A2 - Music Video Analysis

ANDREW GOODWIN’S SEVEN FEATURES OF MUSICVIDEO
 Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine
for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).
 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.
 The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work (a visual style)
 There are often intertextual reference (to films,TV programmes, other music videos etc).

Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976)[1] is an American country music singer,
songwriter, actor, and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single
"Austin".The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" spent five weeks at
number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.The now Platinum-certified debut
album also produced two more top 20 entries ("All Over Me" and "Ol' Red").[1] Although
the album was released on Giant Records Nashville, he was transferred toWarner Bros.
Records Nashville after Giant closed in late 2001.

BLAKE SHELTON - BOYS 'ROUND HERE FT.
PISTOL ANNIES & FRIENDS

MUSIC VIDEOS DEMONSTRATE GENRE CHARACTERISTICS
Lightning: To some extent, I think that the music video by Blake Shelton called Boys ‘Round Here follows usual conventions for
typical county videos, however, it does contain some modern elements which make it stand out as a modern and challenging
country song. Throughout the clip, We notice a range of warm and dull colours to showcase the sunset vibe which is used
throughout the videos which we would have all seen. The video was filmed at night to add a warm effect with the bright yellow
lights around the shed where the it was taking place. Shelton was sitting in the middle with the lights mainly targeting him as the
main artist with women surrounding him to the male gaze effect on the audience. The video starts with a more challenging clip
showing a modern styled truck with suspension in order to maintain a country look with the truck but also have a more modern
look with the suspension on the truck. Other than that clip we can see that it looks just like a traditional country song. Daylight
lighting was used at the start of the clip and gradually changes to a warmer and dark scenery effect as the day progresses. When
Blake Shelton was on a modern street, the lighting was very vibrant which added some life to the video compared to other
traditional music videos where you wouldn't expect the artists or the production teams to actually include a street vibe with such
sharp and contrasting colours. It takes away that retro look that most country music videos use and focuses on challenging those
conventions to create something different and unique which may in some cases attract more people, increasing the popularity of
the song.
Performance: The video Boys ‘Round Here has an unusual style of performance that isn't seen in similar
videos, Especially by the same artist. Both the performance and the lyrics seem to want to get a point across
and make the audience relate. The phrase ‘Boys Round Here’ is the name of the song and is the most used
phrase in the song. The shot of the truck and the car can be looked at in two ways. The new stereotypical
truck has been altered for suspension which means that you can definitely see the creativity behind the
performance and the thought process behind the objects and people used to take into account that
stereotypical and non-stereotypical approach. The whole video has a party themed style which shows that the
artists and everyone around him aren't taking everything too serious and just trying to have fun while
recording the video. It is noticeable throughout the country genre that a pan motion is used more than other
camera actions such as a zoom. This is because they are trying to attract the viewer into the scenery and the
performance as it has such a deeper meaning behind it. Especially as trucks is one of the subjects' the ‘Boys
Round Here’ speak about according to Blake Shelton.

Editing/Camera: We can see that within the country genre, the style of editing is very similar. Especially
with the types of camera shots used. For Boys ‘Round Here we have a male singer who follows stereotypical
conventions. A wide variety of camera angles are used to showcase the song and the artist (Blake Shelton).
For the most part visuals and camera angles are motivated by other music videos, the slow-paced camera
shots and the basic cut really provides a much greater meaning into what the video is trying to portray which
is to make the viewer seem like he or she is part if the party leading them to relate with many of the points
they put across. While slow-moving shots may have been seen as boring and less attracting to viewers, within
the country style genre they are very popular because of the way it follows the tempo and cadence of the
song. Boys Round Here is a great example of someone who has successfully achieved this modern and
intellectual style of filmmaking in music production. The narrative is also one of the main elements describing
the events occurring and the story behind them in a unique editing style. Throughout the video we noticed
that the camera maintains a stable shot/pan on the artists himself singing rather than showing his
surroundings, while they still did it, it wasn't the main focus for this video. He is seen as the backbone and the
center of attention for this video. We don’t see too many special effects in this video because the aim of this
video is to keep it real and make sure people aren't put off by the background actions and special effects
which could have been put in and stay focused on one thing only. The slow-moving camera/editing techniques
are done to allow the viewer to once again focus on the narrative and the story behind the event that had
been occurring. Fades were an important factor in this video because of the different types of the scenery
that were included. Blake Shelton wanted to show the area filming because of the stereotypes he wanted to
conventionally follow in order to attract new and current country music fans. One of the points John
Stewart's theory pointed out is that “Lyrics establish a general feeling/ mood/ sense of subject rather than a
meaning as the meaning is mostly represented through the visuals” This video represents this theory to the
highest standard as these elements are found within the content.

Styling: The overall look of Blake Shelton is somewhat typical of country music videos artist. They are known for dressing smart with shirts and boots
with their hair either done or left to be. It makes them look like they have authority and power in the video. Blake Shelton is wearing a standard denim
jacket, a shirt, some black jeans and boots. While some may refer to it as the minimal look, this style highlights both the contrast of his gender to other
cast members who for the most part are females sitting around him and the fact that his dressing like this allows him to seem more like the frontman
for the audience as we don’t really notice anyone else dressed like him in the video at all. As we know most videos have some sort of male graze
integrated within them, and Blake Shelton’s Boys ‘Round Here was no exception. The video cuts to three women in a rural lake and showcases their
sexuality, even more, to appeal to male audiences. These were also artists (Pistol Annies & Friends) and were featured on the song as they are well
known within the country genre. The clothing they were wearing includes a very minimal dress. The colour pallet used in this music video contains both
dark and contrasting colours which make the clothing styles stand out more, especially for the main artists Blake Shelton as the colours he is wearing
match perfectly with the colour of his truck and the type of clothing the people behind him were wearing. It seems like they went for the more casual
look which is always a good thing in music videos as the viewer is able to relate more. A shirt and denim jacket can be worn by anyone because of the
casual look it represents.

THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS.THE LYRICS ARE REPRESENTED
WITH IMAGES. (EITHER ILLUSTRATIVE,AMPLIFYING, CONTRADICTING).
• “Well the boys 'round here don't listen toThe Beatles Run ol' Bocephus through a jukebox needle” - The story behind Shelton’s
lede: songwriter Dallas Davidson was in songwriter Craig Wiseman’s office.Wiseman has some Beatles memorabilia in the corner,
about which Davidson remarked “boys ‘round here don’t listen to the Beatles.” Instead of listening to the Fab Four, Shelton,Wiseman,
Davidson, and the rest of Nashville prefer to listen to some old Hank Williams Jr. –aka Bocephus – a nickname that Jr.’s dad, Hank Sr.,
gave his son in memory of comedian Rod Brasfield’s ventriloquist dummy.
• “At the honky-tonk, where their boots stomp All night, whatThat's right” - A honky-tonk is a bar that features country music.
• “Yea, and what they call work, digging in the dirt Gotta get it in the ground 'fore the rain come downTo get paid, to get the
girl And your 4 wheel drive” - Given the average salary for a full time farmer, around $60,000, Blake’s math is a bit off. Since he and his
friends are probably just ranch hands, they are making nowhere near that.All of that tour and show money makes it easy for him to
afford a new truck, and get the girl, but few others in Kentucky can actually buy the monster he has without saving for a long time.
• “A country boy can survive” - Refers to the song by Hank Williams, Jr., which began a mantra for many country boys (and girls).
• “Yea the boys 'round here Drinking that ice cold beer Talkin' 'bout girls, talkin' 'bout trucks” - The theme of this song is that
country boys keep it simple, and he references several common things that they like: Beer, Girls, Pickup Trucks.
• “Runnin' them red dirt roads out, kicking up dust” - Throughout the South, red dirt clay covers most of the ground, as opposed to
the more brownish topsoil that one may find everywhere else. Shelton means that he is taking his truck on all those old back roads
and kicking up a lot of dust because of how fast he is going.
• “The boys 'round here, Sending up a prayer to the man upstairs” - Country people also tend to be very religious – usually
Christian – and pray often to God
• “Yea, the girls 'round here, they all deserve a whistle Shakin' that sugar, sweet as Dixie crystal” - The females from which Blake
Shelton resides are so visually pleasing, that one could compare the experience of just looking at them.

THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUALS.THETONE AND ATMOSPHERE
OFTHE VISUAL REFLECTSTHAT OFTHE MUSIC.
There are so many elements to the music video which represent the lyrics and the meaning behind them.The tone that has been used by Blake Shelton
allow the visuals to be repeated but at the same time have a significant meaning towards the atmosphere and the area in which the music video is taking
place. As there are certain upbeats in the song for example, when Blake Shelton says “Boys ‘Round Here” we notice that there is a cut to the next scene
which would be classed as an establishing shot.This fits well with attracting the audience’s attention when the song is getting quite repetitive. Most of the
time this is the case with all music videos.The majority of cuts don’t just focus on Blake Shelton even though he is the main singer there are other
elements to it such as a party taking place and people having fun.The visual effects contrast with the lyrics because of the type of connection that the video
makes with the viewers. By looking directly at the camera it makes it look like Shelton is trying to relate to those viewers with similar interests.As we
already know that there is a party happening while recording the music video we notice someone who looks like the stereotypical “redneck” that society
sees them as wearing sunglasses, combo overhauls, a cigarette and a flat cap.Although Blake Shelton is not seen as a redneck, it is a stereotypical country
song someone with the name characteristics needs to be seen for it to be conventional and follow the narrative of traditional country music videos.
The way Blake Shelton is sitting on his deck with women around him for the majority of the video adds
a bit of authenticity as its wanting to represent him on an average day and what he and his friends talk
about daily. Again, this is trying to make the narrative relate to the viewers and the atmosphere that has
been set up for them. Mise-en-scene across the video plays a big part in the visuals and how they relate
to the lyrics. A bottle of alcohol is in Blake Shelton's hand for pretty much the majority of music video
and this is due to the atmosphere/vibe set for the party in which they are attending. We do see a
different side of the music video for a brief moment (this is the same section as the male gaze theory)
and is used to conventionally set the stage for the narrative. Him in his wooden house on his farm
having a party, everyone is wearing a stereotypical outfit, the colour contrast is dark and dull with a few
bright colours in there such as his truck and the flashing lights to indicate that they are there to have
fun, it almost seems like he is performing it live because how all these elements stereotypically reflect
the type of music being produced.

THE DEMANDS OFTHE RECORD LABEL WILL INCLUDETHE NEED FOR LOTS OF CLOSE
UPS OFTHE ARTIST ANDTHE ARTIST MAY DEVELOP MOTIFS WHICH RECUR ACROSSTHEIR
WORK (A VISUAL STYLE).
We can see that while Blake Shelton does have his own style which he adopts across all his music videos, there is still some
pressure put on him from the record label for shots which are found in traditional country videos even though this would be
classed as a modern country video. One thing which was quite noticeable throughout the music video is that there seems to be
an even number of party shots alongside close-ups and zooms on his face while he is singing. This would have been because of
how the production company wanted to please the record label. It is also essential to make sure that the video sticks to codes
and conventions and matches the narrative/ storyline which was set in place. The close-up shots of the lead singer Blake Shelton
make sure that he is represented with authority and can be shown through to the screen by using visuals to attract the audience.
The way he stands out from most of the crowd in the video again shows signs of authority and how much of a role
model/inspiration he is to many different people. The close-ups make sure to show as little background as possible with the aim
to concrete on the face of the artists because of how important it is that he is always the forefront of the shot. The most used
shots are the high angle and low angle shots which is where Shelton is looking up to the camera or down as if he is telling a
story through the visuals or trying to connect more with the biggest amount of audiences possible. These types of shots don’t
just apply to Blake Shelton and are seen being used on other cast members because of the conventions which they follow,
especially within this genre. This would have also been one of the factors for the record label to become involved in as it relates
to conventions, atmosphere and production process. If it was up to Blake Shelton himself it would have been more partying and
less interaction with the camera/close-ups. Alongside these individual unique camera shots, different types of lighting were slow
used, this would have also been down to the record label. Every time Blake Shelton is in the sitting position we notice that warm
yellow light effects are used however when he is up and dancing with the rest, flashing lights with multiple colour effects are used
to create a clear contrast between him being serious and him having fun. This is once again used to represent him in his own
style and style. Although no instruments other than the DJ were shown in the video, the core principal and the performance was
communicated across in multiple different ways the camera work and lighting were two of them all down to the demands of the
record label. In almost every single shot Shelton is looking directly at the camera for him to connect. This is once again a demand
made by the record label as it’s shown in all his other music videos. An advantage of Blake Shelton looking directly into the
camera and lip syncing is that it allows them to the break that 4th wall between the artist and the audience. The one thing which
tops off this song and makes it look as authentic as it looks is how many people were involved even though it was a party the
more people the better with this video because of all the camera/lighting effects that were used.

