2. • 1 - MUSIC VIDEOS DEMONSTRATE GENRE CHARACTERISTICS.
• 2 - THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS.
• 3 - THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUALS.
• 4 - 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)
• 5 - THERE IS FREQUENTLY REFERENCE TO NOTION OF LOOKING (SCREENS WITHIN SCREENS, MIRRORS,
STAGES, ETC.) AND PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTIC TREATMENT OF THE FEMALE BODY.
• 6 - THERE ARE OFTEN INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCE (TO FILMS, TV PROGRAMMES, OTHER MUSIC VIDEOS
ETC.).
3. 1 - MUSIC VIDEOS DEMONSTRATE GENRE
CHARACTERISTICS.
THE GENRE OF ‘STARBOY’ BY THE WEEKND IS CONTEMPORARY
R&B. CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GENRE ARE VERY
STEREOTYPICAL AND MANY PEOPLE LOOK FOR EXPENSIVE
JEWELRY, EXPENSIVE AND OUT THERE CLOTHING AND BRIGHT
LIGHTING. ALL 3 OF THESE THINGS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS
SHOT FROM THE MUSIC VIDEO I AM ANALYSING. R&B
ORIGINATED FROM THE CULTURE OF BLACK SINGERS AND
THEREFORE ONE THING WE EXPECT FROM AN R&B MUSIC
VIDEO IS FOR THE MAIN ARTIST TO BE BLACK AND TO BE
FEATURED WITHIN THE MUSIC VIDEO.
4. 2. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS AND
VISUALS
Within the ’Starboy’ music video you see very little
relationship between visuals and lyrics if not none at all.
This could however be put down to the genre of the music
video in which many artists would much prefer to how off
their expensive houses, cars and clothes. All of these are
shown within the music video.
5. 3 - THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND
VISUALS.
The R&B music culture will often revolve around the idea of
that their music represents them as not only and artist but a
person. This idea is why many artists choose to represent
themselves not only through their music but with the music
video that goes alongside their music. Bright lights and
luxuries are all representations of power and this is this is the
way in which theses artists choose to present themselves.
6. 4 - 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)
The music video I am analysing highly focuses around the
attention wanted from the main artist. This works hand in hand
with the demands of the record label and allows fans to
connect not only with the music and the visuals produced by
the artist but the artist himself. This is one factor that ‘Starboy’
doesn't’t lack in.
7. 5 - THERE IS FREQUENTLY REFERENCE TO NOTION OF
LOOKING (SCREENS WITHIN SCREENS, MIRRORS, STAGES,
ETC.) AND PARTICULARLY VOYEURISTIC TREATMENT OF
THE FEMALE BODY.
It comes as a surprise to me that ‘Starboy’ the latest song from the
Weeknd has no female co-stars in the music video. I say this because it is
quite often a common thing for the Weeknd to feature women (more
specifically their bodies) in his music videos. However, ‘Starboy’ has been
constructed cleverly and plays focus to it’s amazing visuals and
cinematography as well as beautifully constructed lighting.
8. 6 - THERE ARE OFTEN INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCE (TO
FILMS, TV PROGRAMMES, OTHER MUSIC VIDEOS
ETC.).
While the music video I am looking at does not make any
direct reference to any of the above it does in fact play out
like a film would do. It has been constructed to look just as
visually pleasing as any big blockbuster hit but has been
condensed down to 4 minutes.
