Audience Visual Essay

Audience:

Blumler and Katz- Uses and gratifications
Stuart Hall- Reception theory

Hypodermic Needle theory/ effects theory

Uses and Gratification - Blumler and Katz

In order to create an understanding of the uses and gratification within media texts, I have analysed a clip from the film My Sister's Keeper.

My Sister's Keeper

What feelings does this clip show ?
-Emotional
-Grateful for what we have in our own life
-Sad/Sympathetic for the characters
-Anger that we can't help
-Guilty we can't help

Why would other people choose to consume this film ?
-Relate to the story
-Understanding cancer related stories
-Feel grateful within their own life
-To display emotions such as crying
-Accommodate their own needs

Uses and Gratification Theory
We choose media texts for our own gratification as we act as an active participant . This means we choose what we want to consume and are not forced into consumption of products which we don't want. This implies it is what we do with the media rather than what the media does to us. The theory argues that an active audience are motivated to make their own choices, and it asks why do we consume from the TV, films, newspapers and social media. This theory suggests that the audience has  social and psychological needs, which generate certain expectations about the mass media and what the media exposes the audience to. This model represents changes within the way we look at media products such as why do we feel compelled to keep up to date with our favorite TV program.
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4 Blumler and Katz Key Elements

Blumler and Katz identified 4 key elements which need to be fulfilled and gratified by the audience.

1.Surveillance
2.Personal identity
3.Personal relationships
4.Diversion

1. Surveillance:

This theory suggests that people feel better when they understand the world in which they live in and one in which they can relate to. We watch TV as source of entertainment which we can consume from to make us feel secure and safe. The consumer is passive and is accepting in what they are consuming. This is because we are assured that what we are consuming is correct. The media is a helpful tool in everyday life such as the News and the Weather. Even more so social media can influence how this concept works as fake stories can create a false sense of security. For example creating a fake persona of oneself online.

2. Personal identity:

Personal identify refers to how being the subject of the media allows us to confirm the identity and positioning of ourselves within our own society. This is found in music videos such as POP, stars often become big role models and inspire young children. This has a significant impact on the way in which the audience consumes a product . An example an this is throughout time, Miley Cyrus's personal identify has changed which has had an impact on the way many people now consume from her. We can associate and relate to the product directly making us feel gratified. Such as sharing our identities with the star to make us feel normal and accepted. Different genres allow different individuals to relate to a range of elements.

3. Personal Relationships:

There are two parts to a relationships, relationships with the media and using the media in relationships with others. Firstly an audience can form a relationship with the media for example they see TV as a form of companionship. This means we consume our favourite TV soap because we have a connection with the characters and can relate to them in our own lives. This provides an intimate experience such as when characters die in a film we often grieve for them as though we have lost a friend/companion. Also it is important that the audience make a connection as they don't only wish to keep consuming the product, but also the star/character. The more likely the audience can relate to the product and character the more likely they are to continue consuming. If a star appeals to a mass audience more people will consume from them and be able to create a personal relationship with the star. These relationships can help us to understand social issues we have encountered to help us deal with issues raised in out own lives, such as My Sister's Keeper. We can use media products as a form of emotional counselling as the audience goes a journey of comfort and support with the characters shown on TV or their favorite music artists. In turn this offers individuals a personal relationship of support/help even though the characters tend to be apart of a fake reality. Secondly the media can help build /make the audience create their own relationships in reality. For example the media can be used as a 'spring board' to build relationships with people. This can include having a TV program in common which may be used as a conversation starter, making talking to strangers easier. Finally research suggests that some families use TV as a stimulus to conversation by discussing what is on screen. A clear example of this is Gogglebox.

Gogglebox:

 


4. Diversion:

The diversion element describes what is commonly known as escapism. We watch TV so we can forget our own lives and problems for a while and focus on another person's, diverting our thought process. We watch music videos/films to take our minds off every day as it distracts oneself from the problems they may be experiencing, to make themselves happy. TV soaps can also tackle issues which the audience can relate to , such as teenage pregnancy in Coronation Street.