THERE IS FREQUENTLY REFERENCETO NOTION OF LOOKING (SCREENS WITHIN SCREENS,
MIRRORS,
STAGES, ETC.) AND PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTICTREATMENT OFTHE FEMALE BODY.
There is an intensive amount of notion looking scenes and mirrors within the song: Boys ‘Round Here. This is used to break the fourth wall between the
artists and audience watching. A wide range of close-ups and eye contacts are used to achieve this sort of style. These shots were used for both the
male and female artist because they are trying to connotate the same narrative to their viewers. While all the main artists are presented to us by using
these camera shots the rest of the people involved act a little different maybe because of how the record label wanted the audience to preserve the
video. We notice that they do not make eye contact with the camera which makes them look like they are enjoying the moment making it a little more
real and effective. It also makes it look almost like a live performance to the audience because of this. Elements of both the male gaze (created by Laura
Mulvey) and the female gaze (created in response to Mulvey) are shown in the video as there were clips of both genders showcasing their sexuality.
Featuring a female band in the video made them look like the center of attention because of the male gaze theory. A slight element of the female gaze
also added to this which made the video attractive to both genders in general. Both the main artists and the band featured are represented at the
forefront of the video showing mural interests both between them and the audience watching.
The female band are shown to use their body to influence the male gaze. We can see that
they wear short white dresses which could be revealing compared to all the other
women's clothing styles in the video. The record label most likely did this because they
wanted to differentiate individuals between the artist and the regular people featured in
the video as being in a “party”. While we can see that their outfits are short and thin we
can still see some sort of elements of the country genre within this, especially how the
view behind them contains a field with them lying down on the ground. It maintains the
ideology of using her sexuality to attract certain genders to the video which
conventionally follows rules of the male gaze. Females are also attracted to this video
(following rules of the female gaze) as the lead singer is, after all, a male. It allows the
viewers to become more enticed or attracted to the music video especially on how many
women he has surrounding him also suggesting the same concept.

THE ARTIST MAY DEVELOP MOTIFS OR ICONOGRAPHYTHAT RECUR ACROSSTHEIR WORK
(A VISUAL STYLE)
The artist develops many aspects of iconography and motifs throughout his music with some being: Boys ‘Round Here and Came Here to Forget. The
continuity across these music videos allows him to conduct his own style with things such as clothing and gestures. Most of the time it’s his
performance that drives the plot and the narrative behind the song. In his music video Boys ‘Round Here he talks about what boys around his area talk
about and an example would be trucked which he showcases within his video as him driving a brand new red truck. It allows the audience to recognise
him across all his videos because of both how the record label and his music represent him in the styles he wishes to adopt. The use of his truck also
portrays him as an individual as it has now been seen in several videos, and seems to fit in quite well as it suites the genre he produces in. Another
iconography is the way Blake Shelton dresses. In all his videos, he wears similar clothes which makes the audience understand how he likes to dress and
the reasoning behind it. In most of his videos, we see him wearing a shirt, some jeans and boots. This is the conventional way to dress for a country
music video because of the stereotypes behind it. His appearance appears to hold casual look while still looking smart and attracting the audience in
the way that he would fit in with all their clothing styles too. The iconography with the camerawork is that he seems to always go for the retro look
while maintaining the modern look of a country music video. Some of his videos contain bright and contrasting colours while others opt for the more
black and white filer scheme which makes it once again conventional depending on the narrative behind the plot of the song. All his videos fit perfectly
within the country genre as they usually contain the same elements as everyone else are adapted to fit the plot or narrative.

THERE ARE OFTEN INTER-TEXTUAL REFERENCE (TO FILMS,TV PROGRAMS,
OTHER MUSIC VIDEOS ETC.
From watching the music video, I can notice the inter-textual reference between the video and traditional western films. From the way he dresses to
the car he drives, we notice how it relates to those films in both an old-fashioned and modern way. Examples of films are coal miner’s daughter and
crazy heart from 2009. These films have a very common interest in both each other and the music video by Blake Shelton. The theory by John Stewart
refers to how people recognize some elements of music videos then use an inter-textual reference to relate it to things like films and TV programs.
Boys ‘Round Here follows the same vibe and style of the film and TV Programs both in the way they all dress and talk. The people in the background of
the music video also do seem similar as they are usually all about the party vibe and having fun which is seen in almost all country music videos, TV
shows and films. It makes the audience feel closer to the film or music video because of the way they all relate to each other as if they were created by
the same person. This, of course, is down to conventions and stereotypes in which the record label may choose to follow if they wish, which in this
case they did. Although they are two different types of content the performance, camerawork, and editing are usually the same as in the end of the day
production companies and record labels are wanting to appeal to the same target audience. It makes the genre stand out which makes the identity of
the music video more valuable and representative of the certain genre showcasing certain characteristics.

Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter and
actor. He has been married to singer Faith Hill since 1996, and is a son of the late baseball
playerTug McGraw. McGraw began singing in a neotraditional country style, but starting
with 1997's Everywhere, he developed a more crossover-friendly, country pop sound,
making him one of the first male Country singers of his generation to crossover to Pop.
McGraw has released fourteen studio albums (eleven for Curb Records and three for Big
Machine Records).

Lighting: This music video follows conventions of the country genre because of the types that were used. We can see that for the majority of the video
daylight lighting is used. Now, this takes the opposite route to Blake Shelton's Boys ‘Round Here song as they are set at different times. However, I feel
like this takes a more traditional approach to country. Some of the scenes are set in the dark with flashing coloured lights to add effect the exact same
effect that Blake Shelton used in his. Light from the sun and clear blue sky's are what's used in the first scene. This makes the video seem more real and
less performance-based and more like a casual, relaxed country video. We can see that the McGraw went for a unique style of video in order for him to
match the narrative and plot of the song. Warm and yellow colours are used to showcase and represent him in his truck while a wide range of extreme
flashing lights and colours are used at night when he his at a party. The sunlight makes the trucks in the video stand out more because of the way it’s
reflecting on them whereas if the artificial lighting was used this would not be the case. This type of natural lighting produces a shadow effect which
makes the video overall look more natural and authentic. As conventions in a country music video represent a storyline running through the whole song
the narrative is always going to be fluent meaning that the more ‘real’ it looks the better. The storyline in this song has been reinforced to bring it to life
and make the video look just as you would expect it to. The natural type of lighting allows the artists to connect more with the audience as to them it
looks as if they are there especially with the camera angles used.
Performance: The performance in this music video focuses more on the narrative rather than the
performance. This is the same for most music videos within the same genre. The type of shots used does,
however, relate greatly to the video and the performance. The establishing shot shows the cowboy boots
which have a variety of different meaning to the viewers epically on how there's a truck parked behind
them to add the effect in a shallow focus type of style. The style of performance is very common within
the country genre as It’s usually narrative and the main plot over the performance. The way Tim is
walking to the truck make the effect seem more authentic as it adds the effect of the viewers also it
walking behind him. The artist docent really looks into the camera which is something different than
other videos however it does add a different sort of effect to the viewer. It almost makes it look like he
doesn't know that there's a camera facing him.

Editing/Camera: This music video doesn't seem to have complex editing styles however a number of shots different shots are used in the video. We
can see that there are many cuts within the music video which shows that this video follows typical country conventions as they all seem to have the
same camerawork and editing techniques. While there are many cuts within the video it does look like it has a continuous movement overall. It
doesn't seem obvious that there are so many cuts as they are usually showcasing different angles of the same object. Constant cuts make sure that the
video continues moving and adapting to the narrative. Examples of shots which are used are the low angle and high angle shots where the camera is
below the artists almost like they are looking own at the viewers. Same with when it’s a high angle shot looking up at the audience through the
camera. These types of angles reflect well with the lighting arrangements made for the video as the natural light is in the background of Tim McGraw,
again adding the effect of having a natural an authentic music video to fit in with the narrative and how the artists are portrayed. The overall vibe of
the music video seems to be relaxed and casual, especially how effective the hand-held camera was when filming the truck as the clip was filmed from
another truck following. This shows that the record label was not aiming for a fully professional video like every other song and wanted to adapt it to
their own style. We can see that modern camera techniques and editing was used as the trucks in the video were also modern. There was a section in
the music video where there were extreme editing and lighting effects which went against all conventional and stereotypical country videos. This made
the video almost seem like a pop or music video however we are starting to see this type of vibe within country videos as they are evolving into a
more modern type of genre. A slight pan backwards was used to represent the women in the video as a strong and attractive woman showcasing all
of her body features.

Styling: Tim McGraw follows the stereotypical way to dress and style as other country artists
and the country genre in general. He is dressed in a more casual look while still maintaining the
country look in order to relate to his audience. He is wearing a short sleeve t-shirt, black jeans
some boots and a belt with his t-shirt tucked in. This outfit gives Tim McGraw a more
masculine look which is used to represent him with the chosen narrative of trucks. The colours
he is wearing seem to be a bit dull and bland which make him stand out behind a bright red
truck. Other cast members are also wearing the same sort of style with one of them wearing
jeans and a jean jacket. This type of outfit is very stereotypical for this genre as the men want
to represent themselves as strong and fearless in comparison to everyone else who doesn't
drive trucks. This is why there are camera shots of them unloading the trucks of lorries and a
low angle shot of them getting in and out of the trucks. It’s used to show authority and unique.
The set of the music video is very unique to the genre. While the having the trucks in the video
follows the same conventions they are which they were in seemed to be some abandoned old
factory with daylight shots outside and when inside the use of more artificial lighting and
intense editing to gram the viewers attention and appeal to the target audience as it’s usually a
field, shed or some old building that has not been used for a few years. That’s what the ‘country
look’ is associated with. In almost all country videos there seems to be an outside scene this is
because its also associated with the wilderness and natural look to everything. We do see a
scene with women who seemed to be getting out of the truck and walking down the pathway.
She was wearing releveling clothes in order to once again grab the target audiences attention.
Her colour pallets for the clothing and the red truck help to really contrast with each other.
This relates to the male gaze and how convenient it is that we see these types of shots and
close-ups not only in country music videos but in all music videos.

• “Got Little Wayne pumping on my iPod” - Even thoughTim McGraw’s a country artist, he still rocks out to rap
music from the all-famous Lil Wayne. It’s usually considered a weird combination, but here it’s a recurring theme to
show how it differences in taste and style doesn’t really matter.
• “Thumping on the subs in the back of my crew cab” - Crew cabs are basically the backseats of a big pickup truck,
and McGraw’s got subwoofers installed there that’s playing real loud.
• “Friday night football, Saturday Last Call, Sunday Hallelujah” - McGraw calls out to the three main icons of a
weekend in southern life: football, drinking out with friends, and church. Friday nights are eagerly anticipated as high
school football matches are played out during that time. Saturday nights are often spent in bars until the last call,
where patrons can buy their last drinks before closing time. Sunday is associated with Sunday morning mass in
church, and is a popular theme in country music.

