RESEARCH: Analysis of a music video

I chose to analyse Katy Perry's 'Wide Awake' music video. It relates to what Andrew Goodwin had said, its a sort of 'disjuncture' video; the video doesn't exactly connect with the lyrics.  Lyrically its reminiscent of the reality of a break up and moving past it. However, the music video has a sort of fairy-tale plot to it. Viewers that do know of Katy Perry will maybe understand the link to the previous music videos she has produced. Such as the beginning, it is from a scene after a show of 'California Gurls'; Katy takes off her wig and then we see her as a dark person, shown in a dimly lit and mysterious surrounding. Throughout the music video, it has references to her previous videos, such as the strawberry: it refers to her first album "One of the Boys". And another scene where she pushes the wall and a firework comes out of her chest, into the sky, it refers to her "Firework" song and video. Other references consist of the pink ribbon in her hair who has eyes identical to Katy Perry (in her E.T video). I like the way the directors have made all these relations to previous videos, it gives it more meaning to her viewers, in a sort of suttle way.

There are also a variety of base tracks in her video. The different locations used and the use of CGI is very effective too, it blends in with the fairy-tale storyline, its not real, but it leaves an obvious impression (of it being a fairy-tale). The costumes used are thought cleverly too; in the darker scenes, we see her with a dark dress on and a black cloak. Others such as the extravagant nude coloured dress she wears when she is infront of the cameras that are taking pictures of her. In my opinion, this is a good example of a music video because it has a lot of meanings to it (even if its not the lyrcis) it shows a lot of references to the artists' previous music videos, it also has been thought greatly. Then again it is Katy Perry, and it must of been expensive to produce the video. The video has around 69 million views on YouTube, showing that it is pretty famous and liked all around the world.