Music Videos showing the Uses and Gratification theory:

The Fry - How To Save A Life

What features in 'How To Save A Life' allow us to personally identify with it?

• Words of advice/emotions shown on screen
• Showing the process of loss
• Identify with the characters and lyrics in the stages of loss
• Emotion shown through facial close-ups/ body language
• Characters tend to be a young age to relate to the target audience
• Shows how different people are affected by loss

Does it appeal to only one age category?

• No because many people are affected by issues of loss at anytime within their life
• Examples of loss: pets, family members, friends etc.
• Can also relate to loss of a friend e.g. moving away
• Younger people may need the guidance from the video

Does it only appeal to one gender?

• Appeals to both a mixture of boys/girls
• Both genders experience these emotions and loss
• Identifies women as more openly emotional
• Identifies men with personal struggles (holds out hand as sign of help)

How does it address issues that all members of society can associate with and why does this make the product successful?

• Relevant to everyone as everyone will experience some form of loss
• Relate to the issues in modern day society
• Successful product as it appears to a variety of people
• Offers guidance to those in need

How did you identify/relate to this music video?

• Related to the main issue of loss
• Emotions
• Reflective on your own life
• Sad towards the characters in the music video ( feel helpless)
• Understand issues relating to other people's loss

The Script - Breakeven



What features in 'Breakeven' allow an audience to personally identify with it?

• Men can identify directly as its from the point of view of a man
• Shows men being emotional ( a sense of vulnerability)
• People can identify with break ups
• Memories of flashbacks

Does it appeal to only one age category?

• A wide variety, but predominantly young adults
• All age categories as everyone can be affected by a breakup
• Narrative is more identifiable to young (it shows a relationship with less baggage e.g. no children)

Does it only appeal to one gender?

• Not one gender
• Both men and women can experience break-up
• Men relate to the concept of the video being from a man's point of view
• Women understand how a break up affects a man

How does it address issues that all members of society can associate with and why does this make the product successful?

• They feel comfort as other people are going through break-ups
• Make men more comfortable expressing emotion
• Women understand what men are going through

How did you identify/relate to this music video?

• Understand how men experience break up
• Shows another perspective on a break-up
• Women can sympathise with the man's feelings

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Blumler and Katz 4 key elements of uses and gratification can be applied to Sam Smith's Lay Me Down.

Surveillance:

This part of the theory suggests that people feel better when they understand the world in which they live in. Issues raised within this music video can directly relate to issues in modern day society. For example the topic of gay marriage within Church has recently been legalised in the UK. Therefore showing this topic in a music video helps the audience to create a better understanding of the current world in which they are live in. Because the consumer is passive they can interpret and make assumptions about the music video. The audience see how different people cope with death in different ways within this music video and the audience then assume what they are consuming is correct. An example of this, is it can help individuals who think that men don't show emotions when mourning as this video shows a man with tattoos on his face, crying during the service.

Personal identity:

Personal identify refers to how being the subject of the media allows us to confirm the identity and positioning of ourselves within our own society. This is found in music videos such as POP, stars often become big role models and inspire young children
This is shown in Smith's music video because he is helping people understand the concept of gay marriage and showing that it isn't different from a heterosexual marriage. The audience of this video can directly relate to the narrative which makes them feel the music video is gratifying them. This is because Smith is sharing a real part of his life with the audience. Smith experienced a break up which could symbolise the death.

 Such as sharing our identities with the star to make us feel normal and accepted. Different genres allow different individuals to relate to a range of elements.

3. Personal Relationships:

There are two parts to a relationships, relationships with the media and using the media in relationships with others. Firstly an audience can form a relationship with the media for example they see TV as a form of companionship. This means we consume our favourite TV soap because we have a connection with the characters and can relate to them in our own lives. This provides an intimate experience such as when characters die in a film we often grieve for them as though we have lost a friend/companion. Also it is important that the audience make a connection as they don't only wish to keep consuming the product, but also the star/character. The more likely the audience can relate to the product and character the more likely they are to continue consuming. If a star appeals to a mass audience more people will consume from them and be able to create a personal relationship with the star. These relationships can help us to understand social issues we have encountered to help us deal with issues raised in out own lives, such as My Sister's Keeper. We can use media products as a form of emotional counselling as the audience goes a journey of comfort and support with the characters shown on TV or their favorite music artists. In turn this offers individuals a personal relationship of support/help even though the characters tend to be apart of a fake reality. Secondly the media can help build /make the audience create their own relationships in reality. For example the media can be used as a 'spring board' to build relationships with people. 

