Track: Vanilla Twilight

Artist: Owl City

Genre characteristics

• Unique and bold - creative mise-en-scene – something in the sky

• Concept based• Appear quite modern and bright • Light hearted and relaxed atmosphere• Creating a sense of magic or fairy tale• Original ideas - videos within this genre don't like to

stick to safe ideas they seem quite experimental

In this video there are many common forms and conventions of the electropop genre featured throughout.

Is there a relationship between visuals and lyrics

The lyrics are mostly amplified within this video, the song seems to be about a relationship but there is hardly any reference to this apart from the end when the artists sits down next to one of the featured girls.

The focus on the sky lends to the idea of ‘vanilla twilight’ as the sky is dusky and magical looking.

The focus of pale colours with a baby blue, dusky sky and the snow are referring to the ‘vanilla’ which is a whitish colour and seen as being pure and sweet.

Is there a relationship between visuals and music

* There is a slow beat to this song which goes with the editing, which is slow and subtle.

* The cuts are also soft and subtle with a bright light changing the scene.* This creates a relaxed atmosphere which links with the type of music.* This music is all about a relaxed atmosphere which is what the visuals

create through slow editing and a series of close ups of people looking reminiscent

Are there any close ups of the artist or any star image motifs

• There are quite a few close ups of the star throughout the video, normally when the song is reaching a climax.

• However he rarely if ever looks directly at the camera which he is known not to do in his videos – this is unusual in music videos

• There isn’t any reference of a star image motif.

Is there any reference to the notion to looking (voyeurism)

• Although voyeurism is classed as a main element of most music video’s by Andrew Goodwin yet within this video there is no reference to this at all.

• All the characters are wrapped up due to the cold weather and are seen doing things like carrying shopping and children playing, nothing remotely sexy

• This fits in the tone of the song as Owl City’s music is very innocent and childlike, like most electropop music so it doesn’t need to contain voyeuristic elements.

Are there any references of intertextuality

• There aren’t any obvious intertextual references within this music video. However it does remind me of those American kind of films with Will Smith or someone where there are aliens or something odd going on and everyone stops what they are doing and stares at the sky. However this is more positive as everyone is looking in a happy, relaxed way.