Amelia Cranstoun A2 Media Studies Music Video Analysis

Sam Smith – I’m Not The Only One.

Sam Smiths music video for ‘I’m not the only one’ uses many features that can be identified with ‘Lacey’s repertoire of elements’. Set in American suburbia, and establishing what seems to be the all American

dream lifestyle, the video shows us an obvious narrative of a husband and wife. This automatically introduces the idea of a romance story and gives the video a narrative. The video starts with the use of dialogue between husband and wife, a routine of making his breakfast and

him going off to work. Using famous American television stars, this use of iconography also show a blonde and angelic wife, who is shown to be competing for her husband’s attention over a stereotype sexy brunette. This is iconic for a story line involving woman based on adultery and good vs. evil.

However the use of having American TV stars feature in the video also creates a sense of reflexivity. This is due to the audience knowing them as actors and knowing previous work they have done. Therefore the idea that these two people are a couple is hard to grasp as believable. With the fourth wall broken down the audience may find it hard to connect with the story the actors are trying to portray.

The videos narrative soon shows an affair as the husband ‘leaves for work’ but meets with his mistress in a grungy bar. This is also iconic of a cheating storyline as it highlights the idea of a sneaky husband and the mistress as cheap and easy.

Cutting back to the house the video shows the wide crying on the floor with messy hair and makeup down her cheeks. The actress’s believable performance creates the emotion of

Amelia Cranstoun A2 Media Studies Music Video Analysissympathy from the viewer as it is a relatable topic. It is the removal of the wedding band that infers the character is aware of the affair.

There is an obvious divide created with lighting to show the idea of good vs. evil. The scenes with the wife are all lit by high key lighting and white open spaces; whereas scenes with the husband and his mistress are shown in low key lighting with tones of blue and red. The use of the dark colours create an relation to sadness

and anger, which are signals to the effects of the husbands actions while he is with his mistress, indicating he is aware of the pain he is giving his wife.

The video also uses the artist featuring on a stage with a red curtain. This adds depth and emotion as it infers the performer has had a connection to the storyline and its meanings. It also shows the song as iconic for the artist’s balled genre. These short clips of the artist are shared with short clips of the wife burning her husband’s clothes this is uplifting as it shows her as being strong. It also relates to the artists past as the two scenes are cross cut together.

The narrative presents a beginning, middle and end. The three stages were put together establishing a happy couple whose imperfections are exposed, shattering their ‘perfect life’. The ending shows the husband coming home. This gives us insight into character as it portrays him as heartless, being able to come home to his wife after what he did.

Amelia Cranstoun A2 Media Studies Music Video AnalysisOverall the videos use of technology and audio codes, narrative and character are the main elements that identify with Lacey’s repertoire of elements and create an entertaining and emotionally hooking video.