Music Video Deconstructions - I'm Not the Only One

I'm Not the Only One - Sam Smith

The fourth music video I have decided to to analyse is 'I'm not the only one' by Sam Smith. It is similar to 'Treat you Better' in the sense that it portrays quite a strong subject (being adultery). However, it focuses more on two characters and the singer seperately as opposed to merging the singer into the story.

The video begins by zooming in on a house. From the outside it looks pristine and perfect with neatly trimmed bushes and a smooth cobblestone path. The building is pure and white conveying perfection or unsulliedness. In contrast the door is black which suggests darkness and something being tainted. It makes the audience wonder whats inside.

On the inside we see a couple, who seem in love. This is portrayed by the loving look in their eyes as they look at each other, the woman's hand on the mans cheek and then when she kisses him. We can see the woman is wearing white whilst the man is wearing a black suit. Straight away this links back to the idea of something being tainted and pure.

We then see the woman walking which is seen using a tracking shot. As she walks towards the door her smile becomes bigger. This could suggest she has seen something she is happy to see but it may also suggest she is putting on a face and making it seem like she is happy outside whilst she is miserable on the inside - signified by the contrast of emotion seen in and outside the house.

As her husband leaves she walks around her house, including her garden which looks just as pristine as the front (previously shown in the establishing shot) Throughout the video it cuts to her husband in murky room clearly up to something suspicious. We can assume the wife isn't supposed to know hes their as he is wearing a suit and the dark lighting and shadows over his face suggest he is trying to stay anonymous and do also not suggest he is in a work place.

She is in the light and he is in the dark further suggesting she knows what he is up to whilst he isn't aware she knows.

This shot later on in the video is a good example of how things look fine with her on the outside. A single tear is running down her face but from the outside of the car you wouldn't be able to see that tear.

A lot of juxtapositions are made throughout the video to show the turmoil she is going through and how she everything seems fine on the outside but up close and personal somethings not right and she isn't happy about it. It shows her sitting next to her pool with a far away shot. She looks almost like a model, with a glass of champagne in her hand, a beautiful white gown and a swimming pool behind her. However, as it cuts to a medium close up shot we see the sad look on her face and her mascara is running which hints that she has been crying.

Another juxtaposition is when she is is in her bedroom. Once again it starts by showing a medium close up of her feet. She has fancy shoes on, we can see the edge of her dress and the carpet looks posh and smooth. It then cuts to another medium close up, this time of her arms and hands on a rugged carpet. She is fiddling with her wedding ring and begins to pull it off once again conveying the struggles in her relationship.

Later on in the video it shows her in a liquor store drinking a bottle of wine. This is a huge contrast to earlier on in the video where she is sipping champagne at her pool. This portrays her in a less classy and civilised manner which we can assume is due to her relationship. As the man gets more and more serious and sexual with the other woman- his wife's depression and issues progressively get worse and worse. They are cut opposite each other linking her issues with the fact that she is cheating.

The lighting when the man is cheating is blue which connotes that it is cold and meaningless sex with lack of emotion. 

This shot is a far away shot of the woman crying in her lounge. Each side of the room has a chair, which in itself is a metaphor for their relationship. One chair has two pillows and the other has one. This could show how she is still loyal to the relationship whilst he has strayed and is alone doing what he wants. On the left their is a black shelf whilst on the right there is a white shelf which links back to the clothes they are wearing - with the man being the more dark, lying and venomous of the two, whilst the wife is pure, loyal and hasn't cheated. However this is a fallen over lamp on her side which might mean their relationship beginning to fall.

We see the husband walking down the street in a far away shot. Although this shot is not long his messy clothing and thug like posture and walk make him shown as a bad character.

This is the final juxtaposition in the video as from far away we see a loving wife welcoming her husband home. However up close with the medium shot we see the distasteful expression on her face and now he is hugging her but she is less touchy. 

I really like how elaborate use of juxtapositions in this music video and how small things around the house hint at how the relationship is breaking apart.