Music Video Analysis - Mirrors By Justin Timberlake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuZE_IRwLNI




Mirrors - Justin Timberlake


Aren't you somethin' to admire?

'Cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror

And I can't help but notice

You reflect in this heart of mine

If you ever feel alone and

The glare makes me hard to find

Just know that I'm always parallel on the other side

 

'Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul

I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go

Just put your hand on the glass

I'll be tryin' to pull you through

You just gotta be strong

 

'Cause I don't wanna lose you now

I'm lookin' right at the other half of me

The vacancy that sat in my heart

Is a space that now you hold

Show me how to fight for now

And I'll tell you, baby, it was easy

Comin' back into you once I figured it out

You were right here all along

 

It's like you're my mirror

My mirror staring back at me

I couldn't get any bigger

With anyone else beside of me

And now it's clear as this promise

That we're making two reflections into one

'Cause it's like you're my mirror

My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

 

Aren't you somethin', an original

'Cause it doesn't seem merely assembled

And I can't help but stare, 'cause

I see truth somewhere in your eyes

I can't ever change without you

You reflect me, I love that about you

And if I could, I would look at us all the time

 

'Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul

I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go

Just put your hand on the glass

I'll be tryin' to pull you through

You just gotta be strong

 

'Cause I don't wanna lose you now

I'm lookin' right at the other half of me

The vacancy that sat in my heart

Is a space that now you hold

Show me how to fight for now

And I'll tell you, baby, it was easy

Comin' back into you once I figured it out

You were right here all along

 

It's like you're my mirror

My mirror staring back at me

I couldn't get any bigger

With anyone else beside of me

And now it's clear as this promise

That we're making two reflections into one

'Cause it's like you're my mirror

My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

 

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow's a mystery

I can see you lookin' back at me

Keep your eyes on me

Baby, keep your eyes on me

 

'Cause I don't wanna lose you now

I'm lookin' right at the other half of me

The vacancy that sat in my heart

Is a space that now you hold

Show me how to fight for now (please show me, baby)

I'll tell you, baby, it was easy

Comin' back into you once I figured it out

You were right here all along

 

It's like you're my mirror

My mirror staring back at me

I couldn't get any bigger

With anyone else beside of me

And now it's clear as this promise

That we're making two reflections into one

'Cause it's like you're my mirror

My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

 

Now you're the inspiration of this precious song

And I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on

So now I say goodbye to the old me, it's already gone

And I can wait wait wait wait wait to get you home

Just to let you know, you are

 

Girl you're my reflection, all I see is you

My reflection, in everything I do

You're my reflection and all I see is you

My reflection, in everything I do

I can apply Goodwin's theory to this music video:

Feature	Observation	Comment
Genre characteristics	·         Costume ·         Mise en scene ·         11:20 jewellery	These are conventions of the pop music genre that Timberlake chose to use to promote his music videos and to make them entertaining for his audience.
Relationship between visuals and lyrics	·         Mirroring of the couples ·         Flashbacks ·         Love ·         Memories of being happy	Timberlake chose to present the relationship between the visuals and the lyrics in this way to present the relationship and how precious it is to treasure memories and time spent with your loved ones.
Close ups (Star image)	·         Understanding of frailness of the old woman’s flashbacks ·         Lip sync of Timberlake at the end of the video	The close ups of the star/main character of the music video will show the emotion they feel but also promote the music video to Timberlake’s fans as this will show he is dedicated to his work.
Notion of looking	·         Woman in underwear and trousers ·         Obviously upset	This will get the theory of Mulvey’s `male gaze’ by the female character having no top on and her breasts on show.
Performance Narrative	Performance comes at the end when Timberlake is lip-syncing using the mirrors as a metaphor and link with the song where as there is a narrative the whole way through the music video with the flashbacks of the couples relationships.

  I can apply Todorov’s theory to this music video as it sticks with the equilibrium of the life and development of their relationship and flashbacks of the old woman’s memory. This lasts until 5:44 when there is an edit of the old woman dropping the ring and Timberlake catching it, this equilibrium is disturbed by the performance part of the video but the equilibrium is not then restored.