Music Video Analysis’

Tariq Esprit-media production blog A2

Music Video analysis- Wiley, Cash In my pocket

Type Of Music Video:Cash in my pocket combines all music videoTypes (Concept, Narrative and Performance) The entire video is a continuous performance(seen when the staff at the office dance and Move around as if they were on stage)The concept is simple as it follows an officeWorkspace theme and uses people that generallyWouldn’t have a clue about this type of music.Finally the narrative is simple as it is emphasizedMany times in the chorus “all I want is money inMy pocket”. Mixing all three types (making this Music video a hybrid) helps appeal to all typesOf audiences that are attracted to a specificType of music video.

Editing:The editing is virtually nonExistent/seamless, where the audienceCan’t tell if its one continuous shot orIf the transitions flow so well, the Audience can’t tell (transitions couldOccur as the camera is turning) as the entire music videoIs one continuous shot moving Through a typical work officeSpace. This means that the eventsThroughout the video are scriptedIn a type of performance sense. ThisMay help to immerse audiences thatPerhaps aren’t fulfilled by mainstreamMusic videos and this change of paceWill encourage them to watch/listenTo the whole thing.

Cinematography:One continuous shot, however a mixtureOf long, medium and close up shots are used.Low angle and an establishing shot is used

Narrative:Simply in the chorus, theNarrative is similar to the typeOf song, straight to the pointWith no complications to make It easy for the audience to understand(“all I want is money in my pocket”)

Representation:The is a general view that people that work in office’s wear suits and act formally. This music video adheres to and subverts from these generalisations. Having the actors wear suits, however also have them acting young and childish creates a sense of entertainment for the audience as they’re viewing something abnormal in that specific time of society. So the music video suggests that office workers are able to have fun and perhaps change the youths view of them, inferring that maybe Wiley was attempting to make a point rather than just entertain his audience.

Mise-en-scene:This is used to create an illusion that the music video really is happening in the Gherkin (famous business building in the city of London) The use of costume and location really immerses the audience into believing that this is reality. The workplace concept is completed through the use of props (fax machine, numerous un-opened envelopes and a flux of computer stations)

Music video analysisBiggie Smalls, The Sky’s The Limit

Type of music video:This music video is strictly a narrative. No real dancing is involved. The narrative is attempting to get the message across that the sky’s the limit, encouraging people to aim high in life (particularly youths)

Cinematography:Variety of shots including various close ups, medium shots, medium long shots and long shots. Also the establishing shot is used to verify locations.

Mise-En-Scene:The clothing of the main artist Biggie Smalls is extremely important in this music video. He is seen to wear a variety of suits which implies that he’s made it far in life already and this should be what the youth of that day should strive for (suits are the most expensive type of clothing) Also, the Mercedes seen in the first section of the music video is another showing of what others should strive for, using the metaphor “the sky’s the limit” Finally, the walking stick used can be implied as a tool of senior ship, suggesting that he is perhaps inspiration and the engine that fuels the younger generation.

Representation:There is a general view in society that if you’re a young person and you strive for something, you’ll probably achieve it. This music video challenges that general representation of youths by implying the message that if you don’t have inspiration. Drive and a realistic goal then you won’t. Inspiration is key and is seen in the music video through Biggie Smalls’ senior style presented through his achievements, dress sense and lyrics.

Narrative:The story is held within the lyrics and title of the song. It suggests that even if you’re from a poor, under privileged background, you can still become successful in life. (Biggie Smalls being from a poor background, he could relate to the youths of that time period)

Editing:Simple music video. Nothing is exaggerated and its fit for purpose. The video has a sense of continuity and scene placement works well

Feminist and Post feminist text-Britney Spears- I wanna go

Feminist A feminist inference of this music video would agree with a negative representation of women because it suggests that they’re only able to find solutions with their physical aspects and not their actual mentality. In this video, Britney Spears is only(mainly) seen as a sexual object that men are perceived to fall over and follow for no particular reason. A point in the music video that exemplifies this is when Britney (the artist) flashes in front of a police officer to prevent getting a parking ticket. Although exaggerated, this is seen to be the modernistic view in society of “favourable” women. A feminist and theorist called Rae Langton identifies 3 points of treating women as sexual objects (and two of which are used in this video)These are:Reduction of physical appearance- When body parts are expanded/reduced on to make a female seem more attractive.-Reduction to appearance-where facial aspects are changed to make the female more attractive (nose jobs, Botox etc.)

