Music Video Analysis- Adele 'Hello'

Adele 'Hello' Single off '25'

Adele Adkins (Stage name Adele) is an English Singer/Songwriter. Her single 'Hello' is the first track that appears on Adele's third Studio album: '25'. The album was released on 20th November 2015, through XL Recordings. 'Hello' was released on 23rd October 2015, before the album was released. As of the 29th June 2016, this video has had 1,607,871,329 views.

 

I have chosen to analyse 'Hello' because this video follows a narrative. A narrative is something I would like to do for my final music video, so I feel as though this will give me a little bit of inspiration.

Narrative 

 

The video begins with a deep focused establishing shot, to set the scene at an old, deserted country house. Adele begins on the phone, with dialogue before the music kicks in. This is effective because it sets the scene of how she is trying to contact an old lover. She then goes on to remove old curtains and dusty covers on furniture, the music still hasn't kicked in. This is effective because it could represent that she hadn't released any music for a while, and it's a new image she is portraying to the audience. Almost as if she is rekindling something but at the same time, reliving memories from the past that she hasn't moved on from, because they are still a part of her life. The video then progresses to show a journey of her and another male character.

Camera

 

The video begins with an establishing shot, which is initially out of focus. The focus is on the glass window, but then the deep focus allows the audience to see through the window, and down the road. This is effective because the audience can see where the video is set.



This shot is focused on the window pane

The camera then uses deep focus to transform the focus from the window
pane to the road.



Throughout the video, there are many close up shots of Adele, to portray the emotion felt throughout the narrative, of the heartache of trying to contact an old lover, with the house triggering old memories. This is highly effective, especially with other shots such as Extreme Close Ups of other objects, such as water being poured into a cup. This all adds to the ambience of home comforts, as if this house is a bit of a comfort, as well as adding to the realism of the narrative.

Extreme close up of the cup, portraying homely objects.

Close up shot of Adele, the main focus in the narrative.

Something I found to also be effective is the slow tracking shot combined with a long shot of the telephone box, the camera slowly pans in. I think the combination of low angle shots, panning shots, mid shots and the shots mentioned before, really adds to the diversity of the footage and keeps the audience engaged. It isn't anything too fancy, again following the simple style Adele has gone for, from the album to the video. This is something I aspire to when creating my own video.

Long shot of the telephone box

Editing

 

The very first thing I noticed about this music video is that the entire video is in sepia. This gives a vintage effect. Not only this, but this matches the photograph on the front of the album, so there is definitely a lot continuity. I really like this idea, as it feels as though the digipak, magazine advert and now the first video released all link together. This is an excellent example of how to do high standard marketing, and this has really inspired me for my own work, as I think it is very effective. Furthermore, the most common cut in this video are straight cuts. These are simple, yet effective. As well as this, I noticed when Adele sings the lyric 'Hello from the outside', when she sings 'Outside' a straight cut is used to cut to her standing outside. So the lyrics match the camera work, which is very effective.

'Hello from the (cuts to) outside'

I also really like the use of shadows in the video. This creates a darker mood, but I noticed a particularly effective part in the video. Adele's face is half shadowed, half lighter. This could represent how she has created a new image, and come out of her darker times, but they have still shaped who she is today. I really like this, and would like to try and incorporate this within my own video.



Half of Adele's face is visible in this shot, the other half is in darkness.



Mise en Scene

 

The bold eye makeup which has almost become Adele's signature look is worn throughout the video, again continuing from the same look on the front of her album cover.

Adele can be seen here wearing her signature makeup through the use of a close up shot.

Adele and the male actor are wearing modern clothes, but this is contradicted through the use of props, such as an old 'retro' styled telephone and flip mobile phone, as well as a close up shot of an old gas stove. This could represent the old versus the new in Adele's emotion and life.

The retro mobile phone.

As well as this, I really like the use of the rain, as it really sets a darker, mundane mood where the male is almost walking out of her life.

The rain adds a dramatic mood.

What have I learnt?

 

Through the analysis of this music video, I think this has confirmed my idea that I would like my video to be revolved around on main character, following a clear narrative. I think this way, I can be much more creative with the shots I choose to use. I also like the use of the sepia effect, it is unusual and gives off a different feel. I have also learnt that less is more sometimes, and that simple cuts are much more effective but still keep the audience engaged, so long as the storyline and other images are interesting too.