hi my name is anieska

1. Music Videos Analysis
By Anieska Brown

2. History of R&B…
What is R&B?
• “Rhythms and blue” is a crossbreed of Jazz, Gospel and blues.
• Typically soulful singers.
• Tight Rhythm section (guitar, piano drum, bass)
Origin of R&B 50’s and 60’s
It was gospel music in African American churches who influences R&B Music. Back
when the slaves were on the plantations working it was blue’s that kept them
motivated, once these two genre were merged together R&B was formed.
21st Century R&B
In today’s modern society there a new styles and interpretations of Soul and R&B
music. The genre has really taken form in what we know today as R&B. In this
decade artist such as Luther Vandross do very good job at representing of this
genre.
•

3. ArtistsArtist #1
Usher is an American singer , songwriter, dancer
and actor first in the known 1990’s. Usher has
become better every year,he has sold over 45
million album worldwide, he's won a number of
award including 5 Grammy awards,4 music
awards,4 American music award and 19
billboard awards.
The Genre of the song I will be using for my
Case Study is a combination of Old School R&B
and Ballad. This song be considered as a “slow
jam” and this would evident in the instrument
used; Guitar & piano, as well as the lyrics.
Artist #2
Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter and
actresses who made her recording debut, in 1990,
under the guidance of Columbia Records executive
Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist
to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot
100 chart. .
“We Belong Together” is also a combination of old
school R&B ballad that exhibits strong influences from
pop and hip hop. We Belong Together” comprises a
very simple and understated musical arrangement.
Carey’s vocal range is demonstrated with a greater
emphasis in the ending chorus, where the chorus is
raised an octave higher.
Artist#3
Robert Sylvester Kelly other wise known
as his stage name ‘R Kelly’, is an
American singer, songwriter and record
producer. R Kelly went solo in 1933, he's
well known for his songs such as
“ignition”, “I believe I can fly” etc.
The Genre of the song I will be using for
my Case study is a combination of Old
School R&B and Soul. Instrument used in
the song are drums, guitar , trumpet and
R Kelly’s soulful voice.

4. Usher “BURN”
“Burn” is a song by American
R&B singer, song writer and
dancer Usher Raymond IV or
well known as his stage name
“Usher". The song is taken from
his fourth studio album,
‘Confessions’ (2004).
The song was produced by Dupri
and Cox . "Burn" is about
breakup in a relationship, and
the public referred to it as an
allusion to Usher's personal
struggles. Originally planned as
the album's lead single, "Burn"
was pushed back after
favourable responses for the
song "Yeah!". "Burn" was
released as the second single
from the album on March 21,
2004. “Burn” .spent nineteen
consecutive weeks at the top
spot, longer than any solo artist

5. Conceptual, Performance based or
Narrative?This music video is a Conceptual ( both thematic and symbolic) music video this is because the name of the song is
“Burn” and throughout the theme is fire which is symbolic the ending of the relationship, the video also has a lot
conventions that would be seen in a R&B music video.
• There are sometimes subtle matches of the words with the action seen
in the screen in addition to a more complex meaning portrayed by
motifs for instance. In this case whenever the lyrics “Burn”
• The female body is often used to appeal to the male audience, this is
often known as the male gaze. In the music the female lead is
portraying Usher’s ‘Ex love interest’, in the majority of the video she
is in lingerie/ bikini. This is mainly because the song is break up and
it is being sung from a male perspective.
• Normally in R&B music videos the lavish lifestyle of the artist is
presented in the mise-en-scene. In this music video Usher is singing
in his glamorous and very expensive house

6. Camera angles, Special effects, Mis-en-scene and
Editing
Another common conventions in R&B of music videos is the camera angles; the specific close ups and fade etc.
The music video begins with an extreme close up of Usher’s right eye and it pan cut over ton an extreme close of another eye which
happens to be the painting of female, who seems to be talking during that point. Immediately after there's another extreme close up of his
lips whilst his singing as well as a close up of the paintings lips, as if he’s trying to have conversation with the painting. In this scene an Eye
line match is also being used as we can see what Usher is looking at directly at the painting. It looks so mirrored as the painting and the
close of Usher eyes both have a look of certainty/pain in there eyes
In R&B Music videos artist tend to endorse products; it could be the latest clothing line or latest trainers or even the
latest cars. In this particular there's a lot of promotion of different products, such as the trainers and the car.

