by Pink Isn’t Just Pretty – How the Color Shapes Emotion in Music Videos
While pink is traditionally associated with femininity, romance, and innocence, music video directors have found creative ways to deploy shades of pink to express a wider range of emotions. Far from a one-dimensional color, pink takes on new meanings when combined with other hues or presented in unexpected contexts. Let’s take a deeper look at how pink influences the tone and messaging of some of the most iconic music videos ever created.
Sweet and Innocent Pink
The quintessential innocent pink conjures up visions of childhood wonder, youthful crushes, and carefree fun. Pastel pinks that lean closer to white create an atmosphere of soft sweetness. A prime example is Taylor Swift’s “22” music video from 2012. Set against a backdrop of pale pink clouds, Swift joyfully celebrates her 22nd birthday with friends. Fluffy cotton candy-colored outfits and props like balloons and birthday cake frosting reinforce the lighthearted innocence of turning 22 and living in the moment.
Another artist who mastered sweet pink is Britney Spears in her “…Baby One More Time” video from 1999. Spears’ Catholic school uniform is a pristine baby pink that matches the rosy glow suffusing the empty school corridors after hours. Spinning cheerfully in her pleated skirt, Spears radiates youthful exuberance. The soft pink tones conjure up nostalgia for adolescence.
Passion in Hot Pink
While pastels lean innocent, a brighter hot pink amps up the energy and passion. Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2012 smash “Call Me Maybe” is drenched in hot pink lighting and clothing to match the song’s bubbly, flirtatious tone. Jepsen and her backup dancers writhe seductively in hot pink leggings, evoking a playful intimacy. The vibrant hue brings a sense of excitement, fun, and flirtation that’s a world away from innocent pink.
Lady Gaga also made strategic use of hot pink in her 2009 “Paparazzi” video. Gaga stalks the streets of Venice Beach in a slinky pink latex dress, drawing the paparazzi’s hungry gaze. As her obsession spirals out of control, the hot pink takes on darker undertones of lust, desire, and danger. It’s a complex use of pink that starts playful but morphs into something much more sinister.
Sophisticated Muted Pink
While brighter shades lean youthful, a muted dusty rose creates an air of sophistication and subtle rebellion. Lana Del Rey’s 2012 video for “Born to Die” is awash in muted pinks, blues, and greys, conjuring a moody, romantic atmosphere. Del Rey floats ethereally through sepia-toned scenes in wispy pink chiffon dresses accentuated with black lace. The dusty pink dresses Del Rey as a melancholy yet glamorous femme fatale.
Another artist who found sophistication in muted pink was Amy Winehouse in her 2007 “Rehab” video. Winehouse prowls through a pastel-hued bedroom in a loose pink silk robe, radiating sensuality and ennui. Her smoky eye makeup and tattoos add an edge. The faded pink creates a dreamlike quality that matches the song’s introspective lyrics about addiction and heartbreak. Muted pink allowed Winehouse to appear alluring yet vulnerable.
Irony Through Pink
Some artists use pink ironically, playing with viewers’ expectations of femininity. Taking a traditionally feminine color and pairing it with masculine subjects creates irony. For example, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ 1982 video for “I Hate Myself For Loving You” is drenched in hot pink lighting as the all-female band rocks out. The juxtaposition of tough rock music and pink subverts gender stereotypes associated with strength and femininity.
Similarly, Pink herself has made strategic use of her namesake color. Her 2000 video for “There You Go” features Pink boxing and wrestling in a pink leotard and shorts. Her muscular physique and aggressive fighting style challenge feminine norms even as she’s clad head to toe in pink. Pink the artist often wears her namesake hue on stage while performing gravity-defying aerial stunts, proving femininity and strength are not mutually exclusive.
Dreamlike Pink Fantasy
Perhaps no artist better encapsulated the dreamlike potential of pink than Mariah Carey in her 1995 “Fantasy” video. Directed by Hype Williams, the video transports viewers to a candy-colored fantasy world where Carey’s desires are manifest. She lounges seductively amid clouds of pink taffeta and chiffon as background dancers writhe in coordinated pink ensembles. Carey’s signature whistle tones drift through the air as she’s lifted and twirled by her admirers.
The pervasive pink creates an ethereal dreamscape where Carey is worshipped as a goddess of love. Nothing about the video’s production screams low budget – every frame is meticulously composed. “Fantasy” proved pink could be used to tell an epic story of romance and desire when elevated with lavish production values and Carey’s iconic vocals and presence. It remains one of the most visually stunning music videos ever made thanks in large part to its masterful use of pink.
Nodding to the Past in Pink
Some artists use pink nostalgically, nodding to fashion and aesthetics from bygone eras. Gwen Stefani’s 2006 video for “Wind it Up” is a candy-colored homage to old-school toys, dolls, and animation cells. Stefani and her dancers prance through scenes tinted rosy pink evoking a Technicolor past. Their polka dot and striped ensembles in fuchsia, coral, and rose pay tribute to 1950s and 60s fashion.
Similarly, Katy Perry’s 2013 video for “Walking on Air” finds her dancing joyfully through pink clouds in vintage-inspired dresses, swimsuits and neon accessories. The pink skies, candy colors and Perry’s pin-up poses are a valentine to nostalgia and optimism from decades past. Both Stefani and Perry use pink to transport viewers back in time through vivid production design and costume choices plucked straight from the pages of vintage fashion magazines.
In Conclusion
As these examples show, pink is far more than a one-dimensional color associated only with femininity and romance. Music video directors have mastered using shades of pink combined with lighting, production design, and costuming to convey a wide spectrum of emotions – from innocent youth to sophisticated rebellion, passionate desire to nostalgic fantasy. By understanding how pink interacts with other hues and production elements, viewers can gain deeper insight into how color shapes a video’s tone, narrative, and the artist’s intended messaging. Far from a lightweight pastel, pink remains a director’s secret weapon for crafting immersive emotional worlds on screen.
