Titanium is a 2011 ballad by David Guetta and Sia that won several awards between 2012-2014, including a Grammy. The song uses metaphors of bullets and guns to represent hurtful words, encouraging listeners to have inner strength and resilience against criticism. The lyrics describe withstanding attacks but remaining undefeated, like the strong metal titanium. The song has an empowering message about believing in oneself and not letting bullying comments diminish one's spirit.

1. TITANIUM

2. Intro background to the song:
• By David Guetta and Sia, and co written by them.
• Was released August 2011.
• Is a ballad, not like David Guetta’s usual urban, house or dance.
• Kids with superpowers – intertextuality.
• Was filmed in Canada.
• Song lyrics are about inner strength.
• It won a total of 7 awards between 2012 and 2014.
• It won a grammy.

3. Exam:
• Same exam as newspapers, adverts and magazines. (component 1)
• 10 marks = 15 minutes.
• 15 marks = 30 minutes.
• Examiners can ask you questions about media language, representation or
context and because you will not be supplied with the two music videos in the
exam, you will be expected to remember your notes and the content of the video
whilst taking the examination.
• The question in the exam could ask you to focus on one of the two videos or both
of the two videos and yes you could also be asked to compare both videos as well,
in other words – when the time for revision comes - you will need to revise hard for
this exam because remember this is only one question

4. Lyrics:
You shout it out
But I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud not saying much I'm criticized but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up
I'm bulletproof nothing to lose fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall I am titanium, I am titanium, I am titanium, I am titanium
Cut me down, but it's you who has further to fall
Ghost town, haunted love
Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones
I'm talking loud not saying much I'm bulletproof nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall I am titanium, I am titanium
Stone-hard, machine gun
Firing at the ones who run Stone-hard, thus bulletproof glass
You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titaniumYou shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titaniumYou shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titaniumYou
shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium I am titanium

5. Key lyrics:
• ‘You shoot me down, but I get up’
Shows resilience, younger generations can get back up after they have been
knocked down.
• ‘Nothing to lose’ ‘I wont fall’
• Shows the younger generation is more reckless, shows the aggression from the
youth.The adultVs children theme shows here as the children will fight back as
they make a stand.

6. Key themes:
• Supernatural
• Special powers
• Puberty affecting body and mind
• Inner strength
• Standing up for what is right / standing up for what you believe in
• Adults vs children
• ‘Normality’
• Conflict

7. Viewing notes:
• Setting – school, house, forest, suburban bubble, lower class, American, working class, 80s
• Themes – superpowers, innocence, determination, adultsVs children, bullying, change, fear
• Icons – teddy bear, guns, bike, rubble, tv, phone
• Narrative – story of what's happening, chronological order, trying to hide
• Characters – school boy, police, teacher
• Camera shots – close up, panning, crab right, direct mode of address, low angle
• Mise-en-scene – dull colours, street setting, house, forest, darkVs light colours
• Sound – pop, dance, ballad, drums, guitar, heavy beat
• Editing – when tempo increases shots get faster, transitions, fast music slo-mo, starts and ends
in the same position
• Intertextuality – stranger things e.g. kids with super powers, ET

8. Possible meanings:
• If you follow David's life story you might get it better. In school he was considered a nerd and bit of an outcast. His
upbringing was very traditional, being raised as a Muslim and at age 13 he began mixing music, which enraged his father,
who wanted something else for his future. In the end, he proved that even if the world was against him, he would make it
whether people liked it or not.That is the idea behind the video.
• Titanium talks about our inner strength and being strong in ourselves.The meaning of this song is to be strong even
when the world is throwing its worse at you.When bad things happen we must stand strong and not fall. As the song
states, we must be "Titanium" which means to be strong hearted and strong willed.The first lyrics in the song talk about
ignoring people who will shout at us and yell at us to put us down.
• The song uses symbolism that extends throughout the whole song.The song uses guns and bullets as a metaphor to the
hateful words that people will say to us. In the chorus Sia, the vocalist of the song, sings about being bullet proof.This
means that we should not worry about what people say about us. In verse two, the song talks about how people can
continue to shoot us down but its not us who will be hurt more if we stand our ground.
• This song has a very empowering message to give to those who are bullied by people who continue to spew out hateful
words and comments from their mouths.
• Although the song's style of pop, techno music might draw a person away from the meaningful words, it has a very
strong moral message
• It means that when somebody is holding you down or lets say teasing you that you have something special in you that
can make a difference and to not be afraid to show your true personality!