4. Diversion:

The diversion element describes what is commonly known as escapism. We watch TV so we can forget our own lives and problems for a while and focus on another person's, diverting our thought process. We watch music videos/films to take our minds off every day as it distracts oneself from the problems they may be experiencing, to make themselves happy. TV soaps can also tackle issues which the audience can relate to , such as teenage pregnancy in Coronation Street.

What features in 'Lay Me Down' allow us to personally identify with it?

• Issues raised within the narrative
• Gay marriage within a Church
• Funeral and ways in which people deal with the issue of death
• Emotions Smith shows towards his audience
• Two gay individuals holding hands in a modern music video

Does it appeal to only one age category?

• No because many people are affected by issues of loss at anytime within their life
• Many different types of people in the video e.g. young boy, old man, a guy with lots of tattoos
• Everyone at any age can experience loss
• Young children may not understand the concept of gay marriage within a Church as being a controversial issue
• This music video teaches not to judge people based upon appearances e.g. a guy with many tattoos is crying and showing emotions

Does it only appeal to one gender?

• Appeals to both genders
• Both genders experience these emotions of loss and love
• Both gender types can be gay
• Both gender types understand the issues of gay marriage

How does it address issues that all members of society can associate with and why does this make the product successful?

• Gay marriage is a modern day issue within society
• Everyone can fall in love and get married
• Anyone can experience the issue of loss
• Successful product as it appears to a variety of people
• Teaches not to judge individuals
• Educates on the issue of...if a gay person can have a funeral with God surely they can get married in a Church under God's blessing

How did you identify/relate to this music video?

• I have gay friends who are religious and would like to marry in a Church
• Grateful towards your loved ones in life
• Sad towards the characters in the music video ( feel helpless)
• Understand issues relating to other people's loss

Reception Theory - Stuart Hall

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Hypodermic Needle Theory

The Hypodermic Needle Theory argues that the mass media have a direct and immediate impact on the audience. In the 1940s and 1950s the mass media were perceived as a powerful influence in changing societies behavior. There are many factors which have affected this, such as the rapid population of radio, TV and propaganda techniques within adverts.This theory shows how the mass media can influence very large groups of people directly uniformly by 'shooting' or 'injecting' them with appropriate messages designed to trigger a response. It also suggests a powerful and direct flow of information from the sender to the receiver. This model implies that the media messages are injected straight into a passive audience which are then immediately accepted by the audience. These media texts aren't challenged so the audience accept them. However this has been proved to be out of date as people are now aware of what the media's intentions are. Although the media can be viewed as a dangerous means of communicating an idea because the receiver/audience is powerless to resist the impact of the message. People end up thinking what they are told because there is no other source of information which implies the audience are brainwashed.

War Of The Worlds

-1930s broadcast via radio
-1 hour broadcast aired on 30th October
-Presented in the form on News Bulletins
-People listening thought it was real and assumed Martians had come to invade the world
-It demonstrates this theory well as the audience believed the event was real
-Reflective of this time as there was no other way to find out if this was real
-Now shows that this theory is out of date as we have new forms of media texts to consume from

Negatives To This Theory

• Out of date and invalid
• Audience are no longer passive , other theories have shown this
• Don't all consume media texts in the same way
• Technology has changed how we consume media and the sources where it originates from
• More aware of society and how institutions operate
• Now used to the messages in which the media portrays so we can reject it.

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

This theory suggests that the content shown in this music video will reflect and have an immediate impact on the audience. The institution which had created this music has created the video to portray a certain meaning and ideological views. There are many underlying themes of this music video which all have an impact on the way in which the audience consumes it .

