Music Video case study research sheet
You will need to research the two set music video case studies: a realistic music video and a postmodern music video. You
need to be aware of the differences between them as you may need to compare them in your exam answer. You should be at a
stage where you can discuss the following for both case studies with solid examples:
Case study artist: Emeli Sande
Realistic or Postmodern? Realistic
Performance and/or narrative in the video? Mostly performance with some narrative
1. Textual Analysis:
Cinematography:
Close-ups and Extreme close-ups- shows expression/emotion
and creates a closer connection with the viewer. They are also
used to show Sandes’ lip syncing clearly. It also expresses her
confidence and implies she is directly singing to the audience
like she is wanting to get her message to us and knows we are
listening. There are also close up shots of people in poverty
relating to the effect the lows of society has had on them and
showing them in despair/sadness. The close ups of people’s
eyes signifiy them trying to be seen as an individual and
considered to be helped, as eyes are one of the most
recognisable features of someone which show emotion and
communicate the need to be noticed.
Pan shots- adds movement to the shots and changes the
scenery without cutting.
Wide shots
Weather shot- To emphasise the atmosphere of the video (The
shots of her in the rain suggest sadness whilst the shots of light
coming through the sky is symbolic of hope and Heaven.)
Moving camera upwards- This could represent her looking up to
Heaven, and always pointing the camera to where they sky is
visible.
Low angles- looking up from a low angle to the singer to give a
different perspective of the singer
Mid shots- To keep the video different from just close-ups,
showing more of her body gestures to express emotion more.
Side views- More interesting viewpoint, it also could give the
effect of Sande looking off into the distance instead of directly
towards the camera which could emphasise her feeling dreamy
and thoughtful or lost and unsure in other scenes.
Over the shoulder shot- This adds depth to the shot
Silhouettes- This could make you focus on the body gestures
rather than facial expressions
Cut away- (cross necklace, car lights) These often show quick
shots of objects symbolic to the lyrics.
Sound:
Lengthened beats of music, building it up.
Drums begin with long beats continuing.
Lyrics with echoes.
Music sometimes fades out briefly before coming back.
Music is repetitive and distinctive.
Representations present/how is this achieved?
1.Performance: Like performance in music videos, Sande shows
herself singing/lip syncing in different locations which she
switches back and forth from. You see her standing by a tree on
a street, sitting in a field of flowers, standing in a bus stop,
walking towards a dark tunnel, looking out of a window from a
room and standing outside in the sun with a clear sky next to
fancy buildings. There are also other close ups and extreme
close ups of her signing.
Editing:
Lens flares/light rays- These could represent the imagery of
religion and Heaven. There is an increase of light intensity in
some shots which could have religious connotations. This
could also represent messages within the lyrics which may
portray a desire to be brought to the light, which in religious
terms represents goodness.
Blurs/filters/moving spots/flashes of colour/distorted vision
effects- These add to the transitions making them more
vibrant and interesting. They also create a retro and vintage
atmosphere.
Lots of cuts- This makes the pace of the video quick as each
shot often changes sharply. The editing is cut to the beat
which demonstrates something similar to a montage with it’s
pace.
Overlapping- (flowers in the foreground with her in the
background)
Natural lighting
Artificial lighting/spotlights
Fade- A softer transition which fits with the quieter part of the
song where this happens
Vignette- This gives an interesting viewpoint for the audience
implying we are looking through a camera and suggesting we
are just bystanders to what we are being shown as we are
looking through something but are not there ourselves.
Mise-en-scene:
Sandes appearance: Dressed in black, it possibly looks similar
to what people in church choirs wear or nuns. Her clothes are
simple and plain but they are still glamorous and smart. She
wears two necklaces and has make up on with her white hair
styled. The colour black also could be symbolic of seriousness
which shows how she is passionate about telling her message
and getting it across to people.
What you see- You see lots of people in poverty like homeless
people and a mixture of social class, culture and race. (She is
celebrating diversity.) There is a lot of religious imagery with
crosses and lights being seen often with people looking up to
the sky and Sande makes praying gestures. People with wings
is also shown (symbolic of them waiting to be able to fly/be
free) and birds flying into the sky which relates to the lyrics of
being free and striving for a better life. However, other shots
don’t seem as obviously connected such as the women in the
red dress and the girl in the dark room with red lighting. We
see shots of the busy city, a flower field, churches and parts of
the streets and people’s houses, some looking run down and
gloomy. We see a lot of shots of children, from playing to
looking sad and lonely. There is also a quick shot of people
passing cigarettes and possibly drugs further implying the bad
state of the area. Throughout the music video we see Sande
approaching someone in a tunnel but at the end she turns
away.
2.Narrative: Sandes music video is representative for those in
society who intend to make positive contributions. However,
although they may ‘wake’ with good intentions, issues in society
allow their faith and positive mind set to diminish. Life becomes
a struggle with poverty and injustice, therefore people lose sight
of their dreams and their purpose. She is questioning whether
people can ignore those who are struggling and whether we can
sympathise with them- realising their problems and try to help.
She emphasises how we must not ignore people in these
situations as they are just as deserving of help as anyone.
Therefore, Sande is giving us an insight into something people
may otherwise turn a blind eye to as it’s something we see often
in our lives and it’s very easy to look the other way.
Other people’s appearance: Dressed in homeless or poor
clothes, however some are dressed well like the woman in the
red dress and girl in the car. Others are seen sleeping, smoking
or looking towards the camera with a neutral or sad
expression.
Facial expression and body gestures: Sande makes lots of
gestures with her hands, either making praying movements,
or reaching out in front of her emphasising she wants to ger
her message across. Her facial expression is passionate and
determined as she looks directly towards the camera or
confidently ahead. Other times she looks more thoughtful and
sadder with her frowning such as when she is at the bus stop
in the rain.

