1. Leaf dog Music video analysis
I will be using Andrew Goodwin’s theory of music video analysis using his 5 points in order
analyse the song ‘some people say’ by leaf dog as it is of the same genre as my chosen song
and therefore is useful to take any noticeable genre conventions and patterns.
1)
‘First step- Interpret the music by the chorus or/ and verses and
structure of the song’. The song does seem to conform to this rule
or point as there is a noticeable chorus that is repeated, this also
happens to be the name of the song making the chorus
recognisable as well as the actual name of the song itself acting as
self-promotion in some ways. More importantly it gives the song an
identity as it allows people to recognise a distinctive verse of which
they can repeat themselves.
‘Second step- The voice of the song being able to distinguish the
main voice from other sounds with in the music. The artist’s voice is
unique and can form an ID that works with stars image’. This is
clear with a distinctive UK accent which can be recognised on a
domestic and global scale. It helps the artist identity by having a
simplistic and repetitive instrumental which is also recognisable as it
flows and adapts with the lyrics.
‘Third step- the story that the artist is telling within the song. The
artist can be known as a story teller to such an extent and the music
video can be seen to aid the story in which is being sung by the
artist to reinforce the story that they are trying to tell’. In this case
there is no real narrative for the song to follow in the first place.
Therefore this point isn’t very relative to the song, unlike in my other
music video analysis of ‘Spastic Max.’ However this diversity in
lyrics whether creating a narrative or performance or conceptual is
what makes the UK hip hop genre more interesting and brings
about a more inquisitive outlook on music.
2)
‘Narrative and performance- Songs fail to give a full narrative, these
two parts work hand in hand to make a more enjoyable music video
which gives it more coherent repeatability. Goodwin believes that
miming the words is still the most popular thing done in music
videos today.’ This is relevant in the song in terms of a clear
performance based side with the majority of the song focused on
miming words. However there is a lack of a narrative therefore only
partially supporting Goodwin’s second step but emphasising the
concept that miming word using lip syncing in music videos is the
most popular way to create a music video.
2. However this is very common for UK hip hop videos due to the fact
that hip hop originated as solely a performance to express feelings.
In the case of UK hip hop these lyrics can be seen as very indirect
some of the time not following any sort of narrative. Also due to low
production budgets as it has a small demographic for the general hip
hop scene let alone the entire music demographic videos a lot of the
time a simplistic with an assortment of different locations to sing at.
3)
‘Star image- Goodwin states that the star image is the most vital part
of the music video. The artists want to keep an individual and unique
image to stay current and for the audiences to remember them. This
plays a big role I the production process of the music video. It forms
an image of which the audience can interact with’. This is applicable
with a clear style and delivery from artist with a constant casual look
which is emphasised by his ultra-casual approach to a suit, with a
badly adjusted tie with his shirt untucked and top button undone.
Whilst in the rest of the music video he is wearing hoodies, large t-
shirts and joggers. Also the idea that all of his clothes in the video
predominantly consist of dark colour schemes, this possibly
reflecting the inner emotion of the artist as he like other UK hip hop
artists choose to address darker subjects in their songs.
4)
‘Relation of Visuals to the song - Illustrate- music videos can use a
set of images to illustrate the meaning of lyrics and genre, Amplify-
this is similar to repeatability. Meanings and effects of the song are
manipulated and shown through the music video. Disjuncture- where
the meaning of the song is completely ignored’. The music video is
both partly used to amplify and as a disjuncture, in the sense that the
visuals are loosely based on the lyrics in terms of him describing his
lifestyle using urban slang and style which is supported by his
surroundings. However there isn’t any true or direct meaning behind
the song which makes it almost work in disjunction. With elements of
both relation to the visuals meaning that it must be seen partially
seen to amplify as it has a slight projection of the lyrics within the
music video.
5)
‘Technical Aspects- Use of camera work, movement of the camera,
angle of the camera (P.O.V shot, low shot, close up), mise-en-
scene, editing of the clip, sound and special effects, speed, lighting
and colour,’ Through the use of editing the some of the cuts are
seen to match the beat or rhythm of the song making it more
enjoyable to watch. However the use of predominantly ambient
lighting with quite a constant low light level with dark colour schemes
give the impression of darkness too. This is as the artists wants to
give the impression that he is quite a rough character in a rough
area and environment. The editing itself changes speed accordingly
with the song with more intense parts the speed of cutting increases
for example in the chorus. This makes the intensity of the song seem
more apparent. But fundamentally the technical aspects are
relatively simple with no real special effects added in post-
production. Instead the video follows the basic path of following the
artist with the focus clearly on him with the majority of shots used
close up shots.
