Analysing Music Videos

By Bailey Plaskow

Andrew GoodwinAndrew Goodwin’s theory of music video, states that all music videos contain either some or all of the following elements:

1) Have a link between visuals & lyrics2) Have a link between visuals & Music3) Have certain genre characteristics4) Have intertexual references – Two bits of media merged5) Contains notions of looking (Characters looking at the artist, as they're

looking at them, we’re invited to look)6) Show voyeurism (Sexual pleasure from watching others interacting e.g.

kissing)7) Include demands of the record label8) Whether the video is performance, conceptual or narative

AnalysisI will be analysing three different music videos:

• Performance – Love me again by John Newman (also narrative)

• Conceptual – Adventure of a Lifetime by Coldplay

• Narrative – Childs Play by Drake

Performance (Narrative) - Love Me Again John Newman

Lyrics & Visuals‘Love Me Again’ is based on the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet. The two main characters love each other much and this can be seen through the passion that they show towards each other three quarters of the way through the video.

The lyrics in this video are repetitive, in fact the question ‘Can you Love Me Again?’ is asked around 15 times. The answer “Yes” is shown through the on screen visuals which match the lyrics.

Music & VisualsThe music and visuals are in sync throughout the music video. ‘Love Me Again’ has a fast tempo and a strong beat which is danced along to by the artist John Newman and the other dancers.

Instruments such as the drums and electric guitar play a key role in speeding up the tempo of the song. These are actually seen on screen syncing the music and visuals even more.

Genre: Dance-pop‘Love Me Again’ is a song which falls into the genre of Dance-pop. Dance-pop songs tend to have

similar characteristics. They are up in tempo and beat and are intended for clubs. They have a danceable nature. Other features of Dance-pop songs is that they:

• Are catchy• Have strong beats• Have prominent hooks• Have simple lyrics

‘Love Me Again’ has a fast tempo, a strong beat and is a perfect song to get people up dancing. This is evident through the continuos dancing which takes place on screen throughout the music video.

Intertextuality‘Love Me Again’ contains little intertextuality. The only noticeable part of the video which includes this is at the end when the couple run across the street as a van is crossing their path. The backing track crashes with the screen changing to pitch black. This leaves the video on a cliff hanger, kind of like a TV program.

There is also promotion of the artist John Newman at the very end of the video where links to his Facebook and Twitter pages are presented.

Record CompanyThere are various close-ups on John Newman throughout the video. ‘Love Me Again’ was one of Newman’s first Number 1 hits, so getting his face on screen for a large proportion of the video was vital, in promoting the artist.

‘Love Me Again’ is a mix of both Performance and Narrative music video.

Notions of LookingTowards the end of the video the two main characters kiss in what they think is privacy, but is in fact not and being watched on by two others. This invites us (the audience) to watch the male and female interact, as if it is ‘normal’ and not nosey to be watching.

VoyeurismThe kissing scene towards the end starts in privacy. This scene could give one sexual pleasure from watching the two interacting. However, as they are alone, it could make one feel as if they shouldn't be watching.

Conceptual - Adventure of a Lifetime Coldplay

Lyrics & Visuals‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ is a conceptual music video which came about on a plane where Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and British motion capture expert/actor Andy Serkis met and discussed ideas.

A phrase which is used throughout the song is “You make me feel, like I'm alive again”. Through this phrase, Chris Martin is expressing the real pleasure that an individual is giving him and making him feel. The phrase is often followed by the upbeat backing track, which is matched in the video by the Monkeys, who although are not singing along to the song, look like they are having a real good time and are also feeling this pleasure.

Music & VisualsDespite the complex nature of the music video, the music and visuals still manage to be in sync throughout the video. ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ has a very high tempo to it and this would be clear to someone if they were to watch the music video without any audio, as the computer generated monkeys are jumping up and down throughout and dance impressively.

The drums and electric guitar are vital in speeding up the tempo of disco music. These are actually on display in the video and are being played by the monkeys.

Genre: Disco‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ falls into the Disco genre. Most disco songs share similar characteristics. Disco music has a fast tempo as well as a verse and chorus structure and escapist lyrics about love and dancing. Other characteristics include:

• a time signature of 4/4.• four-on-the-floor rhythms.• guitar driven energy often with syncopated bass lines.• luscious orchestral arrangements.• vocals with reverb.

‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ has a very fast, up beat tempo to it which makes it a perfect disco and dance track. The verse and chorus structure is clear, making the beat even simpler to move along to.

Intertextuality‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ contains quite a bit of intertextuality. This is the case from the beginning where the music video starts, almost in the same fashion as a film. The production company, band name and song name are all presented on screen, giving this ‘Adventure’ a fitting beginning.

Another hint of intertextuality is brought about when the music begins. The backing track initially comes from a Dr Dre Beats Pill which is picked up by the monkeys and clearly displayed on screen.

The final bit of intertextuality is at the end of the video. The music video ends with closing credits, again making the video almost like a film.

Record CompanyAs spoken about before, ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ is introduced like a movie with the company and band name presented on screen. This makes the audience aware of who the song is by and which record company they belong to.

In terms of the artists, Coldplay don't feature in the video. However Coldplay fans would recognise through some of the monkeys features that they are in fact there. This is especially the case with Jonny Buckland who's monkey still wears a hat and plays the guitar.

As touched on before, this song comes under the disco category.

Notions of Looking‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ contains little notions of looking, and only one example sticks out. This can be seen where the four Coldplay monkeys stand back to back with the others surrounding and looking at them. The Coldplay monkeys look like they have this almost authority over the other monkeys which causes them to be looked up to. This makes us look at at the monkeys and realise that those aren't any regular monkeys, those four monkeys are actually Coldplay.

Narrative - Last Friday Night Katy Perry

Lyrics & Visuals‘Last Friday Night’ is a narrative music video, and is therefore based around a series of events, in this case, the previous Friday night. The lyrics in this song match up with the visuals allowing the viewer to not only hear what Katy Perry’s last Friday night was like, but what it actually looked like.

A phrase commonly used is “Do it all again”. This phrase would suggest that last Friday night was unbelievable and that its worth doing more than once. This fun factor of last Friday night is supported throughout the music video. This can be seen through the party atmosphere, the bright colours and Katy Perry’s excited facial expressions throughout the video.

Music & VisualsThe music and visuals are in sync throughout the whole of the video. ‘Last Friday Night’ is upbeat with a very danceable backing track. The music video is set at a bright house party which looks very lively and as if it would be exciting to attend. Everyone is dancing and having a good time. This makes the music and use of visuals fitting.

To up the tempo of the video even more, the male who plays the saxophone to head the song into its final chorus is shown on camera.

Genre: Dance-pop‘Last Friday Night’ is another song which falls into the genre of Dance-pop. Dance-pop songs tend

to have similar characteristics. They are up in tempo and beat and are intended for clubs. They have a danceable nature and other features such as:

• Being catchy• Having strong beats• Having prominent hooks• Having simple lyrics

‘Last Friday Night’ has a fast tempo to it, allowing it to be a great song to dance to. Friday night is party night and there is a hint of partying through the fast beat of the music. This party vibe is captured on screen throughout the video.

Intertextuality‘Last Friday Night’ contains bits of intertextuality, the first of which can be found at the beginning and end of the music video where Katy Perry is looking on her computer at the photos from the night before. The music video is a narrative and the computer gives the audience a sense of context in terms of the position that Katy Perry is in from last night.

Another piece of intertextuality is with the ‘Just Dance’ WII game which Katy Perry plays on mid way through the video. The fact that Perry had such a ball last Friday Night could mean that she enjoyed everything she did, one of those activities being playing ‘Just Dance’. This is good marketing for the video game as people may feel they can have a great Friday night by purchasing the game.

Record CompanyThe music video for ‘Last Friday Night’ features Katy Perry performing the role of her alter-ego 'Kathy Beth Terry’. However despite this, her appearance in the video is obvious from the first minute. The video focuses on her and she is the subject of attention. Despite the fact that she goes to a next door neighbours house party, Katy Perry is the raves spark of life. This can be seen through both the way characters watch her and the way that the camera is 95% of the time on her.

As touched on earlier, ‘Last Friday Night’ falls in the category of Narrative music video.

Notions of LookingKaty Perry’s presence is noticed at this party from the moment her alter-ego 'Kathy Beth Terry’ enters. Characters including the male in the wheel chair and the ‘popular’ looking one in the baseball jacket seem to gaze at Perry. This is the male gaze. Perry’s image is focused on by the males at the party which could make it feel acceptable for the audience to watch her and get pleasure from her appearance as at the same time, the characters on screen are allowed to.