Video Analysis, Lene Marlin - Sitting down here, Natasha Hussey

I have chosen to analyse Lene Marlin's 'Sitting Down Here' music video. It was released in September 1999 and was the opening track on her debut album ‘Playing My Game’. It peaked the UK singles chart at number 5. Previous to this song, she had only released 2 songs, none of which achieved the success of ‘Sitting Down Here’. Lene Marlin is actually a Norwegian solo artist, which may have contributed towards her success slightly as, especially in the 90’s, Europop/Eurodance was a very common and popular genre of music to listen to. Other well known artists from this genre include: Aqua, Whigfield and Venga Boys.
Music videos are a very important part of selling an artist as a brand and marketing them. Music videos also show what extra talents and characteristics an artist may have, e.g. playing an instrument, dancing.
Even though, music videos are so crucial to an artists success, it is within the last 30 years that they have become so popular.
Lene Marlin is signed to the record label EMI. EMI is the fourth largest record label in the music industry, making it one of the ‘big four’ record labels in the world, after Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. EMI is based in England and is owned completely by Terra Firma Capital Partners. Some noted musicians signed to EMI include, Joss Stone, Coldplay and Kylie Minogue. Usually, because EMI is such a big label, which represents so many different artists, they make a range of music videos, that can be simple low budget ones, to expensive performances. Within EMI there are many different groups like the Capitol Music Group, these have theirown record labels in them, some of which are: Virgin, Capitol and Relentless Records.
Lene Marlin is known as a pop/acoustic artist, because of her piano and guitar playing talents as well as her vocals. In her videos, they usually feature close ups of her face, because her songs are meaningful and the audience should be able to relate to her. Other songs within this genre follow the same pattern, a lot of the time, nature is involved, lots of trees or rivers, to carry on the calm effect that the video translates. For example, in Leona Lewis' 'Run' music video she is surrounded by woodland at dusk creating a very natural and earthly mood.

The target audience for Lene Marlin, is probably maybe around her age, which at the time was about 20. But again teenagers and a slightly older audience, maybe people in their late 20’s early 30’s.
The video starts with the artist, and flashes of a guitar, which shows that her music is important to her, and that her music isn’t just about fame or money, but because she really does have a passion for music and performance. Also, she is wearing very casual clothes, as is the one other male character seen so far, this shows once again that materialistic things aren’t important, just the music and the point they are trying to get across while singing. The location is on a beach, where the first male character has been introduced flying a kite, and in a caravan, with a dog, roaming free and without a lead. This contrast and juxtaposition between the kite (which is always attached to someone) and the dog (who is not on a lead, and trusted to go off freely and do its own thing) could show that the song is about ties and freedom. After listening to the lyrics its apparent that the song is about a partner controlling the other, and how she wants to escape his hold over her. Iconography of fredoom and happiness. That could be why for a large part of the video she is stuck inside a caravan, whilst her ‘partner’ is out, taking other girls, for romantic boat rides, because he is jealous and wants to keep her contained. However, the woman looks completely comfortable and in control and happy with just being by herself, playing her guitar and writing in her little notebook, what she loves to do the most. The notebook could suggest that she’s keeping secrets from her possessive boyfriend, not just the other way round. It must be noted that the caravan is not a grubby, old one, but a clean, well done up silver airstream caravan.
Towards the end of the song, the scene changes to a bonfire. This could signify that she is finally getting ready to get rid of her partner, because bonfires are usually there to burn things and get rid of any unwanted junk. What should also be noted is that, all throughout the song, even during the scene change the singer continues to carry her guitar around with her, showing that her music and her work is what’s important to her. Not her boyfriend. The final image we see is of her sitting alone, on a pier, surrounded by calm waters, showing that she is at piece and finally on her own for good. The pier could also signify going off into a world of her own and a worl of possibilities.
With regards to the camerawork used in this music video, there is a lot of close ups of the artists face, and of her singing. The camera also, tends to move around the characters, more than them moving, to give the feeling that the viewer is really close to them, which makes the artist relatable. Andrew Goodwin, says that due to the demands of the record label, lots of close ups have to be used to keep the audiences attention, he also says that motifs begin to occur across artists different material - a visual style of their own is created.
The editing flows well, but still manages to show the roughness of the relationship, by occasionally using sharp cuts and fast twists.

Young and Rubicam came up with the idea that there are certain types of personality, therefore music video producers should find out which category there music falls into and create a music video to suit it. 'Sitting Down Here' has been made for the 'explorer'. Someone who wants to travel and see the world and be adventurous rather than stuck at home etc. This is very relative to the music video, because the whole time the artist is stuck inside the caravan or stuck in what seems to be a'dead-end relationship.'
All in all, the video portrays the artist as a strong, independent woman, even though she is being mistreated by her partner. Not at any point is she represented as a sex symbol, but what makes her more appealing and intriguing is that she appears very normal, and strong willed.