In this music video, there is a clear representation of the music and visuals. We can see that the overall narrative of the song
contrasts the visuals. The song is called the truck, yeah and the main music video is showcasing the trucks and Tim driving
around in his truck with his friends. The visuals, atmosphere and the lyrics all create a connecting tone throughout the video in
order for the song to appeal to its target audience for the genre. The editing of the video fits well with the relaxed feel of the
song. For example, basic cuts and different camera angles (hand-held camera) make it seem professional but at the same time
holding that relaxed and enjoyable tone. Parts of the song seem to be really fast paced but this is because of the overall vibe
riving round in trucks wouldn't exactly be a slow-paced elements in the video and will most likely be fast paced with a lot of
aggressive turns. The main phrase in this music and when the beat drops are when the artists say ‘Truck Yeah’ and this is because
it is the name of the song. When this line is said we notice different camera angles of them unloading the trucks and starting
them up/riding around in them. He also speaks about how with a little bit of luck he can find him a girl while driving his truck
therefore later on in a video a woman exists out of a truck representing that he has found a woman, also with a truck. The song
is almost like a storyline being read out and the visuals are just there to add effect and made sure the viewers and the artists
view this song the same way as each other. The visuals and the tone of the song match each other really well with the
surrounding atmosphere from the very beginning. As the song progresses amplification also increases with it being more upbeat
a more country-like vibe. There are frequent breaks throughout the video where no lyrics are being sung. This is there to add
effect and intrigue people more into watching the video as they tried to make it look interesting with all the lorries trucks
driving around and abandoned the place. In the song, he also speaks about how he has his boots on with a shot of them right
after. This is something many country artists talk about, there boots and cowboy hats. These elements of the video fit well with
the visuals as everything which he mentions contrasts itself either immediately or later on in the music vibe. We actually only see
a few shots of Tim McGraw in the video while not his trucks, after all the whole song is about how much he loves trucks.
However, he does give an impression that the whole music video is all about having a good time and enjoying life in its current
state. The pace and the movement of the women in the video matches well with the tempo and rhythm of the song, especially
on how the slow walking down the truck add effect which would link to the male gaze and attract the audience's attention in
general as you wouldn't see a women dressed like this in a country video. Mise-en-scene is also a big element of how the visuals
are represented in contrast to the setting, the area filmed, the lighting and there own clothing.

In every music video, we see signs of the record label wanting to develop a “theme“ across all of their
work. However, in this video, we don’t really see many close-ups of the artist as the whole video is there
to showcase Tim McGraw and his friends in their trucks. So having a more wide angle view or zoomed
out shots would make more sense as more elements of the music video can be represented in a single
shot. The main objective of the video was to show the trucks and it did just that. As the video as a whole
was unique and original, not using these shots just confirmed the conventions and stereotypes in which
Tim McGraw and the record label are trying to convey in order to stand out compared to all the other
country music videos out there. While there may not have been close-ups of the main artists himself we
do see close-ups of the woman he finds halfway through the video as she exits the truck and walks
towards the camera in a panning motion. This shows that although he himself didn’t follow these
conventions the music video as a whole did, especially along the lines of a country music video. This
would have been because having a song like this one might already limit his sales so not following typical
conventions would have just lowered the popularity of the video in general. We see that McGraw did
make eye contact with the camera at some points throughout the video however while driving his truck
he didn’t really look at it and pretended like it's not there at all. This would have been because he
wanted to follow the idea of it being unique and showing that he is still able to break those typical
conventions and stereotypical which is found in practically all music videos. Tim McGraw has created a
motif throughout the years he had been performing. However, all of his other music videos don’t really
relate to this one. This may have been because he is trying something new or he wanted to take a
different approach to a different song. All of his other songs such as ‘Looking for that girl’ and ‘Shotgun
Rider’ contain a similar motif of him on stage singing as if it was life, in one of those videos there was
also an audience, however, the song was lip-synched. A performance element is visual across all his
music, some more than others. An example of the demands of the record label is the song Humble and
Kind by McGraw, it contains a range of close-ups of both Tim McGraw and people with a range of
different ethnicities. This is stereotypical as a music video in general however not so much as a music
video within the country genre. It follows traditional conventions while having an original element to it.

MIRRORS, STAGES, ETC.) AND PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTICTREATMENT OFTHE FEMALE
BODY.
The notion of looking in this music video is the trucks as the main artists in this song is singing about
trucks and referring to them in almost every verse. We can see that while he is driving the truck he
sometimes looks directly at the camera. This is used to break the fourth wall between him and the
viewers allowing Tim McGraw to represent himself in the way he wishes. It allows the audience to
become more engaged in the song and the performance/action behind it. Joint with this notion there is
also a lot more looking off camera. This reinforces the idea of them having to fun their trucks without the
audience taking the video too serious as after all the video wasn’t meant to be really professionally as it’s
showing that Tim McGaw actually enjoys doing. It may have also attempted to represent his sexuality,
referring to the female gaze (the opposite of the male gaze). We also see the Voyeuristic treatment of the
female body. Around halfway through the video, we see women which leave her truck and we can
immediately see how she is representing herself and her sexuality in order to appeal to the male gaze
and attract the audience's attention. Although she isn’t an artist she is portrayed as an important element
to the music video because of the attention she attracts to herself. It offers a direct link to her sexual
ordination to the song showcasing how powerful she is. Her clothing is also a very important factor as
she is wearing very little clothes meaning that there is a lot of skin showing relating to the toyetic
treatment of the female body. The use of the female body in this way is very common In music videos in
the 21st century however within country music videos it is very commons to see this as usually they all
have both genders involved in order to make sure that their sales aren’t affected by these factors. With it
being common in almost all music videos it allows the video to attract an audience with a male majority
which is usually what country music videos try to target as a whole genre. Like stated above the female
gaze also plays a factor in this as there is a male artist appealing to both genders. Cinematics are also
used in every single Tim McGraw song this is something which he carries through all his music videos
along with extreme colourful editing, however, Truck Yeah didn’t really follow the same style as all of his
other music videos for a number of different reasons. Usually, this cinematics is a countryside which is
typical for a country song. Referring to Mise-en-scene his cowboy hat is featured in all of his videos which
again could be used a notion of looking.

