Analysis of the music video, "Stop where You Are", Corinne Bailey Rae, By Lex Short and Ava Steed

2. WHO IS CORINNE BAILEY RAE?
• Click here to find out

3. STOP WHERE YOU ARE – CORINNE BAILEY RAE
Tender is the light that shines on you
Gentle is the morning made anew
Delicate, the grace we've come into
My love
Wonder why you wish your life away
Waiting for the perfect boat to take
Waiting for the perfect wind to sail away
Life's shining around you
Don't miss a day
If you're caught up in the chase
You hold your happiness away from you
Stop where you are
Under fading stars
This is the world we've made
The feeling you get when you're almost
there
Stop where you are
Under fading stars
This is the world we've made
There is no better place, it's true
Light a fire where you are
You can't stop the wild wind roaring
But you can stop my poor heart from calling
out
Light a fire where you are
Stop where you are
Under fading stars
This is the world we've made
There is no better place, it's true
Light a fire where you are
There is no better place, it's true
Light a fire where you are
Underneath a blanket of the cold
Lying in the dark, your seed will grow
Miracles just like a winter rose will be
Give up all the things you can't control
Still yourself and watch them come and
go
Wherever you are, you'll find you're
home at last
Everything glitters around you
Don't miss a day
The moon on the lake
The smell in the air when it rains
The people you can share with
• Stop Where You Are Video

4. DIRECTOR – STEVE CHRISANTHOU
• Steve Chrisanthou is a British songwriter, director and producer and engineer. He is a Grammy Awards
nominee, Ivor Novello Awards nominee, Brit Awards nominee, and MOBO Awards winner for his co-
write with John Beck and Corinne Bailey Rae “Put your records on”.
• Chrisanthou began his production career around 1998 with a number of local artists and eventually
signed a production/publishing agreement to Goodgroove Songs in 2004. Goodgroove is part-owned by
ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Gary Davies.

5. SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXTS
• In 2004, Bailey Rae got a breakthrough when she was signed by Global Talent Publishing and then
approached by Craig David's Mentor.
• She released her self-titled debut album in 2006, debuting at No.1 in UK and No.4 in USA.
• Featuring global hits such as "put your records on" and "like a star".
• With over 5 million albums sold, Bailey Rae has been awarded with 2 Grammys.
• The song is about being present, about recognising the moment and celebrating here you are right
now. It is an inspirational song.
• Corinne Bailey Rae is a British singer, song writer, record producer, and guitar artist from Leeds,
West Yorkshire.
• She is currently 38 years old but was 37 when she wrote and produced the song.
• Bailey Rae formed and indie group called Helen in 1998-2003 which was inspired by similar acts
such as Veruca Salt and L7.
Band named Veruca Salt

6. NARRATIVE STRUCTURES
• There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals.
• Relationship between music and visuals, when the song picks up
tempo and bride, the lighting brightens.

7. ANDREW GOODWIN THEORY
• At around one minute, Corinne sings the lyrics “caught up in the chase”, which is echoed by the
actions show in the video. The visuals show a group of girls “attacking” another girl. Therefore
connoting that caught up means being caught in a bad situation in this context.
• Similarly, at 1:17, the chorus begins and she sings “Stop Where You Are”, whilst making the
action of stop with her hands.
• Further on in the video when verse 2 begins, she sings the lyrics “underneath the blanket of the
cold”, whilst showing what seems to be a homeless man, begging a man in a suit for what we
assume is food or money. The visuals show the man in the suit walking off, which leads the
audience to feel sympathy for the homeless man. However, a few moments later he returns with
some water and sits down to talk to the homeless man. This creates pathos towards the homeless
man, however Bailey Rae is trying to show her audience what we should do when we see
someone less unfortunate than us. She is influencing us as an audience to care for others,
through creating sympathy and pathos towards homeless people.

8. • There is a relationship between music and visuals, for example at the beginning, the song is at a slow pace which reflects the slow
walking. The calm and almost laid back movements are reflected with the calm and light music, for example no heavy bass guitar’s or
drums are being used at this point.
• As the song continues, the instrumental power increases, for example at the beginning the tempo/volume was light and not
overpowering. But as the chorus is sung again, the intensity of the song increases, in order for the song to go somewhere, and not
stay at the same intensity the whole way through, which could be boring. As the song is getting more emotional, the main beat
increases in volume, as well as volume of the whole song. Background voices are brought in, rather than Bailey Rae singing alone, in
order to increase the effectiveness of the song.
• At 2:54. the chorus is sung for the last time and a man is filmed back flipping off the wall in slow motion, as if he is flying. There is a
relationship between the music at this point and the visuals as a back flip is quite an impressive trick, and is used well to fit the
empowering final chorus. The slow motion has the aspect of almost stopping in the air which reflects the whole message of the song.
• At 2:55 a man is doing a backflip in slow motion, whilst Bailey Rae is singing “Stop Where You Are”. Therefore, having him flip in
slow motion creates a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as he is stopping in the air when she sings “Stop”. It creates
the illusion that he is flying, which has connotations of Bailey Rae’s life improving as the song moves on.

