MISE EN SCENE
Theopening scene shows the location of where the
video is set and the star. As the video goes on we see it
is set in Amsterdam, a popular location amongst the
target audience, with things we associate with the city
being shown i.e. bikes, boats, canals etc. We can also
easily see the song fits into the pop genre with an
upbeat tune being heard as soon as the song starts.
Amsterdam was also a location, where the film that this
song is collaborating with was set, creating a link
between the two.
Naturalistic bright lighting is used as Charli XCX walks
through the streets of Amsterdam. She is dressed in
relaxed but stylish clothes, portraying her as a trendy
and young girl that others can look up and relate to.
This type of costume is stereotypical of the pop genre
and singers.
3.
MUSIC/LYRICS
Throughout the song,the
tempo changes which affects
the speed of cuts. In the verses
where there is a slower pace
the cuts are longer but in the
chorus where the tempo speeds
up the cuts are more rapid.
From the lyrics we gather the
song is about being in love and
how you feel when you are.
4.
CAMERAWORK
Camerawork can beused in different ways to make a music video unique and
eye-catching. In the video a lot of mid shots are used which gives viewers a
clear shot of the main singer but also the beautiful surroundings behind her.
Close up shots are also used frequently, mainly when Charli XCX is singing
to show her expression and her mood, which is happy and relaxed, which is
the vibe the song gives off. Close up shots also create an intimacy between
the artists and viewer. Close up shots are also used on her hands when she
sings the lyric ‘clap’ which creates a cohesion between the words of the song
and the action on screen.
5.
INTERTEXTUALITY
The song wasreleased in collaboration with teen
romance film “The Fault in Our Stars” and was the
first song featured on the film’s soundtrack as well
as Charli XCX’s own album. The video features brief
clips from The Fault in Our Stars as well as on-
screen text written in the style of the book cover and
film poster.
The Fault in Our Stars was one of the biggest films
released in 2014 and with fans of the film being
mainly teenage girls, they would be interested in this
type of genre and likely to watch the video and share
it on. As footage from the movie is included in the
video, people who have not seen the video are
introduced to the two main characters (Hazel and
Gus). It also introduces the audience to the film the
song is representing.
6.
EDITING
This music video’sediting is driven by the tempo of the music. As previously
mentioned, the chorus is the part of the video where there is lots of rapid
editing as it is the fastest part of the song. This is a common feature in lots
of pop music videos. In these shots, the location and costume changes
suggesting that the video has a performance narrative.
Throughout the video, handwritten drawings and words appear over some
scenes, which is in the same style of the font used in the movie, making
more references to the film the song is representing.
