Music video analysis A2

1. 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.

2. Beyoncè Halõ
Genre
I will start with analysing Beyoncè - Halõ
Halo 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.

3. Setting and Décor
The 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.

4. Costumes
The 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.

5. Props
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.

6. Body language and movement
The 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Rihanna Diamonds
Genre
The 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.

10. Setting & Décor
The 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.

11. Costumes
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.

12. Props
One 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.

13. 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)

14. Performance
The 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.

15. Narrative
The 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.