3.Artistic: Throughout the video several abstract and artistic

shots are used. Most have a symbolic representation to fit with
the lyrics such as the shots of a cross, a gravestone, light coming
through a window, the inside of a church and people with wings.
However, other artistic elements include no link to the video
such as the shadows of people standing together, the different
edits and filtered effects and the car lights out of focus. These
break up the sequence so it is not always on her singing to keep
the audience’s interest and not be able to predict what comes
next. Also, by conveying her ability to cut to different people’s
situations it shows how she can relate her lyrics to others.

4.Represenations: Sande represents the meaning of her video in

many ways. She uses not only the meaningfulness of the song
but also her position within the music industry and wider society
to create a bigger awareness of poverty and social inequalities in
urban areas. The repetition of ‘Oh Heaven’ implies she is asking
for help and guidance. Heaven could represent the good life the
people seen in her video want and need as we see them all
struggling in poverty. This implies she is pleading for people to
help them but with the lyrics ‘I wait’ also suggests she still has
faith and hope. Children are shown with the lyrics ‘will you
recognise me when I’m stealing from the poor?’ Children have
connotations of innocence which highlights the unfairness of
how these children have to live in these conditions, losing their
innocence because they are forced to steal or getting things
stolen from them. The lyrics ‘but the day, it always lasts too
long’. Implies how many people struggling with their lives
sacrifice their days working multiple jobs in order to survive or
provide.

3. Institutional information:
Themes in the song Heaven- poverty, diversity, multi-cultural.
General information: Sande’s career began when a video of her singing was sent to Trevor Nelson’s BBC Urban Music
competition. She won the show and was offered a record deal, but the management that she met via the competition
decided against the deal. However, she gained recognition from this and realised she could make something out of her
talent. She was promoted and encouraged by the urban Scotland collective. She then made her first album ‘Have you
Heard?’ which was sold at gigs. She also worked with Chipmunk, writing lyrics for him which he approved and used in his
own music video. Her singing career reached its peak in 2009, when she appeared in the track she wrote with Chipmunk,
the single made it to No. 6 on the UK Singles Charts, which was Chipmunk and Sandes first ever top 10 hit. In 2010 and 2011
she also signed some record deals. She later appeared on another single collaborating with Wiley on his single ‘Never be
your woman’ which reached No. 8 on the charts. Her first official single was ‘Heaven’ and she achieved her first No 1 single
with ‘Read all about it’. Sande performed in many places, including the LG Arena in Birmingham and at the White House.
She also achieved the Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act. From then on she continued to release more songs and rise
in popularity, especially with the UK and US. She is now a well-known and successful singer.
 4. Video Production:
What technology has been used to produce the Cameras, studio, computers
music video? Heaven was released on the 12th August 2011, by Virgin Records after
Sande signed a record deal with the label.
Who directed the music video? Jake Nava directed the music video for the song. Nava has previously
worked with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj.
The producer and one of the song writers was Mike Spencer. Other
song writers were Sande and Naughty Boy (Shahid Khan).
Interesting information about how the video was made:
The music video was filmed in Bethnal Green in London. They will record many takes of the choreographed scenes or
the lip-synching to the pre-recorded track and then dub the synced up pre-recorded track over the footage.

What kind of music genre is the artist working in For her song Heaven, the genres were Breakbeat (electronic or dance-
and what do you know about it? orientated music which utilizes breaks often sampled from earlier
recordings in funk, jazz and R&B, for the main rhythm.) Gospel (a genre
of Christian music) and Trip Hop (A fusion of hip hop and electronica,
with a variety of styles including funk and R&B.)
5. Distribution, exhibition and exchange:
Where might this video have been originally YouTube, on TV, on the radio, from her album.
viewed?
Does/did the artist perform live? Where? She has had many live performances all across the world (particularly
US and UK) one of her first being in Birmingham as her fame increased.
She also performed at the two-day Belladrum festival
6. General information:
Net worth of artist $8 million dollars
7. Context – social, cultural, historical

Social: Her music video Heaven links to some major social issues, therefore people will feel more responsible for it
and want to do something about it. They may become more aware of the social issues she is raising about poverty.
Also, socially it would be expected that the mainstream audience followed a popular artist like her, many would find
her image inspiring and admirable.

Cultural: In her music video she includes a wide range of ethnicities, race and culture, therefore lots of people will be
appealed to her diverse use of people in her video. It is likely it will therefore attract a diverse audience too, from
people who relate to the messages in her song or are just interested in the artist.

Historical: There isn’t much of a clear historical context in her video, although her message could link to her
mentioning the discrimination and poverty that has occurred over time to hint that these problems are still here in
the present day.