Enrique - Hero (Narrative Based Music Video)

The song 'Hero' was released in 2001 and was a big hit, with its catchy lyrics and star studded cast. The music video presents Enrique, the artist, as a 'hero' to the lead female, Jennifer Love Hewwit. This straight away contributes to the success of the music video and the mise-en-scene as the lead female is a well known hollywood actress. Their on-screen romance and the way the narrative music video has been constructed has been created to resemble a film with its cinematic effect. The director Joseph Kahn has created a music video which has been created in a modern era but includes many elements of a classic love story where a woman needs 'saving'.


Lyrics:

Let me be your hero.

Would you dance
if I asked you to dance?

Would you run

and never look back?

Would you cry

if you saw me cryin'?

And would you save my soul tonight?

Would you tremble

if I touched your lips?

Would you laugh?

Oh please tell me this.

Now, would you die

for the one you love?

Hold me in your arms tonight.

I can be your hero, baby.

I can kiss away the pain.

I will stand by you forever.

You can take my breath away.

Would you swear

that you'll always be mine?

Would you lie?

Would you run and hide?

Am I in too deep?

Have I lost my mind?

I don't care, you're here tonight.

I can be your hero, baby.

I can kiss away the pain.

I will stand by you forever.

You can take my breath away.

Oh, I just wanna hold you.

I just wanna hold you, oh yeah.

Am I in too deep?

Have I lost my mind?

Well, I don't care, you're here tonight.

I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain, oh yeah.

I will stand by you forever.

You can take my breath away.

I can be your hero, baby.

I can kiss away the pain.

I will stand by you forever.

You can take my breath away.

You can take my breath away.

I can be your hero.

These pictures emphasise the genre conventions associated with romantic songs as they show the on-screen couple sharing intimate moments. The first photo shows a close up of them looking like they're about to kiss. The fact that the male has his face above the females could be to show his dominance and how he can 'save' her with his love. This correlates with the title lyrics 'I can be your hero baby'. The second photo is a key part of the narrative when they male is dying and the female is kissing and holding him, whilst crying. This long shot emphasises the mise-en-scene and and shows how small they are as a couple who have been defeated. The saddening plot twist in the music video may appeal to the predominantly female target audience as it is a common belief that all women want a 'hero'. The music video has played on this preconception and used it to create emotion within the music video to appeal to the audience. 

                                 

At the end of the music video, the lead female is left alone and hasn't got a hero anymore after the male is killed. This doesn't suit the lyrics, however, the dramatic music video still emphasises the emotions and realities of love. The irony of the fact that the lyrics states that he can be her 'hero' is also emphasised as it is him who needs saving in the end and she cannot do that for him. She can't 'kiss away the pain' like he said he would within the lyrics, and this mid-shot of her standing still against the chaos around her emphasises her loneliness and the realisation that her 'hero' is no longer alive.