Music video analysis - Katy Perry

Music video analysis: Katy Perry – Thinking of You

Genre: Pop

WATCH VIDEO

            This video is essentially a love story revolving around a strict theme of remembering a dead partner and not being able to let go of the past. It concentrates on a very specific narrative and connects the ideas of past and present.

            The video follows the narrative of a young woman (played as the singer, katy) preparing for the funeral of hear dead partner who died in action during world war two. It portrays the hardships of her constantly thinking about him even when she is with her new partner. I think the mood conveyed is intended to be that of mixed emotions; specifically those of the woman being happy when remembering the good times, but being sad about the fact that he’s gone.

            First of all, close-up shots are used to highlight important objects purposefully used for mise-en-scene to suggest ideas. The video begins with a close-up of a pair of black shoes; one upright, one fallen over. The colour instantly gives off dark connotations (we later find out these shoes are worn to the funeral) and perhaps the fact that one shoe has fallen represents the main characters mood. The one upright and one fallen show image may even hint at the mixed emotions the video is intending to express. We then see a mid-shot of a wooden crucifix hanging on a white wall which could signify faith and hope and shows that the main character is religious. We then see a long shot of the woman sitting down slowly, and it seems these shots have been edited with a de-saturated/vintage filter to give off a 60’s feel, an indication of the theme. 

Close-up shots are also used throughout on the character/singer’s face to show the singing of the lyrics, but also to give the audience a detailed view of this character’s personal emotions. This comes into effect when the character begins to sing, and it is clear she is smiling. This smiling relates to the subject of the lyrics at the time, “Comparisons are easily done once you’ve had a taste of perfection. Like an apple hanging from a tree I picked the ripest one, I’ve still got the seed.” which shows she is singing about her dead lover and allows the audience to connect the image of her smiling with the music and lyrics. This relationship between image and sound is also used to show the sadness the character feels, as she sings “You said move on, where do I go?” a shot of her looking sad and solemn is shown. This emotional conflict is used throughout the video and enables the audience to empathise with the character using what they see and what they hear.

Colour is used to show these mixed emotions, as when scenes of the past are shown which depict the woman and her dead lover, a highly saturated filter is used which pronounces all the colours and makes for a really bright feel. However, when the character is shown in bed with her new lover, the colour looks slightly washed out and less positive. A black and white filter is also used on shots of her dead boyfriend holding a gun and clearly fighting in a war amongst other soldiers, which makes it clear to the audience that this is a flashback or a past event and that it is of melancholy content. 

Costume also plays a part in communicating moods and feelings in the video, for example the woman’s dress in scenes of happiness in the past are bright and summery contrasting with the sultry, suggestive and skin-showing attire she is wearing in bed in scenes of the present, which combined with her retreated posture, make her appear vulnerable. She is also shown at the end wearing black clothing with a veil as she is walking away, which is associated with sadness and death and reinforces the idea that she is going to a funeral.

            I feel this music video is very effective and portrays the narrative well. It uses a wide combination of techniques to let the reader in on the personal emotions of the characters and evoke some quite contrasting moods and atmospheres.