researching R&B music video

1. Researching into music
videos

2. Drake ft.
Rihanna –Take
Care
https://youtu.be/-zzP29emgpg

3. Thismusicvideocontainsbothartist,
DrakeandRihanna,initandtheyboth
aresingingalongtothesongwhich
thereforemakesitaperformance
video.Everythingwithinthevideois
locatedinthisplainspace/background.
Drakeisdressedinallblackclothing
whichaddstothesimplicityofthe
location,theclothingalsoseemstobe
baggywhichisseemedasstylishin
R&Bconventions.Heisalsowearing
bigboots(Timblands)
whichisanotherstereotypical
conventionwithinthisgenre.Asthey
arebigandseemtomakeastatement
tohisoutfit,itdrawattentiontothem
andsuggestheistrendyashehasthe
latestfashion,thereformakingthe
audiencewanttogobuythem.Heis
the‘starimage’ whichisavitalpartof
amusicvideo.

4. ThefactthatRihannaisdressedinall
whiteclothing,whichcontrasts
Draketobeinginallblack,may
suggestsymbolicfeaturesinthe
video.Possiblythatsheispureor
goodandthatdrakeistheopposite.
She’swearinganofftheshoulder
topwhichfollowstheR&B
conventionsofhowthefemale
artistswanttobeappear‘sexy’or
‘flawless’yetbecausethisisalove
songsheisdoingthismoresubtly,
withjusthershouldershowing.Her
makeupandhairarenaturalbutstill
makeherlookbeautifulinawayfor
femaleviewersenvyherorwantto
belikeher.Shecanalsobeseenas
the‘starimage’assheisfeaturedon
thesong.

5. Duetothesongbeingemotional
andalovesong,facialexpressionsof
bothartistsareseriousanddeemed
asemotional.Theseexpressionsare
seenalotduetocloseupshotsof
theartists.Insomeshotstheyare
togetherandholdingeachother,
emphasisingthewholeideaof
takingcareofeachother,which
associateswiththetitle.Theseshots
alsoseemtobeonscreenwhenthe
lyricssay“I’lltakecareofyou.”The
videoismainlyinslowmotionas
well,whichmakesthevideomore
dramaticandcanbeseentomake
thevideomoreinteresting.Another
usefulnessofhavingaplain
backgroundmakestheaudiencejust
focusonthesubjectsinthevideo
e.g.DrakeandRihanna.

6. There arealso random
shots oflocations and
living things within the
musicvideo which don’t
associate with the song
there making it have
conceptualparts to the
video. Howeverit does
makethe video more
dramatic which is what I
think theyaretrying to
do. Having these clips
thereforeincorporates
inter-textual reference.

7. Using
Goodwin
to analyse
the video
 Another key feature of the video is the close ups of both artists and
this allows the record label to promote a set image for the band/artist,
which will help target audiences empathise with the band/artist.
 In a way you can also say there is frequently reference to notion of
looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
Drake and Rihanna both look at the camera while lip syncing their
lines to really draw the audience in.You could also say that the ‘male
gaze’ is being used on Rihanna, the camera shots are quite close up
and the costume she is wearing, an off the shoulder top, can be
perceived as quite sexy.Therefore this would appeal to a male
audience.
 In relation to the visuals to the song, in this music video I think they
illustrate the song.The set of images used illustrate the meaning of
the lyrics & genre, which is very common in music videos.
 With technical aspects they use a lot of close up shots of both stars
and subjects of the other clips. I think by doing this they really want
the audience to focus on certain details of the music video or to
amplify the fact of them being close and ‘taking care’. Having the
plain background is also to make the audience thoroughly focus on
the artists and suggests an authentic look.The use of editing with the
slow motion is also used to make sure the audience capture
everything in the shot and it makes it become more effective. I think it
also goes along nicely with the rhythm and beat of the music video
when using slow motion. Most cuts are also in time with the beat to
make the video more entertaining in a way and flow well.