Firstly the theme of death occurs. This is theme in which many people are aware of because the the majority of the audience can relate and understand this issue. The camera pans across the various mourners within the church. This screenshot shows some of the characters reaction to the death.... The Hypodermic Needle Theory suggests that the reason the institutions have done this is to directly relate to a mass audience. However this theory believes the audience are unaware of this. I believe that this is not true as the comments which appear underneath the YouTube clip show that the audience are aware of the messages in which the audience are trying to portray.
Secondly the theme of gay marriage occurs. This is explicitly shown to the audience as the couple appear to hold hands. This audience theory implies that the events shown in this music video can be a dangerous means of communicating because the receiver/audience is powerless to resist the impact of the message. However the message being portrayed in not seen as dangerous by many people within modern day society , This is because of changes in society means that most people are accepting of gay marriage.

Narrative Visual Essay

About Narrative
The narrative is a story (what happens) and a plot (how we see what happens), which means that narrative has a structure. In many cases music videos use narrative to tell a story, the following list shows how this can be done:

• Through Mise-en-scene
• Diegesis (narrative the story)
• Cinematography/Camera Movements - Not stationary but tend to move around the artist
• Promotion Package 
• Product Placement - Miley Cyrus, We Can't Stop uses the 'Beats Pill Wireless Speaker'
• Advert for the artists
• Self-Reflective - Aware of itself in the form of a music video
• Reflect issues within society

However different narrative theorists believed narrative to be shown in different ways and have different meanings.

Bordwell and Thompson (1997) 

There are three parts to a narrative:

A = Inferred Events

B = Explicitly Shown Events

C = Non-Diegetic Material

The image to the right shows the relationship between A+B+C:

A+B = The Story

B+C = The Plot

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Sven Carlsson (1999)

Carlsson is a narrative theorist who developed three concepts of narrative:

1. Performance - The artists perform the material (reinforced through mise-en-scene)
2. Narrative - The artists construct a story for the audience to consume
3. Abstract/Conceptual - The video has no performance or story (tends to be imagery/something else)

A performance clip is when the music video contains mostly filmed performance. This may include one or more vocalists and can be set in a recording studio/ rehearsal room. An example of a performance clip cliche is walking down a street alone or running through trees in a sad song.

The performance can be of three types:  song, dance and instrumental performance. Almost every music video includes song performance but some videos combines song and dance performances.
A narrative clip contains a visual story that is easy to follow. A pure narrative clip contains no lip-synchronized singing and only aims to tell a story.
An abstract/ conceptual clip appears when a music video clip contains no perceptible visual narrative and no lip synchronized singing.  The video may consist of images and can be related to electro-acoustic music

Commercial Exhibitionist is when the performer is no longer a performer anymore, he or she has become materialised.
Televised Bard is when he or she is a modern bard singing banal lyrics using television as a medium. The televised bard is a singing storyteller who uses actual on-screen images instead of inner, personal images.
Electronic Shaman can appear invisible and it is only her or his voice and rhythm that anchor the visuals. At one moment the electronic shaman animates dead objects then seconds later he or she is shifting through time and so on.

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Lay Me Down is predominantly a performance clip which crosses over with elements of a narrative clip. Carlsson would argue that Smith has combined these two concepts as it helps to construct a story in which the audience can consume from.


Firstly Smith is performing the material within the music video through elements such as lip-syncing. This is a key feature of a performance clip as Smith is performing his song to the audience. Smith also engages with the audience by looking directly towards the camera. This has been done to create a sense of connection with the audience and to help Smith portray his emotions directly to his audience.



Secondly, the mise-en-scene also helps to reinforce the performance elements of the clip such as the identification of the location e.g Church. In the first part of the clip it is clear that the audience are taken on a journey around the funeral which then changes to a journey around a wedding. The journey in which the audience goes on is structured within the narrative clip and mise-en-scene and cinematography such as pans, help to reinforce this.

