Media Studies A2 Preparatory Task: Research for Advanced PortfolioPart2 (2/3)

Rescue by Yuna

The objective of this task is to watch two professionally produced videos that relate to my own ideas in terms of musical genre and/ or style. In this blog entry, I will be exploring "Rescue" by Malaysia indie artist Yunalis Mat Zara’ai, also known as Yuna.

About Yuna

Yuna attended Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, where she studied law at its Faculty of Law. In 2009, she graduated with a Bachelor of Legal Studies degree. During her tertiary studies, Yuna was involved in the music scene. Yuna was once an independent Malaysian singer-songwriter. She began writing her own songs when she was 14 years old, and her first performance of her own songs was at the age of 19, after she learned how to play guitar. She has performed in numerous acoustic shows and events in many parts of Malaysia since 2006. The same year, she auditioned for the first season of One in a Million, making it to the top 40 round before she got cut from the competition. Yuna was eventually discovered in the US by the Indie-Pop record label and management company. They flew out to Malaysia to convince her to sign with them and then proceeded to get her a deal with Fader Label, a record label based in New York, in February 2011. She released her debut US EP, Decorate, in the United States in March the same year. "Rescue" was released as Nocturnal‍ '​s lead single on 27 August 2013

 (source: Wikipedia)

In this blog entry, I will be covering the following points:

-Synopsis of the music video

-Exploring whether the music video is conceptual, narrative or performance based.

-The underlying themes and motifs of the song.

 -Camera angles, special effects, mise-en-scene and editing techniques

-The possible target audience of the music video

-The ideas we can use in our own music video

Lyrics:

She thinks she's all alone and all her hopes are gone and so I wrote this song so she can move along. Things were bad. She was in despair. Things were bad and you were never there, but things were bad, she came up for air. She said a little prayer, she found herself. Yeah she's got light in her face, she don't need no rescuing she's okay.

Yeah, she's got life in her veins, she don't need no rescuing she's okay

No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she's fine out there.

No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she's fine out there.

Yeah, she's got life in her veins, she don't need no rescuing, she's okay.

She looks into the sky and all her tears are dry she kiss her fears goodbye. She's gonna be alright. Things were bad. It was beyond repair. She was scare, she couldn't handle it. Things were bad, but now she's glad. Can't you tell that she's walking on air?

Yeah, she's got light in her face, she don't need no rescuing, she's okay. Yeah, she's got life in her veins, she don't need no rescuing, she's okay.

No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she's fine out there.

No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she's fine out there.

Yeah, she's got life in her veins, she don't need no rescuing, she's okay.

That girl is you yeah and that girl is me, that girl is stronger than the raging sea. That girl is you yeah and that girl is me, that girl is stronger than the raging sea.

Yeah, she's got light in her face, she don't need no rescuing, she's okay. Yeah, she's got life in her veins, she don't need no rescuing she's okay.

No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she's fine out there.

No S.O.S. needed, no rescuing, she's fine out there.

Yeah, she's got life in her veins, she don't need no rescuing, she's okay.

(source: AZ Lyrics)

Interpretation/Analysis of Lyrics:

The lyrics tell us the story of a girl who had been a relationship but the relationship has ended. Prior to the break-up, her boyfriend was never by her side and even after the break-up, he was not present-suggesting that he did not care for her. The lyrics tell us about the mental breakdown experienced by the girl and how she moved on in life and "found herself"- she has become stronger and independent, no longer relying on love to help her through moments where she will need rescuing. The song goes back and forth, remembering the past but as we reach the chorus, we reach a climax of positivity and happiness, her present emotions rising. The line "That girl is you yeah and that girl is me" suggests that the song can be understood by many girls and she is addressing her audience. The line suggests that many girls will experience neglect, isolation and hopelessness within a relationship; however they will find happiness after escaping from the chains of the relationship. The line “That girl is me" suggests the possibility that the artist had previously been in this type of relationship, making the emotions and feelings within the lyrics genuine. Furthermore, the line "Yeah, she's got light in her face" suggests that she has found happiness and peace. The Sun holds connotations of warmth and life, which could also be elements which she has discovered after breaking up with her boyfriend. 

By having light on her face, it suggests that she had no life or warmth within, due to the coldness of the relationship.

Synopsis of Rescue

From observing the lyrics, we can see that Yuna is portraying the girl who has escaped from all her fears and melancholy. She is portraying the girl who no longer needs help or an "S.O.S". During the music video, Yuna can be seen walking through different locations-forests, urban locations such as cities and brick walls with graffiti designed over them and rocky, mountainous beaches. The exploration of all these various locations is a metaphor for life-life is an adventure and we must explore to find our way through life, along with the difficulties and simplicities it offers. Being present in various locations and having a smile on her face, it shows us that she has adapted to her surroundings, she has found peace and happiness where ever she is and as a result, she does not requiring guidance or help-she doesn't need rescuing. All the locations within the music video are locations that would require some form of help or support. The rural locations such as the forests or the mountainous beaches would require survival skills and being cautious and the urban locations would require knowledge of how the area operates or the requirements to live there.

Conceptual, narrative or performance?

