Semantics is the study of meaning, specifically the relationship between signs or symbols and what they represent. Within music videos, semantics are used to provide clues about the narrative or characters through visuals and lyrics. For example, the music video for Paloma Faith's "New York" uses hundreds of semantics such as words, phrases, signs, and symbols to represent ideas like heartbreak, depression, jealousy, and a relationship journey with obstacles.

1. SEMANTICS
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2. Semantics is the study of meaning.
It typically focuses on the relation between signifiers,
such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what
they stand for.

3. Within music videos in particular there are semantics
woven in the visuals and lyrics to give us as an
audience clues to the narrative or characters.

4. For example there are hundreds of semantics within
Paloma Faith’s music video for “New York”…

5. Identify Meaning
Words ‘Bleeding’ Brocken heart
Phrases ‘Poisoned his sweet mind’
‘Fell down a deep black hole’
‘Diamond girl who could talk for hours’
New York introducing him to another
girl
Depression
New York
Signs Tyrone (bowling ball)
New York – glitter – woman’s bum
‘Paloma[ on back of her top
Tattoo Doves x2
Choir
His half of relationship
Blonde, guy looks at her back, sexual
attractiveness. Her looking means to
Paloma Faith as New York (Hate)
Placed on the bum as he has fallen in
‘love’ with New York
Freedom, not being free, trapped (Still
images)
Symbols Bowling ball, pins
Trophy
Bowling ball bag
Pretend baby
Sitting in the alley
Black dress – pins gold
Green top
The relationship
Journey
Where she wants the relationship to
go
Jealousy – beginnings of jealousy
In between/ In the
middle/Obstructing

6. Extra Notes on Semantics in example music video:
- First time she throws the ball – strike – then she
has him – he is the prize – she is better – gold
trophy.
- Dress from green to green with gold –
infection/bacteria – gold/love/money infecting the
jealousy.
- She holds his head whilst they kiss – she is in
control.
- Hand movements – strangler/stabbing gesture
- Expression really important

7. - Hand = heart – symbol – pumping – two people
separate = bleeding.
- Bowling ball goes down alley don’t see it hit the
pins – relationship not over yet.
- Things changed –he is now a player in a team –
blue for boys – masculinity – his bowling ball know
down pins – he destroyed the relationship – New
York still in the background
- Taxi – passage of time – transitions
- He turns away from bowling balls and alley – not
looking back on the relationship.
- Obstacles – Walking across the bowling alleys –
crossing the obstacles