Here is the link to the music video on YouTube
CONVENTIONS, STYLE, AND TECHNIQUE RESEARCH
What are the conventions found in the music video?
- lip-sync: Pink is filmed from different angles and in different settings while she lip-syncs to the song. Both Pink and Nate Ruess are expressive while they are mouthing the lyrics in order to enhance the feeling that the lyrics and melody are meant to portray.
- lyrics normally based on love/relationships: 'Just Give Me a Reason' is a song about wanting to hold onto a relationship even though it seems to be fraying.
- artists represented in a sexual way (voyeurism): Props such as Pink's clothes include lingerie (scene of her on the bed); there are also sequences in the music video with her and her (ex?) boyfriend being affectionate towards each other
- cut to the beat: the scenes change often, switching from setting to setting on most of the beats during the chorus (it is more upbeat)
- lyric interpretation/ extending or consolidating the song's meaning: In the music video, besides the scenes in which she is singing facing the camera, Pink is seen on a bed, surrounded by clouds and water, as she is either with her (ex?) lover or without. There is a short scene in which it seems that she caught herself daydreaming/ reminiscing in regards to the time she and her lover were together, this adds depth to the lyrics and enforces the idea of missing the way their relationship had been in the past. Elements such as the clouds and the water are also used to represent the uneasiness and uncertainty that Pink feels regarding her relationship.
- close-ups of artists' faces, long shots of artists lip-syncing: they are used to display the emotions which the artists are expressing, for example, the hopelessness on Pink's face while laying alone on the bed
What do the elements in the music video represent?
In the song, the elements and symbols combine and gives the audience the feeling of sadness . The singer is guiding us and telling the story of a relationship that unfortunately has ended, so the music video shows the public two different scenarios : the one where she is with her boyfriend and the other one where she is alone. Throughout this video the idea of loneliness is enhanced and it is represented by the scenes where Pink is sitting on a bed surrounded by clouds and water . The water resembling the insecurity she feels and the waves of emotion she’s gone through in the relationship but also when she was single . One important prop in this music video is the teddy bear is sitting on her bed when she is alone . This object can symbolize that the singer has a very childish personality but it can also represent a toy from her childhood and that leads to the meaning of the relationship and that they could have been together since they were younger. The feeling of release is showing through the scene when her is jumping in the water to cool down her emotions, to feel free and forget about the things that happened after the relationship . Also taking part from the mise-en-scene are the costumes that are very simple and basic. The singer has 3 clothing choices that are very different . In the scene where she is singing along with Nate Ruess she presents a very classy and girly look by wearing a beige ruffled dress and her hair nicely put together which gives a taste of elegance and femininity . In another scene where she was laying in bed with her boyfriend she had just lingerie on which transmits the message that the couple was close and had no problem being around each other in such a vulnerable manner, it shows the connection between them and their naturality . The scenes where she is alone is a variety of looks from lingerie to a very comfortable outfit that transmits she doesn’t care about her appearance because of the emotional state she’s in which has a very strong impact on her at that moment.
Who is the audience for this music video?
An audience that is likely to listen to ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ by P!nk is likely to be between 15 and 30 years old. This is a pop, love (heartbreak) song. This can relate to a wider audience. P!nk is wearing a short, pretty dress in the first shot of the video. Also, she has a pixie cut hair, with a bow in it. She also has some tattoos and has a strong voice and personality. This mix between ‘vulnerable’, ‘cute’ and 'strong' is the reason why a wide range of people know her. In this particular song, she is featuring Nate Ruess. He appears next to her when singing to the microphones, and also on the TV in the water, while she is on the mattress, with a teddy bear and a sweet drink. Another shot is with Pink on the mattress with another very masculine man, that is actually her husband in real life. This shot with the man could attract many young girls and also the older audience that feels that they lost a good man. The scenes with him are just flashbacks, and now she misses him - the overall message of the song is that even if the other person did Pink wrong, she could forgive him and they could start all over again. As everyone has experienced something like this before, the song is adequate for this particular age group.
What genre is the music video in? How is this shown?
This is being shown through different codes and conventions these kind of music videos use. There is a link between the visuals and the lyrics of the song in order to make them easy for the audience to remember them.For example, Pink's’ video has a strong connection between what the artist says and the visuals as all of the sad lyrics are represented by the model also looking somber. There’s bright lighting and some form of bright objects/costumes in pop videos. This makes the video stand out more and also appeals to youth (the target audience), as it appears vibrant and lively, something young people are attracted to. It also makes it more upbeat, so it fits the band's general message of the songs. The costume for actors in these music videos is generally whatever is fashionable at the time. Pink is dressed in a more simplistic way, the makeup being also way milder - as the music video is made in 2012 so colourful hair and eccentric sets were not really a thing.
What uses and gratifications can the audience acquire from watching the music video?
- mood management and mood adjustment: the consumers of the music video are gratified by using the song to adjust their mood
- gender socialization of emotions: the female listeners may enjoy the song more because they generally enjoy feeling one-directed sadness, for example empathy, sympathy, and pity and the song validates those feelings
- relationship functions of entertainment: vicarious experiences(consumers wish to live through the characters portrayed in the music video and imagining living their lives and experiencing their emotions), downward social comparison (the consumers may be in a similar situation, or they feel as if Pink is worse off than them, and that is why they listen to the song), eudaemonic motivation (the consumers of the song search for insights regarding a romantic relationship when listening to this song; also, the female listeners wish to understand nate ruess's part in the song as they can relate to pink's lyrics)
The elements from Pink's 'Just Give Me a Reason' which we will use in our own music video are the following:
- lip-sync
- cut to the beat
- lyric interpretation/consolidation
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