Thirdly, through the use of cinematography and sound, a slow track across the rows of people during the funeral helps link the narrative and the lyrics together. This is because the lyrics have a meaning and therefore helps to create a narrative.
For example the lyrics... "I'm reaching out to you..." is sung as the one twin looks at another. This can be interpreted in many ways such as one twin may deal with death better than another and wants to help his twin, etc. The image shows when this occurs in the music video.

Finally the lyrics of the music video doesn't start until about 25 seconds. Carlsson would suggest this has been done in order to add to the narrative element of the clip. The silence could symbolise the silence at a funeral which allows time for reflection. Also Carlsson might infer the 25 seconds of silence as a trick to show a pure narrative clip which contains no lip-synchronized singing and only aims to tell a story. In this case it would be the story of a funeral.

Tim O'Sullivan et al (1998)

Tim believed all media text tells some kind of story, whether it is about oneself or society.  He refers to this as a set of ideas which produce a particular view on the society/culture at that time. Therefore the media can be seen as reinforcing  these dominant ideologies yet challenging them at the same time. O'Sullivan argued that a stereotype involves a process of evaluation in which we look towards certain ideologies. For example in music videos certain ideas are portrayed about gender , race and ethnicity. These ideas help an individual to shape their identity.

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Kate Domaille (2001)

Every story every told to be fitted into one of eight narrative types. Each have a source , an original story which the others are based

1. Achilles- A fatal flaw that leads to the destruction of the previously flawless. For example- Superman and Kryptonite
2. Candide - Indomitable hero who can't be put down. For example - James Bond
3. Cinderella - The dream in the story has come true. For example - Pretty Women
4. Circe - The case/mystery , the spider and the fly (the trap) , the innocent and the victim. For example - The Terminator
5. Faust - Selling your soul to the devil may bring riches but eventually your soul belongs to the devil. For example - Wall Street
6. Orpheus - The loss of something personal, the gift that is taken away, the tragedy of loss's or the journey which follows the loss. For example - Love Story
7. Romeo And Juliet - The love story. For example - Titanic
8. Tristan and Iseult - The love triangle, man loves woman (one or both of them are already spoken for), a third party intervenes. For example - Casablanca

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Lay Me Down fits into two of the eight narrative types which Domaille identified. These are Romeo and Juliet and Orpheus.

Pam Cook (1985)

Cook suggested that narrative has a structure which should have the following:
1.Linearity of cause and effective with an overall tragedy or enigma
This means the narrative follows a structure which has a clear beginning and end. The end of the narrative has an enigma or tragedy.

2.A resolution
This means the narrative is resolved/comes to an end.

3.High degree of narrative structure
This means the narrative has a solid structure, such as the events which occur and the consequences are clear. They make the structure have a clear beginning and end with a format to the diegesis and equilibrium.

4.Fictional world that contains verisimilitude
Within some forms of narrative they appear fictional but in order to appeal to the audience, forms of reality are used.

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

Applying Pam Cook's theory of narrative is hard in relation to this music video . This is because this narrative doesn't follow a set structure as it included flashbacks. However some of the elements which Cook identified can be applied to Smith's music video.

Firstly Cook suggested that the narrative has a linearity of cause and effect within an overall tragedy or enigma. Smith's video doesn't has a linearity narrative because it uses the elements of flashbacks. The overall tragedy or enigma is Smith sat alone in the church. This can be seen as a tragedy because during the video he morns over the lose of a loved one and then celebrated their wedding day. Cook believes that the narrative has been built in that way to result in an enigma occurring at the end of the music video.

Secondly a resolution occurs in the end of the music video when Smith is alone in the church. This closes the narrative as the clip starts at a funeral with lots of people, then shows a wedding with lots of people and ends with Smith alone with nobody around him. This could show how although people mourned and celebrated with him , because he has lost someone very close to him , he still feels very alone and isolated. Cook  would suggest this has been done as it brings a clear end to the narrative.

Thirdly there is a high degree of narrative structure within this music video because the events, consequences and equilibrium are all clear. Although flashbacks occur the narrative still remains within the concept of the music video. For example Cook implies that the narrative structure must have a clear beginning and end with a format to the diegesis and equilibrium. One way this has been achieved is Smith remains within the Church to construct his narrative. This makes a clear start and end point to the video as the ending feels like a conclusion of events. However this wouldn't have been achieved unless the narrative had a clear structure.

