Halsey: Colors - Promotional Video Deconstruction

HALSEY

Halsey is an american singer-songwriter who focuses mostly focuses on Electropop & Synthpop. 

The name Halsey is an anagram of her real name Ashley and is a reference to the Halsey Street Station of the New York City Subway. 

Before signing to Astralwerks in 2014, Halsey released music herself on social media platforms. After her record deal, she was able to tour with acts such as the Kooks and Imagine Dragons, which helped her EP Room 93 gain publicity and take off. 

In 2015, she released her debut album Badlands and it was later certified platinum by the RIAA. A total of four singles were released including; Ghost, New Americana, Colors and Castle. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number two.

Astralwerks

Founded in the US in the year 1993, Astralwerks mainly focuses on electronic and dance music. It's parent company Universal Music Group is considered an American Global Music Corporation. 

All the material generated by Astralwerk's Artists are distributed by The Capitol Music Group. Astralwerks have a wide variety of artists including; Nervo, Mat Zo and Porter Robinson.

Colors

The Synopsis

The video starts off with Halsey taking photographs of what appears to be her 'high school crush'. It  shows Halsey spending time with his mother and they all have lunch together at the tennis club. 

As the video progresses, it is clear that their relationship is growing. It shows them all having a good time at dinner, playing tennis and just spending time together. 

Throughout the video it shows the mother focusing on her flaws, showing she is insecure but Halsey is shown to be empowered and comfortable in her own skin.

Towards the end of the video, it is revealed that Halsey is not interested in her 'high school crush' but rather his father. Soon after a montage shows all the times we thought she was lovingly looking at her "Crush" but instead was looking at his father. The "High school crush" finds out and is distressed and an argument follows.

The Lyrics

Your little brother never tells you but he loves you so
You said your mother only smiled on her TV show
You're only happy when your sorry head is filled with dope
I hope you make it to the day you're 28 years old

You're dripping like a saturated sunlight
You're spilling like an overflowing sink
You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece
And now I'm tearing through the pages and the ink

Everything was blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now I'm covered in the colors
Pulled apart at the seams
And makes me blue
And makes me blue

Everything was grey
His hair, his smokes, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
Doesn't know what it means
And makes me blue
And makes me blue

You were a vision in the morning when the lights came through
I know I've only feel religion when I'm lying with you
You said you'll never be forgiven 'til your boys are too
And I'm still waking every morning but it's not with you

You're dripping like a saturated sunlight
You're spilling like an overflowing sink
You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece
And now I'm tearing through the pages and the ink

Everything was blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now I'm covered in the colors
Torn apart at the seams
And makes me blue
And makes me blue

Everything was grey
His hair, his smokes, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
Doesn't know what it means
And makes me blue
And makes me blue

Everything is blue
Everything is blue
Everything is blue
Everything is blue

You were red and you liked me because I was blue
You touched me and suddenly I was a lilac sky
And you decided purple just wasn't for you

Everything is blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now I'm covered in the colors
Torn apart at the seams
And makes me blue
And makes me blue

Everything is grey
His hair, his smokes, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
Doesn't know what it means
And makes me blue
And makes me blue

Everything was blue [2x]

Lyrics Analysis

There is often a relationship between Visuals and Lyrics as suggested by Andrew Goodwin in his Dancing in the Distraction Factory (1992, Routledge).

The title of the song 'Colors' makes you think the video will feature a wide variety of bright colours. However this could not be further from the truth. The video features pastel, dull colours with dim light. In some scenes she surrounded just by the colour white (as you can see below). 

Pastel colours are often seen as relaxing and are often equated to sanity. Dim lighting is often associated to hope or knowledge. Both codes are ironic as she could be seen as insane by some because she is in love with the father and knowledge is something we as viewers think we have but we are cunningly misled.

Halsey is surrounded by the colour white only.

The main colour tones are blue and grey. 

"Everything is Blue, His Pills, His Hands, His Jeans." 

Blue connotes calm, characterises trustworthiness and security. Again, this is ironic as there is no security in the relationship she wishes to have. It also comments on the love interest, 'pills' which can indicate that he's old, after watching the video once, the lyrics start to make more sense.

Reference: 

1.http://www.feng-shui-and-beyond.com/color-psychology.html

2.https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj_ray9zr7WAhUKWxQKHUoWAm0QFghCMAY&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vocabulary.com%2Fdictionary%2Fdim&usg=AFQjCNGsbpr1ySUnW7uANLeFX99XV-UvVg

Mise-En-Scene;


Setting

Costume & Makeup

Her costume indicates that she is a high school cheerleader. cheerleaders are often stereotyped as; dumb, popular, mean and obsessed with boys. 

His varsity jacket indicates that he is a high school jock; often an ideal relationship in high school. It is very common in teenage movies for a jock and cheerleader to date and be a couple.

From both of their costumes, You can see where they are in social cliques at school. when watching the music video, jocks and cheerleaders are often equally popular in American high school, therefore the viewer automatically thinks that it is meant to be, or they are a couple. 

Often, the head jock and head cheerleader get together. this is shown in teen movies; Mean Girls. But others films show a jock and 'outcast' fall in love, for example; The Duff, High School Musical and Picture This.

The following gif is a key shot and a great edit. Although only cuts have been used, they have been used effectively as it displays match on action and is symbolic. The mother putting on her lipstick and then her daughter doing it straight after; shows they are more alike then they seem, at least in this sequence.

Key Shots & Camera Movements & Edits

Using a tracking shot to show he is running as opposed to a long shot, is very effective as it feels as if we are running with him. it looks much more lifelike and realistic.

This gif shows the moment before, Halsey was caught taking photos of her 'love interests' dad. fast cuts, quicken the pace and makes the viewer nervous for her. 

As you can see in the gif above, Halsey is caught gazing lovingly at Tyler's Dad; her 'Love Interest'. This is the first time you see her looking at him romantically,  and its almost as if she's got caught. The fast cuts show that she's been cut off abruptly as well as creating a fast pace..