Analysis of double page spread

I decided to take my double page spread from Novembers NME magazine. The article is on Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine. The headline reads, "USA Got the love". This headline is clear and easy to remember. It ties in with the whole story of the article. Florence's new single is called "You've got the love" and she is trying to breakthrough to America. You can tell that this is an almost 'exclusive' interview as she appears on the front cover as a very central focus point. The front of the magazine reads, "72 hours with the years greatest export" This statement is very bold and is almost telling the readers rather than suggesting it. It makes Florence seem prestigious and important and as though NME are very lucky to have sealed this interview with her. The word "USA" is very large, and covers both pages of the spread, denoting importance. It could also be a meaning for the fact that the USA is so big and you have to be especially talented to breakthrough to the country. The first page of the spread is simply an image of Miss Welch sitting on a chair. The chair is covered in a large American flag, able to have two meaning, the first simply that she is trying to get on the USA's side and that it's trying to show she really wants to breakthrough, the second could be that Florence is 'on top of the world' and conquering America. She is sitting in quite a demure and sexy pose, although not distasteful and cheap. She appears to look classy and 'together'. She looks sultry because of the clothes she is wearing. The dark colours she is wearing contrast with her brightly coloured hair and eyes and make the image pop out and draw the readers attention. The background of the spread is bright and light, connoting 'pureness' and angelic behaviour. Her facial expression is quite serious but she does not give off an arrogant nature. The sub heading of the spread talks about Welch being '2009's biggest success story'. You know that NME magazine are on her side, and seeing interview her as a positive thing rather than a negative. They seem to be praising her at every turn and putting a positive spin on her life and work as an artist. Sam Richards writes this article and describes Florence as a 'tornado of crimson hair and black chiffon'. This makes her seem as though she if full of energy and hyperactive, setting the tone for the rest of the interview. Overall the text in the interview is easy to read and the structure of the sentences are an easy, light read. The article continues to praise Miss Welch throughout the whole interview, retaining comments from other music critics, interviewers and her own opinions. The article seems to want to persuade the reader to like her, and encourages them to listen to her music. When direct quotes from Florence are used, they are always expressive such as, "I SAW A GHOST!!" This backs up my previous point about her being full of energy and happy to be having the interview. Overall, NME's Sam Richards very much favours her music and the article is both instructing of Welch's music yet entertaining to put a light hearted spin as to attract the readers and keep them interested. The design and layout is very simple and easy to navigate through and Welch is represented as a very talented female musician with lots of energy and willingness to learn. The spread is necessary and effective for it to be on a print platform as it is easily accessible, but could also be effective on many platforms. NME recognise this and at the interview a link is given for reader to go to their website and watch an interview and a performance of Florence's. This is effective to both musician and magazine, as it gains more interest and becomes easier for readers if they prefer surfing the internet rather than reading an article.