Video Music Analysis – Coldplay Paradise

Song: Paradise

Album: Mylo Xyloto

Artist: Coldplay

Released: 12th September

2011

Producers: Markus Dravs,

Dan Green, Rik

Simpson, Brian Eno

Writers: Coldplay, Eno

Coldplay’s debut single off their fifth studio album ‘Paradise’ shows the relationship between

the visuals and lyrics. The lyrics is said to be about a girl growing up and expecting the world

to be paradise when in fact it’s nothing like she dreamt. ‘When she was just a girl, she

expected the world, but it blew away from her reach so she ran away in her sleep. Dreamed

of paradise’. Obviously here, the lyrics and visuals don’t match as the video is shown to be

about an ‘elephant’ trapped and it escapes in to the world. However these metaphorical

images could replicate the girl’s dreams and she could see that’s how it would be for her.

The video tells a linear narrative of an ‘elephant’ trapped behind bars like a zoo. You see him

trying to escape and a medium shot shows the writings on the wall of a tally of how many

days he has spent there. It also shows you three drawings of stick men with elephant heads

implying he is lonely so he has drew them for company. As the video progresses, the music

gets a bit more upbeat signifying his happiness from finally escaping.

It is revealed later on in the video that the person in the elephant suit is Chris Martin who is

the lead singer of the band. There for through out the whole video, there are no close ups of

the artists. This goes against Goodwin’s theory which states companies want a lot of close

ups of the artists face to create their own motifs. However, this is Coldplay’s fifth studio

album and therefore, close ups aren’t necessary.

journey through the London Underground,

there are a number of jump cuts to the

elephant emulating a big problem society

faces today which is people suffering on the

streets without a home.

The elephant mimics this by holding up a

piece of cardboard which reads the lyrics to

the song which is being played

simultaneously, replacing absent lip-

syncing. It is predominately quick-cuts to

show these scenes to highlight the busy

London Underground and how many

people just walk by him without stopping.

This music video portrays many problems society faces today. During the elephants