Connotations Within Our Music Video

Connotation: An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or a thing.


Within our music video there are several intertexual references to films etc, and also a lot of connotations or 'hidden' meanings which may not be clear or obvious at first but when explained,  hopefully brings the whole video to life and give it deeper meaning. Whilst planning and actually making our music video, nothing was done at random or by 'coincidence' - everything was specifically chosen, decided upon and put into place.


After deciding on our concept idea and what we hoped to portray from our music video, we chose the location to film on. Again, this was not random or the convenient place out of our options, we chose our location based on what would fit our concepts accordingly. The symbolism of having our dancers performing in a barn was to emphasise the 'destruction' or 'unkempt' situation the failing relationship made the female feel like she was in. There was no life or anything vibrant or inviting about the barn therefore it represented the dying and eventually dead relationship which is being sung about. Although the relationship is over and there are no pleasant feelings in the matter, we did not interpret the song to be at all filled with anger or resentment. The barn also helps to get this vital point across. If we wanted to reflect emotions of severe pain, anger or hatred, we would have re thought our choice of location and gone for something a little more aggressive looking or include features such as fire or weapons.


The next connotation or subtle meaning created and included in our music video was the choice of make-up and costume for the dancers. The most noticeable aspect of the make-up was the white face which contrasted against the black clothing. The pale, almost hidden, face represented how drained the relationship had left the female. It also creates a clear link to mimes because of the similar white faces. A mime could be said to be 'acting', 'faking emotion' or even 'lifeless'. This was appropriate in portraying the female within the song as it could be suggested that she was 'acting' out happiness towards the end of the relationship until she couldn't pretend any longer. The costume choice was specifically picked to emphasise the concepts within our music video as well as being inspired by the clothing in HURTS' video - Wonderful Life. The black clothing was a symbolism for the bleak and gloomy feelings reflected in the song. The netting included on the head decoration which, when positioned correctly, covered part of the face was showing how the female was hidden and felt 'trapped' behind her relationship.


The decision to use a horse was to represent the woman in stead of using a female actress. A horse is associated with beauty, elegance, pride and independent - all qualities which can be said about a woman. The way in which the horse is being 'led' around the field shows how the female was 'trapped' and possibly 'controlled' in her relationship and eventually the horse is set free to run to her future which is a symbol of her new found freedom and independence being broken away from her partner. The fact that the horse is not shown in light of harm, distress or punishment re visits the idea that the relationship is not depicted as violent or nasty. 


Our 'filler' shots consisted of letters being burned, a ring being discarded of and a dried dead rose being crushed. Each of these represent memories the couple in the song had together and having them being 'gotten rid of' emphasises that the bond between them is over and gone and both partners are able to move on and create new memories with new people.