Iggy Azalea feat. Charlie XCX music video analysis

By Lucy Collings

IGGY AZALEA FEAT. CHARLIE XCX-FANCY MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS

Introduction

I will be taking 8 screenshots throughout the music video of which I think highlight the image and atmosphere Iggy Azalea intended to make.

SHOT 1In this long shot we see Iggy placed in the centre speaking to a class, straight away from the dress sense and surroundings you can tell the music video is based on the 1995 hit film “Clueless”. Iggy is also rapping her lyrics into the camera, keeping eye contact at all times through direct mode of address. The camera continues to jump cut to the class, the teacher, the student beside her and back to Iggy again. The room is also an old fashioned classroom, the dress style is very different to nowadays.

I noticed a list of the “best rappers alive” in the background, featuring names such as Eminem, Jay Z Tupac.

SHOT 2The camera here pans around to the right, showing a view of all the characters dancing, it continues to jump cut from their shoes moving, up to Iggy’s face and back to all the dancers. A colour scheme of black and white is constant throughout each person, the warm, neutral background contrasts with the bold clothing, bringing the characters forward. This is also a scene featured in the movie, the dancers are character look-alikes, throughout the film we notice similar scenes being re-created. What’s different in this shot is that the main artist is not set in the centre of the shot.

SHOT 3Here we see a long shot from an angle, this scene is one of the most popular from the movie “Clueless”, however the cars are slightly more modern to re-create for a 2014 audience. From the shot we can see the car is on a motorway, however the background is very calming with the mountain and the cars, all besides the large Lorry. The camera continues to jump cut from the car to the facial expressions of the artists, the characters and the dancing during the sports session. The lighting is also focused on the right hand side of the car rather than the front.

SHOT 4The lighting in this shot is mainly used through lights on the house and the headlights of the car, rather than being focused on one of the artist’s. I feel the purpose of this shot was to be showing off the location, The character Iggy azalea plays is a stereotypical American girl who is blonde and popular, it would be expected of her to pull up at a large party in a convertible BMW. The camera here stays in the centre, symmetrically opposite to the house as the car pulls up, then continues to jump cut in front of the artist’s and characters as they walk through the doors.

SHOT 5I chose this shot because as Charlie XCX finishes the bridge the mid-shot goes into slow motion and slightly pans to the left. Here the camera movement is in time with the lyrics as the actual lyric she said is slowed down and elongated slightly. This shot also shows both artist’s together. The camera continues to jump cut between different scenes of the artist’s in a school hallway and dancers during the party. The lighting in the shot is also red and white, suggesting love and purity. Which in my opinion throughout the movie are two of the main topics as it is one of the greatest chick flicks of all time.

SHOT 6 Here the artist is in the centre of a close up shot, the background as blurred so the actual focus in the camera is on Iggy, she is making eye contact with the camera, using direct mode of address to create contact with the audience. The artist is also on the phone, whilst you rapping, creating the illusion she is talking to someone at the same time. Beforehand the camera slowly panned up the body of the artist, from the shoes working upwards. This shot shows the confidence and image the artist is trying to convey, by linking the music video to a very popular film she is attracting a wider audience.

SHOT 7During this shot the camera begins with Iggy, as the singing part switches the camera slowly moves to the right, onto Charlie XCX in the seat behind. This again is a scene from the actual film, the outfits are also very similar to the characters. The focus in this shot moves onto each artist depending on which part they sing, in this particular shot the camera is focused on Charlie XCX as she is staring into the lense of the camera. The camera jump cuts to a shot slightly further a way, showing both the artist’s more and the classroom, then back to the school hallway. There are many different shots as the artist is trying to keep the attention of the audience and flick between various outfits and scenes.

SHOT 8Here we see a long-shot of Iggy walking through a hallway ( in the film both the characters here being played were best friends) Comparing their clothing to the other students around, they are classier and more modern, the two however are wearing a similar thing but in a different colour scheme, the camera has placed them in the centre of the shot. Here we can see the confidence of the characters as they walk through the hallway, almost as if they are “top of the school” . The camera here also moves backwards as the characters walk towards it, then continues to jump cut back to the classroom.

Theories

• Carlsson:commercial Exhibitionist: The concept of the video is promoting the film “Clueless” and the image of Iggy Azalea.

• Goodwin: The lyrics do not match the song, however the title of the song “Fancy” applies to the music video.

LYRICSFirst thing's first, I'm the realest (realest)

Drop this and let the whole world feel it (let them feel it)And I'm still in the Murda BiznessI could hold you down, like I'm givin' lessons in physics (right, right)You should want a bad bitch like this (huh?)Drop it low and pick it up just like this (yeah)Cup of Ace, cup of Goose, cup of CrisHigh heels, somethin' worth a half a ticket on my wrist (on my wrist)Takin' all the liquor straight, never chase that (never)Rooftop like we bringin' '88 back (what?)Bring the hooks in, where the bass at?Champagne spillin', you should taste that

[Chorus: Charli XCX]I'm so fancyYou already knowI'm in the fast laneFrom L.A. to TokyoI'm so fancyCan't you taste this gold?Remember my name'Bout to blow

The Lyrics do not tell the story of the music video, however if you read through them you can see they describe wealth and parties, two things which are featured in the music video.