Music Video Analysis - Rhianna/Only Girl In The World

I have decided to analyse this video as it is similar to our groups chosen song for out own video to be made, Jessie J Casualty of Love. Jessie J being a new artist, i found it slightly more difficult to find an artist that follows the same themes.


The video begins with a mid-shot of Rhianna in a windy field, all we can hear is the sound of the wind and no music which is normally a convention of a narrative video. However this video does not display a narrative. The first few shots reveal a beautiful colour scheme, a soft pink with a mixture of other colours creating a psychedelic effect to the video. Rhianna's costume also backs this up also with her loose 70's styled hippee dress and headband.


This follows onto the use of a series of mid-shots, quick edits in sync with certain layers of the song. The first few edits sync with the drum beats, as the video progresses their some edits in sync with the synths used in the track. There are many effective edits in the video which all break the narrative, they make the audience aware that they are watching a music video.


The video itself is fairly minimalist, never exceeding three main settings. The colour scheme stays the same throughout but is very effective. 


Further more discussing edits, many effects are used throughout the video. There is a moment where flower petals are rising up in front of Rhianna in a reverse falling motion, which clearly it has been edited in reverse, I feel this type of shot would be deemed post modern. One edit speeds up, fast forwarding the action on screen. Another effective edit is where Rhianna jumps like a video has got stuck and then back into normal playtime, this also syncs into the music. A use of zooming and defocusing are noticeable as well. Finally more edits at the end are reversed when the fireworks explode in reverse.

Music Video Analysis Micheal Jackson - Thriller

Michael Jackson's Thriller is considered to one of the most revolutionary and voted most influential video ever, the 14 minute music video is credited for its fanatastic effect of merging filmaking and music. Selling 9 million units it made it in to the Guiness world records.

The video falls under the genre of horror and this is revealed clearly as soon as the title screen appears, with font colour being red to symbolise blood and slashed lettering. The opening scene shows the mise-en-scene to be realistic, dark, eerie setting with diegetic sounds of crickets. 

Micheal Jackson is dressed in his iconic costume including the white socks and rolled up trousers. The opening continues by entering some non diegetic music which isnt the actual song and we are then shown the short film before the videon even begins which is one of the reasons for video being revoloutionary, this had not been done before. We are shown a series of close ups that convey Micheals characters transformation with the mise-en-scene fitting the genre once more, dark forest surrounded by fog. Once again this was so revoloutionary as it the audience were watching a film within a film, something that defied typical conventions of a music video.

The setting changes again into deeper fog ending the short film and merging the world of the song and the narrative. The song becomes a vehicle for the video, ultimately inverting the music video. The people in the narrative join in with the song when the zombies begin to dance which is the iconic dance that people still imitate. 


Finally the video ends with actual credits once again using a convention of a film, supporting the idea of the merging of genres. 

Music Video Analysis - 2pac - Ghetto Gospel

Tupac – Ghetto Gospel

This is video is known as a Narrative Video which basically means a video with a story. It begins with a point of view shot with us the audience looking through a crowd. Diegetic sounds of a helicopter and sirens codes an immediate indication of trouble/crime scene. We then focus to a close up revealing a man lying dead on the floor. This shot immediately throws us into the action.

The next effective shot is the camera defocusing, which codes the impression of confusion or in the case a flashback as after this defocus we are take back to the beginning of the characters day. The mise-en-scene is very realistic which adds more emotion, enabling the audience to connect with the character more.

The Narrative is explained effectively through a montage, flashes of different periods of time throughout the characters day simultaneously telling the story with success. There are key points made through short flashes throughout, indicating aspects of the characters life that are vital to the story. One being drug deals or some type of dodgy deal, a close up focuses in on the hands exchanging money which clear codes that type of deal. The video is ultimately a cycle it starts and ends at the same point with temporal leaps, the overall time span of the video is a day.

The video also does some things to break the narrative for example fading to black this reminds the audience it is still a music video, not a film. The last few notifiable shots in the video are sharper detailed points. The video has some shots overlooking the city which gives off an impression of the character considering life choices. Another good shot is when the cup falls at the end it signifies the man falling once he is shot, this is conveying the story with a different object being shot which i think is very effective.

Analysing Music Video

Analysing Music Video

Music video’s consist of various codes and conventions, which makes them both recognisable and effective. There are a diverse set of rules and techniques used to ultimately create a successful music video.

Jump Cuts

When the camera angle remains static (doesn’t move) but there’s an edit in the filming. Music video uses jump cuts for effect.

30-Degree Rule

When you break this rule you have a jump cut. This is when you move the camera 30 degrees or more so the audience moves with you.

Jump Cuts in Music Video

Jump cuts are used frequently in music videos for specific effect. This is to jar the audience, Surprise them and take notice. This is to make the audience conscious that they are watching a music video. If you have a jump cut in a narrative it looks fake, it looks like a mistake.

180-Degree Rule

The audience has a certain position you orientate the audience. If you break this rule you disorientate the audience.

Graphic Match

When you have a cut to something a similar shape or colour, this is used frequently in music video to create fluency or links.

Match on Action

Shouting the same action but other people do it in different shots. This creates an idea of ongoing action.

Low Angle Shots

Used much more in music videos than they are in films, this can make someone look like they’re performing. It also adds significance to the artist.

Intertextuality

When a media text makes an explicit reference to another media text.