John Legend ''Ordinary People"

A 2007 release and at the time and today it is a popular song. The song was written and produced by John Legend and Will.i.am. The sound comes under the genre of Soul, which I am intending to do for my music video. The qualities and the style of the music video I wish to replicate, where it I can encounter different aspects of the music video "ordinary people" in to my own music video. With the production the music video john Legend won a best male and R&B vocal performance at the Grammy awards. With other tracks that he has produced all follow a similar pattern and knowing what elements that the tracks, I would be able to take inspiration from the video and the illustration of the lyrics.

The narrative within the lyrics is the reinforcement of what love is, as people see it in music video, cliché narrative in the sense of happiness within love and R&B music, however it attempts to challenge the codes and conventions as there is no stress on the artist as such but the artist express the audience’s needs. The songs attempts to break down some of the cases in reality in relationships, where people have made mistakes that they regret. "They are stuck in the mist of love, but they can get fed up with love." At points these are not only love and affection for a man and woman; however, it shows love with parents and their children. John Legend's lyrical message is that after explaining that they are only human he doesn't want to push the situation and let it work its way. At the end of the music video it shows that the persistence of the characters taking it slow and working things out led to success mid shots are used to let the viewers see the expressions of their emotions.

The intended audience for his music video would probably be aimed at couples within relationships, as this can be solution to their problems. The music video attempts to give the message to the people within difficult relationships, as a result of arguments and abuse. As majority of John Legend’s music is similar, in a sense of love and relationships, and the fans that is already associated with his music maybe within a similar situation. Experiencing the harsh of reality they audience can use his music as escapism of therapy being able to find an answer form someone who may have been through similar situation shown in music video.
There are a range of camera shots and angles that carries the viewer through the video. The use of close up John Legend playing the piano emphasis his star image and giving the audience a view of his emotions embedded in the lyrics. Moreover, there are also close ups of the actors, as it gets sense of their facial expressions. Long vital part of the video, as there is a lot of body gesture, the viewer is able to analyse the situation better. However, the most of the camera work is the movements, for instance panning and tracking shot which allow you to move from the narrative within the music video (different cases).

Editorially, the use of different techniques gives more of understanding of the different story lines that are a feature in the music video.  Such as cross fades, it makes it an easier transition from one scene to another or one angle to another. The slow pace relates to the lyrics allows the viewer to analyse the situation. The black and white filter relates back to the title of the songs "ordinary people" everything is same within every relationship and not everything is perfect in relationship. There is also voice overs through the video of cut scenes there allow the viewer to understand what their situation of conflict is. "Take it slow, oh oh, this time we'll take it slow Take it slow" at this moment of time the footage is edited into slow motion, which is an illustration concept of the lyrics.

The setting of the music video is quite basic and it emphasis there narrative of the song being ordinary people. Furthermore the piano that John legend is playing is showing his musical talents and the clothes that his wearing doesn’t show the typical R&B conventions of one’s wealth and success as he is illustrating himself as a normal person. The use of a black and white setting on a green screen implies that the environment we live in doesn’t not matter about our problems everyone is the same.