(A VISUAL STYLE)
There are continuous elements to the music video which relates to the iconography of the artist.
One of the ways we notice this is the way he dresses in relation to the narrative. The visual styling
and iconography throughout the music video allow the recurring audience to recognise his work
from previous videos as artists would usually make sure that all of his videos are similar or relatable
in some way in order to make sure that they are getting confused sales across all albums and
singles. In relation to Tim McGraw, one element of the video would be the way he dresses. The
cowboy looking country that is present almost all of his music video. The hat has become an iconic
feature in his video which is great as it allows him to relate to his viewers as most of them would
also dress in the country style/vibe. He also dresses in a relaxed and casual way. This may be
because of his boots, as usually, you would associate them with a formal piece of clothing. The
cowboy hat and boots are present in all of his videos. This is a motif which he has developed over
time. The moustache is also something he is represented by, just like all country artist they either
have a moustache or a beard. This follows conventions of them being in the fields and old fashioned.
The moustache that he has fits well with the overall outfit and the narrative of the song. The video
represents the song perfectly with all of the elements stated represented in a contextual and visual
way in relation to the plot and the storyline of the song. Most country songs and to go for a song
which seems almost like them telling a story which makes it seem more authentic and real. This
connects more with the audience and makes them relate to everyday problems which occur in real
life. In the song ‘Humble and Kind’ he is also wearing the black cowboy hat with a black shirt and
jeans. This makes his whole outfit stand out in front of a white, bright light. His beard is also shown
in this music video which once again shows the presence of a motif across all of his content.

There are quite a few intertextual references throughout this video, one of them being the traditional American/country style pickup truck.These
types of trucks are seen in the majority of western films, for example, Big Rig and Breakdown. Both of these films mainly feature trucks as driving
them would be classed as a hobby for some country artists.While there are many intertextual references to films, the most common references to
this music videos are other music videos.Trucks in country music videos are something which you would just expect to see and not something which
you would expect to be looking for.This reference gives the typical truck convention a highly rated and cinematic feel as artists practically made a
song about one of the most important elements in a music video. In his theory, John Stewart talks about how having something like this in a music
video allows people to recognise something in a music make them connect more with it and maybe like it. In this case, something a little as a truck in
a video may make the audience like it and some of those trucks are the audiences dream cars. Having something which is also found in intertextual
references allows the audience to recognise those particular elements from other videos or films which would then lead to an increase in popularity
and sales for the song in general.The flashing coloured lights are also something which could be classed as inter-textual as we see the same sort of
editing and camera work used in Blake Shelton’s Boys Round Here song.Two modern country artists adapting to a more modern country style while
maintaining some of its core features which could be classed as representations and stereotypes.

Florida Georgia Line is an American country music duo consisting of vocalists Brian Kelley
(from Ormond Beach, Florida) andTyler Hubbard (from Monroe, Georgia).They have
achieved major success since their inception and are one of the most successful country
music acts of the 2010s.[2]The young duo quickly emerged after several years starting their
careers by making covers.Their music has been tagged as bro-country, transitioning from
the traditional country feel to their hybrid sounds and their lyrical focus about backroads,
girls, alcoholic drinks and trucks.

Lighting: In this music video we can see that it follows standard genre conventions with the type of lighting it uses. We can see that for the majority
of the video they use natural light as the video is filmed outdoors. This works well across all types of videos as it allows the audience to see everything
clearly. The video tries to emulate a natural look which makes the video look real and set in modern life. The bright lights used to allow all the
elements of the music video to be fully recognisable from the artists to the scenery behind them. Although we see a lot of coloured artificial lighting
throughout the video after analysing three music videos we see the consistency behind this, it tends to be in the majority of the country music video
as the special effects tend to attract the viewer's attention with all of the contrasting colours used. During the final few seconds of the vide, we can
see how the colour of their face paint contrasts with the colours used. An example of this would be red face paint with blue lighting effects. The types
of lighting that have been used give a relaxed vibe to the song making it seem like it’s showing the artists day to day life. The bright coloured lights give
the impression that the audience should be watching a happy and enjoyable video whereas if there were dark colours the video would be classed as
more dull and dark in some perspective. In general, it portrays the artist mood with the type of lighting that was used, whether it would be happy or
sad the colours mean everything a music video.The narrative of the song fits in perfectly with the lighting and preface.
Performance: The illustration of this music video and the country music, in general, tend to focus
more on the narrative than the preference. However, we do see some aspects of high-quality
performance within this video on how the artists and other elements in the video are represented in
comparison to the genre as a whole. We notice that the lyrics of the song are able to be
communicated through visuals in a respectable way. Therefore, allowing the audience to understand the
meaning behind the narrative and plot of the song. Included in the video we notice the presence of the
truck and the majority of the performance includes them playing instruments and how women
(relating to the male gaze) made them roll their windows down and cruise. The performance in this
music video is the very country like and relates a lot to other videos with the same sort of lighting,
camerawork and performance. They all seem to follow the same conventions which is good as it makes
the genre as a whole seem consistent and modern.

