Textual Analysis: Cee-lo Green – Forget You



Within music videos, different techniques are use between a wide range of genres within the music industry. Elements such as Mise-en-scene can give a certain perception and feel to the music video depending on the target audience which is closely related the genre of the music for the music video. Other aspects such as Lighting, Editing, Sound and Camera Work all contribute to how effective the music video is and how appropriate it is to its audience.
The music video for Cee-Lo Green – Forget You, the typography of the song title appears on screen. Onomatopoeic sounds are used such as 'bong' and 'ping', these are similar sounds to a ping pong machine, this could be connected to a childlike nature perhaps. The location of the music video is then set as a street diner. Furthermore other elements of the mise-en-scene establish a time period in which this music video is set such as the old cars. This may suggest a periodic narrative, a memory or the style of the band. 3 women are outside the location as the music starts, they are all in matching dresses and are dancing in sync, this could suggest that they are 'backing up singers' are this was a common look for this role within music in that time period. Furthermore the moves are very theoretical and Broadway style, this could have a slight contextual reference, as the costumes look similar to that of the 'Hairspray'. A life story narrative is show by another typography 'Young Cee-Lo Green' appears on screen, as Cee-Lo Green is older, this suggests that it is going to show an experience of Cee-Lo Green as a child and maybe see him grown up to the man that the audience know him as. This makes the audience have a personal connection and insight to the artists life. The 'Young' Cee-Lo Green begins to lip sync to the lyrics, suggesting a performance narrative video. Another typography appears on screen ' The Heartbreaker', this establishes to the audience what the music video is going to be about, this further shows a victim and protagonist side to the artist. The 3 women appear again, this shows they are a key element into the narrative of this music video, as they keep appearing throughout the video, this could mean they are guidance for Cee-Lo Green or the narrator of this story. The older Cee-Lo Green is shown, establishing the Cee-Lo Green and suggests what we might see later on in the music video. Within the lyrics 'But that don't mean I can't get you there', this suggests providing for this female character, 'young' Cee-Lo Green is shown on screen with a green truck. This was present with the typography earlier on when the 'Young Cee-Lo Green' was established. Whereas the other boy character has a red sports car, and the girl runs off with him, this suggest that she is materialistic but also the audience gives sympathy for the 'Young Cee-Lo Green' as he feels rejected. This supports the typography of the girl 'The Heartbreaker' and establishes the narrative. It then progress into 'High School Years', the 3 woman, yet again present, this create repetition within the music video. This could suggest that there is repetition within the story, of being rejected. The characters of Cee-Lo Green and 'The Heartbreaker' are established within the 'High School Years' sequence and then through onto 'College Years'. Cee-Lo Green is then seen within a car with the 3 woman, this suggest that he is now wealthy and enjoying life. This shows that he has moved on and got over her but furthermore, that the roles have been reversed, a sense of equilibrium.

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