Titanium Music Video Analysis

Titanium - David Guetta ft. Sia

Background:
- Song was written by Sia, David Guetta, Glorgio Tuinfort and Afrokjack.
- Released in December 2011.
- Titanium is a ballad which draws from the genre of house and urban dance.
- The supernatural scene and suburban setting in the video recalls the science fiction film Super 8 in which Lee (the main boy in the video) stars.

Intro to the song:
- The song lyrics are about inner strength and not being knocked down by everyday struggles.
- The music video does not feature appearances by Guetta or Sia. Instead, the video focuses on a young boy played by actor Ryan Lee with supernatural powers.
- The music video for 'Titanium' was directed by David Wilson and premiered December 2011.

Themes:
- Supernatural
- Special Powers
- Puberty affecting body and mind
- Inner strength
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Adults vs Children

D - Describe
I - Information
S - Settings

• North America, Winter, Suburban town
• School - Opens with young boy laying on the floor in the corridor
• Down a suburban street - Young boy is cycling down the road
• House - The young boy is trying to get away in an empty house
• Woods - The young boy is running away from people

T - Themes

• Supernatural
• Special Powers
• Inner strength
• Panic
• Violence

I - Icons

• Gloves and hat - Conceals his body so he's not exposed
• Teddy Bear - Shows he is still only a child
• Bike - Allows him to get away from things quickly

N - Narrative

• A young child who have some sort of special ability. He's caused damage somewhere and is trying to get away.
• He leaves the school on his bike and makes his way to an empty house.
• When in his house, he packs his bag full of things before leaving out the back door away from the police.
• He enters the woods and starts running away from the people chasing him.
• The end scene shows the young boy on the floor curled up in a ball where a glowing yellow light is being emitted.

C - Characters

• Young child in his teens 
• Scared teacher on the phone to authorities
• Police officers 
• SWAT team 
• Two jogging ladies

T - Textual Analysis:

When the young boy hears the knock on the door signifying the police are outside, there is a worm eye medium long shot, looking up at the boy. This particular camera shot could suggest that he is not going to let whatever happened get him down and defeat him, instead he's going to rise above it. In this shot, he is wearing a red beanie hat, the lighting is quite dim but everything is easily visible. there is only the young boy in the shot, and he doesn't seem to have any makeup on. There are no significant props in this particular shot as he is in his empty house about to leave.

Editing and Sound:

G - Genre: Sci-fi Action
I - Instruments: Percussion, Synthesizers, Vocals, 
L - Lyrics: "You shoot me down, but I want fall" - shows inner strength and how he isn't going to be knocked down by everyday struggles
E - Emotions: Anxious and on edge, but also powerful.

S - Screen Time: The most screen time is on the main boy (Ryan Lee)
T - Transitions: Smooth transitions makes it easy it follow and watch.
O - Order of Narrative: Linear order, they follow a story line.
P - Pace: Various paces, they speed parts up but also have sections in slow motion
S - SFX: Floating bears, Keys flying to his hand, Electric ball in the end scene.