Post FeministA post feminist inference of this music video would be Britney Spears (the main artist) being exemplified as powerful, confident and an independent woman. In one section of the music video Britney is being fluxed by Paparazzi, she is able to fend them off with super human like power again asserting her powerful dominance and confidence over men (all the paparazzi are in fact male which means she was trying to make a point) In another scene, Britney is standing up and dancing in a passenger seat of an open top car. From this, I can extrapolate that she is trying to cross the message that woman can do anything, even if its extremely dangerous or in some cases pointless.

Analysis of Postmodern text, Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé-Telephone

There is a flux of references to other products/services in this music video that it may actually start to irritate the viewer.

Kill BillReference

Bonnie and Clyde reference

And many more are shown in the music video

Wonder woman

Common hairstyleIn the late 1940s

Advertising: references to Virgin mobile, Beats by DR.Dre, Plenty of fish(an online dating website used mostly by Americans) and Polaroid cameras/camcorders

Music Video AnalysisChris Brown, Turn Up The Music

Type Of Music Video:This music video is a performance based video. Most of the scenes are of the artist dancing or moving around a club (with others dancing) There is no clear narrative to this music video

Cinematography:Similar to other performance based music videos. Long shots are used for the choreographed dance scenes and close ups on the main artist to demonstrate emotion and confusion (towards the beginning of the video)

Representation:The representation of youths in this music video adheres to the general view of them overall. In the beginning of the music video, the main artist is confronted by others who are wearing animal masks/outfits outside the club. This suggests that youths are immature and will do anything just for the fun of it. Also the fact that the main setting is a club could be an implication that young people are always partying without a care in the world, again emphasizing their immaturity. Finally the term “turn up the music” could be inferred to from youths as “party harder” implying that the more they dance, the more fun they will have.

Editing:Helps the performance come together, the routines are split up through the video and the editing helps to form them into one cohesive model.

Mise-En-Scene:Mise-En-Scene in this music video subvert from the views of all the other elements. The main artist, Chris Brown for a start is wearing a formal suit in some scenes, going against the typical youth dress code. Also, the people in the club are wearing masks which imitates the idea of a masquerade party, normally held by the rich and upper class. This could be implied as a message that the youth of today aren’t as immature as others think.

Music Video AnalysisJustin Timberlake, Cry me a river

Cinematography:Includes a variety of shots such as close ups, establishing shot, highand low angle shots

Mise-En-Scene:The dark clothing is used to emphasize his sadness throughoutThe music video (the meaning behind the music video is in fact “getting back at another”) The dark setting whilst outside also helps to emphasize this emotion.

Type Of Music video:This music video is a hybrid of a narrative and a slight performance (mostly narrative) The motive behind this music video was for Justin Timberlake (the main artist) to inform the public of his ex girlfriends actions (Britney Spears) and to give the impression that he’s still going strong after the break up. Some scenes are of him telling the story through the lyrics and others are of him dancing, thus leaning slightly towards the performance style of music video even though he’s not dancing for the full video.

Representation:In this music video, Justin is attempting to imply that men are insightful and also easily intimated. Having knowledge about someone's actions (in this case, he knew that his ex girlfriend was cheating on him at the time) men choose to take revenge rather than confront the problem. This can perhaps be associated with a sense of dominance that men carry. A carefully though out plan in order to take revenge is presumed to be a “mans ordeal”

Editing:It gets the job done, cohesive cuts that bringsThe narrative together; nothing different orExtraordinary is done

Music Video AnalysisRihanna, We found love

Type of music video:This music video is a narrative and not a mixture. The narrative is attempting to cross a state of mind that relationships can be formed/expanded on anywhere and that its possible to find love from a “hopeless place” The main artist, Rihanna could’ve had someone in mind during the video or it could just be from past experiences.

