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1. Goodwin’s theory

3.  The music video generally doesn’t demonstrate genre characteristics of house
music as it is running with a narrative that has quite violent and power seeking
themes.
 However, it does show the characters enjoying themselves (laughing) in some
scenes along with the use of exotic locations and sunny settings which could show
some of the characteristics, but not much.

4.  The narrative of the music video strongly relates to the meaning of the lyrics of
the song and therefore has a strong relationship between them.
 For example with the lyrics ‘when you wake up ill be long gone’ she is packing up
the clothes of her partner into a bag.

5.  There is a dominant 4-part beat throughout the music that all of the cuts in the
video are in time with, making a clear relationship between the music and the
visuals.
 Also, when the beat first drops and begins the first chorus – she bursts out of the
door and walks out of it fiercely which is making a clear relationship with the
music.
 Another notable point is that when the song picks up, footage of the car is used
driving really fats which goes with the pace of the beat of the song, again making
a clear relation with the music.

6.  Blonde don’t ever feature in their music videos. They aim to present the song as
opposed to presenting themselves.
 They tend to use narrative genre for their music videos and as their songs
commonly include dominantly female vocals a lot of female characters are used.
 This would satisfy the record label as it would be appealing for males as they are
often sexualised and shots linger on parts of them that are being revealed e.g.
their legs, and also to females as they are taking control of their lives and gaining
more and more power throughout the video which is empowering women.
 Therefore a good promotion of the song would arise from this so therefore
satisfying the record label.

7.  There are a few references during this music video, as one of the female
characters is looking in her rear view mirror when she is waiting for her friend to
come out of a shop. This was done as she was committing a crime in the shop
(stealing the wine) therefore was apprehensive and nervous which was portrayed
using this shot.
 Also, the music video does use some voyeuristic shots of the female characters
therefore it could be argued that it abides by Laura Mulvey’s theory of the Male
Gaze:
 Men looking at women: sexualised dresses, cut outs at the hips and generally very
short revealing their legs a lot. Shots are used that linger on their legs during the
music video too highlighting this point.
 However, it can also be argues that it counter acts the theory as the women in the
music video are very empowered, driving expensive cars and yachts and carrying
guns and inflicting fear upon others.

8.  There are no intertextual references in this music video as it carries a narrative of
its own, however it does feature a clip on the television of an explosion in the
water which is carried out by the characters, but we don’t know where this clip
has come from.

10.  Step 1 – the structure. There is definitely a structure throughout the song. There is a
prominent 4-part structured beat throughout the whole song. It is the same beat
throughout the whole song, however amplifies when the song picks up pace and then
speeds up in the chorus and slightly altered to change the effect from the chorus. But
the same beat is still used creating a structure to the music.
 Step 2 – the voice of the song. The vocals of the artist come from an actor from the
programme glee therefore this may be recognisable to people who watched this
programme but not necessarily to everyone. Along with this, as there is no
performance and it is a narrative genre it is clear the vocals aren’t coming from the
main character but someone else.
 Step 3 – artists mode of address. As the artists don’t feature in the music video they
are telling the story to the consumer through their music which is very clear as it has
a set structure as previously mentioned. At the beginning it starts soft and simple, and
then begins picking up more and more of a pace throughout after each chorus. The end
of the song has a different beat to it however is still the same 4 part structure. This
could be showing that the character in the narrative started out soft and then
throughout her journey has gained more and more power and pace behind her and has
released this through getting rid of her old life, and although she is now changed she
is still the same but better.

11.  The music video takes a narrative genre:
 A girl has seen an event on TV that she looks to recreate. She has split with her
partner packs all of his things up and embarks on a trip with her friends to create
the scene – exploding his belongings on the ocean. They would believe it to be real
as the characters are realistic however the violence implemented is quite
unrealistic as they wouldn’t get away with what they are doing in real life. The
meaning of the song is presented in the narrative as it is clear she is making a
break from the relationship and taking control of her life gaining more and more
power again throughout her journey.

12.  The star of the video is the music as the artists are DJ’s therefore they create all of
the beats and rhythms of a song themselves to create a meaning, and this is what
the focus of their videos are.
 This is how the artist are represented in the song as they are not present in it
through showing themselves in it, only their creation is shown.

