Indie-Pop Music Video Investigation: Lily Allen 'Smile'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJEjbMrW62Q&feature=related

Being successful at getting permission to use the track 'Oh No!' by Marina and the Diamonds, our main focus will be the genre of Indie-Pop. With this in mind I aim to investigate the Music Video 'Smile' by Lily Allen, as I believe Lily Allen is a well known Indie-Pop artist, being also typically Briish. Whilst investigating the Music Video 'Smile' I aim to focus on the typical Andrew Goodwin features, eventually helping our group to stick within the Indie-Pop genre.

First of all as an audience we realise that the Music Video has a storyline, ensuring the Visuals are linked to the Lyrics, such as in the line 'I just sat by myself all day' Lily appears to be unhappy and alone in her flat in that scene. Although I believe the storyline is not completely obvious in the beginning we soon realise what is happening within the Music Video, and this therefore helps us as an audience relate to the song. As well as this there is use of the technique 'Voyeurism', although this is not strong throughout the video, when Lily is alone in her flat we get a strong connection to how she is feeling.

I feel there is a strong relationship between the genre of the music and the visuals, as well as the use of Iconography again being typical Andrew Goodwin features. For example the location of the Music Video appears to fit perfectly within the Indie-Pop Music Genre, the Music Video tells us this by the low key props being included, and the almost grotty, grimey streets that are shown, creating the feel of an ordinary town and an ordinary situation. As well as this we see Lily within her room, and even in this location the Mise En Scene lets us know we are watching an Indie-Pop Music Video. The Mise En Scene included such as the sheet hung up at the window, the dull colours and lack of furniture all interpret this theme. The lighting that is included throughout the Music Video also gives creates the theme of Indie-Pop as many scenes appear to be dull, and in Lily's room the side lighting through the window and the sheet create a depressed feel about the atmosphere. I believe this kind of ordinary, everyday life location relates perfectly to the Indie-Pop genre.

Throughout the music video there is a range of Close-up and Mid Close-up shots of Lily, this is another feature of  Andrew Goodwin's and allows us as an audience to feel closer and much more well known with the artist.
Lily Allen is a typical artist who has managed to create her own Star Iconography and we see this very clearly throughout the Music Video. First of all Lily's costumes only seem to change obviously twice, but even then we are shown  that her style is huge prom dresses, mixed with the odd choice of trainers. As well as this there is a huge give away in Lily's make-up and accessories used. Lily appears to always be wearing thick eyeliner on her upper eye-lids, either black or neon pink. As well as this we see the amount of jewellery Lily choses to wear, with the huge gold hoops and lots of various chains.
Although there is no obvious intertextual references throughout the Music Video 'Smile', I am fully aware that every other Andrew Goodwin feature appears to present. With this in mind our group must be able to make an obvious relationship between the lyrics and visuals of our Music Video, as well as an obvious relationship between the genre and the music visuals. Another key factor we must keep in mind whilst creating our Music Video is the use of Star Iconography through outfits and appearance. Overall I believe Lily Allens, 'Smile' is a great example of the Indie-Pop genre whilst also incorporating Andrew Goodwin's typical features.