Music Video Analysis
By Ramsha Bukhari
Song: How deep is your love
By Calvin Harris and Disciples
Released on 17th July,2015
Genre: Deep House
Directed by: Emil Nava
Type of music video
Performance based music video
This music video begins with a lady lying on a table which she gets
up on and walks down a hall into a party.She then finds herself
on a seat boat with water bikers.She is then transported to a pool
where she dives into and walks out,takes off her clothes,hops in a
shower and goes to the party room.The video ends with her walking
out of the room. This video won for the best Electronic music video
on 2016 MTV Music video awards.
Mis-en-Scene
This part of the video shows the girl
lying in a mortuary which shows that
she is dead.The props used,for example
the metal table and the bracelet around
her shows that the music video is
going to be about her.
This part specifically matches the lyrics.It
shows the environment which contrasts with
her death.With the fast cuts and editing,the
video either implies that she has gone back
in time or just woke up to discover how deep love can be.
Audiences and Representation
This music video has a very complicated narrative and a deep plot.This
creates a suspense for audience so they are interested and attentive
to watch the music video.Both the lighting and beat are in sync and it
engages the audience simultaneously.The distorted audio in some
scenes represent some madness in the video.Throughout the video,
there are some close shots on the main actress for example when the
she comes out from the pool in her swim suit,the camera gradually
pans from down to show her full profile.Another use of blue and
green light in the video shows exact clinical hospital type environment
according to the narrative in the music video.
The music video starts with representation of a clinical hospital
where the girl is lying on mortuary.The other location used
in the video is a beach where she swims in the pool.
Last,in the end of the video she walks in a party room where
she dances.
Location
Camera Shots
This music video shows many varying shots that work really well
together. There are close-ups,medium close ups and wide
shot of nature captured in the video.In the party room,wide
shots are shot to show the music and people.Panning
is used in different ways in areas like beach and room.
According to the songs name 'how deep is your love',the wide shots
in sea are captured to show distinction between depth and love
Editing
The techniques used in this music video are are very unique
and different which shows the girl acting naturally.With the
effect of different colors used and the fast cuts are in sync.These
techniques are used in music video with electro pop genre
because of fast pace.According to the theme of the music video
the editing is perfect because it show how insane a person gets
when he/she's connected to love.
Theories Applied
1.ANDREW GOODWIN
There's a relationship between the visuals and the lyrics for
example the lyrics are represented by the images.The scenes
match the music tone according to the environment.The bright
colors used in the music video fit the exact location in each
scene of this music video.The video is also shot on sea
and according to the lyrics 'how deep is your love' ,sea has been
shot as a connotation of depth.
- Music videos demonstrate genre lyrics.
'How deep is your love' shows Deep House genre and the
characteristics of this genre include the location of music in
music video for example bars,beach,clubs and festivals.The music
video fits the characteristics according to the locations used
in the video.
Laura Mulvey's theory
Throughout the video,the model appears
in minimal clothing featuring 'voyerism'
which is explained in this theory.In this
video,close-up shots are used in several
dressed body parts such as model's legs,back and stomach.These
are the examples for male gaze.Men are shown in the video
paying attention to the figure of the model.