13.  Illustrate – representing the lyrics and genre. This is clear throughout the video, for
example with lyrics such as ‘all cried out’ and ‘burning all my tears away’ – she is
getting rid of the remaining aspects o this person in her life and blowing them up and
burning them away therefore illustrating the meaning of the song. It is also
demonstrating some characteristics of the genre of house music as herself and her
friends are laughing and enjoying themselves in the mix of their trip which is what the
genre of music aims to do.
 Amplify – manipulating the meaning of the song and reinforcing it. I wouldn’t say
that the music has been amplified, I would say that the meaning of the song is pretty
prominent in the video through the narrative of the song although is slightly veering
off from the lyrics therefore could potentially be doing something different with it – for
example the violence of it.
 Disjucture – the meaning of the song and the genre is completely ignored. I would
disagree that this element has been used in this music video, as the meaning of the
song has been created in the narrative although it could be argued that the meaning of
the genre has been slightly ignored as it completely takes on the role of the narrative
and not the characteristics of house music.

15. Props-
 Rifle: violence and aggression
 Males clothes - blazer, shirts, razor etc. showing the presence of a male in her life and
her wanting to get rid of this, therefore emitting the meaning behind her journey.
 Photo frame – destroying all of her memories
 Ferrari – strong, powerful car: showing her power and agility
 Car garage – lots of old cars, car parts, gas canister
 Hand gun: experience with guns, and also demonstrating the characters female intent
as they have come armed with not one but two guns.
 Stealing gas canister
 Bottles of wine: showing they want to be enjoying the ride and the trip they are
embarking on
 Yacht: showing their extravagance, expense and power

16. Costume -
 There are 3 female characters in the music video, and they are all wearing
extremely similar costumes that are simplistic yet meaningful, creating a
mysterious appeal potentially due to their criminal activity.
 The first character, the main character, is wearing a black wig with black
sunglasses, a white dress and pale pink coat with heels. This is displaying
dominance through the heels and the dress, and also her sexuality through it
being quite short and revealing her legs.
 The second character is wearing the exact same wig and sunglasses, however is
wearing a dark pink coat
 The third character is wearing a wig and sunglass but with a revealing swimwear
costume instead of a dress or a coat.
 This has been done in order for them to appear as though they have the same
identity due to them engaging in criminal activity, and also to make them appear
as some sort of team coming together to conduct the event

17. Location -
 LA – sunny and exotic environment. House music videos commonly use holiday
destinations in house music videos as the genre is about having a good time and
feeling good which sunny locations tend to do to people.
Lighting -
 High key/ambient
 Sunny
 Darker/low-key ambient lighting is used in the house when the main character is
packing up the stuff, this is suggesting it is a darkness in her life
 Darker/low-key ambient lighting is used in the car garage – again signifying
darkness as they are inflicting violence

18. Colour -
 White dress - this is a colour that represents innocence and peace. This is
completely counteracted by what she is doing as it is not peaceful or innocent at
all – it is fierce and violent.
 Pink coat – this colour is associated with females, therefore it could have been
used to represent femininity, and standing up for being female and not letting
anyone walk over you.
 Black bag – the bag of the boyfriends belongings is black and this colour is used to
represent sin and darkness which is relating to the boyfriend.
 Black wig and black sunglasses – the use of black is creating a mysteriousness,
and it also represents darkness and sin much like with the bag, and this could
have been used to show this side of them because of what they are doing

19. Stars/performance -
 First shot – rolling her foot. Showing she is plotting something and is waiting to embark
on it
 Blank expression – mysteriousness, making the audience think ‘what is she doing next?’
 Throwing hand in the air when she leaves the house – emphasising her freedom, energy
and power now she has gone
 Running out of shop with bottles of wine – shows she has stolen them, crime and
violence
 Laughing in the car with her friend – finally enjoying herself now she is gaining more
power
 Armed robbery – very blank expression, this is showing her anger, violence and criminal
intent
 Again laughing and throwing hand in air when they see the yacht/are in the yacht –
realising that their plan is pulling off
 Shooting the bag – her expression is tight when she is staring at the bag, watching her
old life burn up in flames
 Takes off wig and shakes out her hair – she is releasing this part of her life and can now
move on in her own identity, breaking from the darkness (black wig)

20.  Continuity editing used throughout
 Very clean straight cuts
 Cuts in time with the beats of the song – picks up when the music picks up and
slows down when it slows down
 First part of the chorus ‘all cried out’ - bursts out the door as burst in beats of the
song, showing her gaining power by walking out
 Slow motion – her walking into the shop, again showing her power an confidence
walking in there before committing a crime
 Slow motion when laughing and walking to the yacht – highlighting her emotions

21.  There are only two prominent sound effects throughout the music video –
 At the beginning the TV voice over of ‘5,4,3,2,1…’ followed by the explosion. This
was used because this is that she is intending on doing unbeknown to the
consumer, but this is made clear as the journey progresses
 The silence before she shoots fire at the bag, lasting a similar time scale as the
countdown for the TV explosion showing she had planned and carried out the
heist. It is also giving her the time to remember her pain and emotion from her
relationship and when releasing the fire and counter acting the silence with the
loud explosion, it shows this part of her life has now blown up, died and gone and
now it is done she can move on and be free.