The music video of "Rescue" consists of conceptual and narrative based ideas. The conceptual based ideas are provided through the scenes which present Yuna being transparent and having a rainforest within her. This is a conceptual based idea as rain forests are known for being beautiful, peaceful and exotic. By having a rainforest within her, it shows us that she has metaphorically become a rainforest-she feels beautiful, peaceful and exotic. As rainforests are home to wild creatures and rare plants, it also gives insight to how she feels. The emotions within are wild and new to the girl who once held fear and despair in her heart.  Furthermore, the various scenes of Yuna being in both rural and urban locations are conceptual based ideas as the urban locations show us that she has become grounded and strong, similar to the architecture of her surroundings. The rural locations show us that she has become free of her past emotions and that she is willing to take risks. This is shown by which she stands close to the edge of a cliff, where the ocean is visible. Additionally, the use of a purple cape during "Rescue" gives us the image that she is free. The purple Cape can also represent Yuna letting go of her fears and frustrations. This is due to purple being a dark colour, holding dark connotations. I  The narrative based ideas are introduced through the conceptual ideas and the lyrics of the song-they illustrate the change that has took place within the girl, who represents Yuna and many other girls who have experienced the same things listed within the song.

Themes and Motifs

Freedom-the spacious rural and urban locations, purple cape and the flow of the attire symbolise freedom and being care-free.

Isolation & Escapism- Throughout "Rescue", the artist Yuna is all alone and does not seem bothered by her isolation. The isolation is seen as escaping from her fears and frustrations and finding happiness and peace in nature.

Express yourself- Along with expressing herself through the lyrics, Yuna expressed herself through her assortment of bright and colourful outfits.

Adventure & Life- The exploration of various locations is a metaphor for life-life is an adventure and we must explore to find our way through life, along with the difficulties and simplicities it offers.

Finding you in the darkest of times- The outside world is where Yuna finds peace and happiness and this results in Yuna finding herself-she finds the elements she had lost-Independence, happiness, a care-free attitude and motivation.

Camera angles, special effects, mise-en-scene and editing

Mise-en-scene:

Within Yuna's "Rescue" music video, Yuna presents an assortment of bright and colourful outfits. This is significant as the various outfits contrast from the dimly light locations and the outfits give us insight into the inner emotions of Yuna. The purple cape which appears frequently symbolises the freedom and pride Yuna has. However the purple cape may also Yuna letting go of her fears and frustrations. This is due to purple being a dark colour, holding dark connotations. A majority of Yuna's attire consists of both tight clothing and flowy clothing symbolising the strength and care-free attitude she has adopted. As for location, the urban locations show us that she has become grounded and strong, similar to the architecture of her surroundings. The rural locations show us that she has become free of her past emotions and that she is willing to take risks. This is shown by which she stands close to the edge of a cliff, where the ocean is visible. 

Editing

The cutting pace within "Rescue" increases as the song reaches the chorus. This creates a sense of rising energy and momentum within the song. Additionally, as the cutting pace increases, it also results in the change of emotions-describing how emotions change from hopelessness and loneliness to joy and liveliness. The use of slow motion creates a feeling of peace and comfort. The use of slow motion also reflects the emotions of the girl mentioned within the song and Yuna herself. The special effects  which present Yuna being transparent and having visuals from nature within her are significant as it shows us that she has metaphorically become a part of nature-she feels beautiful, peaceful and exotic. As nature is home to wild creatures and rare plants, it also gives insight to how she feels. The emotions within are wild and new to the girl/Yuna.

Camera

A majority of camera angles during "Rescue" comprised of low angle shots. These shots enabled viewers to be able to see the beautiful scenery within the music video and also get rays of sunshine to reflect onto the camera, giving a beautiful shot and showing us that the music video presents happiness and peace through the sunlight, as these are the elements that sunshine connotes to. The mid shots also enable us to see the surroundings of the artist. Additionally, the low angle shots present Yuna as being power and strong, showing confidence in her after the melancholic emotions she had previously. There are also high angle shots, suggest as when the artist plays with the purple cape. The high angle shots as she smiles can represent the hope she holds for her future, contrasting to when her hope was gone. Moreover, the sudden zooming in and zooming out of the camera whilst Yuna is in the forest shows us that she has become confident like never before, possibly more upfront. The sudden zoom in and out also gives a hypnotic feel to the music video, as if we are travelling to a different place. The camera is hand-held and this makes the music experience feel interactive, as if we are there with her. This makes the music video become more appealing as it allows us to share the experience of escapism along with the artist. The sudden and quick tilt and pan of the camera adds energy and movement to the music video, which allows contrast to the slow motion effect, which adds calmness and peace.

Target Audience

The target audience of "Rescue" would be aimed at young girls who are able to empathise with the lyrics of the song, as it is about a young girl as it includes the female pronoun "she" within the lyrics. Additionally, the line “that girl is you yeah and that girl is me" addresses the audience and the lyrics are targeted towards girls. Despite the lyrics addressing and targeting girls, the song may be aimed at those who are looking for a positive and uplifting song to listen to, as the song has a positive message to listeners which is about the return of hope, strength, and freedom and finding oneself in the bleakest of moments.

Ideas we can use in our own music video

-An assortment of outfits if the locations are dark or we would want to show the inner feelings of the artist. 

-Slow motion effect to add a feeling of calmness and peace

-Variation in camera angles and shots as a way of showing appealing surroundings and also to provide an impression of the artist. For example, the low angles make them appear to be more powerful and the high angles make them appear vulnerable. 

-Sudden tilt and pan of the camera as a way of creating movement within a shot which has the slow motion effect. 

-sudden zoom in and out

-Hand-held camera to make the music video more interactive, as if the listeners are next to the artist.

-Increasing cutting pace as the song reaches the chorus, creating energy and momentum.

-Visual effects such as Transparency Effect.

-Attire which holds symbolism. For example, the purple cape which appears frequently symbolises the freedom and pride Yuna has. However the purple cape may also Yuna letting go of her fears and frustrations. This is due to purple being a dark colour, holding dark connotations.

-Locations which hold significance. For example, the urban locations show us that she has become grounded and strong, similar to the architecture of her surroundings and the rural locations show us that she has become free of her past emotions and that she is willing to take risks.

-Symbolism and the deeper meaning of things within a music video