Analyzing Visual Texts

Montour 1
Morgan Montour
Dr. Adrienne Cassel
ENG 1201
27 June 2021
How Heartache Is Portrayed Through Different Motives
“Dancing On My Own” was originally written by the artist Robyn, but Calum Scott took
this song and turned it into a lyrical sensation. While auditioning for Britain's Got Talent, Calum
Scott made his musical premier with his rendition of “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn and
made everyone fall in love with his version. This experience only gave the song and the artists
more recognition, but how is each version interpreted by audiences? Though drastically different
music styles and videos, “Dancing On My Own'' by Robyn and Calum Scott pull at the same
heartstrings, the pain of feeling alone. From bright lights and club dancing to dull costuming and
infatuation with love, these videos create two completely different interpretations of the same
song.
Robyn originally wrote these lyrics to portray the loneliness she feels but also her
resilience because she doesn’t let that feeling hold her back. Calum Scott interpreted the lyrics in
a completely different approach, he sings in a way that's distraught and like he’s watching the
person he’s in love with move on. The original was also written as an upbeat, pop song while
Scott’s version is slow and lyrical. This slight interpretation of the lyrics and musical styles have
a substantial effect on audiences' emotions. Not only are the musical translations of the lyrics
wildly different, so are the artist’s music videos for each version.
Robyn’s music video takes place in three main locations: a stage all to herself, a club, and
a moving location that was hard to identify. She sees all these people dancing together and is
Montour 2
upset about it at first, but towards the end of the video she is dancing by herself and enjoying her
own company. Robyn’s video is sending the message that it’s okay to feel alone sometimes
because more people than you know feel the same way. She’s also claiming that you don’t need
someone else to feel fulfilled and keep doing the things that make you happy. Robyn is a strong,
independent, female artist and she wants to spread that feeling of independence to her fanbase
and audiences through this song.
Five years later, Calum Scott auditioned for Britain's Got Talent with his portrayal of
Robyns “Dancing On My Own” and created a new point of view for the lyrics. This version
touched many hearts over the world and got so popular that it was thought to be the “original”
version. The heartfelt melody combined with the passionate tone of Scott’s voice was a sensation
and his music video reflected just that. In his video, there are a bunch of different people
standing in a huge crowd, all wearing white collared shirts and staring at some big light, except
for one man. This man is staring at the women he loves, they meet eyes and struggle through the
crowd to get to each other while everyone is still infatuated with this light. When the couple
finally meet at the end of the video, the light shines brighter. The light symbolizes that rare kind
of love everyone is looking for.
These interpretations of the lyrics prove just how effective rhetorical appeals can be.
Audiences are more attracted to Calum Scott’s version of “Dancing On My Own” because it
appeals more to pathos than Robyn’s original intentions of the song. Robyn’s version still
appeals to pathos because of the nature of the lyrics, but the music style is upbeat and the video
is flamboyant. Calum Scott’s version is an emotional portrayal of the lyrics and strengthens the
patho aspects of the lyrics. Also, the video shows a couple actually in love with each other while
Calum is emotionally distraught; as for Robyn’s video, the people are just caught up in the
Montour 3
moment with each other, not actually in love. Even though the videos are drastically different,
they attract the same audience. They both appeal to teenagers or young adults who are
experiencing falling in love, heart break, or loneliness for the first time, these feelings make the
videos feel more relatable to them.
Through the same exact lyrics, the audience is able to determine each claim coming from
the artist; from loneliness and resilience to genuine love and heartbreak. For example, when
Calum is singing “I’m right over here, why can’t you see me?” He looks very distraught and lost.
When Robyn sings those same lyrics, she’s dancing and seems almost unbothered by the other
people, like she doesn’t care or need another person to dance with. These differences are a theme
throughout the songs and videos, which determines how the audience is emotionally affected by
each. These characteristics of each version are crucial in order to distinguish which version the
audience identifies with more and why.
From being an averagely popular pop song, to a worldwide lyrical sensation, “Dancing
On My Own” by Robyn and Calum Scott both express the pain of being alone, but represent
different messages and claims. The power of pathos shows through in the popularity of each
version, with Calum Scott’s being much more well-known because of his emotional execution
and lyrical aspects. The videos showcase exactly what each artist was striving for and leaves
room for audience interpretation. In the end, “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn and Calum Scott
express the feeling of loneliness, despite the artistic differences and music styles.
Montour 4
Work Cited
Robyn. “Dancing On My Own”. YouTube, 28 May 2010,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcNo07Xp8aQ. Accessed 17 June 2021
Calum Scott. “Dancing On My Own”. YouTube, 15 June 2016,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31tGyBJhRY. Accessed 17 June 2021

Analyzing Visual Texts

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Analyzing Visual Texts

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Analyzing Visual Texts

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Montour 1

Dr. Adrienne Cassel

How Heartache Is Portrayed Through Different Motives

and audiences through this song.

of love everyone is looking for.

videos feel more relatable to them.

audience identifies with more and why.

Robyn. “Dancing On My Own”. YouTube, 28 May 2010,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcNo07Xp8aQ. Accessed 17 June 2021

Calum Scott. “Dancing On My Own”. YouTube, 15 June 2016,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31tGyBJhRY. Accessed 17 June 2021

You might also like