Corrine Bailey Rae - Stop Where You Are

Corinne Bailey Rae - Stop Where You Are

Context

"Stop Where You Are is about being present, its about recognising and ritualising the moment and celebrating where you are right now".

"Fame is like being bullied."

"I was just trying to write a song about being optimistic, really, about grabbing opportunity where it falls."

Corinne was born in Leeds an urban city much like the setting of the video - graffiti etc.

She suffered from depression maybe due to the husbands death due to overdose.

Mise en scene

Concrete building, Isolated, metal, underground, secret location which is intimidating and dangerous

Corinne is now wearing a red dress which could symbolise her new found love for herself alongside her new found confidence. Connotations of love, women empowerment or danger. She wears natural make-up which could also imply her new self-confidence.

Younger self she is wearing a blue hoodie, which has connotations of sadness and how she has suffered. The contest between the bright red and the dark blue suggests that she has grown as a person and become happier. 

Smoke is used which has connotations of mystery and danger, which could be suggesting what her life was like when she was younger. 

Lighting is dark when she was younger which suggests depression, and the contrast to the bright, sunny lighting when she is older connotes happiness and improvement in her life. 

Her performance is emotional which perhaps reflects tat she had a rough younger life from experience.

Camera work

The pace of the music mirrors the past of editing.
There are shots alternating between herself, the environment and the actors.

1) Pan shot of shoes - slow motion - walking.
2) Slow paced movement mirrors slow pace of music.
3) Low angle shot connotes strength and power.
4) Creeping camera (around corners) gives insight into her personal life.
5) Close up of hands brings focus to the movement.
6) Close up of young girl shows emotional appeal.
7) Loose frame - draws attention to her, alone and isolated.
8) 1:18 Bullies in foreground look bigger than her - she's out of focus.
9) 1:47 Sub framing light puts focus on the man.
10) Low angle at slower parts of song - weakness/vulnerability.
11) Higher/eye level at more upbeat parts of song - strength/power.
12) Establishing shot - Final shot pans into sky - follows typical conventions of a music video.

Editing transitions 

The music echoes the editing with its tempo. It alternates between shots of her singing, dancing and walking and shots of the environment. This could reflect how things around in the environment are affecting her. 

It also include other actors and entertainers in the video, which could be her younger self. For example, when she was younger she was fighting and getting in troubled situations but as sh is older she is able to let go and dance.

Narrative Theory

Todorov's Narrative Theory:

Equilibrium - Happy and confident. 
Disequilibrium - reflecting on past - seeing all her troubles and demons - pushing them away and resolving them e.g. bullies.
Re-equilibrium - New found confidence and self belief.