LYRICS AND MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS

SO MUCH MORE THAN THIS

BY GRACE VANDERWAAL

Verse 1

Sit right here, chillin', level low

Close your eyes and just let it flow

Right next to me I hear your heart beat, beat

When the dial turns up and the music starts playing

We don't realize in this society

Doesn't matter how your hair looks or what they are thinking

Just, just what we are finding

The verse 1 is about when you are so fed up of all the drama of life, to chill out. It is also discussing that we don’t need the approval of the society, you don’t have to reach the standard they’ve set or care for their opinions. ‘I hear your heart beat, beat’ means for me that you have your on life let music be your rest . It also asks what do we truly want, what are we looking in for life?

Pre-chorus

Tap your foot and listen in

Ignore the world, let the music cave in

Close your phone and breathe in the air

You'll soon realize that there's something that is

The Pre-chorus emphasizes to just listen in the music, unwind and disconnect from all the stress – ignore the world, social medias etc.

Chorus 

So much more than this

It is what it is

So much more than this

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (hey)

So much more than this

It is what it is

So much more than this

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

The chorus is very simple, repetitively singing that there is so much more than this – so much more than what you think life is made of. There is more beyond than where your life revolves to. That we are not a robot in action - there is so much things we can do.

Verse 2

The whole crowd seems to like me now

'Cause I think I'm cool but back when I was in school

They found it very easy to hate me

Funny how always these times are changing

Back then it was so easy to shatter

But now in the end it doesn't really matter

The verse 2 is all about how people change when you achieve something great or reach higher than what they expect from you. Back then it was easy to be broken, to be lost and broken because of the hateful opinions, comments, rumors etc. but now by realization/maturity what the world says doesn’t really matter.

Outro :

All of the talk, and the talk from ya

Won't even matter when the lights come up

All of the talk, and the talk from ya, hey

Open your eyes and just wake up

Do all the things that will matter to ya

Open your eyes and just wake up, woah

The outro encourages us to do the things that will matter to you – to do what make you truly happy, not because it was ordered by someone or by career. No matter what people say just do what you want, wake up from trying to please everyone because it will never happen – they just had to have something to say to you. Take all the criticism heads on and be who you really are.

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Is the music video based in real life, or does this take place in a fantasy world?

~ the music video is based on real life. It does take in the real world but portrays a daydream.

Is the way the artist is portrayed in the video really how that person dresses and dogs in real life?

~ Yes, the artist portrayed the reality. The dress is very simple or common and dog is real.

Consider how the musician is dressed - is that how regular people dress?

~ Yes,  it actually depends but musician is dressed simply/casually – it is nothing fancy like gowns or what.

Consider the actions taken by the artist in the video - would they really do these things in real life?

~ Yes, for me people usually do what is in the video; daydreaming and being wholly engulfed by the music they love as a way of chilling out.

What is the benefit for the musician to portray him or herself this way?

~ It reminds us that it is important to chill out and unwind for a while to evaluate ourselves, our values, actions and perception. It reminds us to be who we really are and don’t be influence by others because we all shine differently.

Does the video portray people in stereotypical ways? Are these reflections of real people or are they just one-sided characters?

~ No it doesn’t portray people in stereotypical ways, in a sense that it encourage to be just who you are and do what you really want. Yes it portray people in stereotypical ways by describing how the world treats you depending in your status. These reflections can be relatable to real people who are struggling, pressured and tired of the society’s standard and demands.

Consider the editing - how does the frequency of cuts from shot to shot affect how you feel about the video? Consider the setting - why did the director choose this location or setting?

~ The video started in a stiff and narrow recording studio but as soon as the artist put the headphones on and closed her eyes it then shows the beauty of nature where you breathe freely, have peace of mind, have fun with your dog bestfriend or family emphasizing chilling out / unwinding. For me the director choose the best location (forest/nature) to shoot the music video and intelligently depict the song’s message.

Haven't yet seen or watch the MV? Click the link :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48qcnpCWBq0

<3

This is one of my favorite song, Grace Vanderwaal is AGT 's 2016 winner - her voice is addicting and she writes off her own music, not like our generation's taste I dare say for she has an old soul and young heart that is fresh breath of air for todays pop music.