Let it go- James Bay Let it go- James Bay

The music video itself is a narrative based The music video itself is a narrative based video, however it does show James lip video, however it does show James lip syncing in certain sections. The narrative in syncing in certain sections. The narrative in the video seems to follow Pete Frazer's ideas the video seems to follow Pete Frazer's ideas about not featuring a complete narrative but about not featuring a complete narrative but it does include fragments of narrative it does include fragments of narrative throughout. The video is very basic in terms throughout. The video is very basic in terms of the overall storyline and focuses heavily of the overall storyline and focuses heavily upon James- linking well to Carlsson's ideas upon James- linking well to Carlsson's ideas regarding the materialisation of the regarding the materialisation of the performer. The video is very isolating and performer. The video is very isolating and from the perspective of the viewer it tells from the perspective of the viewer it tells James’ story of heartbreak and loneliness, James’ story of heartbreak and loneliness, hence why the director has therefore made hence why the director has therefore made 90% of the video just shots of James.90% of the video just shots of James.

Relationship between the music Relationship between the music and the visualsand the visuals

Its very hard to link the music to the visuals in this Its very hard to link the music to the visuals in this particular music video. Whilst the lyrics of the song are very particular music video. Whilst the lyrics of the song are very heartfelt and have a deeper meaning, the visuals are very heartfelt and have a deeper meaning, the visuals are very basic. basic. Throughout the song the music has a dark and emotional tone and this is therefore reflected through the visuals that tend to show slower paced shots of James, including close ups and slow pans. One particular moment where the lyrics and the visuals match up particularly well is the second verse after the first chorus. In Particular the lines ‘I used to recognize myself it's funny how reflections change. When we're becoming something else I think it's time to walk away’ The shots at this moment, on the words ‘reflections change’ pan up slowly to show a reflection of James staring longingly out of a window and as the line finishes on ‘time to walk away’ the camera slowly pans out. This is particular section is effective as it represents James leaving his emotions behind and walking away from his past actions. This is probably the main example of this throughout the whole video.

GenreGenre This song can be categorised under the genre of indie pop. This song can be categorised under the genre of indie pop.

Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, with its originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, with its roots in Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records roots in Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early 1980s (Josef K and Orange Juice) and the label in the early 1980s (Josef K and Orange Juice) and the dominant UK independent band of the mid-1980s, the dominant UK independent band of the mid-1980s, the Smiths. However, this song tends to follow the structure of Smiths. However, this song tends to follow the structure of a pop song, including sa pop song, including such elements of generally short to medium-length songs, written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as the common repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks. This song follows this musical structure.

Indie music videos tend to be more low budget due to Indie music videos tend to be more low budget due to artists not having the funding of the big record labels, this artists not having the funding of the big record labels, this could therefore explain why this music video is very could therefore explain why this music video is very simplistic. However, this simplicity of the video is rather simplistic. However, this simplicity of the video is rather effect for creating an emotional connection between the effect for creating an emotional connection between the artist and the viewer that some pop videos don’t achieve as artist and the viewer that some pop videos don’t achieve as effectively. effectively.

ShotsShots The opening shot to the video is long tracking The opening shot to the video is long tracking

shot of James sitting isolated in a darkened shot of James sitting isolated in a darkened room. As the shot moves in towards James, room. As the shot moves in towards James, moving from a long shot to a close up, it creates moving from a long shot to a close up, it creates the effect of the viewer entering into James the effect of the viewer entering into James world and stepping into his shoes. It also sets world and stepping into his shoes. It also sets the initial tone for the video. the initial tone for the video.

The use of close up shot used within the video The use of close up shot used within the video has been used to show the artists emotions. As has been used to show the artists emotions. As the song is very emotional this is important for the song is very emotional this is important for setting the tone. It makes the video much more setting the tone. It makes the video much more intimate, particularly when most of the visuals intimate, particularly when most of the visuals are lacking in any narrative basis. are lacking in any narrative basis.

There are a few establishing shots used in this There are a few establishing shots used in this video to set the scene and create a sense of video to set the scene and create a sense of distance within the relationship that is being distance within the relationship that is being portrayed. portrayed.

