A textual analysis of Disclosure's and Lorde's music video for their song "Magnets."

2. SOUND:
The song relates to the synth-pop, dance, deep house, tropical house and
UK garage music genres. It is made up of metaphorical lyrics which
emphasise the messages of the video. The video contains a plot about a
broken relationship due to a man cheating with another woman. With lyrics
like, “as we drank deep from a lie,” it connotes that the cheating the main
character is taking part in (played by Lorde, as she lip syncs them) has
consumed her, there are mixed emotions and she may be stuck between
love and lust. The element of love, may be the “lie” she’s speaking about.
This is emphasised by the lyrics “smoke and sunset” which may be a
metaphor for their relationship. It may seem appealing and be heated like
the sun and fire, but may end like smoke after a fire and when a sun sets
and darkness takes over. The lyrics, “I felt melting magnets” are also
important as it links to the name of the song. These “melting magnets” may
also signify the blending of love, lust and therefore chaos the characters all
feel for each other.

3. CAMERA SHOTS:
I believe that the introductory establishing shot at the beginning of the music video is really
important. It insinuates what the music video and song is going to be about. For example, it shows
Lorde as well as the pool she attacks the man she’s cheated with later on in the video. A lot of
close ups are also used. These are used in passionate scenes for example, when Lorde is kissing the
man in a relationship. Therefore, they may be used to highlight the chaos their passion is creating.
Mid-shots are also used to show how much Lorde and the man’s girlfriend look alike. For example,
a mid-shot from the back of the girlfriend looks like Lorde since they are styled with the same hair.
This shows how camera shots and mise-en-scene can importantly link together.

4. EDITING:
Cross cutting and jump cuts are used throughout the video so
that footage alternates between Lorde cheating with a man and
scenes of the man with his girlfriend. This helps to create a
tension between the characters and show that a relationship is
falling apart. Flash cutting is also used in the video as scenes of
the characters kissing happen quickly to transition and contrast
with scenes of the man being with his girlfriend.
During the editing processes for this video, fire may have also
been added in the scenes where Lorde is shown taking revenge
on the guy she’s been cheating and possibly tricked by. It helps to
infer this as at the end Lorde and the man’s girlfriend are shown
together.

5. MISE-EN-SCENE:
Different elements of the video in relation to mise-en-scene such as the props, clothing and
locations used within it emphatically link to themes of the music video which include the
chaotic difference between love and lust. For example, these include the characters drinking
wine, the characters wearing black, Lorde using a lighter and there being a swimming pool. I
think that introductory shots of the characters in a relationship drinking wine connotes that
love, or the concept of, can be addicting. This is emphasised by the male character turning
away from his wife and looking at Lorde.
I think because the characters wear black signifies the pain and ending of the love and lust
they have felt between them. Lorde’s lighter which she uses to set the male character on fire
after attempting to drown him in the swimming pool is also important. It links to the song
title and the lyrics which talk about melting “magnets.” The close up of the flame in the video
also implies that the spark has gone out between them. The fact that his girlfriend and Lorde
have the same hairstyles and are styled in the fame way since they also wear similar clothes,
it infers the blurred reality which the characters are apart of and highlights they are the
“melting magnets.”