Analysis of Lorde's 'Fallen Fruit' Music Video

The music video for Lorde's song "Fallen Fruit" takes viewers through a visual journey in nature. Viewers see the musician Lorde walking on a beach. The video starts with Lorde facing the camera in the daylight and walking forward. Throughout the video, the time the story takes place alternates from day to night. The first switch to night occurs at the beginning of the line where Lorde sings, "We had no idea the dreams we had were far too big, far too big" ("Fallen Fruit" 0.16-0.29). In this night setting, the circular, altar-like structure, once covered in lush greenery in the day is now on fire. As the setting switches to daytime, so does our perspective. Viewers see Lorde walking past a clothesline filled with fabric. However, the setting turns to night once more, revealing an empty clothesline holding only a singular piece of fabric, appearing torn and burnt. This concept of switching from a bright, prosperous setting to a dark, destroyed setting continues throughout the video. At 1:43, viewers see Lorde walking towards the ocean while the switches between day and night occur more rapidly. Lorde sings, "From the Nissan to the phantom to the plane we'll disappear in the cover of the rain took the great minds and the vapers and a pocketful of seed it's time for us to leave" ("Fallen Fruit" 1:53-2:22). As Lorde sings the final word of the bridge, the setting being at night, the camera pans over to a parked car on the beach. A man is standing waiting for her as she walks towards the car, and the time setting continues to switch. In the day, Lorde is walking towards nothing other than the rocks on the beach. However, when it switches to night, viewers see Lorde walking toward the car. When Lorde reaches the car in the nighttime setting, the man drapes a coat around her and hands her a bottled drink. Lorde then sings the line, "But how can I love what I know I am gonna lose?" ("Fallen Fruit" 2:37-2:47). Now the setting switches to daytime, the car is gone, and only Lorde remains. As she stares into the distance, she sings the line, "Don't make me choose" ("Fallen Fruit" 2:48-2:53). After a moment, the setting returns to night, and viewers see the car driving away on the beach. From this moment, the video goes back and forth through previously seen shots in the video, alternating from day to night. The video's final shot depicts Lorde riding in the car with a somber expression.

Connotative

            Right from the beginning of "Fallen Fruit", viewers can sense what narrative Lorde is attempting to portray. The song's first line goes, "To the ones who came before us" ("Fallen Fruit" 0:00-0:06), implying the idea of a past and present in this narrative. Lorde states in the following line how they had no idea their dreams were too big, as the setting switches to nighttime. The dreams Lorde is referring to suggest the mass and rapid modernization occurring worldwide, innovative advancements initially created with good intentions that consequently have gone too far and now contribute to the decay of our natural world. The combination of the lyrics and the setting changes throughout the video suggests a commentary on the disastrous impact of modern-day industrialization on nature. During verse two Lorde sings, “You’ll leave us dancing on the fallen fruit” (“Fallen Fruit” 0:57-1:04). Thus suggesting in the future, nature will fall, leaving behind only traces of its past existence.

Lorde creates bright, peaceful, and prosperous scenes and then contrasts them with scenes of destruction, ruin, and darkness. Lorde implies that the daylight scenes depict our world before industrialization, colonization and before man's creations destroyed nature. In contrast, the nighttime scenes depict the modern day, where nature is a second thought and pushed aside; nature is up in flames by the wrongdoings of society. The final moments of the video depict Lorde driving away in a car and pleading, "Don't make me choose" ("Fallen Fruit" 2:48-2:53). This ending implies Lorde's sadness and despair over the decay of nature. She is confused and sad about why nature and an advanced society cannot exist harmoniously. Furthermore, implying that humanity is going to have to make a choice and take action to save the planet.