You Need Me, I Don't Need You - Ed Sheeran (analaysis)

This music video has been shot in a studio and has been filmed in black and white. The video is primarily performance-based, featuring a signing actor, who illustrates the lyrics through sign language.

The genre of the song is hip hop/soul which has been reflected in the mise-en-scene as it has been shot in a studio against a white back drop. In the first couple of shots they have shown a guitar which is one the main instruments used in the backing track. The track also consists of Ed Sheeran beat boxing which is a way of creating hip hop music.

I found this high angle, extreme close-up shot of the actors face very strong and unusual. It creative and able to introduce the actor. It is as though he is trying to connect with the viewer. The lighting is soft, with his face expression intensifying the atmosphere, while the background is blurred.

Throughout the video, there is a combination of side view shots, long shots and mid shots of the actor, with the lighting changing withing each shot. The actor stands in a large spotlight. However shadows have not been created. The lighting synchronizes with the different actions that the actor performs. For example mid way through the video, the actor opens and closes his hands, and as he does that the lights brighten and dim. The editing is fast cut with the use of jump cuts keeping up with the beat. The sequence starts of at a slow pace to establish the mood and setting.

Throughout the sequence, the shots of the actor are interrupted with dancers. They appear to be dressed in dark clothing, and with the help of low lighting, their faces are not shown clearly. This allows the viewer to focus on their moves. In some of the shots of the dancers, you are only able to see their figures, or the camera lense has been blurred.

Objects have also been used, which are iconographic to the lyrics illustrating them. For example this image of a rucksack was shown when the lyrics 'Selling CD's from my rucksack aiming for the papers' were sung. Behind the objects was a glow of light, emphasizing i.
 


Throughout the video, we do not see the artists face until the very last shot The lighting is very low, therefore still not being able to see him clearly, as he blends in with the black background.

I think this video is quite successful and very creative, using a very different approach and completely works. Its quite unusual too, with the way the artist does not perform the lyrics and is shown in the last seconds of the video. I feel the lighting has played a big role in the video, and has been cleverly done.