1. As a groupwe decide tocreate a mindmap of ideas,sowe’re able todecide ongenre,the artistand
the selectedsong,we lookedvariousdifferentgenressuchasindie,alternativeand popthathave
interestingsongswithasongnarrative and meaning.The mainartistwe lookedatwasThe 1975s,
JamesBay, Ed Sheeran,Sia,Adele andHalsey.We lookedatall publishedsongsbythe artistand
beganto researchon the artiston the meaningonthe songsand theirmusicvideos.Separatelywe
researchedsongs inourown time feedbacktoeachotherandaskedfor theiropinionsof the songs
we foundappealing. The songthatwe thoughtwas quite interestingwas“Holdme down”by Halsey
fromher depute albumBadlands,eachsongproducedbythe artistisveryemotional andhas
personal message,whichwe couldinterpretvisual througha musicvideo,andthe songwe selected
we fundverystrongand poweringasit hasa strongpersonal message thatwe can create forout
musicvideo.
The lyricinspiredmanyideasforourmusicvideoasthe lyricscreate the ideaof rebellion,
temptation,poweranddominance. Whenresearchingmore aboutthe songwe foundthe songa
had verydeepmeaningthroughoutthe lyricsasitall about herrelationshipwithacertainmale that
made her feel small andpowerlesscreate anideaof male dominance betweenthem.Inthe first
verse the songbeginswith:
My demonsare beggingme toopenupmy mouth
I needthemmechanicallymake the wordscome out
Theyfightme,vigorousandangry,watch thempounce
Ignite me,lickingupthe flamestheybringabout
Thisis tellingthe audience thatwithoutthesethings she considersher‘demons’livinginside of her,
she feelslike she wouldhave novoice thatshe’s essentiallybe mute,withnowaytobe heavily
opinionatedinordertopointoutthingsaroundher whichfeltthroughoutherrelationship.
These demonsprovide apowerthatpusheshertospeakhermindat all times,draggingher
thoughtsrightout of her. The words“Ignite me,lickingupthe flamestheybringabout”suggests
eventhoughthe demonsallowhertospeak,nothingchangeswhenshe resistsbecauseshe feels
powerlesstoherowninhibitions.
The flamesrefertothe firesof Hell,fromwhere the “demons”come.Theypurposelymake her
angry to enjoythe havocthat herangerevokes.
Thiscreatesthe ideaof rebellion,breakingoutof the chainthatbecome boundto as we have no
choice to followthe rule,buthave voice tospeakouropinion.
The secondverse leadingtochorusbecome more sexuallyandpromiscuous as the lyricsgo
I soldmy soul toa three-piece
Andhe toldme I was holy
He's got me downon bothknees
But it's the devil that'stryna
The words“Three-piece”referstoaman such as the devil inathree-piecesuit(jacket,vest,
trousers) thatshe “soldher soul to,”presumablyforsomethinginreturn.
Thiscouldbe a possible sexual reference:“he’sgotme downonbothknees”showsasignof
dominance onhisend,tellingherthatshe’sholy, asif she was a god,just to gether rightwhere he
2. wantsher.In the end,it’sherinner demonsthatkeep herdown. Creatingthe ideaof inequality
betweenthe twosexes,suggestingthatwomenare onlyneededtothe oppositesex.
The chorus againsuggestagainto the audience how the artistfeltwhenshe beganhersinging
career:Hold me down,holdme down
Throw me inthe deep end,watchme drown
Knockme out,knockme out
Sayingthat I wantmore,thisiswhat I live for
Thisgivesa sense of howshe wastreatedby others leadinghertoself doubt,somethingthat’s
startingto tear herapart from the inside.Toescape these demons,Halseyattempts torunfromthe
judgments butfailsastheywatchher everymove “throw me inthe deepend,watchme drown,
creatingthe ideacriticismanddoubtshe facesas artist.
The nextverse Ifoundveryinterestingasitcreatesthe idea how she struggled withself doubt,
Selfish,takingwhatIwant andcall itmine
I'm helpless,clingingtoalittle bitof spine
Theyrush me,tellingme I'mrunningoutof time
Theyshushme,walkingme acrossa fragile line
Thissuggeststhatshe still holdsontothe little bitof self confidence anddignity‘I’mhelpless,
clingingtoa little bitof spine’ she hasleft. The otherwordshe usessuchas rushand shushcreates
that ideathatshe triestohave a voice butalwaystell tobe quite andhurry upas theyare not
interested.
As a groupwe createdthe ideaof rebellion,temptationandsexualityasthe meaningof songisall
abouthavinga voice and breakingoutandprovingpeople wrong.
The style of our musicvideois all aboutnarrative creatingmeaningvisual asthe songhasstrong
message whichourselectedartistsaidinan interview “nomatterhow small youare or how small
people maymake youseem,youshouldneverletanythingholdyoudown.”
For the narrative of our videoisall goingto be focusedonfemale goingoutatnightand havingfun
and beingrebelliousbydrinkingunderage andsmokingandroamingthe streetsof Manchesterlate
at nightcreatingthe theme of rebellionand temptationwe will focusingonthe mise enscene such
as the setting,clothingandcoloursusedthroughoutthe video.
Clothingandmake upworn byour female will be redlip,darkmake-up(Smokeyeyes) leatherjacket,
rippedjeans,red/blackheels/boots.We decidethislookassuggeststhe femaleisveryrebelliousas
blackis associatedwithpower,fear,mystery,strength,authority,elegance,formality,death,evil,
and aggression,authority,rebellion,andsophistication.Blackisrequiredforall othercolourstohave
depthandvariationof hue such as red.The colourredis associatedwithmeaningsof love,passion,
desire,heat,longing,joy,strength,leadership,courage,vigour,willpower,rage,anger,danger,
malice,wrath,stress,action,vibrancy,radiance,anddetermination suggestingtothe audience that
the character will challengingthe stereotypical view of womendue the representationthrough
clothing.
3. The music videowill be setin the northernquarterinthe Manchestercreatingiconographyinour
videoaswill be capturingfootage,atPiccadillybusstation,Affleck’s whichisverycolourful and
quite oldwhichthe interiorof the buildingasitknownforbeingweird.
