Goodwin's Music Video Analysis

Andrew Goodwin's Music Video Analysis

1) Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.

Genre characteristics are features which help identify a specific genre. For example, a detective can be associated with a murder mystery drama, whereas a spaceship belongs more to a Sci-fi genre. Different characteristics can include either stage performances in a metal video and even dance routines for a boy/girl group band. However, it is not just limited to these two, the mise-en-scene, costume, casting, camera angles and also lighting (ambient or non-ambient) can also help identify genre.   

Within the American group "As I Lay Dying" music video of "Through Struggle", the metal genre is represented through costume, lighting and appearance/pose. The atmosphere of the dark mise-en-scene gives off a Gothic vibe and the flickering lighting could represent a stage presence performance. The constant headbanging is socialized often with the rock, punk, and metal genre of music.

2) There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals.

The relationship between lyrics and visuals could either illustrative, amplify, or contradictive. An example of an amplifying relationship can be seen within  Woodkid's "Run Boy Run" music video. The main lyric in the chorus and verses is: "Run boy run". The visuals amplify the lyrics since within the music video, a boy is seen contently running.

3) There is a relationship between music and visuals.

This relationship is similar to the above; could either be illustrative, amplify, or contradict. An illustrative relationship is when lyrics represent a meaning in a visual form. An example of this is seen within "Bat For Lashes" music video of "Whats a Girl To Do".

The relationship between the music track and visuals occurs after 0:40 seconds. This is when the masked animals on the bicycles begin to clap to the same rhythm of the cymbals in the music track.

4) The demands of the record label will include:

• The need for lots of close ups of the artist or band.
• The artist or band may develop motifs which recur across their work - such as visual styles.

Examples of a visual style can be seen at Michael Jackson's live events, and public appearances. The very first appearance of his famous white glove was in 1983, in a performance of "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25 television special. (source: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/0626/p02s19-usgn.html).

Audiences often associate Michael Jackson with his glove and white shoes. His white styled shoes often make an appearance in his music videos, whereas the glove doesn't. For example, his white styled shoes appear in the music video of "Billie Jean". Both of these objects represent Michael's visual style of the pop genre.

Another example is Lady Gaga's whacky and frequent costume changes, with also her dance and poses in each of her music videos and appearances. Her costume is her main visual style. In each and every music video, Lady Gaga is seen wearing a different costume from the previous one, which is even more whacky than the last!

5) There is a frequently reference to notion of looking and 
voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

The use of the female body being used voyeuristic is becoming more commonly used to attract and seduce male audiences (not exuding females - mostly male audiences*) for publicity and advisement. For example, Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" (released 23rd September 2008) starts with Lady Gaga walking out of a pool and the camera slowly pans down her body in between cuts revealing her costume.

6) There is often intertextual reference(s) to either film, T.V, 

music videos, and/or other media.

Intertextual references within music videos are often used to add a meaning to their video and/or song. These can range from mainstream films to old fashioned poems and any media type or form in-between.

 

 

The animals riding the bicycles in "Bat For Lashes" music video of "Whats a Girl To Do" could be an intertextual reference to the 2001 film "Donnie Darko". This is because throughout the film there's the presence of the mysterious Rabbit - Frank, whose appearance is very similar to the rabbit mask used within the music video. Donnie also rides a bike, just like the lead singer within the video.

Notes for the above:

• The Smiths - "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard Of This One Before" - Bycle scene. Relates to kids on bikes in the above video.

Notes:

• Bat for Lashes music video as suggested. Alice in Wonderland references.
• The Matrix Trilogly - The music video of the soundtrack is similar to the style of the film. (Slow mo used, camera angles, narrative, also very similar to Midnight Sin...Batothern (sorry for spelling mistakes, this is just notes at the moment for future reference/to remind me on points to continue on).