Justin Timberlake“My Love”

By Olivia Kelly

Goodwin’s Features in Music Videos

Relationship between lyrics and visuals

Throughout the music video, there is often a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals seen. On the first verse, whilst the artist sings the words, “If I wrote you a symphony”, orchestral violins appear from behind him, whilst he uses gestures to indicate a conductor within an orchestra. Then, on the second verse, the artist sings “If I wrote you a love note”, pens and pieces of paper – presumably love notes, appear from behind him as he, once again uses gestures, this time to indicate him writing a love note. Once again, a relationship between the lyrics and visuals is noticed as a wedding appears, gradually getting bigger as it nears the camera when the artist sings, “This ring here represents my heart”.

Relationship between music and visuals

Throughout the video, the dance routine follows the beat of the music, often seeing the artist and dancers replicating dance moves in which go along with the rhythm and pace of the song. In one particular clip of the video, symbols can be heard faintly, this being brought to the fore-front of the video when symbols then appear from behind the artist. Continuously through parts of the background, strobe lights flash according to the beat, in one particular clip as the music appears to get lower in tone, the strobe lights individually go off one at a time.

Style & Iconography

All costumes within the music video contrast with the background, the main colour scheme throughout being that of black and white. The main artist, Justin Timberlake, has his own unique individual style in which he has possessed within his career, that being mixing formality with casual. In this video, Timberlake is seen wearing a white shirt, loose black tie, checked waistcoat and jeans – this clearly replicating the ‘cool’ image he represents both in his music and style. The rapper within the video, T.I., is seen wearing a white suit jacket, black shirt and tie and smart black pants. This is something in which can be seen as typical within rappers, however contradicting the baggy jeans and over-sized T-shirt look, as this particular image allows them to expose their wealth and how well they may be doing within the music industry.

Close-ups of main artist

There are occasional close-up shots of the main artist and one in which he is seen with a female. The lack of close-up shots within the music video is largely based upon the fact that it is mainly dance routine based throughout, as it is a pop -influenced, hip hop R&B song. Also, Timberlake is known for his dancing, often including dance routines or influences of dance within his music videos. The close-up shot of the main artist and a female, replicates one of the stereotypical features of a hip hop R&B song – a some what female ‘love interest’ or partner, dancing suggestively together.

Intertexual References

Within the music video, there can be noticeable intertexual references to some of another artist, that being Michael Jackson. There is a large dance routine in which some of the dance moves appear to replicate moves in which have been seen by Jackson previously. Also, a clear intertexual reference is seen when Timberlake and the other dancers appear to perform a familiar move famously performed by Jackson; the tip-toe pose. As Jackson is known as being the ‘King of Pop’, it is clear why other of artists such as Timberlake would be influenced by his work.