'La La La' essay

Here, I will be analysing the music video 'La La La' by the artist Naughty Boy, featuring Sam Smith. This pop and also UK garage genre music video was directed by Ian Pons Jewell, a London based filmmaker, whom was nominated for 'Best New Director' at the 2011 UK Music Video Awards. This music video broadly attributes to the pop genre by aiming to appeal to a general audience, rather than to a niche sub-culture. Futhermore, this can be identified by the extensive range of characters used, combining a number of different ages, genders and ethnicities within the video. In addition, dancing is encouraged, in which a scene is shown with a group of ladies dancing to the beat therefore, supporting general characteristics of pop.

When considering the relationship between the lyrics and visuals, these are witnessed to be highly illustrated. A few examples include; 'I find a way to block it I go La la, la la la..' These lyrics are illustrated by a young boy covering his ears consequently, blocking out the noise, and miming the lyrics  'La la la'. These actions are seen as a motive throughout the video, due to their importance to the songs title. Further through the video the lyrics announce 'I can't find your silver lining'. At this point from a low angle shot, the camera looks up at clouds in the sky. This symbolises the phrase 'Every cloud has a silver lining', mimicking the embarked bad situation for the young boy. Finally, 'Yes our love is running out of time'. At this point, a heart is chosen though, being dead, and placed within the pocket of the older man. This represents that the individual doesn't have long left with the person that he loves, also being proven in the following lyrics 'I won't count the hours'.

In comparison to this, I feel that there is a weaker relationship between the music and visuals. From the beginning, the video cuts primarily to the beat, having only 13 seconds of pre-non diegetic sound as the camera leads into a darkened room. At the very start of the song, a solo instrumental fragment is witnessed. This is not illustrated, but instead contradicted as the video footage shown constructs the upcoming story of the video rather than anything associated with instruments. Moreover, the pace of the music video varies however, this does not stimulate due to the change in tempo of the music. For example this is seen in the repetition of the chorus. A fast past is seen with the dancing of the female group, in opposition to the following chorus which demonstrates a slow pace with the three characters walking side by side.

I feel the music video aids the message behind the song. Along with the record company, Virgin Records (a British record label founded by entrepreneur Richard Branson) selling this track as a pop genre composition, the video aims to promote the emotional message behind the track. To me, this appears to be the troubling reality of verbal abuse hence, the lyrics 'When you spit your venom,keep it shut I hate it'. Personally, I think this is a strong selling point, due to the direct address which the song targets the audience with.

Throughout the whole video, the artist isn't seen once however, I feel that the artist is portraying himself by having a half-caste race dominant the music video. With 'Naughty Boy' being born to a British nationality, his real name Shahid khan, suggests his foreign roots. When looking at previous videos by the artist, in this case 'Wonder', featuring Emeli Sande, similarities can be seen. For example, the video, likewise to that of 'La la la' is heavily landscape based, making use of impressive surroundings. Filming locations include; forests in Denmark (Wonder), La Paz and the Salt Plains of Uyuni in Bolivia (La la la). Futhermore, I feel both videos are highly contextual on culture, being seen via the use of tribal figures in both extracts. However, there are differences between past and present videos, having 'La la la' illustrate the lyrics whereas, 'Wonder' contradicting the lyrics with no established connections.

Within the video there is a segment to the notion of looking. This is witnessed within the scene, of which the only females are present throughout the entire music video. The ladies are costumed to represent sexual display, wearing tight fitted clothing used to exaggerate the womanly curved figure. I feel this has been implemented into the video to attract the male eye, expanding the general audience of the track.


In addition, a variety of intertextual references are shown. Just after halfway through the video, an abandoned television is shown, in the pathway of the three travellers. As this is being walked past, the screen enlightens to the text 'Hotel Cabana'. This is the name of the artists new album therefore, promoting not only the single track, but also the entire album. Additionally, 'Hotel Cabana' has been made into a conceptual album by the artist. This comprises Naughty Boy, having spent 18 months making a filmic narrative to go with his album, featuring a stellar cast of urban and pop superstars, each playing an individual character. Not only this but, the video is inspired by 'The Wizard Of Oz',mimicking the journey of discovery. Plus, I think this is seen present in the appearance of the two older male characters, representing firstly the Scarecrow and then the Tin Man. I feel this element has been used as an aid of appeal to a wide audience due to the film being a classic as well as it also being a recent remake, 'Oz The Great and Powerful'.

When considering the music video production, 'La la la' is seen to be primarily a narrative-based video.

This is because Narrative-base videos follow a storyline, and tend to apply that storyline throughout the whole video, which can be seen here. This is witnessed in the format of a young boy running away from home, due to verbal abuse from an old man whom here, we presume to be his father. Futhermore, this creates a journey which is then used as a theme throughout the rest of the video.However, certain areas also contain a sense of performance and concept-based footage though, these are incredibly minimal. This can be seen, for example in the female dance scene, showing aspects of performance and also characteristics from the pop genre. Not only this but, concept is shown here with the dancers having no relevance to the lyrics of the song therefore, showing areas of story which are unlinked.


To conclude, the music video 'La la la' by the artist Naughty Boy, featuring Sam Smith is a classic example of the pop genre. This is mainly down to the generality of the target audience, including a range of ages, genders and ethnicities. Like previous videos, Naughty Boy is never seen in any of his productions, but each video sutterly makes reference to the artist through cultural roots. However, the illustrative narrative of the video helps the audience make a strong relationship between the lyrics and visuals therefore, aiding the exploration of the deeper meaning.