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Sarah Kennedy

Prof. Hughes

English Composition II

13 February 2022

The Analyzation of Shallow

The song “Shallow” originally sung by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga is a bewildering

statement piece in both the original and the cover. The song is mainly accused of being based on

a love story but when stripped away from the fancy lights and the music, you begin to notice the

lyrics truly are in depth about honest communication. The two lovers in the original video are

expressing their commitment of being “in the deep end” of a relationship and staying “out of the

shallow ''. While in the cover of “Shallow” by Dave Fneley and Briana Moore the relationship

between the two main vocalists is not one based on romance, they fall nothing short of

portraying the emotional profundity behind each of the lyrics. Even though both versions share

the same theme of expressing a dramatic love story throughout its lyrics, they as well provide

very different presentations within each video. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's version

expresses a chaotic concert-like environment with many instruments, while Dave Finley and

Briana Moores version is presented under much more cozy and home-like conditions. Because of

the distinctions between the two different narratives throughout each video, the intended

audience is provided with a production of different emotions, environments, and even

background context.

The song “Shallow” was originally written in 2018 to be released as a pivotal expression

of a need to communicate their new found motives within the flakey relationship between actors

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the production “A Star is Born”. The purpose of the song was
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to provide the audience with a front row seat to the beginning of a crucial new direction to which

their relationship began to head. In the cover version of the song, though the vocalist had no

romantical history, they nevertheless provided an intentional production of the emotion which

was intended for the lyrics to express. The intention for “Shallow” to be produced through a

movie, left room for the environment and background context to be used perfectly for the

original video of the song but also for the cover.

In both the original and the cover of “Shallow”, both versions touch heavily in each of

the rhetorical appeals. Pathos being related to the emotional response of the song, is provided

through the experience of watching a love story unravel and its concert-like environment.

Through watching both vocalists in each video you are given a front row seat to the chemistry

that is continuously built up throughout the song. This is then later backed up by the joy the

audience receives in watching the concert in the first video and later receiving a form of comfort

in the cover version due to its home-like cozy environment. Ethos is another appeal that is also

expressed throughout the lyrics of the song by building up the reason for the female vocalist to

dive into her dream of being a musician. This claim is supported throughout the entirety of the

song by her effortless stage presence and breathtaking vocals. Now personally I find it hard to

experience logos throughout the two versions but the reasoning behind the lyrics are essentially

found within the movie to which the song was intended for. The factual evidence for the reason

of the song is solely just to express throughout the lyrics the dedication and commitment the two

vocalists are now putting towards their relationship status. The intended audience of the song is

for any hopeless romantic or pop country lover. The song can also be used to influence anyone to

make their dreams a reality and strive to boldly embrace their talents.
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While striving to appeal to its audience in more ways than one, the song “Shallow” is

undoubtedly known to provide expressions of laughter, bold communication and of course the

essence of an authentic relationship. It does exactly this by providing lyrics such as “I'm off the

deep end” and “is there something else you're searching for?”. Both of these lyrics are to provide

an insight on questions and decisions which are meant to be brought up throughout a healthy

relationship. The music video as well provides many instances throughout the original version as

background context is shown through flashbacks of the buildup of their relationship. Throughout

the cover video, these themes are expressed through the stage presence of each vocalist and the

intentionality behind the lyrics being sung. The importance of the lyrics is not only hidden

behind the word shallow underlying the shallowness of a relationship but also the shallow

mundane conversations between a man and a woman. The lyrics “I'm in the deep end” is the

moment where both genders decide to engage in understanding each other rather than condoning

a short shallow conversation.

Nevertheless, “Shallow” being the prophetic statement piece that it is known to be,

allowed the process for breakthrough to occur for not only the singers of each version but for the

audience as well. Stripping away the intention for the song to express an essence of a profound

love story, the hidden agenda between allowing a mature conversation to take place and a deeper

connection to form is the real takeaway from the song. As the original version sung by Bradley

Cooper and Lady Gaga contains a better grasp on underlining the true purpose of the song, the

cover by Briana Moore and Dave Fenley provides a better execution under its peaceful

conditions and presentation of the lyrics.

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Works Cited

Gaga, Lady. “Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper - Shallow (from a ... - Youtube.com.” Lady Gaga,

Bradley Cooper - Shallow (from A Star Is Born) (Official Music Video), 2018,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_efYhYU2A?

list=PLhcBPsRKi9mU4f2_3i0BZqaKWKG15R4GE.

Fenley, Dave. “Dave Fenley and Briana Moir - ‘Shallow’ by Lady ... - Youtube.” Dave Fenley

and Briana Moir - "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (Cover) A Star Is Born,

2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3TwtZxpxwo.