Music Video Analysis: Colors

This music video is a Narrative video that contains a heavy plot. It is the main focus of the video, with the lyrics putting emphasis on and helping to tell the story. The use of Close-up shots help to show expression and establish to the audience how the characters are feeling. Other shots show characters behind or hidden by some things, which portrays the idea of secrecy and hiding true feelings. It allows the audience to interpret that, without seeing a head-on view of someone, they cannot truly interpret and believe in what they are seeing. Having a character hiding behind something means the audience cannot fully see what is happening. Overall, this effect creates a more in-depth story that the audience can lose themselves in.

The use of lighting is varied within this music video, natural lighting is used at the beginning, along with bright white clothing, to present the idea of innocence and purity.

It gives the audience an initial impression of each character, which makes the rest of the video and the events that happen more effective: the audience are not expecting it. There are also a number of Head-On and Mid Shots that allow the audience to get a good sense of the characters and helps to contrast the shots seen at the end of the video. For other scenes, darker lighting is used to create an idea in the audience's mind that nothing is as it seems. There is a loss of purity and truth as the story unfolds to the viewer, making the lighting darker and darker. However, there are particular scenes that continue throughout the video which keep to the natural and white lighting seen at the beginning of the video. These gently remind the audience that the main character is just a teenager and lives in her own fantasy world.

The use of editing also effectively relates to the story. cuts are used quickly towards the end of the video to show to the audience expressions and reactions to the situation. This helps to build tension and a thrill for the audience, with a majority of the shots prior to these are particularly longer and slower. As the story begins to unfold, the overall pace of the cuts quickens and creates a more intensive watch for the audience. As well as the shots, these quick cuts help to express to the audience that something is wrong and that the innocence and purity seen at the start of the video is lost.

Furthermore in editing, the use of subtle colouring links the music to the video. The colour blue as an overlay is used to link the lyrics to the video itself. It was noticed by many Halsey fans and created for a more entertaining video for them.

In terms of sound, there is dialogue between the characters which is muted. This allows for the audience to leave more to the imagination and create their own personal dialogue. It also suggests that what the characters are saying isn't necessarily important, but the fact that they are talking is necessary. This creates for a more interactive and immersive watch which adds to the effectiveness and interest of the story and the music video itself.