22.  Over the shoulder of the dog –
pulling the audience into the
narrative seeing what she is about to
embark on
 Close-up of legs rolling her foot, as
mentioned previously this could have been
used to show she is plotting something
and is waiting to embark on it

23.  Looking in on the action of the music video
from the window, indicating that something
mysterious may be going on that we are
looking in on.
 Wide shot– very usual setting to see, a dog on a
sofa in a modernised house with a coffee table and
there is a rifle sat next to him which is very clear
and prominent in the neutral setting, which
draws our attention to it straight away and also
maybe hinting this has an important part to play
in the video.

24.  Medium shot of girls lower half of
body, lingering on the sexualised
parts of her body (legs)
 Over the shoulder or side angles used
when packing stuff up, the camera is often
following her including the audience in the
narrative

25.  Close up of the photo frame – lingers
on this for a few second before she
grabs it and puts it in the bag,
showing the potential cause of her
behaviour
 Wide shot again of the sofa with the rifle
just laying there, very unusual to see
especially by a female.

26.  Close ups of her face to show the
progression of her emotion
throughout – in the house, blank
expressions, showing there is no
messing around with her and it is
down to business
 High angle, birds eye view of the lounge
and the character packing up the bag,
showing her picking up the rifle and
putting it in the bag. This is showing that

27.  Wide shot of her coming out of the
door bursting out of it – showing she
is bursting out of her old life
 Another wide shot of the sofa with the rifle
gone – showing that this prop has a very
important part to play in the music video
narrative

28.  Long shot of the road the car is about to drive
down, showing a straight stretch that the car
will be able to reach maximum speed down.
 Followed by the car going down the road,
slight tilt. Speeding off with the girls hand in
the air, showing they are speeding off onto
their heist.
 Over the shoulder shot used as she gets in
the car – pulling us in, taking us along
with her adventure

29.  Lots of close-ups/mediums/wide shots of the
car representing the sporty appeal of it and
its physical appearance as it is very
powerful looking
 Lots of high angle shots/birds eye views of the car,
emphasising its speed and power and agility

30.  Wide shot of the car edging forward,
the shot has the camera peering from
behind a lamppost at the car. This
could be showing that they are
portraying criminal/dodgy behaviour
showing and may be like someone is
following them, showing
mysteriousness.
 Close-up in the mirror – sowing the exact
same identity of the girl in the shop.
Showing uniting of the girls and a team
bond. It is also showing that she is
checking behind her and looking out in
case anyone is watching her therefore
showing they are up to no good.

31.  Medium shot of the car pulling into
the garage – again emphasising
power and agility as it is going fast
and it also has a very fierce appeal to
it so is presenting this further.
 Establishing shot of them driving across
the bridge, showing their pace, speed and
power.

32.  Shaky camera, shot from slightly
further away again showing the
narrative from the consumers point
of view, thus pulling us into the
narrative
 Close-up of her face when they are robbing
the garage, showing her seriousness,
violence, criminal intent

33.  Close-up back to her holding the gun
out, focusing on her face showing a
slightly scared emotion but also
displaying the violence behind her eyes
 Wide shot – boot open, second character
getting the gas canister, and the main
character holding the gun at an innocent
man. Showing she is inflicting violence on
him and is trying to control the situation.

34.  High angle/birds eye of the yacht,
again showing the extravagance,
power and agility they are displaying
much like with the car as similar
shots are used
 Over the shoulder shot used as they are
waking to the yacht, putting us as the
consumer as the ‘third person’ in the
journey

35.  Medium shot of the rifle and her
aiming it, its very central to the shot
and is the largest part in it therefore
reiterating its importance and power
 Medium shots of them from front and
back, throwing arms in the air and having
a good time

36.  Shot of the photo frame in the bag
before she pulls the trigger –
highlighting the cause of the journey
and her pain and need for power
again
 Close-up of her aiming the rifle at the bag
with a stern, violent expression showing
that she is taking all of her anger out on
this shot

37.  Wide shot of them in the yacht
staring on a the explosion, lingers –
stopped in the after, completed their
aims of the plan, watching it unfold.
 Over the shoulder of her with the rifle and
the bag exploding over the sea, like the
over the shoulder/wide of the TV.
Emphasising the fire and explosion and
the aggression of it and also her intent
from the beginning.

38.  Close up of her taking off the wig
and her expression lightening up –
completed mission and can now move
on.
 Followed by a long shot lingering on them
in the yacht continuing the stare at the
explosion, reiterating the previous point of
reminiscing the plan and appreciating
that all her anger and despair has gone.