Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans (Textual Analysis 3)

Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans

Written By: Lana Del Rey, Emile Haynie, Dan Heath

Director: Yoann Lemoine

Genre: Surf Rock

Structure: Narrative

The video of the song “Blue Jeans” contain the elements of the film noir which is a convention for Hollywood crime dramas. Also, this particular style used emphasize of cynical attitudes and seen in the video sexual motivations. As we can see in “Blue Jeans” music video the convention of a classical film noir period has been followed same as the cinematography as the director used a low-key and black and white visual style.

The low-key convention is a style of lighting used in the video in order to gain a chiaroscuro effect, which highlight the contrast between light and dark. Director has used a low-key light emphasizes the outlines of an object by throwing areas into shades while a fill light was illuminated the shadows areas in order to control them contrast. The effect which has resulted is fantastic and breath taken as whole video has been shot in retro and moody style what perfectly match with 1940s and 1950s style.

Also, the video used a black and white cinematography what creates a nostalgic style. As the video talk about love and hurts, this way of shooting makes the audience more understanding the feelings of an artist. In most of the shootings the shades has been darker or lighter, what depends of situation and feelings of an artist at this particular moment. The contrast of the lighting depends of the character which is presenting as when a fictional boyfriend of an artist come into a shot the lighting become darker what gives an audience perspective of seeing that he’s a dark character whereas Lana Del Rey is showing in lighter light as she is the one who is in love and has been hurt.

While the artist sung the words “… love is mean and love hurts, but I still remember that day we met in December…” has been underlined by convention for surf guitar by using the twangs. Also, the string instruments used a low fidelity and soar over the refrain while artists belts “… I will love you till the end of time...”

Director of this music video has used a slow motion brooding and smoking scenes which underline the tragic love story about which the artist is singing. The discography could be compared to the murder ballads as it’s following the conventions of Hollywood home at 1950s, especially when the scene take place at the poolside. Audience has a clear view what is happening in their relationship as the most romantic and erotic moment’s shades as they were drowning in the smoke. The appearance of a crocodile makes the video dangerous and allowed viewers to think that this is the way in which the characters seen their love/relationship. Referring to the words “… I will love you till the end of time…” could be possibly understand as she fully understand the risk which she is taking and she is still letting herself sink in it.

The storyline of this video is very popular for Hollywood, as mostly songs about love refer to drama and danger. Also, the general convention for it is that one of the lovers is hurt or dies. As the video make audience feel quite cynical and dark about it, this has been underline by black and white as this style makes the video look vintage and old fashion mellow tone.

The used of costumes in the video regard its style, as the artist fictional boyfriend reminds her about “… James Dean, for sure…” who was a Hollywood star at the beginning of 1930s till 1950s, and he had his unique style of clothing. The character in establishing shot smokes a cigarette, wearing skinny jeans with large, black t-shirt and old fashion, black boots. He is covered with tattoos and he has fairly long hairs which wave on the wind. In other words, he could be possibly described by the audience as a bad boy who is able to hurt a girl. In my opinion this was a result which director wants to gain as its match the scenery and location of shooting and the video on its own.

“…But you fit me better than my favourite sweater…” refers to the fact that black and white is perfect combination which matches with itself perfectly, same as he matches her. While he is presenting as a bad boy she’s standing in the window observing him taking his clothes off what is erotic and sensual. Artist wears a white, retro, one-piece swimming costume with light make-up. Again this style has been conventional for retro Hollywood home.

The scene when character of fictional boyfriend swim in the pool has been edited with swimming crocodile, what indicate his danger side and gives even more clear view for audience. In the scene when she kissed him, the editing changes the cuts one after one, letting audience see how she is sinking even more as the crocodiles swim around her. Also, Lana Del Rey is then in the shot and it gives the illusion of her dreaming, the style of blurry footage represents a figure of her imagination and how her love is confusing and giving her mixed signal.

The blackout and change in the scene introduce the protagonist character which face is shade in a dark light what even more underlines his role in the video.  When we see the next shot showing Lana we can then see the contrast of the bright light that is reflecting on her face against the dark light the male character was shown in, this could be a link to good versus evil and signify the difference between the two characters.

At the end of the music video a shot is used showing the couple and a bright light coming up from beneath the water, this represents the hope that something good is going to come, the two characters are both falling into the water and down to the light, they're going to a better place and the relationship is being saved what is a typical happy ending to the narrative.