2. Beyoncé – I am Sasha Fierce
The background on the CD cover is blurred
and you cannot make out what it is,
whereas the picture of Beyonce herself is a
close up shot and is very clear. I think this
represents that Beyonce is the main star,
and the CD is all about her, not anything
else that is around her.
The font of the writing is very slim and
sleek, highlighting that it is taking after
Beyonce herself, as she also is very slim and
sleek. Also, the writing is very small in
comparison to the picture of Beyonce,
highlighting again that she is the main thing
to look at.
The name ‘I am Sasha Fierce’ was created
by Beyonce as her alter ago to separate her
own shy personality from her stage persona
and give herself the courage to be free and
sexy while performing. I think that that
means in this album she is going to be free
and sexy and that is why she has named it
after her alter ego ‘Sasha Fierce’.
All of the colour has been taken out and the
only colour shown is a plain grey. I think this
represents how she really wants to be seen.
The only part of the title on the cover is ‘I
am’ which I think means ‘this is me’, as she
is shown as having no colour, (or skin
colour) and no make up. She does not look
as if she has been made up for this photo.
I think the fact that she has no make up on is
for a few reasons. One to show her being
natural and the other that it is a sexualised
photo. I think also that she is saying that by
listening to her album you will become close to
her, because the only people who would
usually see her in this way would be the ones
who are close and intimate with her.
The only thing she is wearing is a bracelet so I
think that piece of jewellery must mean
something to her.
The ellipsis after the ‘I am’ makes the reader
want to turn over and find out more.
The colouring of the letters use the same
colour palette as the rest of the image, so much
so that it almost blends in with the background.
3. Beyoncé – I am Sasha Fierce
On the front cover, it is an image of
Beyoncé looking natural and the only
part of the title on there is ‘I am’, with
an ellipsis, making the reader want to
carry on. When the reader turns over,
Beyonce’s alter ego is shown, with the
name ‘Sasha Fierce’. Sasha Fierce is
known to be Beyonce’s alter ego when
performing so she can split away from
her shy personality to her stage
persona and give herself the courage to
be free and sexy while performing.
The fact that she is wearing excessive
amounts of make up in this signifies
that Beyonce is hiding behind
something and trying to have a new
identity when becoming ‘Sasha Fierce’.
Her hair and make up is quite clearly
done in this image, representing that
‘Sasha Fierce’ is a different person to
the image of Beyonce, looking natural
on the front cover.
4. Jessie J – Who you Are
The main picture on the album is a
close up shot of Jessie J herself. I think
this links in with the name of the
album ‘who you are’ because in the
photo, she is then showing, who she is.
I think this also says that when you
listen to her album, you are going to
find out who she is. The song's lyrics
address the importance of staying true
to one's identity.
On Wikipedia it says ‘’ I kind of lost
myself. It's very personal. It's about
being true to yourself. Don't lose
yourself in any situation you're put in,
and do the dew." She explained to The
Sun why she chose this as her title
track: "This song saved my life
musically. The day before I wrote this
song I was ready to give up music. It's
amazing how three-and-a-half minutes
of melody and lyrics can change your
life and I'm so happy that not only has
it saved my life but it's saving other
people‘s…That's why my debut album
is called Who You Are.
Compared to in some other photos, in
this she isn’t wearing very much make
up. I think the imagery is like this
because again the name is ‘who you
are’ and this image of the artist is
showing who Jessie J really is.
Another point is that the font used for the bit
where it says ‘Jessie J’ is very bold. I think this
because she herself is also very bold so it is
representing that.
In some of her photos she is very sexualised
and shown in a completely different way, but
in this picture she is completely covered up
apart from her face and hands. I think this is
highlighting that this is how she wants to be
seen in this album.
In small print it says ‘The Voice’ which is a TV
programme she has been in. I think this has
been put on there for people who have seen
her on TV but don’t know her very well, so
then they can realise that it is her.
Jessie J is wearing fur in this image which
could connote riches and luxury. The other
meaning to it could be about animal cruelty
which is a controversial subject, and the fact
that she is rebelling against it could connote
that she does not care what people think…She
is who she is.
The lettering is black as is her hair which is
emphasising them both and making them
stand out. The style of the lettering is very big
and bold just like the artist herself, and the
fact that the two J’s are joined makes them
stand out more.
5. Nicki Minaj – The Pink Print
In this photo, Nicki is wearing very
revealing and tight clothing, showing that
this imagery is extremely sexualised.
The parental advisory sticker is there to
show that her music will have something
in it unsuitable for children, therefore
showing the audience must be older. The
parental advisory sticker is in an unusual
place, it is usual at the bottom right hand
corner, but it is at the top left corner…
where the eyes usually look first.
The positioning of the text is leaving a
space for the parental advisory sticker,
which makes it stand out more.
From the excessive make up and pink hair,
Nicki shows she is a bold and outgoing
person. The entirely pink cover and the
title having the word ‘pink’ in it represents
how feminine the album and the artist
herself is. Her body also shows this as she
is not trying at all to hide her assets.
The lights represent those of a bar or strip
club, giving a strong image about this
album and what it could be about.
Nicki is shown as a very comprehensive
person, as she is not at all natural in this
image.
The fact that Nicki Minaj’s name is smaller than
the title of the CD shows that the title is trying
to be emphasised. Also, Nicki Minaj is easily
recognised so the fact that there is a huge
image of her on the cover taking up most of it
means that her name does not need to be
shown largely. Because the writing is actually
touching her, I think this signifies that the
album is a part of who she is.
Jay-Z has an album called ‘Blue Print’ which was
a very successful, so I think that Nicki Minaj
may be trying to re make that as a female
version, so that’s why it is called ‘Pink Print’.