Finally Cook believed that a fictional world can contain verisimilitude. This is not relevant to this music video because it doesn't represent a fictional world but instead represents reality. This is because the issues raised can affect a variety of individuals in different ways. For example the issue of death is something which affects many people but different ways. This video helps to show this as the camera pans across many people during the funeral to show how they all deal with the issue of death.

Todorov (1977)

Todorov suggested that narrative must follow a structure. He established that there is a equilibrium within the diegesis, which follows the following 6 stages of narrative structure.

Stage 1: Equilibrium everything appears fine and normal
Stage 2: Disruption of some kind , creates a disequilibrium
Stage 3: Recognised the disruption has occurred
Stage 4:Try to recreate the equilibrium
Stage 5: New part of the equilibrium
Stage 6: Consequences of the reaction (there has been a change in the equilibrium)

Todorov's theory of narrative can be applied the this music video:
Bob Dylan - Beyond Here Lies Nothing



Antagonist = Possibly the boy (looks like he has trapped the girl)
Protagonist = Possibly the girl (trying to escape)
Disruption = Fighting with one another (aggressive)
Quest = Trying to kill each other (violent e.g. knife stab)
Resolution = The kiss (both appear injured but girl goes back to kiss the boy)

In Relation to Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

It is harder to apply Todorov's theory of narrative to this music video because this video includes two parts to the narrative which include flashbacks. Therefore I can only interpret how Todorov's six stages of narrative may apply.
Antagonist = N/A , maybe the issue of death
Protagonist = Sam Smith,  morning over the loss of a loved one (Image 1)
Disruption = Death of the loved one (Image 2)

Quest = Memory of wedding to cope with the death, look at how others cope with death (Image 3)
Resolution = Mourning alone in the church were the couple married and where the funeral was held. (Image 4)

Other Narrative Theories :

Fabula

This refers to the chronological sequence of events within the narrative which we see and therefore can interpret. These events are represented to the audience chronologically so that they can infer their meaning.

Vladimir Propp (1928)
The Russian theorist studied the narrative structure of Russian Folk Tales. He analysed 100 tales and concluded that all the characters could be resolved into 7 broad character types. These are listed below:

1. The Villain - struggles against the hero
2. The Donor - prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object
3. The (magical) Helper - helps the hero in the quest
4. The Princess and Her Father - gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative but can't be clearly distinguished
5. The Dispatcher - makes the task known and sends the hero off on a quest
6. The Hero or Victim/Seeker hero - reacts to the donor, get married to the princess
7. False Hero- takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

Joseph Campbell’s (1949)
The Hero With A Thousand Faces, developed the idea of the ‘Universal Hero Monomyth'. Campbell  suggested that there is an underlying structure of iconography, themes, concepts and narrative structure. This common to the religions, myths and legends of almost every culture in the world. Both George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg were heavily influenced by Campbell’s theories for example Star Wars conforms to Campbell’s model of the Monomyth almost exactly.

Claude Levi-Strauss (1958)
Believed that narratives operated on clear binary opposites. E.g. Good Vs Bad.

The importance of these is that a complicated world is reduced to a simpler structure to aid the audience's understanding. Therefore things are either one extreme or another, there is no in-between.

Michael Shore (1984)

Argued that music videos are just recycled styles and are surfaces with no substances. The videos are made for immediate gratification and are easily accessed. Although information may be relevant with in the videos. There can be an overload of information given.
For example - Bob Dylan, Beyond Here Lies Nothin'. The video looks good but has already been done before in a different form. Also the video portrays the themes of violence and death but actually has little meaning.

Andrew Goodwin (1992)

Argued that music videos are "narrative relations are highly complex". The meaning from the music video can be created from the individual audio viewer's personal music taste to sophisticated intertextuality that uses multi-discursive phenomenon of Western Culture. This is because we understand the references from our culture and anything from within are historical culture. However this is dependent on individual cultural capital. Some people lack cultural capital therefore they will not understand what is being shown via the music video, thus affect the target audience. Most videos are dominated by advertising references which reinforce the poster-modern idea of 're-used/recycled' music videos.