I like the use of two shots used towards the I like the use of two shots used towards the latter half of the video and I want to use this is latter half of the video and I want to use this is my video to show the relationship between my my video to show the relationship between my characters. characters.

Mise en SceneMise en Scene The mise en scene in this music video is very interesting in The mise en scene in this music video is very interesting in

how it has been used to set a particular tone. For example how it has been used to set a particular tone. For example the lighting throughout the whole video is very dark and dull, the lighting throughout the whole video is very dark and dull, with the only bright light coming from the flames of the fire in with the only bright light coming from the flames of the fire in the background. This links well to Goodwin's theory of the background. This links well to Goodwin's theory of technical aspects where the lighting and colour help to set technical aspects where the lighting and colour help to set the mood of the piece and emphasise the key moments of the mood of the piece and emphasise the key moments of the song for dramatic effect. This is very much the case as the song for dramatic effect. This is very much the case as the cinematographer has clearly focused on using cooler the cinematographer has clearly focused on using cooler colours in slower shots then introducing the warmer colours colours in slower shots then introducing the warmer colours of the fire as the action peaks. of the fire as the action peaks.

The costume is also interesting in this video as James is The costume is also interesting in this video as James is dressed in his usual clothes, almost making the clothes he dressed in his usual clothes, almost making the clothes he wears iconographic of his overall image. However, the wears iconographic of his overall image. However, the costumes of both James and his female partner are very dark costumes of both James and his female partner are very dark and mysterious, they add no colour to the video or sexualise and mysterious, they add no colour to the video or sexualise either character. This therefore goes against the ideas of either character. This therefore goes against the ideas of theorist Michael Shore that claims many modern music theorist Michael Shore that claims many modern music videos use provocative and inappropriate imagery. videos use provocative and inappropriate imagery.

EditingEditing The editing used in this video has been specifically used to The editing used in this video has been specifically used to

fit with the tempo of the song. The song has a slow tempo fit with the tempo of the song. The song has a slow tempo that doesn’t speed up much throughout, this is therefore that doesn’t speed up much throughout, this is therefore reflected through the use of edits. reflected through the use of edits.

The video includes a number of long cuts. The benefit of The video includes a number of long cuts. The benefit of including these longer cuts means that the pace of the including these longer cuts means that the pace of the video slows down and becomes more connecting for the video slows down and becomes more connecting for the audience. Unlike faster paced pop music videos, this video audience. Unlike faster paced pop music videos, this video is creating more meaningful visuals that seem to have is creating more meaningful visuals that seem to have more meaning from the artist. more meaning from the artist.

Towards the end of the video slow motion seems to have Towards the end of the video slow motion seems to have been used when James is approaching the car where is been used when James is approaching the car where is female partner is. This gives the impression that he is female partner is. This gives the impression that he is trying to delay the time it takes for him to be going back to trying to delay the time it takes for him to be going back to this relationship, that we asssume to be toxic from the this relationship, that we asssume to be toxic from the lyrics in the song. Whilst this is effective it does make the lyrics in the song. Whilst this is effective it does make the video drag a little bit when the overall pace and tempo is video drag a little bit when the overall pace and tempo is already very slow. already very slow.

Promotional MediaPromotional Media

How this will inspire my own How this will inspire my own workwork

I’ve been really inspired by the emotional I’ve been really inspired by the emotional connection between the artist and the viewer connection between the artist and the viewer within this music video and I would like to within this music video and I would like to create the same effect within my own work. create the same effect within my own work.

This video has given me a lot of ideas of how This video has given me a lot of ideas of how to match the tempo of the song with the cuts to match the tempo of the song with the cuts I make during the editing process, and how I make during the editing process, and how to make my cuts more meaningful. to make my cuts more meaningful.

I would however want to create a deeper I would however want to create a deeper narrative within my own work as the narrative within my own work as the narrative in this video was very basic and narrative in this video was very basic and didn’t tell much of a storydidn’t tell much of a story