Music video analysis

Music Video Analysis

For this unit my group are going to create a music video based on Rihanna's track 'Stay‘. Here I will analyse similar music videos in the “Pop” genre to help me and my group members when we come to

making our video.

Beyoncè HalõGenreI will start with analysing Beyoncè - HalõHalo is from the Pop music genre, we know this as the beat of the music has a pop rhythm as well as the clapping sounds.The Music Video contains dance and narrative which is typical of the Pop genre.

Setting and DécorThe Video is set in a handful of locations, the first being the couples bedroom/house as well as her dance hall/stadium, and the balcony.The director has used bright lighting to create a fuzzy warm effect. This fits the genre as a bright and happy setting with dancing gives it a slight Pop tint. The director has also used the bright light to show the feeling of love as bright, beautiful and angel or dream like.Here the lyrics match with the visuals as each time she mentions ‘Halo’ there is a bright light surrounding the male lead, this fits in with Goodwin’s idea that there will always be a link between the lyrics and visuals.

CostumesThe costumes of the actors are mostly contrasted, they start of with white colours to match the angelic lighting as well as black to contrast from the bright lighting. This connotes bright and warm feelings of love to the audience. The reason the director has used contrasting costumes to show how people stand out and shine when they are in love. The costumes fit in with the genre and to a degree the costumes that Beyoncé wears in this video fit in with Laura Mulvey’s theory of “The male Gaze” as they are all tight fitting and sexualise her character to an object for the male gaze.

There are very few props used in this Video, but the few that are used give connote different meanings. Below in the picture it shows a row of full length mirrors, mirrors can show reflections as well as beauty or inner beauty, this could mean to the audience they should be true to themselves as well as being happy for who they are. The simple everyday props such as a bed, toothbrushes, ties and others give the Music video a average person look, The director has done this to show the audience everyone can fall in love and feel what the actors are feeling.

Props

Body language and movementThe key part to the music video is body language and movement. The dancing of the actors is slow which gives it a romantic feel, the male back hugging the female lead shows she is protected. Another key movement is when the actors look each other in the eyes, this shows sincerity as well as love.

One of the most important examples of body language movements is when Beyoncè is in the water, this shows slowing everything down just to stay in that moment, as things tend to be slower when in water.

Performance

The artists are important in the music video as they perform to get a message across to the audience.The performance gives the video meaning as well as a story line. In this the main performance is of both the actors showing each other their love. The main character in the video is Beyoncé herself which ties in with Goodwin’s theory that there will be a lot of close ups of the artist allowing the record company to develop the artist’s Star Image.

Narrative The narrative of Beyonce's Halo Music Video was intended to give a behind the scene glimpse of Beyonce's life, without make up and celebrity life. I think this video conforms with Goodwin’s point about voyeurism as the video is shot in a way in which it feels like the viewer is spying on moments which would not normally be seen. She is classed as an average person in this video. The narrative shows a sublime love between Beyonce and the male lead Michael Ealy. The narrative has a link with the song, as each time 'Halo' is mentioned it shows bright lighting around the male lead as well as close ups of both of them.

Rihanna DiamondsGenreThe genre of Rihanna's Diamonds is Pop with a mix of electro added in too.The flashes of light in each screen shot below both follow the beat of the music, this shows the video fits its genre.

Setting & DécorThe Music Video has four different settings through out, each one being earth, air, fire and water, the four elements. The director has chosen this to show each element has its own beauty and is as 'beautiful like a diamond in the sky.'The flashing of the lighting that matches the rhythm of the beat creates a matching for the genre.Goodwin’s theory of match between lyrics and visuals is proven again, diamonds shown as Rihanna mentions 'Shine Bright Like A Diamond.'when she talks about diamonds.

The costumes used match with each of the elements, the director has used this to show that the female lead is also part of the elements as is as beautiful as each different element. For the air setting she wears a light, silky short dress with bear feet to give her a light weight look, like air.In the earth scene she wears a grey woolly concrete looking cardigan with a long grey thin strap dress. To give a In the water scene she wear a white long top which melts into the water and her body to give a nude look.In the fire scene she has a long leg cut dress which shows one leg. This is used to show how she stands out near the fire. Again in this video Rihanna proactive clothing or lack of clothing which fit in with Mulvey’s theory of the Male Gaze.

Costumes

PropsOne of the key props throughout the whole video are the small diamonds.The cigarette she uses has diamonds pouring out of it this shows a negative effect of bad things can give people happiness even if its for a while, everything has a good side to it.The broken glass and messy room shows not everything is perfect. And you'll never find perfection in everything at once but as time goes on. The Music video is about drugs and how she shares her experience with the audience as this is the start of the video where the cigarette is shown.

Body language & movement

Body language is shown as sad and lonely at the start of the music video as she takes in drugs, (cigarette)The way she looks and her movement seems as though she is running away from something.(Running screen shot)

PerformanceThe artist tells her story and breaks away from unhealthy relationships and tells her story of being true to herself and finding her inner beauty but having difficulties along the way. She shows how drugs affect her and how she tries to over come difficulties.It gives the music a story and helps get the feelings across. Two points of Goodwin’s theory are shown again as there is an element of performance and concept based on the narrative and only character in the video is Rihanna herself. Which again ties in with Goodwin’s theory that there will be a lot of close ups of the artist allowing the record company to develop the artist’s Star Image.

NarrativeThe narrative is about a girl’s love life and how she has faced difficulties with her relationships as well as finding freedom at the end. And discovering her self and what she's worth. The artist takes part as it is her story, there is also a link between the lyrics and narrative such as 'Shine bright like a diamond' which showed diamonds falling. The narrative adds emotions and feeling to the song and helps get lyrics message across.