Lyrics - Lay Me Down

These are the lyrics to Sam Smith's -  Lay Me Down.

Yes, I do, I believe
That one day I will be
Where I was right there
Right next to you

And it's hard
The days just seem so dark
The moon and the stars
Are nothing without you

Your touch, your skin
Where do I begin?
No words can explain
The way I'm missing you

Deny this emptiness
This hole that I'm inside
These tears
They tell their own story

Told me not to cry when you were gone
But the feeling's overwhelming, it's much too strong

Can I lay by your side?
Next to you, you
And make sure you're alright
I'll take care of you
I don't want to be here if I can't be with you tonight

I'm reaching out to you
Can you hear my call?
This hurt that I've been through
I'm missing you, missing you like crazy

[This verse only at album version:]
You told me not to cry when you were gone
But the feeling's overwhelming, it's much too strong

Can I lay by your side?
Next to you, you
And make sure you're alright
I'll take care of you
I don't want to be here if I can't be with you tonight

Lay me down tonight
Lay me by your side
Lay me down tonight
Lay me by your side
Can I lay by your side?
Next to you
You

Sam Smith Facts

This link below shows an interview in which Sam Smith shared 22 things which people may not know about him.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/22-things-we-learned-hanging-out-with-sam-smith-20150204?page=3

The following are extracts from the interview which I think could be relevant when I do my visual essay on the Sam Smith video Lay Me Down.

1. He wasn't afraid to speak up for equality at his Catholic school. - "From what I can remember, they believe that you can be homosexual, but you just can't practice it, which is ridiculous," he says. "I would just say, 'I am proof that it's genetic. It has to be, because it wasn't a choice.' And that's it. That's my only argument, you know? You love who you love, and I can't help that I like guys."

2. He's not sure he ever wants to get married. - "My views on marriage actually don't come from what's going on in the gay community. They actually come from my mom and dad splitting up," Smith admits. "I'm a bit unsure as to whether I want to [get married]. I don't understand why you have to wear a wedding ring to warn people off. You should be able to be faithful to that person without anything on your body to show that you are with someone. You know what I mean? [But] I'm a 22-year-old boy, I have no idea what I want yet. In terms of marriage, I change my mind every week. I've changed my mind every week on what my type is. I change it all the time. But it depends on the person I've met. If I fall in love with someone who really wants to get married, then I think I'd do that for them." 

16. He considers himself spiritual  - "I believe in God, but I don't know what it is — if it's a he, she, a he-she, or anything. [Laughs] Who knows what it is. All I know is that I feel like there's something else there."

18. The Catholic Church influenced his style. - "I went to Catholic school 'til I was 18. There's a connection there, you know?" he says. "For a lot of things I do, it's a symbol. . .I used to change my earrings up all the time, every day. I'd have different pairs for each day. The day that I shot the acoustic video to 'Lay Me Down,' it just so happened that I wore cross earrings. And I remember when I watched the video back, I was like, 'That can be my thing.' There's a little meaning behind wearing crucifixes in my ears, you know? But I would never go into it." 

20. Don't expect him to play Russia. - "I don't hate Russia, but I just will never go to Russia [because] what they do to gay people there is just disgusting and it makes me very angry," Smith says. "I've even said, no matter how many billions of pounds you could offer me, I just couldn't, which makes me sad because I have Russian fans. They contact me on Twitter, it makes me sad."

21. He wants his next album to be more personal than his first. - "I'm very passionate about being relatable. On my second record, instead of looking like I have more money, more airbrushing, I want to actually be more raw and more honest on my second album than my first," he says. "I want to be a pop star that isn't really skinny, a pop star who doesn't have a perfectly even face, where in my music video, I don't look my best, [but] I look raw and human. I want to change what a pop star is. I think that's deep down what I really want to do in music. I want to change that whole idea of, 'When I'm older, I want to be perfect.' I want to change people's idea of what perfection is. That's what I really want."