2. 5 Aspects to analyse a music video.
1. Thought beats – “Seeing the sound”
2. Narrative & Performance
3. The Star Image
4. 3 way to promote
• Illustrate
• Amplify
• Disjunctive
5. Technical Aspects
3. Thought Beats - “Seeing the sound”
The pace of this music video corresponds to the style of the song. Both
the visuals and the sound match to create this summer vibe, which
makes the audience connect to his personality, and see how genuine
the artist is.
During the slower sections of the song, the visuals are not as intense,
and often quite calm, as he with nature, stroking horses etc.
His distinct accent and sound can be easy to identify and match to his
other songs.
4. Narrative and Performance
During the video, there are strong links from the lyrics to the visuals.
We can assume the artist is leaving behind his friends and family
“Down South” so he can travel. This video is a mixture between
narrative and performance as there are repeated shots of festivals,
concerts and him playing guitar in a field. The constant repetition of the
chorus “down south” emphasises his remorse and creates this
‘atmosphere’ of love and warmth as he will miss them all.
5. The Star Image
Constantly throughout the video, the star image of Jeremey Loops is
represented. He is the main focus in most shots, with close ups of his
face and expressions. His clothing is very conventional of the folk/indie
genre which relates to the song.
6. Relations of visuals to the song
The music video illustrates the lyrics as the words are often associated
with the visuals on screen. Due to the narrative characteristics of this
video, the visuals closely link with the lyrics, making the video and the
lyrics feel connected.
7. Technical Aspects
This music video is edited to the beat and pace of the song. During the
intense summer moments of the song, the visuals are edited in a fast
paced and active way however during the more slower sections, the
pace of editing is drastically reduced, to create the appropriate feeling.
The mise-en-scene of the music video, like the clothes and props were
all decided prior to filming, to represent him in the best possible light.
The camera work is hand-held to give a natural look and to help the
audience to believe they are there with him, at his concerts and his
festivals etc. (Give them the best possible experience).
8. 6 Features of a music Video
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics – Features that are expected out of a
video depending on the genre.
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with
images. Themes, mise-en-scene and events of the video matched with lyrics of the
song.
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the
visuals reflects that of the music.
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist
and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style). Allows
the record label to promote a set image of their artist.
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors,
stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. – The male gaze
– (men looking at women, women looking at themselves, women looking at women).
6. There is an often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos
etc.)
9. 1st Feature
Common characteristic of a ‘Folk’ genre suggest that performance is a
main aspect of a music video as it is often shown during the video that
the artist/band performs the song. This music video includes narrative
aspects also, which allow the audience to connect with the song and
understand its meanings.
Usually instruments in the ‘Folk’ Genre are acoustic guitars and the
harmonica, both of which are shown in this music video. They are
presented when being played during the performance aspects and they
are also shown during the performance section of the music video, as
props for example.
10. Examples of Feature 1
This screen shot from the music video show him using a
harmonica which is a common instrument and
convention of the folk genre.
Acoustic guitars are very common in this genre of music.
It allows a more natural look which suits with the
outdoors environment that is a common convention in
this video.
11. 2nd Feature
Within the music video, the lyrics constantly connect with the visuals.
This is the second feature of a music video Goodwin. When he is
singing “I didn't want to leave you down south” when getting ready to
travel, the visuals show him saying goodbye to his relatives and close
friends before he packs his car and leaves. There is a clear connection
here and it allows the viewers to connect the lyrics to the music video
which makes the video seem a lot more personal. The lyrics “When I
said that I will call you, squeeze you a little bit of love” are
accompanied by him hugging a friend who is clearly upset that he is
leaving, but it also smiling as she knows what he is doing will be a great
adventure.
12. 3rd Feature
As Goodwin states, there is a link between the music/mood and the
visuals. In this specific music video, the colour corrections are very
bright and orange giving the music video a very warm and loving feel,
which is also represented through the mod of the music which is quite
up-beat and exciting. The filter emphasises the beauty of the location
which is a significant aspect of the music video. The visuals show
performance aspect which are at festivals and having a good time in
the sun, which corresponds to the music as it is very positive and
cheerful. The orange colour of his face and the warm filter gives
the feel of summer, and portrays a very vibrant and
positive attitude that relates and matches to the
upbeat style of his music.
13. 4th Feature
As Jeremy Loops is an independent artist, he has not got a record label
to demand certain shots in the music video; however during the video
there are still lots of close up shots and specific angles that present
Jeremey in a positive light, to make him look professional and
appealing to watch. During this video, (as it is his first successful song)
his face was shown quite a lot in close up shots, to try and create an
image for him that presents him well to make him become more
popular as at the time he quite a small artist. It shows him connecting
with fans at concerts and festivals, showing his positive character.
14. 5th Feature
During this music video, there are no voyeuristic views of women, or
any shots of women in an objectifying way at all. It shows that his
persona is very natural, and calm which reflects the style of music he
creates. He tries to attract his audience through his music and his own
personal character, instead of objectifying women to magnetise men.
The genre “Folk” doesn’t tend to rely on the objectification of people in
the music video to attract an audience, unlike other genres like hip-hip
and pop (where women are often sexually presented and the men
without shirts etc.).
15. 6th Feature
Goodwin says that their are references to other, external forms of
media like television etc. However in this music video, as it is very
independent, there are no external intertextual references to film, TV
and other platforms of media.
