2. Andrew Goodwin’s 6 Features of Music Videos
Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.
(e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl
band, aspiration in Hip Hop). [this is also known as iconography]
There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are
represented with images.
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and
atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music.
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
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).
There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within
screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment
of the female body.
There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programs, other
music videos etc.)
The theory
3. Lyrics and visuals
In Eminem's video ‘Stan’ the artist is
relating the letter that he is writing to the
lyrics and the lyrics match what's
happening on the screen and in the
relationship we see.
Where as in Lady Gaga's video ‘Bad
Romance’ what she is doing does not
match the lyrics nor does the costumes
however not all videos have to include this
convention.
4. The beat has to match the pace and
style of the video because it would
look odd if not, if you have a fast
beat and a slow moving video it
won’t really sell will it? However if it
is fast paced video and beat then it
will look more realistic and sell the
video an example of this is Miley
Cyrus's ‘party in the USA’ video in
which you can see her and her
backing dancers moving in beat with
the music and her singing.
Music and visuals
5. In a music video you
expect to see
conventions from
whatever genre the
song is, so you
wouldn’t see money
falling, guns, tattoos
and big cars in a pop
video, in a hip hop one
however they would
usually appear.
Genre characteristics
6. Usually due to the demands of the
record label close ups will be used
in order to establish, promote the
artist and the style/look of the
music video.
Demands of the record label
7. Sometimes emphasis is used on
performance to drown out the
lyrics as they have nothing to do
with what’s going on.
In Katy Perry’s ‘California girls’
video a big performances used to
over power the useless lyrics, sex
will sell an artist not just singing.
Emphasis on portrayal
![ Andrew Goodwin’s 6 Features of Music Videos
Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.
(e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl
band, aspiration in Hip Hop). [this is also known as iconography]
There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are
represented with images.
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and
atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music.
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
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).
There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within
screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment
of the female body.
There are often intertextual reference (to films, TV programs, other
music videos etc.)
The theory](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)