7. Cont.
“Burn” is the main focus of this music video, hence the reason why there's fire in almost every scene. In the Beginning
of the video there is 35 seconds of dialogue in which Usher mentions the word “burn” TWICE. However the second
time seems to be more important as there's a close up of fire in his eyes which symbolise his pain.
The lyrics are constructed in the traditional verse-chorus form. "Burn" is constructed from "two-step concept". In the lyrics
"You know that it's over / You know that it was through / Let it burn / Got to let it burn", Usher breaks up with his woman but
found her sad about feeling bad about what happened to their relationship. However, Usher says that she must deal with it
before she can accept the truth. For the lines "It's been fifty-eleven days / Umpteen hours / I'm going to be burnin' / Till you
return", the direction changes after Usher realized that breaking up with her was a huge mistake and that he wanted her
back to him. Wide shot and long shots were mainly used to show the passion/heart break in Usher’s body language and hand
gestures, the camera angles are also used to show the fire in the background.

8. Cont.
• In R&B music videos there's a lot of quick cuts ,fade etc. The use of
the quick cut used in this video presents how everything
(relationship) ended so quickly. The pace of the video match is the
beat. In this video lighting is very important as it is used effectively
to convey a certain meaning/mood.

9. Target Audience
The genre of Burn is R&B, slow jam. The majority of people who listen
to r&b are Black American/British. Ushers main target audience are
females between the age of 16-20 who idolise Usher and The fancy
cars and house attract these females attention and make them want to
lead this lifestyle. It is also targeted at this age range because 16- 20 is
when many young teens are going through their first relationship /
heartbreak, therefore the girls can relate to this song.

10. “We Belong together” Mariah Carey“We Belong together” is song
by American singer,
songwriter Mariah Carey. The
Song is taken from her 10th
studio album “Emancipation
of Mimi” (2005).
This is a song about
heartbreak makes reference
to some R&B songs that share
a similar theme: you can't stop
thinking about the person you
broke up with. In the song,
Mariah is listening to the radio
when Bobby Womack's "If You
Think You're Lonely Now"
comes on
The song broke chart records
in the United States and
became Carey's sixteenth
topper on the US Billboard
Hot 100.

11. Conceptual, Performance based or
Narrative?This Music Video is a Narrative about a broken relationship, in which Mariah Carey is declaring her unconditional love for
her ex partner. This is slightly different from Usher’s “Burn” video because unlike Mariah usher was try to burn the
memories of his relationship where as Mariah is trying to go back. Mariah plays the lead role within playing the one
caught up in love. Just like a story board the music video has its beginning its peak and the ending which creates story of
love.
• This video confirms to the typical R&B
music video convention of the artist
having a lavish lifestyle. Introduction
there’s wide shot of a big house that
resembles a castle, and also the fancy
car.
• In the beginning of the video Mariah is
barely wearing clothes, she wrap up in
sheets. This is typical in a R&B music
video, women are often seen in sexual
way, with very minimal clothing.
•

12. FADES
• As mentioned before about Usher’s video, R&B videos tend to
have a lot of close ups to show the artist/actor's emotions
weather it be happy, sad, confused etc. Extreme close ups of
Mariah’s lips are often seen in this music video, this could be
her saying “read my lips”, this can also be seen in Usher’s
video “Burn”.
• The camera zooms into Mariah who is sitting facing the mirror,
as she gets dress for her wedding. This is often seen in the
R&B genre, women are represented to be always looking
good and taking care of themselves.
• Fades and fast paste cutting n this video more or less in this
video is synchronies with b the beat of the song/lyrics.
Camera angles, Special effects, Mis-en-scene and
Editing

13. Cont.
• We see a wide shot of Mariah Carey sitting in then centre of a dark room and the light in focus on
her. This is done in a particular way to show off her body and her pink silk dress with two split to
show off her legs. This highlights her femininity and her attractiveness. That fact that she is
front and centre attract the male gaze t focus on her.
• In this particular video there are few close ups of Mariah in the shower which could symbolise
she’s metaphorically washing the pain away, similarly in the video “Burn” the artist
metaphorically ‘Burns’ the pain away.
• The love interest that Mariah is singing about is often seen in long shots and closes ups to show off
his body language and how the break up has really effected him.

