Panic Chord- Gabrielle Aplin
Gabrielle Aplin is an English singer-song writer. She gained mainstream attention in 2012 when she was selected to record the soundtrack for the John Lewis Christmas Advert in 2012. Shorty after in May 2013, she released her debut album 'English Rain', to which she released a number of singles off the album, with one being 'Panic Chord' which I have chosen to analyse.
The single Panic Chord was released onto YouTube on 10th March 2013, by Gabrielle Aplin's own record label; Never Fade records. The video was directed by Kinga Burza and is three minutes and twenty-seven seconds in duration. The genre of this song is folk/pop, but the video has a narrative revoling around the main singer, showing similar conventions to a indie music video, which is the style I think I will most likely create my video around.
Narrative and performance
This music video cleverly combines two elements; performance and narrative. This is because Gabrielle Aplin appears in the video, mimes the lyrics to her song, but the video progresses into a narrative, fluctuating from performance to a narrative. Through the video, the audience learns that the video is based around memories of a relationship, as different items she picks up in the present out of a souvenir box, trigger memories with what the audience assumes to be a previous boyfriend. The camera cleverly switches between the past and present. The camera focuses on Aplin singing and playing her guitar, which is mirroring the features of an indie music video. The video then progresses to show the relationship unfold with a male character.
The relationship between lyrics and visuals- Goodwin
Throughout this video, there are a number of times where the visual images reinforce the meaning of the lyrics. I have selected some of the elements I found to be effective. Having a relationship between lyrics and visuals is effective because it helps the audience see what the lyrics could have been suggesting. For example, the first lyrics 'You kept all the things I threw away' is shown through the action of Gabrielle Aplin uncovering a box from under a cover, which suggests she is looking through this box in order to re-live the memories.
Another time where there is image and lyric cohesion is during the lyric 'A leaf I picked a birthday card I made' which shows Gabrielle taking out a birthday card from the box. This suggests that she is looking through the box her partner kept, whilst also effectively reinforcing the actions within the lyrics through visual imagery.
Another effective moment in the video where the relationship between the music video and the visuals and lyrics is 'Maybe, you were happy I was bored' to which the camera then cuts to Gabrielle sat with who we assume to be the ex-boyfriend she is singing about, doing a jigsaw and her facial expression portrays her boredom.
Relationship between music and visuals
Throughout the video, each shot doesn't cut to the beat of the music. I don't think that this is a problem, because it isn't something I initially notice in a video. This being said, the shots are fairly short and do cut quite quickly, using mainly straight cuts as this is a typical convention of a music video. The fast paced editing matches the rhythm of the song. Furthermore, throughout the video, the camera cuts back to show frequent shots of Gabrielle on the guitar. This is because the guitar is one of the main sounds in the video, and so this is signified through the frequent shots of her playing the guitar. This is effective because it shows how Gabrielle writes and plays her own music, suggesting a naturalistic approach as suggested by Negus' theory.
Camerawork
There are many close up shots of the artist whilst she is playing the guitar and miming the words, but also when she is acting in the narrative with the male. This is effective because it conveys her emotion and how she feels, perhaps sadness and regret which is reinforced through the lyrics. The image that is emphasised to the audience is one that is honest, perhaps portraying the reality of a relationship. As well as this, the record company represent Gabrielle as a normal person, she isn't given the 'Star Image' and she also isn't sexualised or objectified in this video, or other music videos she has performed in.
The repeated use of mid shots represents her relationship with the male character, while mid shots are particularly effective to show the skill of her playing the guitar.
Intertexual reference
This video related to other videos by Gabrielle Aplin. The music video for 'Home' is very similar, combining both a narrative and performance, whilst also incorporating the same cinematic techniques and faded, sepia edits which I find very effective, and is something I would possibly like to include in my own video. On top of this 'Please Don't Say You Love Me' also suggests a narrative of a troubled relationship, but again both the narrative and performance are not sexualised, suggesting how Aplin doesn't have the typical star image which many pop stars have.
Mise en Scene and editing
Both Gabrielle and the male character are seen to be wearing fairly ordinary clothes, again portraying the naturalistic image which Gabrielle Aplin is marketed for. Their outfits fit the narrative, as they are just a boyfriend and girlfriend spending time together, and so of course their outfits are naturally very ordinary. I think this is effective because it doesn't draw attention away from what is happening during the music video. Gabrielle's makeup and hair is also very natural, which again supports the naturalistic approach and marketing strategy.
The editing throughout this music video is very effective, especially the cinematic, retro/saturated effect with shadows and shallow focus used to emphasis the artist and blur out the background scenes. I really like this effect as it gives a softer feel, and is also aesthetically pleasing.
Conclusion
Overall, I really like the overall effect, meaning and finish of this music video. In particular, I like the narrative and the saturated effect throughout the video. I also like the links between the lyrics and visuals, as this isn't done too often and therefore doesn't appear cheesy. However, when I come to create my own music video, I don't think I will be using a performance based video, or perhaps I will combine narrative and performance together, but base it more around a narrative, as I deem this to be much more effective.
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