The video analyzes Lily Allen's "LDN" music video through its mise-en-scene elements. It notes that Allen's costume contrasts with the grimy London location. Props change throughout to reflect the song's lyrics about appearances being deceiving. Editing uses abrupt cuts and changing lighting/props to mirror the message that reality is not as it seems. The video and song together send a clear message that "it's all lies."

1. Music Video Analysis of Lily
Allen’s ‘LDN’
Kennedy McCarthy

2. Mise-en-Scene: costumes
Large hooped earrings are
stereotyped as been worn by
‘chavs’ and lower class citizens.
There has been no
fuss in her hair and
make up as her hair is
scraped into a bun
and her make up is
minimal- this may be
the artist portraying
herself as ‘real’ rather
than a spoilt celebrity.
This dress could be worn
for a red carpet event,
as long dresses are most
popular for those
occasions.
The colour red suggests
danger and passion, these
both link in with the lyrics of
the song.
Wearing a dress shows the
feminine side of the singer
Wearing a floor-length dress is original
and makes her stand out.

3. Mise-en-Scene: costumes
The changes in costume between the extras show a change in social class as well as not being ‘as
everything seems’ here is an example…
…Here the woman is dressed in red, which is also represented
as ‘romantic’ and ‘sexy’. Her hair are in curls and she looks
pretty, stereotypical woman.
The man is ‘suited and booted’ which makes him look smartly
dressed. As he is wearing a suit formed costume, for what looks
like a date, this shows he is higher working to upper class. He is
also shown to be, what every woman loves- tall, dark and
handsome.
Whereas once the
costumes are
changed the
woman’s hair is
scraped back and
looks greasy, her
clothing has changed
to ripped
leggings, faded tiny
skirt and a dark vest
top. By changing her
image has been
changed from classy
to worthless.
The man is no longer groomed and ‘suited up’ he is
wearing baggy jeans and a jacket, this costume
change makes him look very skinny and unwell
(looking at the colour of his skin).

4. Mise-en-scene: location
The location of the video is on the streets of
London. This gives the video a stereo ‘grimy
feel/atmosphere’. Lily Allen’s dress throws the
audience off as the location and her costume
contrast.

5. Mise-en-scene- Props
Props in the video are very important as they back up the literal lyrics of the song[- ‘when you look
with your eyes everything seems nice but if you look twice, you can see it’s all lies.’
The lyrical messages are backed up by the props used as shown below;
The two props here are changed
to back the lyrics above.

6. Camera
The video opens with an establishing shot of a dingy shop looking run down.
As the video continues on the camera pans, following the artist as she walks down the street. There
are close-up shots of the changing props when she steps over them. Moreover for the majority of
the video is shot through long shot so the audience can see the location, props and the artist.
Every detail shown to the audience through the camera portrays the lyrics through vision rather
than audio.

7. Audience
- The lighting of the video throws the audience off as the props in the location change when the
lighting changes from high-key to low-key.
- The audience may be confused by the video itself but the lyrics help the audience understand
and it becomes clear and makes sense for the reasons behind the video.
- The artists dress suggests to the audience that she has a bright personality also that the video is
upbeat
- The video and lyrics combined clearly send out the message of ‘it’s all lies’ in a very literal way.

8. Editing
In terms of when each shot changes, they don’t merge delicately into each other it shows to
be a simple cut from one shot to another, this includes the opening and ending of the video.
This purposely edited material may be a reflection of the message of the song and how reality
just cuts from one thing to another.
The obvious editing to the video is shown throughout roughly 75% of the duration of the video.
As Lily Allen walks everything in front of her is high-key lighting with ‘positive’ props however as
she walks past the props and moves on in the location, the lighting changes to low-key and the
props change to become ‘negative’.
The lighting, props and location create a pathetic fallacy for the audience to follow with the
video.

9. Sound
- I noticed at the non-diagetic sound at the beginning of the video is a song sung by the artist
herself.
- The diagetic dialect at the beginning of the video (which is being said over the non-diagetic
sound) indicates from her accent and lexical field that her character is from West London and
her social background may be working class/ lower class, which fits perfectly with her costume
oddities (accessories).
- Her dialect contrasts with the non-diagetic song.
- The instruments used such as brass instruments and the ukulele makes the audience think that
the song will be positive, upbeat and happy although the lyrics prove them wrong.