Research and planning: Passenger - Heart's On Fire

Michael David Rosenberg, better known by his stage name Passenger, is an English folk-rock singer-song writer. Previously the main vocalist and songwriter of Passenger, Rosenberg opted to keep the band's name for his solo work after the band dissolved in 2009. His most successful single "Let Her Go", has topped the charts in many countries.

Black Crow Records was founded in 1981 and mainly deals with folk music.












The music video is both narrative and performance based as some scenes show Passenger singing and other scenes telling the narrative. Passenger said "Heart's on Fire' is a nostalgic song. It's about when the timing with someone isn't right, even though the person might be. And although you're not with that person at the time, there may be a moment in the future where the relationship makes more sense."

Performance based:

Narrative based:

Mise en scène:

• Setting and location

The music video was all filmed in a forest, creating the nature and warmth feel to it, the song is quite slow and calm which matches the setting of a forest as that type of forest seems very peaceful and calm. It also increases the warmth of the video as some scenes show sunlight shining into the forest which creates a happy and calm mood. 

• Costume and make-up

Passenger only wears one costume: 

As the video is quite simplistic yet effective with the use of setting and colours also it is filmed in only one setting and location so therefore does not need the artist to wear different costumes. His costume consists of a simple dark blue shirt, beige/brown trousers. The dark blue stands out from the background and the beige/brown trousers fits with the natural setting of the video. 

• Sound

At the very beginning of the video, diegetic sound is used from the scene itself which is the sound of the forest and birds, this immediately creates the natural feel to the music. Non-diegetic sound is used (15 seconds in the music video) when the music starts including the guitar being played and continues throughout the video including Passenger singing.

• Camera work

The majority of the camera movements are very slow which matches to the pace of the video which is slow and calm. Lots of close up shots are used to show the certain objects in the scene:

The use of these shots emphasises the importance and significance of these objects, as they all are part of the narrative of the video.

Mid-shots are used when the artist is singing or shown in the video, as it shows the artist and also the setting but keeping it simple:

Mid-shots are also used to show the other character who is an older man but who is supposed to be Passenger's character in the present/future in the music video:

Close-up shot is used to show the narrative through the video:

These particular scenes shows the 'younger' Passenger in the past placing a flower in a diary, which is then showed again in a different scene but from the 'older' Passenger. This signifies the flower, as in the other scenes in the video a girl is shown holding that same flower:

When the girl is shown in the video, many close-up and extreme close-up shots are used to show her, which adds to the mystery of who the girl is:

She is shown as wearing a white dress which connotes purity and goodness, it is also very natural with fits within the setting. 

• Lighting and colour

This particular scene shows lights in the background out of focus, the orange connotes warmth, happiness, joy and also represents fire, as the title of the song and the lyrics are "heart's on fire". 

Throughout the music video, the lighting is very natural and warm, which links to the mood and pace of the video in a way which makes it very calm and peaceful.