14. Cont.2
• As Mariah is reminiscing about her lover, there's is a black and white flash back to the first time the couple
met. In then scene the love interest throws Mariah a white rose, the same white rose that fell from her
hand at the beginning. This is significant as the rose is still in good condition and it is pure like her love for
him.
• Again in this music video Mariah Carey is seen in room where the light is only position on her. she's also
wearing pure white dress that signifies her innocents
• Towards the end of the video we see Mariah Carey walking down the aisle. The audiences then witness that
she changes her mind doesn’t actually marry her fiancé she runs away with her love interest into his car
this is seen as a happy ending.

15. Target audience
Mariah Carey’s main target audience varies from male and female
between the age of 25-30 who a little be more mature and can
understand what a heartbreak truly feels like, however people age 16-
45 do enjoy her music(based on my own investigation).

16. R Kelly “ Happy People” “Happy People” is a song by
Robert Sylvester Kelly other
wise known as his stage name
‘R Kelly', this song is taken
from his sixth studio and
second Studio album “Happy
People/U saved me” (2004)
The song is about people
going out and just having a
good time. It allows people to
let loose and just relax. This
song is often played at
birthdays and weddings along
side another song about R
Kelly called “step n the name
of love”, these two songs just
sets the atmosphere for a
good vibes. It peaked at No. 2
on the pop albums chart and
went on to be certified three
times Platinum.

17. Conceptual, Performance based or
Narrative?This video is a Hybrid of performance and conceptual. The videos concept is that R Kelly would perform his
song on a stage with a band, and the hall would be filled with ‘Happy’ People. Some scenes in the video R Kelly
is seen partying with his friends which is narrative as he sings
• This music video slightly subverts the conventional ideas that typically R&B
music videos would; one way in which the music video is subverted Is that
the women in the video are not sexualise, the majority of the are fully
clothed apart from some of the dancers.
• Another way this subvert; is that the artist is not showing off any fancy cars
however that being said the hall he is performing in is fancy; it furnish with
gold furniture and the walls are painted gold this symbolise wealth.
• This video does confirm to the lavish lifestyle of celebrities, throughout the
video when R Kelly isn’t performing on stage his is seen in a black and gold
blazer wit designer glasses on
• throughout the video there are genuinely happy people; dancing, smiling and
taking pictures

18. Camera angles, Special effects, Mis-en-
scene and Editing
• Like many R&B music video, This Music video has a lot of fades and
quick cuts that’s correlates to the beat of the song.
• There’s a lot of wide shots and mid shots in the video to show of the
positive “Happy” vibes in the hall.
• Throughout the video the director pans across to the room to show
the dancing people.

19. Target Audience
R Kelly’s Target audience are women is very similar to Usher and
Mariah Carey’s age range,25-35. R Kelly's songs are often about things
of sexual nature which would be more mature and appealing to that
age range. These women are likely to be working class women, who
fantasies about R Kelly or a relatable situation.

20. CD Cover Analysis-Usher “Burn”
There’s
fire on
both front
and the
back cover
of the CD,
this is
significant
as it
The Arist is on the front and back
• Track
• Track remixes
Logos and paragraph
about the how the song
was made
• Warm colours to emphasise
the pain and hurt

21. CD Analysis Mariah Carey “We Belong
together”
ARIST
COLOUR SCHEME;
Suttle,innocence
• Plain writing
• Italic mimic hand writing almost makinfthe album feel
personal for the fans

22. CD Analysis R Kelly “Happy People”.
Warm colours symbolising that the
album is friendly, relax and chilled.
Two CDs
Different poses, he looks like he's
feeling the music.

23. Evaluation
From analysing “Burn”, “We belong together” and “happy people” I
have listed a few ideas of what I include my own video;
Music Video
• Fades and Quick paced cutting to
beat
• Theme and Symbolic lyrical
meaning
• Close ups
• Stylish costume
•
CD
• Artist (front and
back)
• Colours that
represent or
links with theme
of the song
• Remixes
• Font
(fancy/handwriti
ng)
•