Cinematography:A range of shots including loads of close ups, medium shots and medium long shots. There are establishing shots, followed by the seemed to be couple having fun creating a constant thought of a relationship being all about fun.Mise-En-Scene:

Props are used constantly to give the impression that the couple is happy. However, there are a few blind spots. In one scene, both Rihanna and her perceived to be boyfriend take a pill that brings them into an illusion where its just the two of them; this suggests that perhaps love is an illusion that can only be obtained through artificial matters. This illusion can be seen through the colourful rainbow cigarette near this scene. Points that exemplify this further are when the couple are at the supermarket buying alcohol and when they’re seen gambling at a slot machine, again showing that happiness can only be obtained through artificial matters.

Narrative:Follows the lyrics “we found love in a hopeless place” The music video constantly throws the idea of happiness and fun at the audience. The couple are seen having fun and “finding love” in seemingly hopeless place, such as the skate park or the supermarket.

Representation:Representation of youth and how there views may be distorted and may be confused about the concept of love. Love in this music video is almost seen to be fake as the couple are only seen having fun and mostly under influence. This music video could be seen to attempt to rectify the youth of today’s misguided views of love.

Editing:Cohesive, mostly fit for purpose. Some general effects are used such as the random spectrum of colours on the cigarette to exemplify hallucination (which may or may not happen in some cases)

Music Video AnalysisBeyoncé, Single ladies

Type of music video:This music video is strictly a performance video with a message.The three dancers in the image (the middle one being the main artist Beyoncé) are featured throughout the entire music video performing their routine. Its particularly awkward to have a music video that is completely performance based however, it easily grabs the audiences’ attention but the complexity of the dance and its allure to the male gaze.

Editing:Simple due to the simplicity of the music video. Cuts are frequent however they don’t break the continuity of the music video. A couple techniques are used such as the pan and the fade in/out.

Cinematography:Constant use of long shots to show all three dancers however most of the close ups are forwarded towards the main artist Beyoncé to perhaps emphasize her superiority (and the fact that she’s the one singing)

Mise-En-Scene:The lighting creates 3 distinctive points in this music video. Firstly, the main light/key light which is used to light up all the dancers in the video against the white backdrop (however because the music video is in black and white, it appears to be grey at times) This large light can be the main artist implying that as dancers or women, they’re equal and all have similar values. The second point is the fill light which is mainly used on Beyoncé. This may be used to infer that even though they’re equal as dancers, as a singer she is superior or the concept of Primus inter Pares (first amongst equals). Finally the light is used to make the dancers’ legs shine in an unnatural way thus attracting the male gaze in an attempt to appeal to another audience besides young females.

Narrative:The lyrics of the music video is meant to empower young females or the older audience by influencing them to be independent, this is exemplified through the sing title “single ladies” The constant message that women don’t need men is constantly thrown at the audience throughout the music video.

Music Video AnalysisPussycat Dolls, When I Grow Up

Type Of Music Video:This music video is a performance music video type.The dancing in this music video suits the typical style of a girl band with a flux of sexually provocative dance moves to immerse the male audience.

Mise-En-Scene:This music video adheres to the general stereotypical view of a girl band, the type of music and the clothing they wear. All the females in the group are wearing revealing clothing and are pampered in make up, thus giving the illusion of a “perfect woman” or what is perceived to be a perfect woman in today’s society, completely scrapping ones personal values. These clothing items are used to attract a male audience and also used to empower the female audience suggesting that they should be proud of their bodies and flaunt them.

Cinematography:A mixture of shots including close ups, medium shots and long shots of the entire group. The positioning of the girls though is rather peculiar. Nicole, the main singer is always in the middle of the group which scraps the concept of a girl band and theoretically makes the other four girls back up dancers (effectively)

Representation:This music video embraces the idea of self empowerment within women. The lyrics “when I grow up, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies” is implied towards the younger audience suggesting that this is what younger females strive for (or should) The view that when they grow up, they’ll be like the pussycat dolls (or effectively Nicole) is enough to empower them and make them strive towards excellence.

Editing:Editing is simple and keeps the continuous flow. Good scene selection also helps the video to flow (when Nicole mentions cars, she’s actually standing on one)

Narrative:The idea that young girls should strive to be superstars and be proud of how the look, as seen through the clothing and the lyrics.