Florence & The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
1.0: Introduction:
Florence & The Machine are a British based band which consists of the main singer (Florence Welch) and a band of musicians (The Machine). The genres that the band are categorised into are Rock and Soul. The band likes to present and create themselves as an ethereal band, and like to create music videos which are unnatural and original from basic life.
2.0: Mise-en-scene:
2.1: Location, setting and props:
The location is based in an open spaced field, which is surrounded by green nature. The field represents freeness, and being able to run around in. The accents of green gives the viewer a sense of freshness and tranquillity, which give highlights that the song is based on being re-birth and newness.
The setting is in a wide open space, which gives the feeling of a limitless, carefree environment and also gives a sense of not being watched or constricted. By giving this sense, it relates to the name of the song, of being rabbits, not having any pressures in the world, and able to roam open acres.
Also in the music video, they use different settings of Fire (when lighting the candle), Earth (surrounding nature), Water (when floating in the coffin) and Air (invisible, but noticeable when dancers clothes billowing in the wind). This represents the cycle/elements in life, that spiritualists believe in.
The props used in this song are different random instruments, such as a harp. This informs the viewer by showing that the music is angelic and gives a sense of innocence.
Another prop they used within the video are fruits such as grapes and apples. This gives the viewer a sense of wine and cider. This results to the feeling of intoxication and losing your senses. And by making the song "flowy" and dream like, it feels as if the viewer is in heaven/paradise.
In addition to the use of an apple, they are referring to the story of Adam and Eve, where they become tempted to eat the fruits of the Garden of Eden. This relates to the song because Florence is tempted by the squirming (snake-like) man sitting beside her, but she refuses. This shows that Florence is pure, and not poisoned by forbidden items.
Also, there is an inclusion of a dinner table within the music video, which is seen before she is 'sacrificed'. This relates back to the era of Christianity, of when Jesus was having his last supper, before becoming crucified. This again relates to spirituality.
Finally, within the video they include a white coffin, in which symbolises death, but by making the colour white, it shows that it is pure and a clarified death. Also by including the Crucifix, it shows a sense of spirituality and religion.
2.2: Lighting and colour:
Throughout this music video, the lighting has always been placed in a position where most of the light is caught within the screen. The lighting position is called high key lighting. This is when the light source is placed beside the camera, so wherever the camera is facing, the light is shining towards the scene.
This lighting position allows the reader to feel warmth, friendliness, comfort, and other emotions associated with happiness. Also when the light is shining within the screen at such brightness, it also gives the feeling of dreams, and fantasies. This relates back to the point that the musicians try to make of the ethereal/unearthly visions they portray to their audience.
With the music video emitting messages such as dreams and fantasies, it goes back to the feeling of innocence and angel-like behaviour, which again is linked with spirituality and religion. And by linking it to religion, it goes back to the paradise/garden of Eden.
Also the scenes within the music video contain a lot of green nature in the background. This represents nature and that results in freshness and natural surroundings.
2.3: Make-up, costume and hair: The use of colour within the music video is subtle pastel colours, which relates to the theme of angelical innocence and is a connotation of purity. This colour also represents light baby colours, which relates to birth and new beginnings. Again, this relates back to the point of Adam and Eve, and starting life.
The make-up, costume and hair play a major role in influencing the viewer on which persona the character is going to portray. This is because the viewer will count on first impressions of what character they will encounter within the video.
Firstly, the make-up on the protagonist is of subtle highlighted accents because the video wishes to portray her in a pure state. This is because the theme of the song is of dream-like scenery, in naturist contexts.
Secondly, the use of costumes not only helps set and determine the atmosphere around them, but helps interpret the waif-like silhouettes that make it seem as if they are floating angels. The mise-en-scene gives us the impression of them being feather-like spirits by making as if they are blowing and hovering through the air in long cloaks and garments.
Thirdly, the hairstyles that the main character has been styled in are just loose natural curls or up do’s, which gives the impression of imperfections and not following standards. This shows us that she has left her hair in an untouched organic state.
Finally, with the head piece that is placed on Florence's hair presents many different symbols, that link with the theme. Firstly, the headpiece is decorated with pearls and flowers. This is because they are presented as nature's jewels, as they have been shaped and nurtured by mother Earth it. So by wearing natural jewellery, she is taking Earth's gifts and grooming herself as any female would.
Also, the headpiece is shaped in a form of a circle, above her head. This gives the impression of a halo, hovering above her head like an angel. This again relates back to the costumes, making her present herself as a spirit.
2.4: Body language and facial expressions:
The body language and facial expressions portray messages to viewers as they can relate to the feelings sub-consciously.
Firstly the body language and facial expressions that she portrays is as if she is waking or rising up. I get this impression because her eyes are covered in the first frame, and the material slowly glides upwards as if she is opening her eyes. (Being born)
Then the camera angle is still in a close-up shot, and she gives an impression of confusion when she looks over her right and left shoulder. The messages that portray in this starting scenes is that she has risen or been born, and already has the angels of good and bad (id, ego and superego) sitting on her shoulders.
After when the camera zooms out and is panning across the scenes, the body language that portrays as she is wafting around, gives me the sense of her being lost, and learning gradually the steps of life (growing from a baby to an adult).
When she is sitting at the dinner table, the emotions she emits through her body language and facial expressions are determination and resilience. This may mean that she is fighting and trying to protect herself from harm and dangers which could endanger her life. She shows this by pushing away the nuisances sitting beside her.
Finally when she is laying in the coffin, her body language and emotions expressed through her facial movements are still and life-less. This shows that her life has ended, she has been through her life journey, and now it has come to an end. They placed her onto the sea, as this gives an impression that she will be drifted away into the horizon.
2.5: Positioning of characters/objects in the frame:
The positioning of characters within the first few frames of the video is of a close up shot on the protagonist. The characters that are arranged in this scene is 2 girls on her side. This represents the good side and bad side of her.
When the scene changes into the part on the table, the character that is trying to tempt her into eating foods that are related to eating fruits which are relating to alcohol/intoxication are placed on her left. This proves that the evil side are trying to take hold of her, but she resists and dies a pure death.
We know this by the fair and light colours such as the white coffin that symbolises her innocence and purity.
