Hideaway- Music Video Techniques/ Media Language Analysis

Kiesza- Hideaway music video analysis -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnoz5uBEWOA

t the start of the video an establishing shot is being used. It focuses on the street sign, so through this we can instantly know that the location is going to be in a street. This is because an establishing shot is used to show the area or location of something or next shot. Immediately, after this a wide angle shot is used to show us the main character ‘Kiesza’ getting of the taxi. This again supports the idea that the location of this video will be taking on the street as she walks through the street that we saw the sign for right at the start throughout the whole video. Through this shot we can also see her costume, which is very casual and this links to what you would wear if you were walking down the street. In addition, her gesture and colours of the costume give us an idea of her being confident and a dance due to the way she is closing the door and the colour of her shoes which is very vibrant.

Throughout the video a tracking shot is used. This was the main shot with the entire video. This is because the continuity of the movement empathizes the concept of the video which is ‘Hideaway’. Using this type of shot also allows the viewers to engage more the music video and makes sure they keep their focus on the conceptual part of the music video. This is mainly accomplished through the mise-en-scene, particular location, dance routines and costume, creating a precise story linking to the concept of hideaway. For example, in this screen shot a wide shot is used. This shows the main character and few other dancing on the street. This is an idea of happiness and celebration, it is also very colourful due to the graffiti and costumes. The colours of the costumes can be quite symbolic as there are contrasting colours. The yellow at the back of the artist that the back dancer is wearing can represent happiness and joy. Not only that, but her gesture with hand wide open suggests playful and happiness again. This creates an idea around the symbolic concept as the colours of the costumes and the dancing used allow the audience to provoke thoughts about the journey of her walking through the street and possible interpretations of the characters the performer meets on his way.

Half way through the video a medium close-up is being used. This brings attention to the facial expressions of the character. In this case she looks very happy due to her mouth is wide open as she’s singing. This shows her happiness. Not only that, but the soft red lipstick and calm make-up shows the audience the simplicity of the video, and the red emphasizes a bright, vibrant and energetic feeling. Which suits perfectly with the video as the audience see her dancing throughout the music video. This is also emphasised through the background as there’s bright colours used for the graffiti, creating an energetic feeling. Also the indirect eye contact makes the audience wonder what she is looking at.


A wide angle shot is used almost throughout the whole of the music video, as well as a tracking camera movement. The open street within the background strongly emphasis the conceptual idea of the character being confident, energetic and happy. As there dancer all around her dressed in bright clothing and the graffiti all over the walls, not only that, but we see a man jogging which empathises relaxation and joy again. The street in which she is walking through is significantly the focus as this is where the story is told. However, the street (neighbourhood) itself could be considered as a link to the artists’ regional identity, as it might potentially suggests the area she is originally from. The interpretation of this element can be quite open and analysed in many different ways. The idea of the street and journey can be strongly continuously signing. The combination of the performance and narrative is creating a hybrid, allowing this video to be more successful as it makes the audience feel more engaged into the conceptual story found within the clip. 

At the end of the video the same taxi we see that drops her off at the start of the video is picking her up again. This is very effective as we see her journey and this reinforces the idea of regional identity, her visiting the area where she originally came from and now she’s leaving.  This is shown through a medium close-up shot as it allows us as viewers to focus on her getting on the taxi and nothing else. Therefore we won’t be distracted. This also leaves us on the note of her just the way the video started with her, emphasising to us that she is the main character throughout the entire video.  Through this shot we also do not see her face which also enables us to know this is the ending, nothing left to see.

Mise-en-scene

Right at the begging of the video a prop is being used to set up the scene and engage the audience. The taxi strongly empathizes the narrative within the clip as it begins with the taxi and ends with it which shows a journey. This might engage the audience even more as they might be interested in the journey she is going through and what is going to happen after she gets of the taxi.  The taxi also may be used to signify him leaving a particular place and starting her journey.

Through the music video the artist is walking through the street while people come up and dance with her or there is random people on the background. They are all dressed in casual clothing but bright, this empathises the idea of joy and happiness. However, only one two people are wearing fully black, which goes against the rest of the characters. This might be considered as a phallic symbol, which is then used to signify sadness. In addition, as we can see in the background of the third image the graffiti is very bright and takes over the entire wall. This again symbolises their energy and happiness. Due to this it also enables us to know that the road she is walking in is very low class, could be an estate as the walls have been vandalised. Towards the end of the video we see a medium close up shot of her and the entire street shown behind her. We see her facial expressions as being very happy through her smile. This again supports the idea of happens and joy. 

Sound
The non-diegetic sound (the sound track) is used throughout the entire music video. This is successful as the sound has much more advanced quality. The fact that the sound from the environment is not really influenced this enables us to focus on the sound track, lyrics and makes everything more clearly. However, right at the start of the video diegetic sound is used when the artist gets of the taxi and closes the door, we hear it closing. Also right at the end the sound track stops and we hear her the cars driving buy and her getting on the taxi, closing the door and leaving.

Parallel sound is used accurately with the speed of the video frame, meaning it reflects the mod of the song. This is very essential within music videos. This is because it makes more engaging for the audience, meaning they want to carry on watching the video clip. Furthermore, it is essential for the parallel sound to be accurate to the genre of music you are trying to promote. In addition, through the video the artist stops lip-sync the track however, the non-diegetic sound of her signing is still on. This doesn’t creates a massive change as throughout most of the video the artist is preforming to the music.

Editing techniques:

The music video hardly includes any cuts which is quite unusual. This can be considered as challenging the codes and conventions, allowing the video to be even more unique comparing to other music videos.  This is quite effective because it shows the conceptual story of the video in a continuous prose using a tracking camera movement. This enables the music video to be shown as more creative and imaginative. Half way through the video the music begins to speed up and so does the movement of tracking shot. This makes the jaundice build up the tension, it is really effective as it allows the audience to feel the speed of the song. Towards the end of the video as she gets onto the taxi to leave the screen fades away as the taxi moves. This shows the audience it is the end. Overall throughout the video there is hardly any editing techniques used, it is very simple.