Analysis of Cocorosie's Lemonade

Analysis of ‘Lemonade’ by ‘Cocorosie’
Cocorosie are a cross-genre of Freak folk, Hip hop and experimental. I feel that it is important for artists to have their music video’s coincide with their genre which cocorosie have achieved extremely well.
The video opens with a melancholy piano tune and a long establishing shot of an old styled mansion. Immediately, the low key lighting and use of sinister and mysterious dark colour sets the scene accordingly. The accompaniment of the music with the dark mansion creates an ominous feel to the music video and makes the audience want to see what is inside.
The next shot is a long shot of two women walking away from each other along a banister. This could be to signify distance and loss or the theme of separation; again establishing the theme of the video and the song to be dark and morose.
There is then a birds-eye-view shot of the two female characters next to one another walking down the stairs. The birds-eye-view used in conjunction with a pan gives the audience the sense that the characters feel watched or followed. This makes them ask if they are the spectators or whether the characters feel watched by somebody within the space. Further making the audience want to find out if they are being observed by another character within the music video.
Next, the camera cuts to a medium shot of the characters/artists. This is a really important shot as it allows the audience to really see the characters’ costumes and make up. For example; Victorian styled dresses and accessories along with deep purple lip stick and drawn or affixed facial hair. Again, the whole demeanour of the costume hair and make-up follows the gloomy atmosphere. Some audiences may find such a video bizarre or difficult to grasp, however, their target audience would relate well to the emotions which are extrapolated by the effects and dramatisations.
There is not a distinct story line although the desired sentiment is reached which is what I aim to achieve when producing my own music video as this allows diverse readings rather than constricted ones. I feel that music videos and lyrics should be able to speak out to an audience and individuals instead of having a direct approach.
For example, more mainstream artists such as Taio Cruz have the tendency to rely upon expected story lines such as ‘boy meets girl’, ‘love’ or ‘relationship breakdowns’.

‘She’s Like a Star’ is a classic example of this which shows a male being in love with a female and feeling completely compelled by her. I feel that this is a clichéd approach and with my chosen song I will challenge the regular idea of what a music video should involve.