3. LYRICS
Throughout the song there are references to the drug LSD. The meaning of this acronym differes
between 4 different meanings. One of them being a girl who’s in love with, the drugs LSD, love sex
dreams and the lights shining down. ‘I look for ways to say, "I love you“ .But I ain't into makin' love
songs. Baby I'm just rappin' to this LSD’. This line in repeated throughout the song shows the many
meanings for LSD.Rocky could be rapping under the influence of LSD, praising the effects it has on his
mind and body, or rapping about a girl that he has feelings for. He’s addicted to her like a drug, even
though LSD is not addictive. Another line in the song contributing to the idea of LSD standing for several
meanings is ‘Girl, I really fuckin' want love, sex, dreams. Another quarter to the face system. Make no
mistakes, it's all a leap of faith for love. It takes a place in feelin' that you crave doin' love, sex, dreams’
Although “love, sex, dreams” stands for LSD, this plays into the songs concept: Rocky’s infatuation for
women. His appreciation for women is as deep as his connection to the drug. Rocky suggests that. ’I've
been drinking, driving, now we'll never go home. I gon' stay in doubt because the weather's so
cold’Similar to Kanye West, Rocky deals with his issues by using recreational drugs. Driving is his
escape route and the cold weather represents feelings of sadness – something Rocky’s dealt with
before.
4. MISE EN SCENE
Throughout the music video there is a mix between bright vibrant colours high key
lighting, pulsing and merging in with one an another, creating a mix of several
colours. This use of colours and bright lighting by the director was implemented to
recreate how Rocky views the world when high on LSD and allows for the audience
see and feel how Rocky does.However, within the video there are scenes involving
both dark colours and low key lighting. The director implemented these to
symbolise Rocky’s feelings of sadness, discomfort and his dark side of why he is
using the drug, to mask these feelings. The costume designs tend to follow a trend
ofindie/street style on both Rocky and the girl he is in love with. This style of
clothing is usually linked with young kids who are ‘street kids’ who drug abuse
regularly, therefore amplifying the idea that the lyrics portray of Rocky regularly
using LSD. Further adding to the idea that Rocky is a regular drug user is the
location. The video is is located in the heart of the city.
5. CAMERA WORK
Throughout the video there is repeatedly close ups and mid shots of
Rocky and his surroundings. The use of these types of shots allow for
the viewer to easily follow the story of Rocky and his LSD experience,
and be put into his shoes and see how the world looks when on LSD.
6. EDITING
Editing wise there are little to no cuts between each scene, the director
has cleverly created a transition from scene to scene that allows it to
continuously flow, making it easier for the audience to follow the story,
this is called continuity editing. When transitioning between each scene
the editor has made it switch on time with the beat, creating a good,
slow flow.
7. NARRATIVE/PERFORM/CONCEPT
Rocky’s video lacks much narrative as there is little storyline. Of what
story line there is, it consists of Rocky on a date with his girlfriend,
experiencing the world on LSD. The main purpose of the video is not to
show a narrative, but instead amaze the viewer with clever editing and
edgy visual tricks and allow the viewer to see how Rocky see’s the world
when on LSD. Although the video contains little narrative, there is little
performance either with Rocky usually just walking being filmed or
looking into the camera, rarely rapping.
8. STAR IMAGE
This video is typical video of Rocky and follows his very individual style.
This style of video follows the image he has been trying to build for the
past several year (indie/street style) as seen from the style of clothing
both him and the girl are wearing. As well as this, the references to LSD
and Women throughout the video portrays a rapper image, following suit
to the main rapper image he is trying to give off.
9. VOYERISM
Unlike the majority of music videos released today Rocky’s L$D contains
no voyerism. The one female in the video has no sexual objefication and
instead the video focuses on the love between the girl and Rocky.
10. INTERTEXTUALITY
Rocky takes inspiration from Gaspar Noé's 2009 psychedelic fantasy
film Enter the Void. Scenes throughout Rocky’s video is extremely
similar to Enter the Void looking like a near copy in some scenes. The
closest link between the two is the blurry,bright,colourful lights that is
continuous throughout Rocky’s L$D
