hurricane
TRANSCRIPT
Music Video Analysis
Hurricane - Halsey
Name of the songA hurricane is a violent storm, so before the video starts you can insinuate it is going to be about something big however, the actual tempo of the music is quite slow and melancholy which contradicts the name, this could suggest that it isn't the typical “hurricane” but more rather a metaphorical one.
Before a hurricane begins a storm, begins to brew
Lyrics
“Turns them out like tricks”There is a close up of the boy with blonde hair so we assume when she says “turns them out like tricks” that it is about him, this suggests, that he has no loyalties and that he does whatever he wants. We then see a close up of someone doing tricks on their bike which illustrates the lyrics and reflects how easy it is for him to do.
“Liquor on my lips, held him captive in my kiss”This is said at the beginning of the video but we see them drinking later on which implies that she already knew her intentions
“Storm you’re starting now”Medium close up of the girl with red hair which could suggest that she is the cause of the storm ot that she is going to begin it, illustrating the lyrcis
“He’s got an eye for girls of 18”Over the shoulder shot is used so we see him drawing 17 on her wrist which could reflect that in this situation he is dominant. Also it makes the viewer feel unformatable since it is a private moment and it feels like we are peering over them or that someone else is. The writing of the number 17 could suggest that she is 17, which reflects her naivety and innocence since she doesn't know what his intentions are. Also it shows that she is indifferent to the rest who were 18 which makes her stand out more and the centre of the video. Also the beat begins to get faster when she is with him which then leads to the lyrics “and then there's a storm you're starting now” which connotes the storm is beginning to turn into a hurricane.
Intertextuality One of the guys has “new americana” written on his jacket which is a reference to another one of her songs from her album Badlands
The Pink motel was a set created to recreate the 50s and 60s era and is a primary film location in LA. In the lyrics at the beginning she said bed-stuy which is in brooklyn! Brooklyn and LA are at opposing side of the US which further illustrates the complexity of the video and the deep hidden meaning it could refer to them escaping to a new world.
“Never forget summer of 97’ - Reference to the other music video for the song which is the film version.
Camera
The beginning of the video is in slow motion which juxtaposes the title hurricane meaning something fast but the beat then picks up and the camera
The whole song is a metaphor, with the video illustrating cheat and betrayal but the overall life in the 97
Medium long shot of tv being fuzzy
Shot reverse shot - between the blonde girls and red haired girl
“I am a wanderess, one night stand, don't belong to no city, don't belong to no man”
At this point he walks back out and the girl with the pink hair goes out as well close up medium shot, tight f
The lyrics are then repeated but then through the red haired girls view but she goes further with him
This is said when the red haired girl is kissing the blonde haired boy and they then get into bed with each other which illustrates the lyrcis. Here the narrative swaps is shown through the
These lyrics are illustrated through the blonde girl's point of view where by she plays spin the bottle and then ends up kissing another guy, which relates back to her only being 17 and naive, one of the risks he took when getting with her.
“He says little lady come and save me”
The red haired girl is seen with him when this lyric is which implies that
“He says” this is like it has been said to hasely