2. Analysing music videos.
There are 5 main things in which you need
to look at in order to analyse a music video
according to Andrew Goodwin.
Thought beats – seeing the sound.
Narrative & Performance
The Star Image
Relation of Visuals to Song
Technical Aspects of a Music Video
3. Thought Beats
First thing is to examine the structure of the
song, choruses and verses to see how it
relates to the beat.
Secondly, the voice of the song. The voice is
very unique and creates some kind of
identification as the voice is used as a
somewhat instrument.
Thirdly, thinking about how the song can be
seen as a story and the artist a story teller
creates a much more solid narrative.
4. Narrative & Performance.
Songs don’t give us the complete narrative so the
listener creates their own story.
Goodwin says music videos shouldn’t fall into the
area of having a full narrative as they use this lack
of narrative as a somewhat method of advertising.
Music videos should be constantly entertaining no
matter how many times the audience watches
the video.
The artist should be both narrator and participant
to increase authenticity and keep the audience
believing it’s real.
5. The Star Image.
This creates the most vital aspect of the
music video in which there is a goal in
which the music video should make the
main artist become somewhat idolized by
his or her audience.
6. Technical Aspects.
Use of things such as mise-en-scene, editing,
sound and special effects hold the music
video together. Speed, camera movement,
editing, etc. are all forms of use of camera
use. Use of lighting can create different
moods for the music videos. Mise-en-scene
creates the setting and makes the video
more authentic and more professional. The
music video must always work well with the
beat of the music alongside the video.
7. Relating the visuals to the song
Music videos use this to promote the song.
Music videos can create a strong meaning to
demonstrate the meaning of the song to
reflect on the genre but not always the full
meaning of song.
The meaning of the song can be completely
ignored.
Meaning and effects are shown in a way in
which can be repeated without becoming
boring.