Editing/Camerawork: The editing in this video matches the pace really well and makes sure to include lots of
cuts in order for it to contrast with the narrative. It gives the audience a better perspective on what is actually
going on in the song. Having a link to the music video and the lyrics are very important elements in a successful
music video. However in country as the narrative is structured like a storyline it is always better for a music
video to contrast the lyrics as much as possible as usually they are relatable to everyday life. Close-ups are
usually a must in country music videos and this music video portrays them in a way in which the viewer can
identify the artist's mood. This creates a deeper meaning into the video and creates a connection between the
artist and the audience, almost like they are performing live. As these country artists are a band, having close-ups
allows them both to be featured individually even though throughout the whole video we see them singing
together. Traditional camerawork has been used in this music video, especially ones that have been used
throughout Blake Shelton's music. Some of these shots are displayed below or on the next slide. Having a low
angle shot with the artists looking down at the audience allows for a more intensive connection as when the
song reaches a fast face the background elements increase which means that the music video relies on camera
angle top convey these separate elements in a single visual way. As this music video contains a lot of instruments
the band need to be able to adapt in a way in which those instruments would be visible as they add an effect of
the video being authentic and real. Almost like the video is being preformed live. The hand-held camera also
helps with this expressly on how they are in the back of a truck which means having a stable shot wouldn’t be
very realistic. The feel and atmosphere of the song contrast very well with the editing and camerawork as it
follows conventions and stereotypes in order to allow it to have as many sales as possible as it’s already
implementing elements which the viewers/listeners already like. In this music video usually, when close-ups are
used they are able to show some facial expressions and less so the singing. This is because of the narrative and
the background tune to the song, having short breaks allows the audience to reflect on what they have just
listened to and watch the facial expression of the band and how it corresponds with the lyrics being said.

Styling: The styling in this video is probably the most country like out of all the other
music videos which I have analysed. The band all tend to be wearing basic plain t-shirts
with jeans and boots. This is very stereotypical and the band have decided that they would
like to follow on with this trend and wear the same as all the other country artists within
the genre. This type of clothing allows them to connect with the there target audience, as
usually, they will wear the same sorts of clothing as their favourite artists in order for the
audience to relate to the current trend. The styling of the set is very complex with many
elements adding to the codes and conventions of the country genre. An example of some
elements in the background is an old/retro looking petrol station which adds a lot of
contrast overall with the old faded out colours. The band were standing in front of the
petrol station wearing contrasting colours in order for them to stand out behind such an
iconic settlement. Other country bands and artists like to use a more simplistic types of
style when creating their music videos. However this one went for a more complex look
in order to differentiate a little from the competition and possibly gain more sales. A close
up of the women wearing boots gives us two things which we can talk about, the boots
representing the country like theme and showing how they have finally found his women
while cursing down the road. The other element to this is the type of clothing that the
women were wearing, shorts with boots exposed a lot of skin which would relate to the
male gaze. This may attract more attention to the video, again leading to more sales.
Another styling element is the American flag in the background, they are pretty much
showing their love for their country while singing about a different topic. However, it is a
good design element as nobody has really done this before in music video, especially with
so many frequent shots. It makes set look unique and original.

• “Baby you a song you make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise hey baby” - Here, Brian Kelley and
Tyler Hubbard compare the feelings received from a certain lover to those of a song; freedom and happiness.
• “Baby you a song you make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise down a back road blowing stop
signs through the middle every little farm town with you” - Calling to mind images of rebellion like breaking
traffic laws, as well as the quaint freedom of farm towns, FGL makes it seem like this gal has everything a down
home country boy would want.
• “In this brand new Chevy with a lift kit would look a hell of a lot better with you up in it” - It’s popular to
add lift kits to pickup trucks to give the vehicle a higher profile. It’s like the country version of “stuntin.”This
particular lifted Chevy would look better with a cowgirl in the front seat.
• “And I turned on those KC lights and drove all night” - Off-road/fog lights that can be installed on a Jeep or
other truck.
• “I put it in park and grabbed my guitar and strummed a couple chords and sang from the heart” - This
country boy feels a need to express his feelings by playing a guitar after a joyful cruise with her on his truck.

There is a clear relationship between the music and visuals, especially with the tone and atmosphere of the lyrics. Throughout the video, the lyrics seem
to identically represent the visuals. The editing in this music video has a lot of cuts, this is especially useful for focusing the attention on a certain element.
The synching of the song matches with the cuts of the song which means that overall it is in linked with the audio. This makes the video look more
authentic and professional as there is a clear representation of the tone of the song and the visuals. Another reason behind a number of cuts that are in
the video is because of all the instruments that are used, of course they weren’t on the stage which means they cant fit the whole band and instruments
on the stage so cutting to different locations such as the guitars and the drum kit makes the video look more real and the viewers in the moment rather
than having no instruments at all. They are one of few country music videos with instruments involved as it's not as popular and modern to do, it is more
popular amongst other genres such as rock/alternative as they usually have a lot of instrument in the background whereas a country song could have only
a guitar and a microphone. The visuals allow the band to be discovered and portrayed to fit the country genre. An example of the music lyrics
representing the visuals in this video is how the artists sings about how they rolled their windows down for the women in order to speak to them, the
exact same thing happened in the music video which represents a sign of consistency across the whole video. Breaking the fourth wall between the band
and the audience. Some elements of the visuals are used to connect more with the viewers, for example, this is when members of the band look directly
into the camera. This also relates to Freud’s theory of how there is always a deeper meaning to the song and this one is perfect example as usually
country artists will sing about a story or a real-life event which has occurred, this already makes the audience more engaged, however, looking directly at
the camera gives the impression that the band/artists are talking directly through the screen. Mise-en-scene also plays a part in creating the atmosphere
and tone within the music video. The setting of the music video has a big impact on the atmosphere and tone for the artists. As we can see with this
video the tone is quite high and the atmosphere seems happy, this would then relate to the music video which uses these elements and converts them
into visuals for the audience to enjoy and possibly make them more sales depending on vibe of the song. However overall it does seem like other
country songs as it follows most of the styling, camerawork, performance and specifically the one and atmosphere which makes the viewers recognise the
features from previous music videos that they've watched.

