MUSIC VIDEO - Andra Day - Research

Her song "Forever mine" was released on youtube on the 26th May 2015 and has received just shy of 3 million views, making it somewhat successful. This media language used in this video is similar to the aspects used in her "Rise Up" video. In particular, the use of the mise-en-scene creates a 60's atmosphere, this with the use of an old-styled microphone has clear links to the past.

The heavy use of the colour red within the background has connotations of love and seduction. The use of excessive makeup and direct look into the camera is an incredibly seductive choice made to appeal to a male audience. This is reinforced with the use of little clothing and the props to highlight a sex worker in the red light district. The media language here clearly places the viewer in a very seductive position. The use of vintage make-up and the old camera gives the viewer a vintage and cinematic feel for the past. This has clear links with other singers like Amy Winehouse and Aretha Franklin. 

The media language used within this video clearly depicts a sex worker being watched by these misogynistic men. I believe she is trying to break the stereotypical norm where sex work is seen as a normal thing in such cities as Amsterdam and is instead trying to challenge this by highlights the de-humanisation element involved, as a male is seen watching her in a box, almost like an animal. Even though this sort of behaviour was seen as normal in the past, it is now becoming a pandemic and is more dangerous than ever due to the sex traffic problem across the world and issues with rape or sexual assault. Here, Andra Day is subtly trying to raise awareness of these issues whilst trying to appeal to a male gaze to watch her video.

"My heart has been a chessboard Making moves and losing out  Played so many times before" 

The Lyrics used here suggest she is tired of being viewed as an object that is only used as a sexual prop to appeal to the male gaze. "Making moves and losing out" suggest she is tired of always losing out on the same privileges and freedom that other women have. The scene at the beginning shows her swapping with another woman, highlighting the endless cycle of this seductive work. However, we never know if she was forced into this work or not and this could be a reference to the awful and despicable sex traffic crimes going on in the world right now.

Vintage-soul singer, Andra Day, has revealed her music video to her single "Forever mine", directed by legendary director Spike Lee, who has worked with artists such as Prince and Micheal Jackson, is about a love song written to god about her spiritual relationship, hence the soothing and calm singing done in the video.