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1. Textual Analysis – Representation
Sam Smith - Lay me down
By Bradley Barnes

2. Being shown in this frame Is
a mid-shot of Sam Smith
looking down at what we first
assume is a coffin as he is
currently situated in a church.
The representation this gives
off is that perhaps he is
saying his ‘final goodbye’ to a
loved one. Due to his back
being turned away from us,
he is creating suspense
towards his target audience,
as we are left waiting to find
out whether our first
impression was correct and
what kind of facial
expressions we will be
presented with by him as a
result.
By the church being
represented in the first shot it
poses the question as to
whether he is there for his
own personal reasons due to
the fact that he is the only
one standing up the front of
the church.
This particular mid-shot
strengthens our first
impression that he is
attending a funeral. This is
strengthened by the frame
being in low-key lighting with
the only slight bit of high-key
lighting coming from the
candles behind him. In this
frame the candles can be
represented as a sign of
respect and the persons life
who may have now passes.
This frame also represents a
spiritual theme due to it being
represented as a traditional
send off.
Thirdly, for the first time we
see the people behind Sam.
Within the frame they are
however all wearing dark
clothing which is communally
associated with a passing of a
loved one. Due to the fact that
each person is holding a
candle can connote that the
person who may have passed
was extremely likable due to
the vast amount of people
who we assume have
attended his/her funeral as a
result.
Fourthly, the flowers can
symbolise the fact that
somebody may have passed,
the have purposely been
placed on top of what we
presume is a coffin. The
green/purple of the flowers is
the most eye-catching
element of this mid shot due
to the fact that everybody is
wearing dark clothing and
have been represented as to
mourn the dead. Therefore,
the representation is creating
a mood of sorrow/lost as a
result throughout the first half
of Sam Smith’s music video.
What is being shown in the frame

3. Above, is the final low key
lighting shot throughout Sam
Smith’s music video ‘Lay Me
Down’. This close up shot
represents the people sitting
within the church and
expresses their emotions in
which they’re currently
experiencing at the time.
There are many connotations
that this shot represents due
to the fact that there are multi-
cultural people within the
audience all of different races,
genders and sexuality.
Therefore, this frame
represents that Sam Smith
doesn’t discriminate within his
music videos and that he
targets his soulful music to all
people from all walks of life.
What is being shown in the frame?
This mid close up is extremely
useful when analysing
representation. Firstly, the low
key lighting and sorrow mood
has now changed to a vibrant
and uplifting scene (high key
lighting). Secondly, we can
now tell that Sam is about to
get married to the other man
pictured in this mid close up of
the pair. The representation
here juxtaposes the church
laws at the time which didn’t
allow ‘gay people’ to marry
each other inside a church.
Sam supports this by saying
"Obviously gay marriage isn't
legal in churches, and we're
doing a gay marriage today, in
the church. We're the first ever
to do it. It's obviously not a
real marriage, but still”
therefore, Sam juxtaposes the
stereotypical debate as to
whether on not gay people
should be allowed to marry
and this music video is a
representation of this.
Noticeably, the audience
have now changed
costumes and are now
wearing white which
connotes freedom and
expression. Therefore, this
symbolises the important
promise that Sam has just
given his partner (in the
music video).
The music video is shot
throughout in a church in
London which is why a proper
church is represented with
candles, confession rooms
and wooden seats, people
holding candles shows that it
is a gesture of sadness, and
adds to the funeral feel, Black
clothes In this scenario depict
sadness, pain and grief. In the
flashback scene everybody is
wearing white and the grooms
are also wearing a white
flower on their black suit to
show that white represents
peace, harmony, happiness,
although the two grooms
dancing is a controversial
representation because same
sex marriages are not
legalized to take place in
churches, but this
representation shows the
message that the artist wants
to portray through this music
video i.e. Equal rights for all
genders and no gender
discrimination.

4. WHY ARE THEY USING THAT PERSON OR IMAGE?
 There is no such race discrimination in the music video as throughout, African Americans
and white skinned people are shown together and equal. A person with piercings and
tattoos is also shown in the music video, his look suggests that he could be a criminal,
either in the past who is repenting now, or from his regretful and sad facial expressions he
can also be the person who could’ve killed the person who’s funeral is going on
accidentally or unintentionally, which is why he has a regretful look on his face.

