music video analysis

1. Hamda Dinbil
Case study

2. Music video
“A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for
promotional or artistic purposes.”- Wikipedia
As written above music videos can be created by for multiple purposes, artists could sometimes feel
the need to produce a track after an event in their life which has been talked about in the media or
for profile- raising. Here are examples of those two reasons;
1. Kanye West "Only one ft. Paul McCartney
2. Fergie “LA love (la la)” ft. YG
The first video is an example of a song inspired by real
life events, videos with more meanings conveyed into.
Kanye released the song dedicating it to his first born;
North West. She is also featured throughout the video.
Where as “LA love” is a representation of the second
category, a track more for the promotion and less
connotation around it. Its more playful and upbeat tune.

3. 2014
British born singer and songwriter Timothy McKenzie better known as Labrinth, released the track “Let it be”
summer last year, as part of his second studio album.
The song is initially a way to promote the artist however there is a back story and a message being portrayed.
Labrinth says here;
“I'm just telling the story of what’s been happening while I've been away. I’m sure there’s a lot of fans that
have just kinda been like “ WHERES LAB BEEN? WHERE YOU AT?, WE NEED YOU BACK!” So its kinda been
a way to re- introduce myself ”
Labrinth was inspired by many early 1930’s American artists and composer, which you can hear throughout the
song and instruments related to these themes are portrayed, such as the trumpets for the “jazz” and electric
guitar for the “rock” and orchestra band with violins for the harmony and “composer” section.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=xwGERoFtQoM

4. Narrative and lyrics
the video tells a story about the development of
creating his album, and how he’s been gone for a
while and wants his fans to visually understand
why. Throughout the 3 minute video, you see a
collection of scenes of what starts out first as a
typical everyday-life, however as the video wares
on the passages become more personal.
The lyrics were express his The lyrics express his
decision to allow things to just be, hence the title
“let it be” and how he’s been under pressure by a
lot aspects in the music industry, such as writing,
recording, ideas etc.
http://genius.com/Labrinth-let-it-be-lyrics

5. It doesn't sound like
anything I've done before.
It made me go back and
look at all the other
records again and be like,
"Ah, maybe it needs to
sound more exciting?
Maybe it's not poppy
enough? Or commercial
enough." I started doing all
these things that, after a
great piece of work has
been made, it starts to fuck
it up. I had a bit of an
anxiety attack, but after
that I was just like, the only
answer is to do what is

6. Pace & cuts
Due to the song alluding that the video was filmed all in one shot,
the ‘cut to beat’ is disguised as different shots/scenes. When the
camera spins round, there’s a moment before the scene changes
where it scoops down low to the floor and then rises back up;
that is the interval.
The pace starts off slow and introductory, yet the electric theme
that inspired labrinth is heard shortly after the intro.
The content is sways more to the digital platform of editing, as
discussed on the “behind the scenes” video.

7. Making of the video
“the video too a day” –
LABRINTH KISS FM interview.
The video seems as though its
only been created in one shot
and in order to accomplish this
crazy task all in 24 hrs, a large
amount of planning has been
put behind this video, as later
on explained in the interview.
Labrinth even quoted that the
only reason his video was a
success is because the creative
dept. And visual director's put
so much effort and elaborate
and detailed scheduling.

8. Target audience
the main audience are his listeners and whomever
knows labrinth as an artist. Also the absence he’s had
over the music world and those who noticed are his
audience in this particular track/video.
This can vary from the ages of 14/15- 25 and over,
more towards a younger viewers as the song is
upbeat and jumpy tune.

9. Here is a ready
comparison to different
age preferences
towards music.
Each individual artist has
their own genre and
age group to go with it.
Whilst labrinth is not on
either of the two lists,
there are artists much
alike him that could
represent him on these
two relationships.
Research

10. Props and costumes
The clothing and items used in this video are
very modern- everday-21st century pieces,
relating to a current time period.
As the artist is trying to portray surrounding in
real life to the viewers, through the video,
therefore realism is key.

11. Other tracks/artists relations
Labrinth has been associated with acts such as;
The Weeknd, Rihanna, Usher, Tinie Tempah,
Wretch 32, Professor Green, Ed Sheeran,
Emeli Sandé, Plan B, Devlin, Yasmin,
MckNasty, Etta Bond and Raf Riley.
Most of these artists follow similar styles to
labrinth and although this track is more of a
story telling/ personal piece, labrinth has
collaborated and released tracks with many
artists.

12. Bibliography
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHS5X_KICU – behind the scenes
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2luqUiyMaUI – the interview with
KISS FM
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(Labrinth_song) – facts
• https://s-media-cache-
ak0.pinimg.com/originals/6b/b8/9f/6bb89f20404b2d70b937d305cbf32a4e
.jpg - images all from google
• http://musicmachinery.com/2014/02/13/age-specific-listening/ - target
audience research
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrinth - labrinth profile; research