Geri Halliwell's 2001 music video for "It's Raining Men" heavily references the films Fame and Flashdance through intertextuality. It tells a narrative of Halliwell as an aspiring dancer auditioning for a school. Close-ups of Halliwell's body are used throughout to showcase her new physique. The video also borrows shots directly from Fame of Halliwell running through school corridors and practicing dance intensely. It concludes with a CGI rain scene and sexualized dancing from Halliwell that engages the male gaze.

1. GERI HALLIWELL – ‘IT’S
RAINING MEN’ – 2001
Genre : Pop

2. The establishing shot shows a
women wearing dancing shoes and
leg warmers. This shot follows
Goodwins conventions as there is
intertextuality from the beginning of
the video. The shot is similar a shot
from the film ‘Flashdance’ (1983),
many teenagers and young adults
would know this film therefore
recognising this in Halliwells video.

3. The music video is heavily
performance based, however there
is also narrative to the video.
Furthermore, the audience believes
that she is an aspiring dancer, we
sympathise with her when she falls
as this may be her only chance.
Diegetic sound is used which breaks
conventions of a music video,
Halliwell asks ‘Can I start again?’,
this could imply that she wants to
start her fame/career again.
Intertextuality is used linking to
‘Flashdance’ as the start of the video
is practically the same. Due to
extreme use on intertextuality
Halliwell used cross media
convergence as she would have
needed permission for copyright.

4. Close ups of Halliwells body are a reoccur
throughout the music video, this is to
show of her new toned physique. When in
the Spice Girls Geri has labelled ‘the fat
one’ this made her want to change her
body which is what she did. Furthermore,
she uses this outfit to show this. The
outfit she wears is very revealing, more
revealing than the outfit in ‘Flashdance’.
As this is very voyeuristic you could link
this to Mulvey and the ‘male gaze’,
however I believe Winship’s theory can be
applied here as women can view. Stauss’s
theory of binary opposition is opposed as
in this case the colour black doesn’t
represent evil.

5. This medium long shot shows
the Halliwells fellow students
look excited and intrigued about
her dancing as they squash
against the doors. In addition,
this could suggests Halliwells
dancing is different but
outstanding.

6. This links to the film Flashdance as
the judges tap their feet
underneath the desk, this shows
that they like the music. In
addition, this song can therefore
target all ages as the judges look
to be 50-60. A close up was used
for both shots, Flashdance and It’s
Raining Men, this focuses the
audiences attention.

7. This shot refers to when Geri
kissed Prince Charles, which was
extremely surprising, you’d have
to have knowledge about this to
understand it. By doing this
Halliwell is showing that she is
still her old fun self.

8. Close ups of Halliwell are also used
for the audience to identify her as
her new look is a drastic change,
therefore she will now be
recognisable. Direct address is used
and connects with the audience.
Close up shots become prominent
in this video and is from demand
from the record label, this is to
promote her new solo carer. Facial
expressions very throughout,
Mulvey’s theory can be applied as
these are very sexualised
expressions therefore gaining male
attention.

9. A low angle is used to show
the rise in her new solo career.
Furthermore, this could also
suggest that she is more
superior than the audience
because it’s like she looks
down on us.

10. Intertextuality to the film Fame (1980) is
heavily used in the music video. Here it is
used, Halliwell runs through the corridor
like the character in Fame. Mise-en-scene
is created using lockers, folders and the
corridor, this shows to the audience that
this is a school/college. Furthermore, we
know Halliwell is to old to attend school,
she does this to appear youthful.

11. Again using intertextuality Halliwell shows how hard she
worked for the new physique she has. Furthermore, this links
to Fame as this is what they do at art school. Visual and
lyrics match when Halliwell sings ‘tall, dark, lean and mean’
as the man in centre frame physically matches the lyrics, this
follows Goodwins conventions.

12. This follows Goodwins conventions as
Intertextuality is again used from
Fame. The shot from Fame looks like
an older building, suggesting that this
is a prestigious art school, whereas
the shot from Halliwells video looks
more modern.

13. A high angle and extreme long
shot of the street is used to
show everyone dancing in sync.
The taxi is painted yellow to
create the appearance of America
as they have yellow taxis, this
links to Fame as they filmed
there video in New York.

14. Halliwell wears a top with the word
‘Fame’ on, this links to the film Fame as
the font and underlines the word with
the last letter. The word ‘famous’ which
is on her top suggests she is telling
people she’s famous. This follows
Neale’s theory of ‘repetition and
difference’ as Halliwell has used
inspiration from Fame and made it her
own.

15. This shot uses computer-generated
imagery (CGI) in the background, as
the clouds wouldn’t move this fast
in real life. The low angle shot is
powerful as this suggests she has
authority as the clouds are dark
which shows power.

16. Goodwins conventions are followed as lyrics and visuals match
here, the lyrics say ‘it’s raining’ this matches the visuals as it
starts to rain. The shot where Halliwell is wet and uses sexual
arm movements links to Winship’s theory of ‘the gaze’ as she
creates direct address by looking into the camera which connects
with the audience. Pull focus has been applied to direct the
audience attention to her, this is further supported by Halliwell
being centre frame.