Estelle Naughton Tuesday 28 th October 2014 Due on Monday 3rd November 2014

Media Homework – Music Video Analysis

Analyse a music video in terms of genre theorist Lacey and his idea repertoire of elements, including characters, narrative events, iconography, setting and technical/audio scores.

I am going to analyse yet another popular song called ‘Budapest’ by George Ezra

which is currently in the top 40 UK charts. By using Lacey’s repertoire of elements, it will allow me to gain an insight to simple decisions made within any music video, sampling ideas from ‘Budapest’. There are two different music videos for this song;

an official video released on and by VEVO and an alternative version which is more simple and effortless. The official music video, the one I will be analysing, has a

conceptual, narrative and performance style to the video as it creates a an idea about society and the people who surround him within the video, as you’re constantly guessing what these people mean and represent to George Ezra and his song.

There are a few shots of George Ezra playing the guitar, adding an element of performance to the overall video. On the other hand, the alternative video allows a

more upbeat and consistent due to the editing of the shots being fast paced and in time to the beat of the music, this video is performance based as it is simply just George Ezra playing the guitar to the camera with a range of camera shots and

angle to capture his performance from different angle which could indicate the different ways in which people can interpret the lyrics and the video to ‘Budapest’.

The main character in both versions of the music video is George Ezra as he is playing the guitar in both, this could also suggest that the audience should focus on

the music rather than the music video as the music is just as effective in the alternative version as it is in the official version; indicating that the plainer the video,

the people will listen to the music and watch the music video for the music rather than the events in the music video contained in many other pop videos. In the official video, there are other people around George when he’s performing but not many of

the other characters were of importance, and memorable after the video as they didn’t have a main part to play within the video, although some people were focused

on in the video such as the three men. The other, slightly irrelevant characters could represent society and how George feels compact within society, how he’s trying to break away from the norm, stand out and within that room he was the only one with

a voice that people or the audience were listening to. When certain members of the crowd were singled out, filmed and edited in slow motion as some parts of the video

were slowed down, slow motion was used to enhance their reactions and this could suggest how we as a society need to slow down and realise what is happening around us or ‘stop and believe’, as George sang previously to the scene with the

three men. The other people within the music video that aren’t really a main focus, are said to be friends and family of George as said by himself which could highlight

the bonds between George, his family and friends and this links in with the idea of society, that his friends and family are closest to him and it will remain this way even when he becomes increasingly famous and well known within the music industry.

As established, George Ezra is the main character as in both videos, there are a

number of different shots which suggest the audience should focus on him and the

music as that is what music is abut and not the elaborate and extensive music videos most pop artists release. The simplistic style of both the official and

alternative version of the music video is effective if not more than other music videos that correspond with just as catchy songs as ‘Budapest’.

George Ezra:

On the left is an image taken from the official music video and although he is

surrounded by other people, it is rare within the video when they’re focused on however in some scenes certain people are singled out yet you’re focusing on the

music because what the people are doing is irrelevant and nothing of importance. However in the alternative video, a basic and simple way of producing a music video by himself with different shot types to switch it up and break it up, has the same

effect as the official video, as the audience is focusing on the music rather than the music video as there is nothing happening in the music video which i believe was

done purposely.

Iconography is present within both videos especially with George openly performing with his guitar, which relates to the genre of indie/folk as the video, style of music

and the way he’s playing the guitar suggests he is of this genre of similar. Additionally, the style of singing is rather iconic to George as it is more spoken word than singing which is similar to Lana Del Rey and her singing style, which is iconic to

the genre of indie/rock artists. However, the overall style of the music, video and the way it is performed is enhanced and modernised by the acoustics present in the

music video and the musical score, with yet a vintage feel as the song isn’t digitally enhanced like most other popular tracks, which breaks the stereotype of pop genre in this case.

The most iconic thing within both music videos would be the use of the guitar and the

way in which he performs with the guitar. The guitar is iconic as it represents George as an artist and the genre of folk/indie in which George Ezra is labelled as.

By crowd surfing whilst playing the guitar, it could be a parody of the genre as crowd surfing is generally a rock move and something that an artist of a rock genre would

do. Crowd surfing seems unrelated and not stereotypical of a folk/indie artist to do within a music video however the sole focus is yet again on George and his guitar

playing. In the alternative video, he is playing the guitar and close up shots allow him to sing to the camera and essentially to the audience, which reinforces the importance of music over the music video. Although ever so gracefully playing the

guitar, George Ezra is almost swinging the guitar around in a rock star manner, which shows his passion for music and again, mocking the genre of folk music by

adding an element of something unexpected of someone of that genre. The setting of both the two versions of the music video was in a room, however in

the official music video, low key lighting was used to create an enigma of why he’s feeling crowded and shoved in as shown with the over head shots of all the people

and then George Ezra. The people within the crowded room where of multiple varieties including race, ethnicity, gender and ages which could indicate the different people within society who contribute to community as a whole. Within the darkened

room, a man sneezes and most of the people surrounding him turn and looking which could connote with society as people stop doing nothing to focus on nothing to

single other people out, making them feel unwelcome which could link in with George as he feels is isn’t ordinary within music and within himself. Alternatively, in the more niche or restricted music video, bright lighting is used to highlight George’s

features and opinions expressed through the lyrics which enlighten the audience. The binary opposition within the mise en scene in both videos could suggest who the

music video and the lyrics can be interpreted either light heartedly or meaningful, with the official video suggesting a more analytical thought process behind the video, which is uncommon within pop genre or popular music video.

The setting of the two music videos is in a room but the two videos contrast each

other as the original or official video is dark and philosophical whilst the alternative video is bright and gives the tune a more upbeat feel due to the bright colours behind George on a green screen.

In the official video, the setting is dark which enhances the more emotional and in depth side to the lyrics and the video. As shown above, George Ezra is the focal point within this screen shot and the music video, as in this still image a spot light is

shining on him as if he is the main person which he is whilst all the other people around him are pushed aside by being in a red light showing that they are irrelevant

and unneeded. However in the alternative music video, the setting is plain yet colourful as the colours of the background change and are in time to the beat which allows the upbeat tempo and attitude to the song to be enhanced.

In terms of technical codes, the official video is full of cross cuts of George Ezra to

other shots of George in a different area within the room, which reinforces he is the main focus of the video as you cut from shots of him to other shot of him which

indicates nothing much is happening in the video so the audience is compelled to focus on the artists, as it should be. Similar shots take place within the alternative video, with different shots and different types of shots such as close up and long

shots, again suggesting the audience are to focus on the music. In the official music video, cross cuts are present from shots of George Ezra to other characters which

intensify the meaning of the video and the bonds between the people in the video. In conclusion, by analysing George Ezra’s ‘Budapest’ it has allowed me to think

about how I would like to set out my music video and the different ways it can be shown on the screen. Additionally, the idea of two different music videos with two

opposing attitudes to the music has influenced how I would like to structure, film and edit my music video although producing two separate music videos would be extremely difficult, it has enhanced how the same lyrics and same artist can

demonstrate two contrasting videos and show the ideas behind the video and lyrics allowing a thought process within the audience’s mind and mine when considering

my music video. By analysing the music video in the style of Lacey’s repertoire elements has allowed me to start thinking about how I would like to style my music video and how it can be shown in a variety of ways, as has ‘Budapest’.