Intertextuality

I have been looking at how similar artists to our chosen artist have brought in other texts in their own music video. I first looked at James Blunt and his song "You're Beautiful". He brings in the text of in his video doing the "Japanese tradition of removing one's shoes and contents of clothing prior to jumping from a great height". This is used in order to visibly symbolise that he would rather kill himself than not be with a certain girl.

James Morrison's song "Broken Strings" uses intertextuality in a couple of interesting ways. The music video references two films  ("Paris, Texas" and the reversed explosion is inspired by the film "Insignificance").

On Bruno Mars' music video of his song "Just the Way You Are", he uses a strong intertextual link of having the actress Nathalie Kelley listening to "Just the Way You Are" on her Walkman as Bruno walks in, Bruno stops the tape player, removes the cassette tape and begins singing his song. He brings in the walkman to get the viewer's attention and to show something they are familiar with.

In James Blunt's music video of his song "1973". It shows a modern day James walking around in what appears to be the year he is singing about.

This gives an effect for viewers that lived during that time as it is very familiar for them and they can reminisce while watching the modern day music video.

This gives a great effect for fans that did live in 1973, but not so much for viewers that did not. Perhaps, he is capitalising on the fact that is fans are of an older generation. The video was shot in the Universal Backlots in Los Angeles. This could have good repercussions for people that know the areas in and around Los Angeles.