Justin Bieber – ‘As Long As You Love Me’ ft. Big Sean
-Andrew Goodwin Analysis-
ThoughtBeats – ‘Seeingthe Sound’
The firststepto thisanalysissectionistoidentifythe structure of the songandmusicvideo.Inmany
casesit will consistof multiple versesthatare separatedwiththe use of choruses thathave some
sort of meaning,usedtomake a pointthroughrepetitionortotell a story. In termsof thissong,it
takesthe structure of one verse followedbyone chorus,includingthe rapverse featuringBigSean
that separatesthe penultimate andfinal chorus.The versestell astoryandthe chorusrepeatsmain
pointof the storyand alsothe title of the song. The secondstepisto identifythe voiceof the song.
Thisis where the voice of the artistisusedto create the identificationthatcanbe relatedto the star
image andother songs.Inthiscase,Justin’sunique voice,givenhisage andstyle andmusic,is
recognisable fromthe startof the song andthroughoutthe song to repeatandbuilduponhis
identity. The thirdstepto‘seeingthe sound’isthe storytellingaspect.Thiscanbe seeninthissong
as he tellsthe love storyof stayingtogether,againstthe oddsaslongas theylove eachother,hence
the title of the song.The musicvideo aidsthisstorywiththe use of the girl thathe issigningabout,
beingtogether,spendingtime together,andevenwritingthe lyricsof the songoneach other’sarms
and handsto assistintellingthe story.Thismakesthe audience seehimasa storytellerinthe song
and will expectasimilarapproachto future tracksand musicvideos.
Relationship between the Lyrics and the Visuals
There are three ways that the visuals of a music video can be portrayed to promote a song;
they can illustrate, amplify or create disjunction. In this music video the visuals are used to
illustrate the meaning of the song through the timing of certain images and clips placed at
specific points to explain and show the meaning of the lyrics.
Narrative and Performance of the Song
The music video uses coherent repeatability as the narrative and the performance work
together to make it easier for the audience to watch it over and over again without losing
interest. This happens as there is a clear story telling featuring a s beginning middle and end
that allow the audience to watch it over as they are literally being told and watching a story
and almost makes them watch until the end each time so they can finish the story. Andrew
Goodwin also believed that it was important for the main artist to be involved in the music
video by performing or even acting out the main role of a character or singer. This can be
found in this music video as Justin Bieber is performing as himself being the main character
of the story. It makes the song and storyline look more realistic and believable as the
audience connect with his voice matching himself as the character on screen.
The Star Image
This is the most important aspect of any music video to make it appealing to the audience
and a chance for the record label and producers to create a particular image or reputation
for the artist. In this music video Justin is portrayed as a protagonist character, as he is the
centre of attention in all the performance and narrative based scenes. This tells the
audience that they should be looking at him every time he is on screen. He is presented in a
familiar, repeatable way to his other songs and music videos, always dressed casually but
fashionably with a stereotypical teenager look as he wears tight or low-crotch jeans, baggy
t-shirts and jackets in almost all of his videos. The videos will most often feature solo dance
moves as he sings and a group dance routine at points in the song. This makes him quickly
identifiable and creates and repeats his young cool, casual, lady’s-man look that he is
essentially branded with. This familiar appearance that is easily recognisable by the
audience promotes his identity and his work and creates a public reputation.
Technical Aspects
The lighting throughout the music video creates a dramatic feel to the video and helps to
enhance the emotions connected with the song itself. Around 80% percent of the video is
shot in low-key lighting, inside buildings and car parks, and around a city at night time. This
dark lighting also creates shadows and the presence of dark colours to enhance the negative
emotions of the love struggle that the story is telling. The other 20% of the song is shot in
ambient, day-time lighting, when the two characters of the music video are together to help
portray the positive aspects of the story and video. The video also features lots of mid-shots
of Justin to promote his style and identity to new and existing fans and audiences. There are
also long shots during the solo and group dances again to promote his style, and identity as
an artist and performer creating a recognisable individuality for future songs and videos.
The editing of the video has also been timed for fast paced cuts to be placed on the beats of
the song to assist with the rhythm and create the pop feel to the video.

