2. The song ‘National Anthem’ by Lana Del Rey was released on July
6, 2012 and was released through Interscope Records. The song is a trip
hop song that links with elements of alternative hip hop, indie pop and
baroque pop.
Anthony Mandler directed the music Video in May 2012. Within the
music video Lana Del Rey plays a role of legendary characters within
the history of America. At the beginning of the music video there is an
intertexual reference following Andrew Goodwin's theory of
distinguishing a music video. Lana Del Rey plays the role of huge
American icons such as Marilyn Monroe then Jacqueline Kennedy and
ASAP Rocky plays the role of John F. Kennedy. The story within the
music video also concentrates around the assassination of John F.
Kennedy and bases on his life and passionate love of his wife. The
introduction contains a piece of text from ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’
and she also performed the ‘Happy Birthday’ song, which was originally
performed by Marilyn Monroe; this reenactment highlights the key
American features with the plot.
The director Anthony Mandler stated that the message within the video
was exploring the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ love story of Kennedy and his wife.
He also stated that their story is a great way to illustrate loosing
someone you love and the breakdown of loosing someone. This quote also
supports the theory of Andrew Goodwin and the idea of the visuals of
the video relating to the lyrics. The message within the lyrics, suggests
that Jacqueline wishes Kennedy loved her as much as his success;
wishing she was his national anthem and this was illustrated as the
video evolves around their most memorable times that they spent
together.
3. The camera work style within the music video is constructed with a range of different shot angles
and movements which makes the video look more professional and appealing. For the introduction
of the video Lana is reenacting Marilyn Monroe’s Happy Birthday song which is an intertextual
reference which is captured with high angle, medium- close up, medium- long shots. Also some of
the movements are panned from within the audience of the performance and the camera is hand
held that could portray the idea of the camera being old and vintage. After her performance there is
an eye line match as she looks at ASAP Rocky who plays the role of John F. Kennedy.
After they make an eye contact the sequence cuts it to a medium shots of Lana smelling red roses
in the sunlight. The camera the cutis into a close ups of Lana moving her hand down the side of
ASAP Rocky’s leg which concludes her love and wealthy living as she is also dressed very formally.
When the music starts a medium- long shot presents Lana and her husband hugging and the
camera zooms' out revealing their children playing beside them and their big house. Within the
video there is a lot of ‘family moments’ such as the part at her child birthday party, connoting the
strong family connections of the Kennedy family. Many medium shots show Lana Del Rey making
eye contact with the camera and wording the songs lyrics which concentrates with her importance
within the video. Within many sequels such as the picnic scene, the camera is hand held;
suggesting the idea that the film may have been recorded themselves (The Kennedy family) maybe
to show that their memories were valuable. Within the video there is also a strong connection of
Kennedy and his wife as many close up shots concentrate on their touch, also medium shots
concentrate on hugs and kisses. There are also some Dutch tilts which may suggest the idea of the
film not being professionally filmed and that the video was home made. Many tracking motions also
catch the family's movements; rather with the camera being still, the shots follow the family which
could suggest that who ever filmed this may know that the family is the main focus point within the
video.
4. Throughout the video there is relationship between the lyrics and the visuals
meaning that the music video does follow Andrew Goodwins theory of
distinguishing a music video. The lyrics follow the visuals as the lyrics clearly
talk about the presidents and her wife's relationship and love while the visuals
illustrate their passionate love and happy memories. The start of the video is
black and white with Lana Del Rey singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song that was
originally sang by Marilyn Monroe. There is a flicker filter on the video to make
the music video to make it look old and vintage so it can relate to the time that
the introduction was set in. There are many close ups/meat shots of Lana to
market her as a star; linking to Andrew Goodwins theory as the audience
concentrate on the character Lana is presenting. The next scene is filed with
very warm colours of pink and reds which connote love and desire. A long shot
zooming out presents Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline and children spending time
in a luxurious garden denoting their wealth. In one scene Lena (Jacqueline) is
stroking a lion which could connote power and status as lions are mainly know
for being ‘kings of the jungle’. Throughout the video there are many scenes of
Jacqueline and her husband spending time together like driving around in her
car and cuddling him; this cenotes their love and strong relationship. At the
ending of the music video, the assaisonnassion of John F. Kennedy was
reanacted by making the camera very shaky and the noise of a gun firing is
heard.
5. The editing in the video is purposely made to look vintage. There are
many overlay layers of textures and blurs that makes the camera look old;
which suits this videos narrative as it is trying to reinvent the
assassination of Kenny that was around the 1960’s. At the start of the
video the editing is slower and the sequences are on for a longer period of
time. When the song and beats starts the the editing starts to cut faster
into a different range of shots, which also relates to the Andrew Goodwin
theory. This is so that the music video suits the rhythm of the songs and
appeal to the viewer. The footage continually cuts into a medium shot of
Lana Del Rey so that the star is marketed and so that the viewers are
aware of the star in this video.
Towards the end of the song the editing of different scenes are fastly cut.
This could denote that the character of Jacqueline is looking back at hers
and her husbands best memories, which also relates to why she looks
upset in one of the meat shots; connoting that she is looking back
Kennedys death.
