The music video for Sia's "Alive" features Japanese karate star Mahiro Takano performing martial arts moves in an abandoned warehouse, symbolizing the internal struggle and fight for survival described in the song's lyrics. Through precise movements synchronized to the song and use of natural lighting, the video tells a story of overcoming challenges alone without help from others. It effectively uses the karate uniform, warehouse setting, and Mahiro Takano's talent to visually represent the themes of self-defense, discipline, and fighting through difficult times.

1. Original Music Video Review
Sia - ‘Alive’
Hannah Lortie
(Due to there being no music video for Helium I have done a review on
another one of Sia’s songs).

2. • The music video I will be analysing is ‘Alive’ by Sia, I am unable to analysis my
chosen song ‘Helium’ because there is no music video for this song so instead I
am analysing another song from the same artist. The music video for ‘Alive’ is an
Amplification Narrative video, it has a repeated story and theme shown
throughout, this is because the lyrics are telling a story which is further represent
through the video. The target audience for this video is female teenagers and
young adults aged 14-25. However, because the video is including a popular,
famous, Japanese child karate star, Mahiro Takano, the video reached Number 1
in Japan because of the involvement in a Japanese star and fighting culture
(Karate). The martial arts she is doing is visually symbolising the lyrics, which
have connotations of survival and combat, which reflect the internal struggle of
the character.

3. Setting – Abandoned Warehouse
• This music video is set in an abandoned warehouse as it relates to the theme of
being alone and fighting through the rough patches in life alone with no help or
support from anyone else. This is the only location used throughout the video, as it
keeps the theme and story fresh in the viewer’s mind the whole time they are
watching the video. In this location we see very little living supplies only a little
stove, table, bucket and crates and a lamp, this represents that a person doesn’t
need much possessions just the want to succeed, which reminds us of the theme.
The setting within this movie has a big link to movies and expectations of martial
arts, for example, in many popular Bruce Lee films the setting is very similar.

4. Costumes
• The costume worn by Mahiro Takano is a traditional Japanese karate uniform. The
fact that is a traditional uniform links back to the theme of self defence and
fighting for what’s right, as well as this, because it is a karate uniform it links even
more to fighting for yourself. Martial arts is also seen as a discipline that teaches
one self control. It can also teach them to control their emotions and feel less
compassion towards a situation or even person.

5. Props
• In the video for ‘Alive’ there is no use of props because they are not needed
to create the story as they don’t link to anything important to do with the
theme. The objects in the background of the video can however be classed as
both props and setting but because Mahiro Takano doesn’t actually use them
they are more a part of the setting.

6. Action
• Through the melody of the song we can see the musicality of the movements and
the girl. This means that when the song is building in speed and emotion the
movements are getting faster along with the vocals and pace but then when the
song is slowing down just before Sia belts the words ‘I’m Alive’ Mahiro Takano is
should in a firm position waiting as the pace builds tension for when Sia sings the
highest notes of the song and Mahiro Takano starts to show her talent again, this
shows the movements are based justly around the timing and lyrics of the song.

7. Lighting
• The lighting used in this video is relatively bright but still quite dark, this can relate
to the narrative of the video because it can represent the struggle from hitting the
bottom and being in darkness to getting back up and reaching the lightness. Most
of the lighting looks to be the natural sunlight rather than a studio lighting rig, this
could possibly represent the outside help a person can get when struggling.

8. Editing and Scene Cuts
• The editing for this video is very precise and suited to the genre of the video, there
are no forms of filter effects as it is all natural and within the editing the natural
lighting and scenery hasn’t been lost or disrupted. Also, the scenes are very
smooth and transition nicely.

9. Lyrics and song construction
• The construction of the song flows throughout and gives a clear story line to the
viewers. The storyline has also been made relatable in an easy way, by making it
link to the lyrics. The lyrics are simple and small but still convey a big message
through the way it is sung, it also conveys the message through the emotion
shown and carried out in her voice.