Music video analysis

  • 1.
    Justin Bieber –‘As Long As You Love Me’ ft. Big Sean -Andrew Goodwin Analysis- ThoughtBeats – ‘Seeingthe Sound’ The firststepto thisanalysissectionistoidentifythe structure of the songandmusicvideo.Inmany casesit will consistof multiple versesthatare separatedwiththe use of choruses thathave some sort of meaning,usedtomake a pointthroughrepetitionortotell a story. In termsof thissong,it takesthe structure of one verse followedbyone chorus,includingthe rapverse featuringBigSean that separatesthe penultimate andfinal chorus.The versestell astoryandthe chorusrepeatsmain pointof the storyand alsothe title of the song. The secondstepisto identifythe voiceof the song. Thisis where the voice of the artistisusedto create the identificationthatcanbe relatedto the star image andother songs.Inthiscase,Justin’sunique voice,givenhisage andstyle andmusic,is recognisable fromthe startof the song andthroughoutthe song to repeatandbuilduponhis identity. The thirdstepto‘seeingthe sound’isthe storytellingaspect.Thiscanbe seeninthissong as he tellsthe love storyof stayingtogether,againstthe oddsaslongas theylove eachother,hence the title of the song.The musicvideo aidsthisstorywiththe use of the girl thathe issigningabout, beingtogether,spendingtime together,andevenwritingthe lyricsof the songoneach other’sarms and handsto assistintellingthe story.Thismakesthe audience seehimasa storytellerinthe song and will expectasimilarapproachto future tracksand musicvideos. Relationship between the Lyrics and the Visuals There are three ways that the visuals of a music video can be portrayed to promote a song; they can illustrate, amplify or create disjunction. In this music video the visuals are used to illustrate the meaning of the song through the timing of certain images and clips placed at specific points to explain and show the meaning of the lyrics. Narrative and Performance of the Song The music video uses coherent repeatability as the narrative and the performance work together to make it easier for the audience to watch it over and over again without losing interest. This happens as there is a clear story telling featuring a s beginning middle and end that allow the audience to watch it over as they are literally being told and watching a story and almost makes them watch until the end each time so they can finish the story. Andrew Goodwin also believed that it was important for the main artist to be involved in the music video by performing or even acting out the main role of a character or singer. This can be found in this music video as Justin Bieber is performing as himself being the main character
  • 2.
    of the story.It makes the song and storyline look more realistic and believable as the audience connect with his voice matching himself as the character on screen. The Star Image This is the most important aspect of any music video to make it appealing to the audience and a chance for the record label and producers to create a particular image or reputation for the artist. In this music video Justin is portrayed as a protagonist character, as he is the centre of attention in all the performance and narrative based scenes. This tells the audience that they should be looking at him every time he is on screen. He is presented in a familiar, repeatable way to his other songs and music videos, always dressed casually but fashionably with a stereotypical teenager look as he wears tight or low-crotch jeans, baggy t-shirts and jackets in almost all of his videos. The videos will most often feature solo dance moves as he sings and a group dance routine at points in the song. This makes him quickly identifiable and creates and repeats his young cool, casual, lady’s-man look that he is essentially branded with. This familiar appearance that is easily recognisable by the audience promotes his identity and his work and creates a public reputation. Technical Aspects The lighting throughout the music video creates a dramatic feel to the video and helps to enhance the emotions connected with the song itself. Around 80% percent of the video is shot in low-key lighting, inside buildings and car parks, and around a city at night time. This dark lighting also creates shadows and the presence of dark colours to enhance the negative emotions of the love struggle that the story is telling. The other 20% of the song is shot in ambient, day-time lighting, when the two characters of the music video are together to help portray the positive aspects of the story and video. The video also features lots of mid-shots of Justin to promote his style and identity to new and existing fans and audiences. There are also long shots during the solo and group dances again to promote his style, and identity as an artist and performer creating a recognisable individuality for future songs and videos. The editing of the video has also been timed for fast paced cuts to be placed on the beats of the song to assist with the rhythm and create the pop feel to the video.