Paradise Previous Music Video Analysis

    (if appropriate probably needs pictures)                  

 Music video Analysis Essay-Paradise

The music video I will be analysing is ‘Paradise’ by Coldplay, which is a narrative, based music video consisting of huge elephant suits, which initially hides the identity of the band members themselves. The music video begins with an establishing shot of a landscape with a silhouette tree and heavy cloud, which changes as the words across screen present us to the opening of the video. The sky is coral and amber as the sun sets. A bird flies away to represent freedom and the picture conveys the idea of paradise, peaceful and relaxant to introduce us into the video. It then begins and presents us with a mid shot with a dressed elephant trapped and isolated as it remains behind bars. The overgrown crops suggest neglect and loneliness as he rattles the cage in frustration and desperation. The over the shoulder shot blends into a point of view (eye line match) which reveals the elephants thoughts and as he crosses off the tally with chalk drawn pictures of elephants which portrays the count down of days until he will be re united with his family/band and free. The uneven, slightly trembling camera positioning personalises the seen, further connoting the elephant’s melancholy mood and hurry to escape as close ups of tracking shots show the elephant cracking the lock open with a rock. The scene uses a lack of cuts to perhaps keep the focus and to continue to reveal entrapment.

As the elephant unlocks the door he instantly runs and the first clip is past the monkey which is juxtaposed against the elephant as this animal is still trapped yet follows the elephant through the glass as he runs free. Once the elephant has made an escape the pace of the editing begins to speed up with various tracks and pans to follow the elephant as he escapes and due to him running. Various iconic items are shown throughout these clips such as the glowing red telephone box in the background, the Boris bike in for foreground, the traditional police uniform which all represent London as Coldplay are an English band. Ambient colours are used to bring central focus and attention and although the images look extremely colourful and warm, the situation isn’t. This is to also emphasise 

And suggest that the elephant is trapped in a busy city surrounding, which is unusual and not home, or paradise. 

The elephants are used in a metaphorical way, representing a girl who fails to reach her dreams or can only reach them in an unrealistic world such as dreaming. Elephants are significant and relevant as they need company/companionship to survive, similar to humans. Also playing on the idea that elephants ‘never forget’, therefore this elephant feels pain as he remembers memories similar to humans. 

Colourful background adds to lack of focus on the elephant and it's point as no one really cares about what you are attempting to achieve in life, it is down to you to follow your own dreams, as if the elephant is lacking importance, swallowed up in this colourful busy, world.

While in the underground a face on mid-shot is used to add focus on the elephant as he holds the lyrics ‘ when she was just a girl’ however the elephant is placed in the mid-ground, as if lacking importance. The humans passing by are the obstacles and the faces of reality as the girl dreams, the elephant is used to narrate and tell this story. This continues twice throughout the video with short cuts holding up paradise on cardboard as if hitching a lift or busking. The words perhaps exaggerate what actions can’t, echoing thoughts in his mind, his desperation and on going dream of forever reaching this place. As the elephant does not speak the words replace this. The mood changes when building up to the chorus as the body language from the suited elephant appears increasingly upbeat as he gets closer to his dream, for example dancing down the escalators. The scene then reveals the elephant waiting for the train as it smears as the train realistically passes and changes into a longshot of the elephant standing in the train, we are looking as if we are a passenger ourselves through the emergency window of the door everyone is equal. The elephant remains to keep our focus as ordinary people surround him; he is considered the same with no significance representing ordinary society. Various shots are used to add to the length of the train journey as the elephant waits. Close ups are used as if showing the elephants emotions, glancing and then switching to show a Heathrow Airport sign, low angle as if he is looking down on it, showing the audience where he is actually going and that he is hopeful. 

The chorus ‘paradise’ is being repeated as it shows a close up of the elephant, engaging us to what he is looking at to a long-shot of the airplane, this is the elephants opportunity to paradise as he makes a run for it. The airplane in the sunset sky further expresses this with the establishing shot from the airplane of an island which you’d associate with paradise, blue sees, sunshine and luxury. The video still manages to add humour through the close up of the elephant trunk eating off the floor and him hiding in a suitcase with his trunk locked in it but seems to create sympathy and exaggerate loneliness. The energy of the elephant once left the airport changes majorly repeating holding up the lyrics with the elephant standing in the  mid-ground foreground and background to present them as he moon walks and dances as he is almost home and comfortable, embracing this moment. He is even noticed and given money for busking almost as if accepted here. 

 However the video continues to create sympathy as the shot reverse shot of the elephant looking into the window as if intrigued to the view of a bike he wants. There is a long shot as he walks in which makes him appear friendly and upbeat as the sunshine pours in while the shopkeeper is in darkness with a silhouette outline. The over the shoulder sequence shots and actions such as pointing show interaction and conversation in actions. However the close up of the money given reveals that this is not enough as items underneath are much more. 

The journey which continues on the unicycle as this is all he can afford is typical to an item of a circus. The long shot of a deserted highway looks like as if it represents the desperation of the American dream but reflects the abandoned state of mind as he tries to hitch lifts again, ignored. The removal of the elephant mask is the first and only time Chris Martins’ identity is revealed either because he is hot or as if observing the view, emitting pride. The scenery makes it clear they are situated in Africa with the giraffes in view and the sky is now associated and revealed with what has been shown throughout. Once spotting the band the sun is setting which has been associated with paradise and the band/family are reunited, claiming their land and dancing, the music is shown to bring them together expressing emotion. Each elephant has a slightly different image to characterise them as if humans, standing out from each other. This then switches to live footage of the band performing at their concert (typical of band music videos) is this the reality they dreamed of? Returning to them running towards the camera representing happiness and finally, well deserved freedom.