Music Video AnalysisRhia Assi

Andrew Goodwin's 7 Features of Music Videos

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). 

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style). 

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)7. There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV program mmes, other music videos etc).

Lana Del Rey- Young and Beautiful

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).

Young and Beautiful can be categorised under the genre of indie rock. The dark yet touching song is played in a way that creates mystery to the audiences ears, making them feel captivated within the song. The music video itself matches the song and genre of it, as it is conveyed in a dark, slow and simple way creating a mysterious, dated and melancholic affect making the audience relate to the song by wondering whom it could be about. In many alternative rock music videos a colour scheme of a dark nature with hints of bright colours is used to create dated and natural looks and a dull but captivating atmosphere. This is used within the video therefore this idea can be applied to ‘Young and beautiful’. The way the music video is kept very simple only showing either the orchestra or Lana herself matches the style of the song as it to seems very simple however when the beat is more abrupt the lighting goes from black to red to enhance the idea that the song has more emphasis and meaning at that point. Lana Del Rey when seen in the music video could be seen to match the typical idea of a female artist, she appears very girly, wearing red lipstick and her hair seeming to be perfect, making her look very pretty.

There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

As stated previously the music video is very simple. The orchestra is seen mainly throughout the video which has no real connection the lyrics. However Lana is seen in a close-up singing when the chorus is sung, creating a more personal feel to this part of the song. The chorus is repetitive starting with the lyrics “ Will you still love me “ again reinforcing the idea of it being a more personal part of the song as lyrics are very direct using first person pronouns.

When Lana sings the lyrics “the pretty face and electric soul” she is seen to gesture her face by placing her hand on her chin, this therefore connects the lyrics and visuals together at this point.

Another connection can be seen to be made when Lana sings “Dear Lord when I get to heaven…” although she is not seen in this shot the composer is with his hands up, which in a way suggests he is pointing to heaven as the common belief is that heaven is above us.

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

• Although the music and visuals can be seen to be amplifying by repeating the scenes of visuals which has no connection with the music.. There is a illustrative point of the video which is that the orchestra is mainly seen within the music video therefore holding a connection with the music and visuals due to the music being played by the orchestra itself. The music is very melancholic, mysterious and dark, this is portrayed also through the visuals through very dark and dusky lighting and hence the atmosphere of what the song also creates is reinforced through the visuals.

The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style). 

The demands of the record label of lots of close ups are met. Nearly every time Lana Del Rey is in a shot it is a close up of her face, emphasising her red lips and dark eyes. The technique of only using mainly close up when the artist is seen, creates a more personal and connecting music video to the audience. It allows them to feel like they are being sang to directly and they feel her pain she brings through the melancholic vibe she creates through the way she looks at the camera, with emotion in her eyes and some what sorrow facial expressions.

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

• Whenever Lana is seen within the music video her lips, eyes or curvaceous figure are highlighted. This therefore meets the idea of the voyeuristic treatment of the female body, although the highly sexualised parts of the female body are not highlighted the eyes and lips of a women are seen to be a promiscuous, flirty feature and hence she is seen to be promiscuous in a subtle way, this is emphasised by Lana wearing bright red lipstick making her lips seem even more promiscuous due to the colour red to be seen as a sexualised colour. When a full shot of her is seen you can see the outline of her curvaceous figure, although this image is seen in a dark setting making it not completely clear the fact it is emphasised even a little bit reinforces the idea of the voyeuristic treatment of the female body in this music video.

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)

“Young and Beautiful” matches the style of other Lana Del Rey music videos. She often uses the feel of dark, mysterious, misty affect and vintage themes within her music videos. Creating a more dated music video which suggests Lana's music and look is inspired by dated music.

There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc).

• There is an intertextual reference between Young and beautiful and the film The Great Gatsby. The retro and dated feel to the music video matches the 1920s themed movie. Young and Beautiful features in the movie therefore also creating another link as it was the first song released on the soundtrack.

Rihanna ft Jay-Z - Umbrella

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). 

The genre of Umbrella is POP, it is very ‘dancy’ and has that traditional vie of what a typical pop song would sound like. It is a song you will know all the words to and want to sing along. The outfits contradict the pop feel to the song as pop is known to be bright and elaborate, where as in the video the artists are seen mainly to wear black. Although this contradicts the pop feel to the song, it is in favour to the hip hop vibe Jay-Z brings and also reinforces the idea that he states “good girl gone bad” this is again reinforced through the idea that pop is fairly innocent however within this music video it is very seductive in more ways than one; clothing and the chorography.

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 

Throughout the song there is many connections with the lyrics and visuals.

The title of the song which is repetitively sang throughout the song is “umbrella” and Rihanna is seen holding and dancing with one throughout.

