Textual Analysis 3

Song: The A Team

Artist: Ed Sheeran

Genre: Alternative Rock
Structure: Narrative

This song is even more important than the previous textual analysis as it was the debut single of English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. His aim was clearly to make an impression with the music video. This aim appears to have been accomplished as the video has over 68 million views on YouTube! The single was an absolute hit after it's release on 1 May 2011 debuting at third in the UK Singles Chart with almost 58,000 sales. The song was so popular that it went on to act as lead single for Sheeran's debut album '+' which was released in the September of the same year.

The video begins with a short intro of a young woman crying. This sets the scene for the rest of the video and allows the video to establish the conventional 'serious story-line' which is so often shown within alternative rock narrative. The extreme close up at 0:12 is a particular good cinematography method used to help the audience connect emotionally with the character. We see exactly how she is feeling. The following edit of a blur could also be used to send a message to the audience. Maybe she is drunk or high. It could even be used to show she is confused, she isn't sure what's happening with her life and what she wants to happen. These are just some of the connotations we are able to make from such a small intro.

As the song begins we are shown the character in a long shot, waking up on a park bench. The shot is almost used to establish the surrounding of the character, the fact she is sleeping on a bench outside and not in a bed allows the audience to conclusively discover the reason behind her misery. She is clearly homeless and in being so she hold the conventional props and costume to stick with the conventional 'tramp'. For example a thin blanket and ripped tights. However, it soon becomes clear she is not as down as the intro may suggest looking very cheerful in a number of shots (0:34 and 0:48).

Following shots show the character trying to make a little money by selling magazines. Within this time only one person stop, Ed Sheeran. He not only stops but gives her money. This could be seen as a discrete use of artist promotion. Painting himself a good boy image by suggesting he's kind and helpful and would give money to the poor. A good use of editing is used at 1:53 as it almost fastforwards everything that's going on. This highlights that despite everyone being busy and active the character is homeless and his nothing. She could be sat there for hours and nobody would do anything.

As the video progresses we begin to see the negative side of the character reappear, such as in the mid-close up shot at 2.24 which reveals tears in her eyes. As well as this we are also introduced to a different side to the character starting at 2:35 as she starts getting ready in the mirror, sorting her hair and applying make-up. It becomes clear in the shot at  2:54 that she is a prostitute. This is done by, once again, enhancing certain stereotypes such as big high heels, explicit tops and the fact she is waiting on street corners.

Throughout the song there are constant direct links between lyrics and narrative an example of this comes as we discover another this about the character, she does drugs. This is highlighted by the close up of her hand paying for an receiving drugs as the song says 'go mad for a couple grams'. we are subsequently shown her taking those drugs at 4:25 and it is suddenly clear why the entire video is shot in black and white. It is done to represent the masses of negativity surrounding her life, she see's no light, only darkness.