Artist: Britney Spears
Track: Everytime
Release Date: May 17th 2004
Context"Everytime" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on May 17, 2004, by Jive Records as the third single from the album. After Spears ended her relationship with pop singer Justin Timberlake, she made friends with her backing vocalist Annet Artani. While Spears composed the music on her piano, she wrote the song with Artani in Italy. It is thought to be Spears's response to Timberlake's 2002 single "Cry Me a River", but she has neither confirmed or denied these rumours. "Everytime" is considered an adult pop ballad with breathy vocals. Its lyrics are intended to signify a plea for forgiveness for hurting a former lover.
"Everytime" was positively received by critics, who liked its simple lyrics and the feel of the song in comparison with most of the tracks of In the Zone. "Everytime" was a big success, peaking inside the top five in most countries, while reaching the top of the charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom. "Everytime" has been covered by artists such as Glen Hansard and Jackie Evancho.
The music video for "Everytime" portrays Spears as a star constantly being harassed by paparazzi, who drowns in her bathtub when she starts bleeding from a wound in her head. In the hospital, doctors fail to resuscitate her while a child is born in the next room, implying she was reincarnated. The original idea for the video would have had Spears killing herself from a drug overdose, but the plot was removed after it received criticism by several organizations, who perceived it as a glamorization of suicide.
LyricsNotice me, take my hand
Why are we strangers when
Our love is strong
Why carry on without me
Everytime I try to fly, I fall
Without my wings, I feel so small
I guess I need you, baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, it's haunting me
I guess I need you, baby
I make believe that you are here
It's the only way I see clear
What have I done
You seem to move on easy
And everytime I try to fly, I fall
Without my wings, I feel so small
I guess I need you, baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're haunting me
I guess I need you, baby
I may have made it rain
Please forgive me
My weakness caused you pain
And this song's my sorry
At night I pray
That soon your face will fade away
And everytime I try to fly, I fall
Without my wings, I feel so small
I guess I need you, baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're haunting me
I guess I need you, baby
AnalysisThe opening to the music video is of an aerial shot of Las Vegas at night. This shot sets the scene of the video and suggests a busy hectic atmosphere. Also, Las Vegas is linked with nightclubs and a busy nightlife; therefore the audience may think that this may be involved in the video. It is also clear from this shot that it is filmed from a helicopter due to the sound effects, which also may connote that the helicopter is searching for someone or emphasise the height of the buildings in the scene.
The shot then cross dissolves into another tall building being palms casino resort. Gambling is advertised to be a glamorous activity and very popular in cities such as Las Vegas, which further denotes the busy night life and type of people which would be associated with the city; wealthy people who like to drink and go to clubs at night etc. Directly after this is a shot of a billboard displaying a picture of Britney Spears captioned “Las Vegas”. This introduces the artist to the audience creating the image of glamour due to the way in which the picture of Britney is presented.
The camera then tilts downwards so that the audience can see what is happening beneath the billboard. This fits in with the establishing shot of the city, as paparazzi are instantly in front of the camera and a limousine is the centre focus of the shot. The paparazzi are flashing cameras and taking pictures of the limousine and the camera zooms on the limousine in sync with the paparazzi. This creates a feeling of them closing in on whoever may be in the limo. The flashes of the camera are made very obvious to the viewer and the scene is exaggerated by a slight slow motion. The paparazzi are all wearing black which connotes to the audience that they are the ‘bad guys’ in the video.
The camera then instantly cuts to a two shot of Britney and her boyfriend sitting in what appears to be the limousine. From the Mise-en-scene of the scene, it is obvious that the couple have had an argument and are not talking. This is shown by them staring out of opposite windows and sitting separately from each other. This is further emphasised by Britney tapping her boyfriend, and getting a negative response in which he uses body language to show the viewer they have had an argument. The camera then cuts to a close up of Britney’s reaction to this and shows her shaking her head. This instantly makes the audience sympathise with Britney and feel as though her boyfriend is the one in the wrong. This helps create the mood of the video because the aim is for the audience to feel sorry for Britney.
The camera then switches back to the paparazzi outside the limousine banging on the windows and appearing to be shouting abuse or questions at the couple. The lighting used in this scene is dimmed a little which makes the scene feel more negative against the paparazzi. Again, the slow motion used in this scene means the viewer can see all of the action and how aggressive and desperate the paparazzi are to take the pictures.
The next few shots alternate between Britney and her boyfriend and the paparazzi, showing the contrast between the two. However, the two come together when the couple get out of the limousine and the paparazzi instantly group around them. In one shot, it is clear that Britney gets hit in the head by a camera from the paparazzi. This shot foreshadows what later is to come in the video, therefore the close up helps the audience to remember the scene. The next few parts of the music video are mostly in a slight slow motion. This effect dramatizes the situation for the audience.
Once the paparazzi has left, the camera tracks the couple walking down a corridor, clearly in mid argument as they are pushing each other and their body language shows they are shouting. The corridor is white which represents the hospital scene which is later to come in the video. Also, Britney’s outfit is white which emphasises this point. As the couple enter their flat, they are still arguing and shouting at each other, and a slow motion shot of the boyfriend throwing a glass vase at a wall emphasises the anger of the situation and makes Britney look more innocent compared to him. Shot reverse shots are used as well as close ups of the couple to show their reactions and facial expressions to make their emotions clear to the audience. Their body language is also emphasised and exaggerated to show their feelings towards each other at that point.
The camera then follows Britney as she goes into the bathroom, clearly upset and angry. The camera watches her as she gets into the bath and realises she is bleeding from the head, (the audience will remember her getting hit by the camera previously in the video). The high angle shots used make Britney look vulnerable and under threat. Parallel editing is then used as the camera switches to the boyfriend sitting looking guilty and ashamed on his own. The fact that it is clear Britney is in danger and her boyfriend does not know creates a tense feeling for the audience as they can see both characters and want the boyfriend to find Britney.
The camera then switches occasionally to Britney lip syncing in a white corridor, representing the hospital; as it is clear she is drowning from her head injury in the bath. Typical hospital staff surrounds her and are rushing about, connoting the danger she is in and the fact the hospital are rushing trying to save her life. A bright white light is used to represent the cliché idea of death and ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’.
The camera editing pace gets faster slightly when the boyfriend finds Britney in the bath tub. Cross cutting is used between the hospital and the flat where Britney is unconscious. The paparazzi are brought back in at the end of the video even in the situation Britney is in, which reminds the audience of the beginning of the video. One of the last shots is of a baby in a hospital which represents the idea of reincarnation after Britney’s ‘death’ in the music video. This is then followed by a shot of Britney sitting up in the bath and smiling; which adds confusion to the video and leaves the audience feeling confused about what has happened and why she is now awake.