Jayz raps “let it rain” and behind him lights fall behind representing the rain, he also gestures the rain falling as he moves fingers downwards.

As Rihanna sings “you had my heart” she rubs her hand across her chest where her heart is therefore emphasising the lyrics.

When “maybe in magazines” it can be interpreted that Rihanna strikes a pose like she is on the front of a magazine.

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 

When watching the music video there is no immediate visuals and music relationship however once you look further into it you can notice that there in fact is. Rihanna moves to the beat made by the music, this can be seen especially when she is in point shoes and singing “ey ey ey” she moves her legs in sync with each “ey”.The chorography is also in time with the music and therefore there is a relationship in terms of the dancing visuals and the music.

It can also be noticed that jumpcuts are used thoroughly throughout the music video and are to the beat of the music. When the tempo is sharp and quick the jump cuts are abrupt and there is a lot of them however when the music tempo slows down the jumpcuts become fewer and slower; when beat slows down the editing is much simpler and subtler and vice versa.

The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style). 

The demands of the record label of the need of lots of close up are met due to there being many close ups of Rihanna's face and body. By using close ups and emphasising Rihanna’s seductiveness with them this again reinforces the idea of her new image; ‘good girl gone bad’

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

• Throughout the video Rihanna is seen to look very seductive and provocative suggesting the idea of voyeuristic treatment of the female body however due to the terms of the song and the fact she’s a “good girl gone bad” it suggests the provocativeness and seductiveness was purposely done to catch the attention of the audience and show them a different side of the innocent girl Rihanna was known to be before the video was released.

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)

• If you compare this music video to all the work Rihanna did previously before this was released there is no obvious motifs except the fact she tries to be seductive in all her work except originally she had an innocent look however now she goes all out ad gets rid of the innocence. This is because this is the music video of which Rihanna released to change her image of a ‘good girl’ to ‘bad’ which is reinforced at the start of the song when Jay-Z wraps “good girl gone bad”.

There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV program mmes, other music videos etc).

• You could relate the music of Umbrella to the music video of Liberty X’s ‘Just a Little bit’ there is a connection through the chosen outfit of Rihanna. Both are black latex and very provocative.

BEYONCÉ

LOVE ON TOP

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop). 

• Love on top is a typical pop song. It meets the criteria's you would think of when you think pop. It may not be brightly coloured however it still manages to be elaborate. It is very dance-y and again you can help but sing along, know all the words and want to dance along. Although the music video is very simple it is still holds typical backing dancers and choreographed routine to go with it.

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 

As Beyoncé says “bring the beat in” she raises her arm and gestures in the air to ‘bring it in’

“honey honey I can see the stars all the way from here” as these lyrics are sang stars are gestured through bey holding her hand out and looking up to the sky.

“cant you see the glow on the window pane” there is a relationship between these lyrics and visual due to when it is sung there is a long shot allowing us to see windows brightly lighted behind Beyoncé and the dancers.

Beyoncé and her dancers gesture tears falling through waggling there fingers and bringing their arms down when the lyrics “after fighting through my tears” are sung hence a connection with the lyrics and visuals.

There is a relationship between the lyrics “Baby its You…” as Beyoncé and the dancers point to the camera on “you” not only creating a link but creating emphasises and drawing in the audience further resulting in them feeling more connected to the song as it is more direct. As she finishes the chorus

with “top,top,top,top,top” she creates a relationship with the visuals and the lyrics by continuously pointing upwards like she's on top.

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). 

As Beyoncé sings the beat “ba ba ba da” she and her backing dancers click along to it making a relationship between the visuals and the music. This is repeated throughout the music video not only to the “ba ba ba da’s” but along to the main ‘finger clicking’ beat.

Throughout the music video the dancers and Beyoncé create a relationship between the music and visuals by dancing along with the beat of the song. At certain points when the rhythm is quick they will be dancing quick and when it comes to a sudden to stop for a second in the song they gesture this by stopping also and then starting again as soon as the beat starts again.

The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style). 

The demand of the record label of close ups of the artist is defiantly met within Love on Top. The close ups show Beyoncé looking radiant and glowing, which is seen across all her music videos in close ups.

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

In ‘Love on Top’ there is not obvious voyeuristic treatment of the female body as it is very subtle. In some of Beyoncé costumes in the music video she wears a suit jacket with no top underneath revealing the middle of her breasts this therefore creates a seductive and provocative side of the music video.

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)

One motif that can be found across her work is that Beyonce can often be seen wearing a leotard in her music videos. This reinforces the idea that she is a dancer. It can be seen in ‘Love on Top’ ‘Single Ladies’ ‘Halo’ ‘countdown’ and others.