sam looking into the mirror, this
signifies to the audience that he is confused about who he
really is and where this relationship is going.

10. • I don't have much to give, but I
don't care for gold
• What use is money, when you
need someone to hold?
This is a classic theme used in many a
love song. He doesn’t have any
money, but that doesn’t bother him,
because all he needs is love (and
money can’t buy him love).
Being out in the cold is a saying depicting
exclusion from a group, in terms of the music
video the group could be the bad end of a love
triangle. He feels like he is just drifting and
rolling (Like A Rolling Stone?) due to this.
The cold could also represent his feelings of
isolation — hence the album title “The Lonely
Hour” — yet the fact that he is just waiting
suggests the hopelessness of it all.

11. • Or how it feels to fall behind
• And watch you call his name
Almost poetically, Sam Smith reveals
the hardship he goes through every
night he spends alone.
Secondly, what ‘rhymes with “rain”’ is pain.
Though is not as obvious as most pains in the
world, loneliness is extremely detrimental to
people and can even cause depression, as he
aptly puts it, these feelings are just endless
relenting.

12. • I will give you all of me
• Just leave your lover, leave him for
me
• Leave your lover, leave him for me
He pleads him to hurry up. His heart is about to burst
(beating heart), and he will lie sleepless as long as they
are apart (midnight terror free).
He’s not asking the other person to leave their lover so
they can be with Sam, but Sam asks if he can be with the
lover.
This other person is probably a girl, if you consider the
music video for the song. At the end of the video when
this line plays, Sam is seen watching what was
insinuated to be a friend throughout on a date with
another man, with the video fading to black as he walks
away into the distance. There’s a girl hanging around
with them, before they leave together, and it’s
insinuated she’s the other man’s boyfriend.