Name: Theresa Daher

Critique Essay

The music video “Not the only one” is intended to be a symbolic video where the

suffering and struggles of Lebanese people intertwine. The song is performed by Mike Massy

who also developed the music video’s concept. The video opens in an abandoned warehouse

where two characters show the internal conflict Lebanese families go through to provide a

brighter future for their children. Overall the music video is a good real-life representation of

the internal conflict Lebanon’s citizens encountered after Beirut’s massive explosion

although there were some missing elements.

The video emphasizes the agony and hopelessness Lebanon has experienced this last

year in a creative style. For instance, the shooting takes place in an abandoned warehouse

which reminds me of the damage in the houses and hospitals after the blast in Beirut.

Likewise, as Mike Massy mentions the soundtrack is supposed to be a collection of multiple

sounds such as the explosion sound or the sound of the glass shattering. This detail conveys

how much attention and thought went into the process of making the music video. The beat

itself gives me chills and takes me back to these moments of horror and terror when I first

heard the explosion. Most probably, the victims of the 4th of august explosion and whoever

witnessed the explosion firsthand will have the same reaction as mine. The video reflects the

truth of Lebanon and what it has done to its people. The desperation of the Lebanese people

is felt and seen by whoever watches the clip whether a foreigner or not. Because the emotions

are successfully portrayed by the characters and shooting angles. The actors expressed these

emotions flawlessly through facial expressions in the table scene where the two actors are

trying to reach out for each other as well as in the staircase scene where the actress shows her

longing and compassion for the other actor and the inner conflict she is experiencing. The
ultimate merit of the video is the scene where Dr. Nadra Assaf and Mike Massy dance in

between a piece of fabric. The use of the fabric is a creative technique where it resembles the

wall between what Arab moms want to say and what they say to their children to not hold

back them from their aspirations. Dancing can break the language barrier and portray

emotions and ideas more effectively in many cases, so the use of dance is also imaginative on

the director’s part. I believe the video was produced with focus, reason, and logic.

However, as for the production, I thought it was subpar and which may be why the

video seemed very similar to other videos I have seen. The idea of the music video is very

repetitive in my opinion and has been done in the best ways possible several times before for

example Mashrou’ Leila. The fact that the clip takes place in the same building throughout

the music video makes it more monotone and lacking variation. However, the variation in

emotions and atmosphere is established through dancing only. Moreover, The video is

lacking elements such as more people to result in a more powerful impact in some necessary

scenes. For example, showing more than one mom thriving through the aftermath of the

explosion would be more moving for the audience. The message that I took from the video is

something most Lebanese people already knew or living in, so the message is common and

typical. Although the message could be delivered in an innovative way to attract the

audience, the director chose another route which is understandable.

“Not the only one” is a music video that illustrates the hardships Lebanese people

experience and the dissension parents struggle with to motivate their children in chasing their

dreams somewhere else. The music video is very touching but lacking a flamboyance in some

parts. Most importantly the video has a story which many music videos nowadays lack.