The document outlines Goodwin's theory for analyzing music videos. It discusses five key aspects to examine: 1) The relationship between the lyrics, music, and visuals, 2) The narrative and performance, 3) Developing the star image, 4) Genre characteristics, and 5) Emphasis on the artist's appearance. Goodwin argues that an effective music video synchronizes the cuts and edits with the song's rhythm. It also establishes motifs to promote the artist's brand. Often the "male gaze" is used to appeal to male audiences through voyeurism and objectification of women.

1. Goodwin's Theory

2. Relationship between the lyrics and the visuals.
- Themes, mise-en-scene and events of the video match with lyrics of the song, to help to portray the message of the song.
Relationship between the music and the visuals.
- The cuts and edits of the video are in sync with the rhythm and beat of the song matching cuts or effects to specific drum
beats or notes.
Music videos have genre characteristics
- Certain features are expected out of a video depending on the genre of the music, for example a girl bands/artists are
expected to have dancers and close ups of the singers, whilst a Indi band are expected to have performance shots other
band and cut to a fast beat.
Often due to the demands of the record label, artists videos will include many close ups of the artist and will often
develop motifs that recur across multiple videos
- This allows the record label to promote a set image for the band, which will help target audiences empathise with the
band.
Emphasis on 'looking'
- The 'male gaze' is often used to attract a male audience. The male gaze is a focus on presenting things that appeal to men.
This often means a voyeuristic view of, and an objectification, of women. The emphasis on looking also includes the artist
looking directly into the camera helping the audience connect with the artist.
Interrexual references.
- Music videos reference other forms of media, most commonly film, but can also be television and other music videos.

3. How to analyse music videos;
Andrew Goodwin identifies 5 key aspects of
music videos that we, the audience, should look
out for;
- Thought beats – Where you ‘see’ in the sound
- Narrative and Performance
- The Star Image
- Relation of visuals to song
- Technical aspects of a music video

4. ‘Thought Beats – ‘Seeing’ the sound
Step 1. To look at the music itself. We must take into
account the structure of the song.
Step 2. The voice of the song. The artists voice is
extremely unique and can form identification or
trademarks that work well with the star image. Roland
Barthes theory of the Grain of voice can be related to
this. He sees the singing voice as an expressive
instrument and therefore able to make associations of its
own.
Step 3. Goodwin points out the artists mode of address.
Songs can be seen as stories and the artist the storyteller,
making the music video a two communication device –
them telling us a story and we listening.

5. Narrative & Performance
Songs fail to give us the complete narrative.
We only tend to get a gist of the meaning of the song and
then tend to make up our own idea of what is being told
– An negotiated view of a text.
Goodwin explains that music videos should ignore
common narrative. It is important in their role of
advertising.
Music videos should coherent repeatability. Narrative and
performance work hand in hand its make it easier for the
audience to watch over and over without loosing interest.
The artist acting as both narrator & participant helps to
increase the authenticity however the lip sync and other
mimed actions remains the heart of music videos. The
audience need to believe this is real.

6. ‘Star Image’
The star image is another vital aspect of music
videos. Meta narrative which is a big story that
describes the development of the star over
time, it has an important part to play in the
music video production process.

7. Relation of Visuals to the song
there are three ways in which music videos work
to promote a song;

8. Technical Aspects
Technical aspects hold the music video together
through use of camera work, movement, angle,
mise-en-scene, editing, sound and special effects.
Speed, camera movement, editing, cutting and post
production are all forms of use of camera.
Lighting and colour help set moods and emphasise
key movements of the song for dramatic effect.
Mise-en-scene, the setting of music videos is vital, it
needs to look authentic to attain professionalism.
Beats, music videos use cuts to go with the beat or
rhythm making the video more entertaining.

9. Thoughts through beat (what the lyrics
mean in your head)
Wanting to see and be with a girl who is beautiful to him. He wants to tell her how much she means to him and
he is doing through a song. She means so much to him but she has someone else. He feels upset that he can’t be
with her all the time. There is a lot of repetition of “with you” this show his desperation to be with her.
Relationship between song and visuals There are two emotions shown in this music video. Firstly there are the happy emotions when he is thinking of
what he has with her however there is the second emotions of when he isn’t with her and he is missing her.
Happy emotions – during the happy emotions within the lyrics he is dancing and smiling in the streets.
Everything is rather fast paced.
Close ups on his face when he is singing with passion.
Sad emotions – There are extreme close ups of his face but also establishing shots showing his whole body to
show the different from when he is dancing.
There is more of a focus on his face as the outside is moving very fast causing a focus on his face as it almost
becomes blurred outside of the bus.
During the repetition of “with you” there is a cycle of the same shots and clips flashing up.
Narrative and performance of the song I believe this has been done very affectively as he is a very main focus in this music video as the narrative is
based around his emotions and what is happening in his life nobody else.
Technical aspects of a music video Happy emotions – bright lighting all round
On the open street this may be suggesting he wants to show him emotions to the world and how happy he is.
Sad emotions – darker lighting overall but more of a focused light on him.
In a more enclosed space e.g. the bus to suggest he is more surrounded by these feelings.
Star image, lots of camera shots making
him or her centre of attention
Close up shots used to show a close view of his emotions when both happy and sad.
Establishing shots used to show his body positioning as this will help us understand his emotions.
Music video analysis using Goodwin’s theory
Chris brown – With you

10. Thoughts through beat (what the lyrics
mean in your head)
This is about a girl who is taking care of the male character. However she is giving him mixed feelings and he is
becoming confused about his feelings.
He is trying to get her attention however she doesn’t seem to respond to him and he doesn’t understand why.
Relationship between song and visuals When he is singing about trying to get her attention is seems she is talking to someone else and he is still singing
to her even though she is paying no attention to him.
At the end of the clip there are visuals of him pouring out a container of salt this may connote that he is giving
up and is allowing all this feelings to run loose and leave his body.
Throughout the whole music video there is a sense of sadness portrayed by the main character in comparison
tot her people he is with- this may also suggest that he has kept all of his feeling to himself linking to the salt in
the jar then him pouring it away.
Narrative and performance of the song There is a clear link between the narrative and the performance, there is a story based narrative used this
allows the audience to see a clear understanding of what the story is. It is clear to the audience that there is a
male character who is in love this the female character however she has no interest in him. The narrative is
based around his emotions and an event in his life that may have had a big impact on him and his feelings.
Technical aspects of a music video It main location is a café, this is a very realist setting which makes the narrative clear and more relatable for the
audience. In addition a café is often used to meet up with people and this may have been his aim to meet this
girl there.
In addition there are slow camera movements to imply that he is feeling negative about a certain problem and
there needs to be a focus on him, this is also shown by a zoomed focus on his through the clip.
Lighting – (0.26 seconds into the clip)- at this point in the song the lighting is shown to have a focus on him, it
looks tome that there is a sun beam directly shining onto him and the rest of the band are in the ‘shade’.
Star image, lots of camera shots making
him or her centre of attention
When he is singing solo there is a focus ono his face and a blur is put around him- a close up shot is used to
create this affect as it makes the audience away that these lyrics may be focused on him and his feelings.
Establishing shot- he is the centre of attention in the establishing shot; he is positioned centrally again implying
that his role in this clip may be most significant also may imply that the narrative of the rest of the song will also
be based around him.
Music video analysis using Goodwin’s theory
Courteeners – Not Nineteen Forever