9. CAMERAWORK, SHOT SIZES, ANGLES, FOCUS AND
MOVEMENT
There is a panshot of her shoes in slow motion, walking, to create a tone at the beginning of the music
video.
A low angle shot connotes strength and power, as she is brave enough to “stand tall”

10. • Creeping camera suggests and insight to her life and we as an audience can interpret her life as we
please.
• Close up of young girl is personal, adding to the idea of an emotional music video.
• Wide shot of her alone draws attention and suggests her being independent.

11. • At 1:18 bullies are in the foreground suggesting that they revery unclose and personal, and they look
bigger than her as she in the background which suggests she is very intimidated.
• Lower angles suggest weakness in past self, but the high shots suggests accomplishment and power
how he has grown as she has got older.

12. • Final shot is into sky, finishes the video on a bright colour, most popular colour.

13. INTERTEXTUALITY
• The end of this video is very similar to another one of her videos “Put Your Records On”. The continuous
bright lighting through both of the videos connotes happiness which is overall the message Bailey wants
to put across. The ends to both videos are also similar to another video of hers called “”Been To The
Moon”, which could imply that all of her videos have the same or similar message.
• She quotes "It's harder to appreciate your life when you are waiting for a bus in the rain, or rushing to
work, yet all these moments are precious and should be valued. The video to me speaks of the way we
sometimes judge each other based on how we look without knowing each others stories. I love how the
people in the film break down the imagined barriers between themselves in order to be together in the
moment."
• The end of both videos is similar because both use bright lighting to end the video, which could connote
how the audience should feel at the end of her song, and both show a sunny/bright sky.

14. EDITING TRANSITIONS, PACE, SYNCHING, COLOUR
CORRECTION
• The music echoes the editing with its tempo. It alternates between shots of her singing, dancing and
walking and shots of the environment.
• This could reflect how think s around in the environment are affecting her. It also include other actors
and entertainers in the video, which could be her younger self.
• For example, when she was younger she was fighting and getting in troubled situations but as sh is
older she is able to let go and dance.

15. LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
• There is a imperative within the title of the song. “Stop” is ordering her audience to listen to her, and stop has
connotations of danger, which could suggest that she feels the message of her song and video is important,
and she feels her audience need to listen to her song and learn her message.
• She also uses a personal pronoun within the title, “You”. Therefore she is personally addressing her audience
and building a relationship within them personally, which is therefore strengthening the impact of the song.
• Throughout the song, the lyrics have different connotations that the audience have to think about in order to
understand, for example “blanket under the cold” whilst showing a homeless man creates connotations of
homelessness. This is therefore making her audience more attached to the song as they have to think about
and interpret the lyrics in different ways.

16. REPRESENTATION OF THE ARTIST
• Stop Where You Are supports Bailey Rae’s overall message of happiness and “being you” throughout all of her songs.
• Her latest album was described as “it’s fearless—an essential modern day soul album” and “boundary-defying, epic
music”.
• As an artist she wants to inspire all ages by her music, and this video reflects that by the open meanings and
connotations of the lyrics. This specific video links to her as an artist and this quote of hers really summarises her
music and how it reflects her as a person. "It's harder to appreciate your life when you are waiting for a bus in the
rain, or rushing to work, yet all these moments are precious and should be valued. The video to me speaks of the way
we sometimes judge each other based on how we look without knowing each others stories. I love how the people in
the film break down the imagined barriers between themselves in order to be together in the moment."
• Therefore, the continuous growth throughout her videos and how the majority are happy and “feel good” reflects her
personality and impact on the world through her music.
• Also, her website is a prime example of this, the homepage is full of colour and is bright and exciting. Furthermore,
reflecting her as a person and artist.

17. MISE EN SCENE, INCLUDING LOCATIONS, COSTUMES,
MAKE UP, PROPS, LIGHTING
• Concrete building, Isolated, metal, underground, secret location which is intimidating and dangerous
• She is wearing a red dress during older self, connotations of love, women empowerment or danger
• Younger self she is wearing a blue hoodie, which has connotations of sadness and how she has suffered. The
contest between the bright red and the dark blue suggests that she has grown as a person and become
happier.
• The make up is natural which suggests she is confident and acts as a role model to have self-confidence.
• Smoke is used which has connotations of mystery and danger, which could e suggesting what her life was
like when she was younger.
• Lighting is dark when she was younger which suggests depression, and the contrast to the bright, sunny
lighting when she is older connotes happiness and improvement in her life.
• Her performance is emotional which perhaps reflects tat she had a rough younger life from experience.