Goodwin's six features

2. • Indie Pop
• New wave
• Electro-pop
Slight mocking tone to
the song lyrics
compliment the indie-pop
genre, which
typically will go against
traditional views and
conventions by
encoding underlying
meanings in the lyrics
or music video.
This music video is
very fun and colourful
which suits the up-beat
tempo of the
song and also the
teenage target
audience. In this music
video, there is dancing
and partying which is
traditional to pop
music videos.
The singer is also lip-syncing throughout
the music video which is conventional to
most pop music videos. It creates
relationship between the singer and the
lyric, whilst also allowing the audience to
identify who the singer is.

3. “tall, tanned hot blonde called
Anya”. The reflection in the mirror
suggests narcissism, and the man holding the
camera refers to the life of many rich and
famous who are followed by paparazzi.
“I’m obsessed with this mess that’s
America” There is a physical mess in this
“You’d do anything for a dime” The hand
gestures relate to the idea of money, and how many
materialistic people believe it is the most important
thing in life. Marina is saying it to he reflection which
suggests that she dislikes the money-orientated part
of herself, or is exempt from the stereotype.
shot with the celebrating, confetti and
popcorn. The ‘obsession with America is also
apparent through the excessive use of
symbolic memorabilia.
“Living in the movie scene” This
gesture refers to the ‘movie scene’
because it is very exaggerated and
theatrical and reminiscent of the golden
Hollywood era, where female actresses
used similar gestures to convey shock.
“American Queen is the
American dream” The woman
raising a crown to her head directly
links to ‘queen’, however the golden
filter also suggests it is a ‘dream’. This
shot could refer to the pageant culture
in America.

4. There is a strong link between the music and the visuals;
• During the chorus, the cuts become faster to match the
celebrating that is happening on the screen
•Pop songs typically have fast cuts to keep the attention of the
younger audience who will want to be entertained rather than
focussing on a ‘deep’ narrative story line.
•The edits and cuts are to the beat – the slower lines (‘Looking for
the golden life’) have a long cut and golden filter, then as the
chorus starts they become much shorter and varied.

5. There are lots of close-ups of the
lead singers red lips.
Colours of the
American flag
Seductive
Danger
The Singer is central to most of
the shots, and in this instance,
the high angle emphasising how
lost in the ‘American Dream’ she
is. With Marina being central
throughout, she becomes
memorable.
There is always American memorabilia
in the shot with the Artist to show her
obsession with the Hollywood
lifestyle, and also make the song and
music video instantly recognisable
because there is a key (American)
theme throughout.
As this is her first single, it
creates a motif in which
the audience will
remember her – red lips,
dark hair and looking like
‘Catherine Zeta’
Extreme close-ups have a soft golden glow to them,
which gives refers to the ‘golden’ and ‘dream-like’
lifestyle the singer is referring to. It also suggests that the
‘American Dream’ is an illusion and that the artist is
viewing the USA through a rose-tinted glass .

6. There are numerous shots where the singer is reflected in
the mirror whilst singing, which could refer to the narcissistic
and superficial tendencies of those wanting the fame and
fortune. The reflection also makes the audience feel as
though they are intruding on the singers personal space,
which could put the audience in the shoes of the paparazzi
or fans who stalk and idolize Hollywood ‘celebrities’. This use
of a mirror gives the sense of inner reflection, with the artist
reaching for her reflection; she no longer recognises herself.
The American Flag is a key motif that is
used throughout the video, whether
explicitly as a flag, or the colours (red, white
and blue) which are used within the mise-en-
scene, in areas such as costume, props
and location. The mass use of these colours
compliment the lyrics ‘obsessed with the
mess that’s America’ and also make the
music video more iconic and interesting.
Although the
costumes change,
the American
theme is evident
through all of the
garments.
This playsuit and jacket
are covered in sequins
which show the glitzy
and extravagant
‘Hollywood’ lifestyle.

7. In the lyrics, Marina also mentions other
celebrities which share a similar appearance
to her: ‘You look just like Shakira’ ‘you’re
Catherine Zeta’.
A building, reminiscent to
the White House is the
location for the party seen
in the music video, which is
fitting with the focus of
this video being on
American culture and the
power of its influence.
The artist is sat on a desk that
could be used as a reference
to the presidents desk in the
white house. In the
background there are people
dressed a cheerleaders, jocks
and politicians which are
traditional stereotypes of
American youth. The young,
British audience will instantly
understand these
representations and therefore
enjoy the song.
There is a
cowboy/girl
costume
and a jock
kissing a
Trophy which relates to the
America’s athletic prowess
and also the typical
Western films that America
is renowned for.
There is a woman dressed in a similar
style to the iconic ‘Hollywood’ actress
Marilyn Monroe which links to the
stereotypical view of the glamour and
fame in the world of Hollywood.