Music Video Textual Analysis #1

P!nk's music video to her single "Perfect" (the clean version) was produced by Radical Media and LaFace Records in 2010 and was released in 2011. The genre of the music video is pop-rock; this is P!nk's typical style. However, conventional pop and rock characteristics cannot be seen individually in this music video as it's taken the form of a hybrid video. When researching typical rock characteristics, one notes that bands/artists use abnormal settings and locations, high and low angled camera shots of the band/singer, fast paced editing that mirrors the narrative and typical iconography related to the particular band/artist. On the other hand, typical pop characteristics include: colourful/fun locations and costumes, dance routines, positive teenage scenarios and are narrative driven. One can identify that the blend of the two genres - creating a hybrid - has formed the general characteristics of the resultant pop-rock genre. Essentially, this video is illustrative and the narrative reflects the lyrics and the music. 

Throughout the video the lyrics are illustrated by the visuals; for instance when P!nk sings "mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood" a high angled close up of the younger female character, Angel, is used when she's being told off for bullying the boy but he started it. Thus, Angel is "misunderstood" and "mistreated" because she's being told off for something that she didn't do - this is represented in the camera angle also because she is being belittled as the audience look down on her. The fact that it's being projected onto a brick wall could suggest many things: Angel feels that she's being humiliated for something she didn't do and she wants people to see that it's not her fault - hence the projection. Alternatively, the brick wall could be symbolic of the emotional barrier that she's put up due to being "misunderstood". Furthermore, when P!nk lip syncs "like you're less than, less than perfect" a two shot and over the shoulder shot is used to show an older aged Angel being told by her mother to change her clothes. The two shot is clear in demonstrating the negative relationship between Angel and her mother as the shouting and pointing can be seen clearly within the shots. This is followed by an extreme close up of both of their faces where Angel's sad face and the mother's angry face is evident. In addition, the relationship between the lyrics and visuals can be further seen in an over the shoulder shot of Angel carving into the wall. P!nk sings "filled with so much hatred" and in the shot the girl is carving a negative message into the wall of the fitting room. The lighting in this shot is blue which has connotations of depression and sadness - this directly correlates to the lyrics in the song which suggest that Angel dislikes her weight.

Similarly, the music and the visuals directly relate to each other. At the outset the music cuts to the beat of the guitar strumming. This is because the action is fairly slow paced and the camera movements are slow and steady - possibly using a tracking dolly and tripod. Towards the middle of the song the steady pace is broken and the shots don't cut to the same beat of the music because the camera angles and movements are much faster and irregular to demonstrate Angel's angered feelings. One can identify that when the song reaches its chorus, P!nk's image is always partly shown. Her emotion is conveyed by her hand gestures and the fact that she is looking up to the sky. The music relates to the visuals here by portraying P!nk's power and strength through close ups and mid-shots to show her connection with the song. What's more, the music stops when Angel is lying in the bath after she self harms. The relationship between the music and visuals here allows the audience time to reflect on the narrative and also splits the song into two halves - the initial negative first half ("pretty, pretty please, don't you ever ever feel, like you're less than, less than perfect") and the more positive second half ("you are perfect to me"). 

 

When referring to P!nk's image, one recognises that this video is different from others that she has previously created. Her image is usually edgy and she's often dressed in clothes that make her appear sexually attractive to the audience. Crucially, one feels that the record company has chosen to portray her as more relateable and serious in this music video due to the topic of the song being serious and recognised by a lot of her teenage audience demographic. Mid shots have mostly been used so only her top half is visible; the black scarf/cardigan that she has over her shoulders and the black top that she's wearing makes her seem less significant so more emphasis is placed upon the narrative. This could have been preferred by P!nk or her record label because they wanted people to listen to the lyrics and watch the video instead of being fascinated by P!nk or what she was doing/wearing - this way they can get the message across more easily and the audience will be attracted to the video. One could suggest however, that P!nk's hair is an essential part of her image as many people recognise her because of it - thus this is a repeated motif throughout her videos. What's more, P!nk is portrayed as a hero and a trusted icon in this video because she is seen to 'help' Angel by telling her she is perfect. This is reiterated in the latter parts of the video where P!nk is seen within the art gallery raising her glass to Angel when she's turned her life around. The audience would see P!nk as a positive role model and someone who is able to help them through her music - much like she 'helped' Angel.

The basis of this music video is the narrative that runs throughout, but the narrative is broken by P!nk singing in a room with brick walls that have the narrative 'projected' onto them. Significantly, the notion of looking is referenced here because it's acting as a screen within the screen. One suggests that this has been chosen to make a connection between P!nk and Angel, showing how P!nk's inspirational and encouraging lyrics have helped to positively shape Angel's life. More obscurely, one might suggest that the room P!nk is in is a symbol of Angel's brain and the memories that she's reliving whilst in bed (seen at the outset). Interestingly, the notion of looking is referenced again when Angel is in the changing room carving on the wall and she's looking at the "popular" girls who are slim and barely dressed as they are trying on other clothes. Therefore, the background actresses are on sexual display as Angel watches them due to jealousy of their slim figures. One notes that this was probably chosen to convey the contrast between Angel's low self esteem and negative body image and their confidence and positive body image.

In conclusion, P!nk's music video to "Perfect" (the clean version) is a hybrid genre video that blends characteristics from both pop and rock genres. It's unlike most videos that P!nk had made before this one as her image had changed from edgy to relateable and caring. The illustrative narrative of the video made a strong relation between the lyrics and visuals and the music and visuals.