The music video, “I’m Not The Only One,” Sam Smith crafts an argument that attracts the audience to the speaker. He aims to create an argument that informs the audience on toxic relationships and that people should stand up to what is right. Throughout the video, his goal is to make the audience understand the facts about the relationship by showing us two sides of the situation. In the very first scene of the video, Smith demonstrates a really close relationship between the couple. It makes the reader believe the love between them is real. However, based on the title, the audience can assume that one of them in the relationship is going to hurt the other. In the beginning of the video, Smith shows the couple waving each other goodbye. The audience could also conclude that the girl is going to be the one to hurt the man. This conclusion could be made because Sam Smith is the one singing the song. However, shortly into the video, the role is completely switched. He exhibits a particular scene in which a couple is having a toxic relationship revolved around cheating, and the woman in the relationship does not have the courage to stand up to say anything. Smith highlights pathos, ethos, and logos through his lyrics. Analyzing the song, “I’m Not The Only One,” creates strong emotional appeals that can affect the reader.
In the music video, pathos is immediately introduced through the title. The title, “I’m Not The Only One,” creates two sets of emotions that the audience will exemplify. It automatically suggests that this situation involves some kind of cheating. As humans, we naturally show emotions and feelings towards people going through difficult or challenging times. Sam Smith makes the audience immediately feel for the emotionally disturbed woman. At the same time, Smith turns the audience to become angry at the man who has cheated on his wife. Smith shows this woman emotionally still attached to her husband even through the stuff he has put her through. Smith depicts in his video the man continuously flirting with another woman, while the wife is at home crying uncontrollably. She emotionally cannot let go of him. In his lyric,“You say I’m crazy cause you don’t think I know what you’ve done,” specifically targets the situation.
Throughout the video, the use of logos is frequently shown. Smith continuously gives flashes of the affair going on. By doing this, it gives evidence to the audience to make us feel saddened for the woman. The visual representation of the husband and the other woman allows the audience to really understand what is going on throughout the video. In the line,“When you call me baby, I know I’m not the only one,” is a direct reference to the man. This line means that when the husband calls his wife “baby,” she knows she is not the only woman he is talking to. Based on this information, the audience can relate directly to this situation. Considering the facts of an affair or toxic relationship, the audience can understand how hard it is to go through something like this. Smith exemplifies a great use of logos to help wrap around his central idea of toxic relationships.
In the music video, ethos is demonstrated in a number of ways. Sam Smith is in the music video himself, which helps the audience to believe the speaker. Sam is a popular singer and songwriter who has millions of followers. With so many people looking up to him, this makes him a credible source. He states his credibility by singing about a topic that most people can either relate to or one day possibly will.
Throughout the whole song, Sam Smith makes the audience support and feel for the woman’s side. His intended audience could be anyone in a relationship related to the one in his video, or a very wide audience not directly involved. Because of Sam Smith’s excellent job of creating emotional appeals, this allows the reader to connect in a number of ways. Throughout the whole video, the emotions continue to grow. The effectiveness of pathos, logos, and ethos allows the audience to think about toxic relationships and to make a decision that will help them in the long run.