Analysis of a Professional Music Video

This is my analysis of a professional music video, I chose to so Taylor Swift's 'The Story of Us'. I chose this song because it belongs to the same genre and artist that our chosen song for our music video does.

The Story of Us is a song which is typical both to her genre (country) and her other songs which are usually about relationship whether it be breaking up or in love. The Story of Us is about a couple falling out of love and avoiding each other, however the girl clearly has feelings for the guy which is put across in the lyrics. Taylor Swift doesn't use dance routines much in her videos as she focus' more on the story line in her lyrics then on dancing.

The Story of Us clearly show a link between the video and the lyrics as it has been filmed in a library and books are constantly being referred to. At the very start of the video we see a book entitled The Story of Us, which is what the couple wanted to have at the start, the lyrics "I used to think one day I'd tell the story of us.." clearly show this.

There are lots of close-ups of Taylor Swift during the video which conforms to Goodwin's characteristics. Also conforming to Goodwin's characteristics is the fact that Taylor is lip syncing the song. The camera cuts between 'story' Taylor and 'lip syncing' Taylor, this is so the audience get to see her acting out what has happened and then now that the relationship is over.

The framing of the shots in the video shows Taylor surrounded by books, once again emphasizing the fact that the relationship is just a story now. When the couple are happily together they are framed to the left, this could be because this is the past and just a memory. There is also the fact that as the relationship progresses they are separated by things such as books, this acts as a divide to which they cannot cross.

Taylor is wearing a school girl uniform when lip syncing and regular casual clothes whilst acting, this is to distinguish the difference between the singing and acting. Taylor is never put in revealing clothes, which some female singers like to do such as Britney Spears, this is to keep with her image of the innocent but beautiful country singer.