5. WHAT DO YOU THINK DRAWS AN AUDIENCE INTO
THE STORY BECAUSE OF THE IMAGE?
 The target audience for this music video is quite vast, this is because Sam smith is a
popular artist for young people today therefore, the main target audience is young adults
because of the content is the same in his music in particular this video. This is because
most of his songs have meaningful lyrics that younger listeners might not necessarily
understand. Therefore, the Primary audience- mainstream R and B fans, whereas, the
secondary audience is more gay men who recognise their experiences. This means that
Sam smith can relate with his audience because he has recently come out as gay. Which
means his target audience majorly increased to a lot more males because they could be
going through the process of gay marriage as it is now legal in some states. The circular
narrative structure intrigues the target audience causing them to be attracted to the video.
As a result, this type of video can gain a lager audience as Sam smith is addressing
something different that it Is not often represented by other artist in today’s music industry.
For that reason, teens or any listeners use his music as tool to solving their problems. This
means that Sam is able to really connect with his audience and they can relate to him.
 The narrative to this video can be applied to Todorov theory because it shows the
equilibrium of where the video begins in a negative way however, there is then a resolution
to the problem.

6. WHAT COLOUR SCHEME IS USED AND WHY?
 The main genre of this music video is R&B. This is because the style of the music is very
different to pop music because it is not all about bright colours and an up-beat song. It is
more to do with the meaning behind the song, this is because many of Sam smith songs
have meaningful lyrics to them as they all link to his previous experiences.
 The visuals work with the music because of the use of the bright colours and the guests in
the video wearing white, due to at the beginning of the video the lighting was very dark and
everybody was dressed in black, to represent what appears to be a mournful in funeral
wear. Therefore, the use of the brighter lighting suggests purity and happiness which also
works with the music as people are happy about gay marriage being made legal in some
states. Furthermore, this video illustrates the lyrics because it gives a clearer message and
understanding to the viewers as they can see what is going on within the video.

7. IS THERE THE USE OF COSTUME OR PROPS? IF SO,
HOW COULD THEY DEVELOP THE STORY?
 There is a juxtaposition between costumes which are used throughout his music video.
Firstly, he and the audience behind him are wearing very dark clothes which at first
connotes to the audience that they’re at a funeral of a loved one. However, this soon
changes to brighter clothing which symbolises a wedding atmosphere, we can also see
this through the happy facial expression of the audience now as before they portrayed
sorrow faces at the thought of potentially losing somebody.
 There are few props used throughout his video. Personally, I feel as if he didn’t want to
portray lots of props throughout as it may have taken away from the message in which we
wanted to portray as a result and the fact that people are now happy with ‘gay marriage’
being legalised in some states.

8. ARE THE PEOPLE MALE OR FEMALE AND HOW
DOES THIS APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE?
 In this video we are encouraged to look at Sam Smith in a positive way because he is seen a
positive role model to young people who are struggling with their identity or sexuality. This is
because he has recently come out as gay therefore, this encourages people to stand up for who
they are because it shows that what ever your sexuality or gender is that everybody as the right
to be accepted in society. Furthermore, this video does not represent Sam Smith in a voyeuristic
way because the video does not obtain sexual gratification and no individuals are being looked
at as sexual objects. Instead everybody within the video is shown to be happy and excited at this
joyous same sex marriage.

9. WHAT CONNOTATIONS ARE PROVIDED (SHOWN)
AND WHY?
 In the first scene, Smith sings in front of a closed casket. A funeral often calls forth the epideictic
style of speaking, or a eulogy where the dead are praised. The epideictic focuses on the present
and makes real and meaningful the death in the past for the present coping of the loss. Sam
Smith asks what must be unanswered questions about the ability for him to reconnect physically
and emotionally with the person who has passed. The answer is a resounding "no." Sam Smith
cannot make sure the person is alright or lay by their side again. Their new home is not among
the living. It is unclear who he is mourning which removes the sexual connotations that the
question "Can I lay by your side?" could potentially evoke. This scene illuminates the sorrow of
loss and the frequent trope of wishing to hold and keep close those we have lost, despite the
impossibility of it.
 The second scene slowly transitions from a funeral to a celebratory wedding. This situation is
also one of epideictic, but a loss is not made meaningful in the present, but it is instead a
celebration and praise of a relationship, it's past, present, and future. Sam Smith's words
transition from a eulogy to wedding vows, where he is asking permission of his partner to
cement their relationship legally, to lay by his side and be his protector and keeper. Historically,
the wedding night would be the first night of the relationship where couples spent the night.
Although not often the case today, the question still poses symbolic connotations of a new stage
in the relationship that solidifies monogamy, commitment, and physical compatibility. It should be
noted that Smith's partner in the music video and reality is a man. This scene, thus, also carries
political connotations surrounding the love and commitment between partners of any sex or
gender that is legally allowed. The wedding guests are jumping with joy and dressed all in white
in a stark comparison to the black-clad mourning outfits.
 Therefore, connotations are provided of both funerals and weddings throughout this music video
as a result.