The video uses various shots including close-ups, long shots, and medium shots to convey the song's narrative and connect with the audience. Close-ups show facial expressions to reveal feelings, while long shots provide context of the setting. The editing cuts between members to focus on each individually. Camera angles, costumes, locations, and symbols in the shots reinforce the lyrics and story of struggling with the end of a relationship.

1. The Saturdays – My Heart
Takes Over
9-Shot Analysis

2. The close-up also allows the audience to view the singers
make-up closely, possibly enabling them to copy it directly.
A close-up of each individual group
member is prominent throughout the piece,
this allows the audience to indentify with
each singer as the close up shows their
face intensely. Their expression is easy to
evaluate at this range as there is much
detail available – which allows the
audience to conclude their own answer
from the facial expressions given.
The in-depth detail on display with the close-up enables the
singer to envelop themselves in their music and portray their
passion to the camera with the facial movements.

3. As the lyrics say “walking away from us” a visual aid is
given, the singer is walking alone as if she has walked
away from ‘us’. This enables the audience to follow the
story of the song and story created within the music video.
The low angle could be a representation of the
singers feelings or emotions, they feel heart-
broken or distressed with the thought of the
other person ‘walking away from us’ – possibly
indicating towards their relationship. This
emotion is also reinforced with the pathetic
fallacy of a rainy, cold day – the singer feels
cold towards the situation.
The extreme long shot also allows the audience to see the
location of the video shoot, this could have some
The lyrics and visuals
significance to them or to the narrative of the video itself.
follow a illustrative
structure, according to
Goodman’s theory. The
artist demonstrates
what they’re saying.

4. A clear indication is given of the weather and how the situation
may be linked to it. The grey film over the shot creates the
sense of someone being lost, or sheer hopelessness, this could
be is response to the song lyrics exploring a world without a
man and how they would have to cope.
To compliment the location shot with
the singer within it, a straight
location shot is filmed. This could be
to support the idea of where they
are meant to be – some deserted
area that doesn’t seem to hold much
joy, similar to their relationships.
The calms of the water could imply that the girls within the group
have found a solution to the problem of a life without a man. The
water represents them being able to continue on in life.

5. In order to appeal to the pop genre,
medium close-ups are used again in an
attempt for the singers to connect with the
audience. Eye contact is present within
these shots as this is a connection the
singer can hold as the perform the song.
This creates a link between both artist
and audience as it helps them to portray
their feelings whilst ‘talking’ to that
individual audience member. This idea of
isolation and selection of audience may
cause the audience member to feel
involved and possibly even special.
The medium close-up also allows the audience to see more of
the artists costume compared to the close-up shot. The mise-
en-scene is essential to a pop genre performance as it allows
the audiences to relate or perhaps aspire to look like the artists.

6. Similarly, the level of the camera could also show their low
status, the feel they aren’t bold enough to stand out or restrain
their man. However, the slight angle looking upwards could be
interpreted as them having power, we as the audience are
looking up at them.
The lyrics could have a connection to this
shot as the group sing “cos (because) if
you leave”, this could possibly indicate
towards their insecurities and child-like
innocence – they don’t want to be alone.
The horses could resemble the group as
they are considered innocent animals.
Also the fact there are five horses could
relate to the five group members.

7. The cross-cutting between each group member
allows the audience to view each member
individually, as they are alone the audience can
examine them without being distracted by the other
members being in the shot.
The editing between each
shot is timed to the beat of
the music, this collaborates
the music and visuals, this
could be in an attempt to
keep the pace of the video
up and synced with the
narrative/song.
The extreme long shot allows a full length view of the
costumes each member is wearing. This enables a
maximum opportunity for the audience to see what
styles this particular girl group are following. This fits
in with the genre of pop, the clothing keeping up-to-
date with current fashions.

8. The long shot enables the audience to view the
grounds costumes fully, supporting the idea of
accessibility stated earlier. The current or popular
fashion trends (the group in particularly follow) are
demonstrated within this shot.
As all five ground members are within
the same frame it could be interpreted
that they stand as a unit, supporting one
another as they go through this situation.
The idea of togetherness maintains the
pop genre image of stability and unity as
this is how they want their audiences to
perceive them.
The body language of each member are easily
viewed within this shot, the audience are able to
read their positions and interpret how each member
feels towards the situation. This will aid the
audience to create an understanding of what is
occurring.

9. The shot could symbolise the
distance between the two parties
within the narrative. The audience are
put in the place of the man, they are
being included with the story. This
allows them to create connections
with what is happening.
The extreme shot – somewhat resembling an establishing
shot – provides the audience with a visual of the setting
with them within it.

10. The medium shot presents the
audience with the ability to see not
only artist but also what is occurring
around her.
The white flakes – which appear to be snow flakes – surround the artist, this could
symbolise her friends within the group, they surround her giving her support and
guidance. However, the white (of the snowflakes) connote innocence and purity, this
could indicate towards how the artist is starting afresh – her relationships are left pure
and new. Or alternatively it could symbolise the purity within her heart which is
supported by the lyrics “this is where my heart takes over”, her pure heart is taking
control.