Music Video Analysis, Artist: Lily Allen, Song Title: Smile

Lily Allen - Smile EMI UK (P) 2006 The copyright in this audiovisual recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd

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(OFFICIAL VIDEO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbRQbjM5VSc

(UNOFFICIAL VIDEO)


Aspect of performance / mode of address

There is both a direct and indirect mode of address in the video, there is no dance routines in the video but the audience is entertained through the narrative plot of the video and direct mode of address when she is singing to the audience.

Narrative

It appears when watching the video that it has a linear narrative but if watched carefully you will see that Lilly and the character who plays her ex-boyfriend in the video are seen happily together at the start, this means that the video has a none linier narrative.

How does the video create an image for the star/artist(s)/band

Close ups focus on Lilly through out the video, there are lots of tracking shots that prominently follow her around. (star Image elaborated more in elements of mise-en-scene)

How do the visual elements relate to the song - illustration/amplification/disjuncture

The visual elements of the video amplify the song as she is mad at her boyfriend because he treated on her. The lyrics relate to the narrative as they are about Lilly getting her own back on him and making him feel as bad as she dose which is illustrated in the video. Some specific moments where amplification and illustration can be seen clearly: Lilly sings the lyric “Just sat by myself all day” as the camera pans forward we see her centred in a room by herself.

Mise-en-scene

In the beginning of the video we are introduced to Lily at home as she appears to be comfort eating, a cliché that again we as an audience can relate too. It could be said that the props in the room contribute as a stylistic element to her star Image, for example, the pretty dress that is hanging on the wall, the flowery pillow cases, the retro umbrella and jewellery she is wearing is a representation of who she is. I also believe that the props are multifaceted in their purpose, as well as representing her as an individual they represent the emotions conveyed by her in the song for example, the umbrella signifies feeling “under the weather” or the picture frame could signify her trying to hold on to memories that have been tattered. The theme that can be interpreted in more than one way I feel reflects her as a person as the stylistic “indie” Lilly we see at the start of the video is then transformed in to a more common looking girl as she seeks help from more common looking people, she is wearing cheap cloths, sports trainers and gold “Chavvy” jewellery, she looks like someone the majority of us could relate to well as is everyone else in the video, she is seen in a typical urban environment where she meets her ex-boyfriend in a working class cafe. It could be said that this reflects connotations of how people act in society and with other people, that sometimes we are not quite ourselves in order to fit in or get what we want.

Use of camera

Firstly what is important is that Lilly is the first person we see in the video, the shot it a close up progressively zooming in drawing the audience’s attention towards her, there are panning shots left and right of her the ex partner juxtaposed with still jump cuts of Lilly, this gives the effect of the panning shots feeling like an observation of the past rather than real time events. Panning and zoom shots continue each one moving progressively towards Lily showing the audience that she is the centre of attention. On the lyric “what dy’a do that for?” there is an extreme close up of Lilly amplifying the lyric making the audience feel as if we are directly being asked a question, this makes the audience feel more involved in the video. Another extreme close up is used on the lyrics “I didn’t know what to say” it could be said the camera work here is being used to makes a relationship between the two lyrics and the audience’s response to the lyrics using extreme close up’s.

Editing

During the start of the video the pace of editing is set at a moderate speed using a series of jump cuts, in the scene where lily is paying for hey friend to be beat up there is shot reverse shots to show conversation and communication between the characters. It could be said the a match on action is used as when she sings the lyric “When I see you cry” there is a jump cut from Lily to her boy friend in pain, then back to her smiling on the lyric “But then I just smile”

Representation

In the video is could be said that females are represented as stronger than men as lily uses men to do her dirty work for her, throughout the video we see her ex partner upset by her actions as he is thrown around in Lily’s revenge. I also think it is important how social classes have been represented in the music video, the kind of men she finds to take revenge on her ex look working/lower class due to their clothing and attitude, it conveys the idea that working class males may have fewer morals than other and will do anything for money.

Special effects

None

Genre

Pop

Audience

16-30