Live Lounge case study

Perfect Ed Sheeran lyrics:

I found a love for me

Darling just dive right in

And follow my lead

Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet

I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you're holding mine

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know

She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home

I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets

To carry love, to carry children of our own

We are still kids, but we're so in love

Fighting against all odds

I know we'll be alright this time

Darling, just hold my hand

Be my girl, I'll be your man

I see my future in your eyes

In Ed Sheeran's "Perfect", there are many lyrics which supports Mulvey's theory that women in the media are shown as "erotic objects or desire for males on screen and in the audience" (Mulvey 1975) such as "I found a girl beautiful and sweet". The girl is complimented on her looks as she's called "beautiful". Her looks are complimented many times in the song, showing that she is an erotic object of desire as he desires her. This Ed Sheerans' 'Perfect' presents the females in the target audience - teenagers and young adults - as they would romanticise the "perfect man" from the lyrics, being a loving, caring man who pays attention and compliments them. 

Dick Hebdige argued that youths are stereotyped as mixed metaphors of "youth as fun"' this is shown in the lyrics "we were just kids when we fell in love", connotes with young love and innocence, young love being sweet and fun would represent this argument and represent the teenagers in the target audience as it would give them hope and/or happiness from either being in a relationship, liking someone or having fond memories of young love.