Lily Allen Music Video Analysis

The visuals in the beginning of the music video cut to and from Lily sitting in deep thought on her bed to her and her boyfriend to her eating. The first line then plays 'When you first left me...'. This shows that she has been dumped by her boyfriend and she is sympathy eating and thinking about what has happened. The lighting in the room is very dark with a bit of light coming through the window suggesting that there is going to be another opportunity and she will have a bright future. 'I just sat by myself all day'. This line matched the visuals of her sitting on her bed alone. We can also tell she has been through a break-up with the same person before.

'I was so lost back then, but with a little help from my friends'. This is shown alongside her giving money to a man against a worn out brick wall which suggests the area is old, grimy, unsafe and even maybe deprived. This then links to the next scene where her boyfriend gets beaten up by two chav looking teenagers. As she is seen watching she is smiling like she has got him back for cheating on her. This matches the lyrics as she sings 'it makes me smile'

The next scene she goes for coffee with her ex as he is seen telling something, there is a closeup of her face as she sings 'You say that you want me back', she also looks unimpressed. This then cuts to her friends who have broken into a flat and are destroying it. The lighting is very bright and has a back and white effect on it to symbolise the parallel editing. This means she is still getting back at him by distracting the ex. As you see him run to the toilet which is stuffed with his clothes it then cuts to him at Lily's house. She is grinning to herself showing that she doesn't really care about him.

Lastly it cuts to the ex boyfriend at work. He is extremely unhappy as his records aren't working. This cuts to her again walking down a street dressed up which suggests she has realised she doesn't need to go back to this boy again as he isn't the only thing to make her smile. This matches the visuals as she repeats 'it makes me smile'.