analysis

1. Estelle Naughton Tuesday 28th October 2014
Due on Monday 3rd November 2014
Media Homework – Music Video Analysis
Analyse a music video in terms of genre theorist Lacey and his idea repertoire
of elements, including characters, narrative events, iconography, setting and
technical/audio scores.
I am going to analyse yet another popular song called ‘Budapest’ by George Ezra
which is currently in the top 40 UK charts. By using Lacey’s repertoire of elements, it
will allow me to gain an insight to simple decisions made within any music video,
sampling ideas from ‘Budapest’. There are two different music videos for this song;
an official video released on and by VEVO and an alternative version which is more
simple and effortless. The official music video, the one I will be analysing, has a
conceptual, narrative and performance style to the video as it creates a an idea
about society and the people who surround him within the video, as you’re constantly
guessing what these people mean and represent to George Ezra and his song.
There are a few shots of George Ezra playing the guitar, adding an element of
performance to the overall video. On the other hand, the alternative video allows a
more upbeat and consistent due to the editing of the shots being fast paced and in
time to the beat of the music, this video is performance based as it is simply just
George Ezra playing the guitar to the camera with a range of camera shots and
angle to capture his performance from different angle which could indicate the
different ways in which people can interpret the lyrics and the video to ‘Budapest’.
The main character in both versions of the music video is George Ezra as he is
playing the guitar in both, this could also suggest that the audience should focus on
the music rather than the music video as the music is just as effective in the
alternative version as it is in the official version; indicating that the plainer the video,
the people will listen to the music and watch the music video for the music rather
than the events in the music video contained in many other pop videos. In the official
video, there are other people around George when he’s performing but not many of
the other characters were of importance, and memorable after the video as they
didn’t have a main part to play within the video, although some people were focused
on in the video such as the three men. The other, slightly irrelevant characters could
represent society and how George feels compact within society, how he’s trying to
break away from the norm, stand out and within that room he was the only one with
a voice that people or the audience were listening to. When certain members of the
crowd were singled out, filmed and edited in slow motion as some parts of the video
were slowed down, slow motion was used to enhance their reactions and this could
suggest how we as a society need to slow down and realise what is happening
around us or ‘stop and believe’, as George sang previously to the scene with the
three men. The other people within the music video that aren’t really a main focus,
are said to be friends and family of George as said by himself which could highlight
the bonds between George, his family and friends and this links in with the idea of
society, that his friends and family are closest to him and it will remain this way even
when he becomes increasingly famous and well known within the music industry.
As established, George Ezra is the main character as in both videos, there are a
number of different shots which suggest the audience should focus on him and the

2. music as that is what music is abut and not the elaborate and extensive music
videos most pop artists release. The simplistic style of both the official and
alternative version of the music video is effective if not more than other music videos
that correspond with just as catchy songs as ‘Budapest’.
George Ezra:
On the left is an image taken from the official music video and although he is
surrounded by other people, it is rare within the video when they’re focused on
however in some scenes certain people are singled out yet you’re focusing on the
music because what the people are doing is irrelevant and nothing of importance.
However in the alternative video, a basic and simple way of producing a music video
by himself with different shot types to switch it up and break it up, has the same
effect as the official video, as the audience is focusing on the music rather than the
music video as there is nothing happening in the music video which i believe was
done purposely.
Iconography is present within both videos especially with George openly performing
with his guitar, which relates to the genre of indie/folk as the video, style of music
and the way he’s playing the guitar suggests he is of this genre of similar.
Additionally, the style of singing is rather iconic to George as it is more spoken word
than singing which is similar to Lana Del Rey and her singing style, which is iconic to
the genre of indie/rock artists. However, the overall style of the music, video and the
way it is performed is enhanced and modernised by the acoustics present in the
music video and the musical score, with yet a vintage feel as the song isn’t digitally
enhanced like most other popular tracks, which breaks the stereotype of pop genre
in this case.
The most iconic thing within both music videos would be the use of the guitar and the
way in which he performs with the guitar. The guitar is iconic as it represents George
as an artist and the genre of folk/indie in which George Ezra is labelled as.

3. By crowd surfing whilst playing the guitar, it could be a parody of the genre as crowd
surfing is generally a rock move and something that an artist of a rock genre would
do. Crowd surfing seems unrelated and not stereotypical of a folk/indie artist to do
within a music video however the sole focus is yet again on George and his guitar
playing. In the alternative video, he is playing the guitar and close up shots allow him
to sing to the camera and essentially to the audience, which reinforces the
importance of music over the music video. Although ever so gracefully playing the
guitar, George Ezra is almost swinging the guitar around in a rock star manner,
which shows his passion for music and again, mocking the genre of folk music by
adding an element of something unexpected of someone of that genre.
The setting of both the two versions of the music video was in a room, however in
the official music video, low key lighting was used to create an enigma of why he’s
feeling crowded and shoved in as shown with the over head shots of all the people
and then George Ezra. The people within the crowded room where of multiple
varieties including race, ethnicity, gender and ages which could indicate the different
people within society who contribute to community as a whole. Within the darkened
room, a man sneezes and most of the people surrounding him turn and looking
which could connote with society as people stop doing nothing to focus on nothing to
single other people out, making them feel unwelcome which could link in with
George as he feels is isn’t ordinary within music and within himself. Alternatively, in
the more niche or restricted music video, bright lighting is used to highlight George’s
features and opinions expressed through the lyrics which enlighten the audience.
The binary opposition within the mise en scene in both videos could suggest who the
music video and the lyrics can be interpreted either light heartedly or meaningful,
with the official video suggesting a more analytical thought process behind the video,
which is uncommon within pop genre or popular music video.
The setting of the two music videos is in a room but the two videos contrast each
other as the original or official video is dark and philosophical whilst the alternative
video is bright and gives the tune a more upbeat feel due to the bright colours behind
George on a green screen.
In the official video, the setting is dark which enhances the more emotional and in
depth side to the lyrics and the video. As shown above, George Ezra is the focal
point within this screen shot and the music video, as in this still image a spot light is
shining on him as if he is the main person which he is whilst all the other people
around him are pushed aside by being in a red light showing that they are irrelevant
and unneeded. However in the alternative music video, the setting is plain yet
colourful as the colours of the background change and are in time to the beat which
allows the upbeat tempo and attitude to the song to be enhanced.

4. In terms of technical codes, the official video is full of cross cuts of George Ezra to
other shots of George in a different area within the room, which reinforces he is the
main focus of the video as you cut from shots of him to other shot of him which
indicates nothing much is happening in the video so the audience is compelled to
focus on the artists, as it should be. Similar shots take place within the alternative
video, with different shots and different types of shots such as close up and long
shots, again suggesting the audience are to focus on the music. In the official music
video, cross cuts are present from shots of George Ezra to other characters which
intensify the meaning of the video and the bonds between the people in the video.
In conclusion, by analysing George Ezra’s ‘Budapest’ it has allowed me to think
about how I would like to set out my music video and the different ways it can be
shown on the screen. Additionally, the idea of two different music videos with two
opposing attitudes to the music has influenced how I would like to structure, film and
edit my music video although producing two separate music videos would be
extremely difficult, it has enhanced how the same lyrics and same artist can
demonstrate two contrasting videos and show the ideas behind the video and lyrics
allowing a thought process within the audience’s mind and mine when considering
my music video. By analysing the music video in the style of Lacey’s repertoire
elements has allowed me to start thinking about how I would like to style my music
video and how it can be shown in a variety of ways, as has ‘Budapest’.