BTEC Media

1.10. Meaning Conveyed in Music Video

The two music videos I chose to analyse were Jar of Hearts by
Christina Perri which was produced in 2010 and Yonkers by Tyler the
Creator which was produced in 2011. Christina Perri is a female pop
artist born in Philadelphia, America who turns her attention mostly
to the topic of love and relationships when producing songs. Jar of
Hearts was released on July 27th and was Christinas single debut.
Perri was unsigned at the time the single was released and Jar of
Hearts made her in the top 20 spot in one week and gave her a lot
of fame in the music industry. Perris listeners mainly consist of girls
from 15-20 as many women feel as if they can relate to the content
within Perris music.
Tyler the Creature is a unique, hip hop/rap African American artist
lead member of a group of American rappers name Odd Future.
Tylers songs vary in meaning and content. In his early career (which
was when Yonkers was produced), Tyler sung mainly about his
depressing life and his journey to insanity (which is portrayed in
Yonkers, however in more recent years Tylers songs consist of a
more positive content. Yonkers was released digitally on February
the 14th and was the lead single from his debut studio album
Goblin. Tylers listeners mostly consist of teenagers from 15-20
years old as rap is popular with this age group.
There are few similarities and many differences between the two
videos, one of them being the mise-en-scene in both. In of Jar of
Hearts, the setting is an isolated, foggy road and within Yonkers, its
an empty plain white room. They are similar in the way that they are
both located in locations empty and isolated which is representative
for the artists feelings in relation to the content within the songs.
The empty room Tyler is located in alone is representative of the fact
the problem is only in his mind and he is facing it alone, in
juxtaposition to Christina in Jar of Hearts who is shown with a man
who is clearly part of her current problematic situation (which
includes a relationship).
Another feature which can be compared between Perri and Tylers
music videos is lighting. Within Jar of Hearts, the lighting is foggy,
dark and dismal which is symbolic for Christinas emotions in
relation to her fallen relationship. When a couple are shown kissing,
they are in a dim, dark light which symbolises Perris view of other
relationships. Within Yonkers, the room is completely white,
however often in the video, Tyler is shown in a dark light making him
a dark silhouette, which is reflective of the dark thoughts and
emotions he experiencing and expressing within the song.

Tyler and Christinas costumes differentiate due to gender and what

they express about the artist and their feelings. Christinas Jar of
Hearts is predominantly based round her experiences with love and
the failure of life, whilst Tyler raps about his mental deterioration
over the time, which is also portrayed with images throughout the
music video. The videos and songs can be compared as there both
about misery caused from recent events in life.