The demands of the record label are noticeable in this music video as it contains many close up shots in order
to follow codes and conventions of both the genre and narrative. This means that the audience is able to
connect with the song more easily. Typically county music videos contain a lot of close-ups and shallow focus
as the record label wants to show the talent of the band/artist. There were many people within the music
video however as these two artists were a band (Florida Georgia Line) they would need to be represented
the most as they are the lead singers. By following these conventions it allows the audience to realise the
concept behind the narrative and that this song is classed to be in a country genre, this would then encourage
them to carry on listing hopefully leading to more sales for the record label/band. All the band members are
equally featured in this music video and are shown to be in the forefront of each shot, this is because of they
usually all sing at the same time, unlike other music videos which each artist have a separate verse. This also
links to trying to make the music video seem like a live performance. It is clear that the record label has tried
to use some country conventions in this music video as we can see that many of the shots, lighting and editing
are similar to others within the same genre. They have successfully communicated the country feel to country
music listeners in a stereotypical and conventional way in this music video. It makes the video feel unique,
original and overall attractive. The motif in this music video is very similar to other music videos as Florida
Georgia Line are represented in a core performance element throughout the second half of the video,
although the video is being lip synced, some of the audience may be convinced that it is a live preforms
because of how authentic it looks. Unlike other music videos, this video actually shows all the instruments
used which again links to the performance-like look of the song. It shows the band playing their instruments in
a passionate way and with excitement, again creating that country feel to the song. These elements allow this
song to fit in perfectly within the country genre and follow standard conventions. Overall a relaxed vibe is
seen in the Florida Georgia Line’s video as they are seen to be having fun and telling a story just like all the
other country music videos out there.

MIRRORS,
STAGES, ETC.) AND PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTICTREATMENT OFTHE FEMALE BODY.
There is a heavy use of reference to the notion of looking and voyeuristic treatment of the female body. We see the occasional eye contract from both the
band and the female involved in this video. This helps to break the fourth wall between the band/individual artists and the audience. Eye contract with the
viewers is also something very important as it helps create a connection between the band and audience, and eventually relating them to the narrative of
the song. While there may be a lot of looking directly at the camera, looking away also is really effective for a number of reasons as usually they will have
instruments in their hands directing the audience’s attention towards the type of instruments that they are using to add a feel of live performance. The
notion of looking makes the view look more unique and authentic, especially on how the artists are most likely talking about real-life events. Empathy is
shown across to the audience by these camera shots where members of the band are either looking towards the camera or directly at it. Throughout the
video there are two main settings, one in the petrol station and one in their car which is what the song is about, their experience when cursing down on
the road. Throughout this video there is a strong representation of voyeuristic treatment of the female body as the video is about a woman who he found,
there are many cuts representing this female. This is where the male gaze also relates to this music video as it attracts more attention from the male
audiences who are set to be 48% of the country music’s audience. The women’s outfit is a key factor for attracting the male gaze, she is wearing little
clothing which means that there is a lot of skin showing leading to voyeuristic treatment of the female body. In contrast with the shots used it allows the
audience to see the women clearly creating an element of voyeuristic treatment. This could then lead to the video becoming objectifying towards the
women involved and women in general. These types of outfits and shots are very common in both current music videos and country music videos as it
adapts a modern look to how everything is represented. It also attracts a predominately male audience who are frequently attached to videos of this kind.

(A VISUAL STYLE)
There does seem to be a slight element of continuity throughout Florida Georgia Line’s music videos.
One element which is highly recognisable is the extent to which the band go to in order to make the
final video look like a live performance. Examples of music videos where these techniques are Florida
Georgia Line Smooth as well as H.O.L.Y. Having this same consistent style allows the audience to
recognise the same style/video across all of their work which should make them like the band more
and appreciate the work which they produce. The unique and energetic movement of the videos
allows the band to be portrayed as modern and more country-like in general. Another element of
iconography which can be noticed with this type of clothing in which they wear in all their music
videos, some people may refer to these clothing types to be stereotypical of the country/rock genre.
They always go for the same casual look with jeans, t-shirts and some country boots. The female in
the video, however, looked very modern at the start of the video. She was wearing a jean jacket with
jean shorts, this would have been done because it is a very modern look for women and would have
attracted more men to the video (links to the male gaze) which then leads on to the voyeuristic
treatment of the female body. However, this type of iconography occurs across all of their music
videos, therefore, creating an own unique style for themselves to develop over time and in relation to
the narrative. We do get a lot of focusing on the boots across all of their videos maybe because they
want them to be an element/icon to their videos which the viewers can mostly relate to, as usual, the
audience will dress the same way as their favourite bands/artists as they want to relate as much as
they can especially on how most country videos are based on a true story which many people would
have incurred in their lifetime. The editing in the videos tries to give them a more dynamic and
contrasting look which makes the colours of the clothing and background elements stand out more
than they would with retro looking editing for example in a black and white music video.

The main inter-textual reference in this video refers to other country music videos and the
stereotypical country films which are usually released by American production companies. An
example of how these relationships link with each other would be with artists such as Luke
Combs, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton. Many other country artists also refer to this style of
music as it contains the same energetic movements and performances which are seen
elsewhere. Usually, country artists would borrow ideas from other texts such as films and music
videos. It also links with the casual look of country band members, it’s very easy for people to
relate as it just seems like everyday life for them, especially the type of clothing they wear or
the trucks they drive as in America all of these elements are a highly important aspect of life.
The inter-textual, references are used in order to make the audience recognise elements from
another video which relates to John Stewart's theory which I briefly touched on above on how
they borrow ideas from each other in order to make a successful music video which appeals to
the target audience. This would then attract more attention, increasing the bands/artists
popularity. The performance element of the music video is seen across a wide range of music
videos and not just country. All genres adapt this sort of style as it makes the audiences seem
more like in the moment rather than zone out. It helps make the performance more authentic
and original. It is likely that the more references they use from other music videos and films the
more likely it will help with increasing their popularity as they are borrowing/adapting things
which people already like, almost guaranteeing them success as long as the song is good/appeals
to audiences of course. As most country films are quite old and outdated I wouldn’t say that
this music video relates much to them as it tends to follow a more modern theme. They rely
on the performance element of the song in order to connect with the viewers.

A2 - Music Video Analysis

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