Analyzing Music Video's - "Illustration"

This is the Music video for the song "Ordinary People" by John Legend


I chose to Analyse this video as it is a perfect example of the "illustration" technique used for making Music Videos, Illustration is where the Artist illustrates the meaning of the lyrics and visualizes the music in a straightforward way- and in this video, he does just that. John Legend starts by walking towards the piano, he then begins to play the Piano, and the song begins. The idea behind the song is simple- and Mise en Scene is used effectively to portray that, for example at 00:26, there is a close up on the glass on water on the piano, the stillness of the water creates a calming effect, the same effect that the song is trying to put across with the slow notes played on the Piano. Another aspect of the video is the plain background, white is a very calming and un-distracting colour and it helps you to concentrate on the song, and more importantly the lyrics that the  Artist is performing, linking back to the "Illustration" idea for the music video.

At 00:53 the camera pans to the right, and reveals a couple arguing, the Mise En Scene comes in again here, as the couple are dressed very ordinary and that could be a technique in which the clothes link to the name of the song. In this short segment of the song, the couple are engaged in an argument, this section is not in the original song, but is added into the video, and the Illustration technique is used because the song is based around the troubles that "ordinary" couples have, and this segment shows them arguing, which portrays this fact. 

As the chorus ends and the second verse begins, the camera pans back to John Legend singing, once again highlighting the "illustration" idea behind the video, it moves again onto a small boy who is sitting with his hands over his ears, showing the fact that "ordinary people" have problems. 


As the song kicks into the Chorus again, the camera then pans- to another couple arguing. Another point about the "illustration" of the video, is that every time John Legend sings the words "take it slow" the editing makes the shots slow motion, and you see the arguments slowly.


The Third verse comes- and it shows a family arguing, again highlighting the fact that everyone argues. "illustration" of translating the song lyrics into picture is used again as he sings "Maybe you'll stay, maybe you'll leave" this is sung as the girl of the family has a bag on her back and looks to be attempting to run away, the actions in the video portray the lyrics effectively. 


As the Chorus begins for a fourth time, an orchestra of Violins appears behind John Legend, this is stereotypical and Mise en Scene is used effectively in this segment, as usually in sad moments a violin is present, and by seeing the Violins you get the impression of the emotion of the song. Again, the violins are not present in the Original Song, so are used for Illustrative purposes only.


The song then fades out, and Illustration is used with the characters to show unity with the people they where arguing with