Textual analysis of Coldplay - Paradise

Introduction
- The genre of this music video is R&B/pop
- A very modern music video
- Has titles at the beginning to make it like a film

What is the relationship between lyrics and visuals?
- When Chris Martin is dressed as an elephant and he has the pieces of cardboard this is showing the lyrics clearly and that links the lyrics and the visuals together
- The name of the song 'Paradise' is also a lyric and fits with the visuals because it's all about an elephant getting back home which is paradise
- However these are the only two links because the song is about a girl but this is not evident in the video

What is the relationship between music and visuals?
- When the song goes 'para para paradise' the shots are edited so that the next shot comes up at the beginning of the next 'para' which makes it fit the beat
- At 2 minutes into the song, Chris Martin buys a unicycle and the beat drops at the time the shot changes to him riding the unicycle
- At about 2.35 the song goes to a different tune and he becomes sad which fits with the music
- Then the pace picks up when he finds the rest of his 'family'
- When he runs up to the rest of them it is in slightly slow motion and this is the same for when they dance together as this goes with the music
- In the instrumental at the end it cuts to them doing a gig with the guitar solo which fits nicely with the music

Are there close ups of the artist and star image motifs?
- The only glance we get at the artists is when Chris Martin takes off his elephant head when riding the unicycle
- Throughout the rest of the video the band are all wearing the costumes
- They use their piano and guitars which have the neon paint all over them which means you can tell that it is them

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
- This is focused on the elephants and how sad this one elephant is
- There is no voyeurism
- No Male Gaze involved either

Is the music video performance based, narrative based or concept based?
- This music video is mostly narrative based with the story of the elephant getting back to the wild but at the end it turns to performance based because they are singing and playing their instruments at the gig

Conclusion
- Overall, i think this music video is very good and well thought out
- It is modern so it has lots of different shots in it and i think that makes it look very effective