Dance music
I have chosen
Dance music as the genre to use for my music video. This is because when
looking at videos such as 'Wilkinson-Afterglow' it has meant that I have been
able to reflect on the other conventions of dance music were the narrative and
performance is also a major aspect other than just focusing on the music itself
(the artist). Having more of a narrative to dance music is a lot more
interesting and personally my favourite style of music video which is why I have
decided to select this genre as the style I want my own music video to be in. I
also think that having a 'loose' narrative to dance music videos allows an
effective, memorable video that normally catches peoples eye visually (normally
being expressive and 'fun' music videos). Below I have analyses three different
dance music videos in the style I wish to base mine upon; being a lot more
narrative and expressive (considering the lyrics and the visuals etc.)
Analysis of 'Foxes - Let Go For Tonight'
The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals
These screen
grabs show Foxes performing (lip singing and dancing) to the song/lyrics
meaning a clear like between the lyrics and the visuals. The majority of the four images being taken from where the
chorus says repeatedly 'let it go' and 'let it go for tonight baby' means that
when dancing as well as lip-singing (for example in the first two screen shots)
allows both the lyrics to become linked to the visuals as well as the music in
general (as Foxes dances to the beat). The 'food/cake fight' in the background
of these two images further gives a sense of 'letting go' as the actors behind
foxes create a very expressive, 'fun' background for these two shots.
Throughout the video I like how the camera work has been done to focus on Foxes
throughout both singularly (on her own in the shot-can be seen in the bottom
two screen grabs) through a range of big close-ups and mid shots (etc.) as well
as being the main focus in the 'food fight' scenes.
The relationship between the music and the visuals
The opening of
the song is a very good example of how this video links the music with the
visuals very effectively through the use of editing and the pace of it in
accordance to the music (the beat). The opening scene of Foxes being sat at the
top of the table with the actors around it with a lot of minimal colour (the
mise-en-scene) is shown through mid-shots to big close-ups of both the white
coloured food and foxes before she begins to lip-sing. This creates both
suspense as the viewer awaits for Foxes to look directly at the
camera (at the viewer) as throughout this opening instrumental she is
always looking away as the shots cut between herself and the minimal coloured
food. This creates more of an effect later on in the video where there is a
colour 'explosion' when the 'food fight' begins (through to the end) the
minimal (white mise-en-scene) throughout the beginning allowing the build-up of colour
throughout the video to be emphasised (contrasting to the beginning of the
video).
References to the notion of 'looking'
These two screen grabs show different sides
to the 'notion of looking'. The first shows Foxes to be slightly sexualised
through her costume; wearing fairly minimal clothing and dancing in a way that
shows off that she hasn't got a lot of clothes on suggests that she is both
sexualising herself and being sexualised by the viewer as they are 'forced'
(shown her) to be dancing in this way; wearing the costume she is in. The
second screen grab shows a female actress within the video being sexualised by
a male actor. He is doing this through both his (their) body language as well
as the way in which he is presented to being almost 'controlling' of her within
this part of the video as they lean into kiss; his hands/body language
suggesting that he means to sexualise her (although in parts of this scene the
female actress has similar, if not matched body language so is also sexualising
herself).
INSPIRATION FROM THIS VIDEO
My main
inspiration from this video is the use of colour and how it is used in a very
stylistic way in order to make the music video very interesting and memorable.
The use of different camera techniques as well as the editing of the video
allows these scenes to become a lot more stylised through slow-motion and the
use of 're-winding' and 'fast-forwarding' certain parts of the video where
showing (for example) the actors throwing and being hit by the cakes
(colour)-this can be seen in both the first screen grab shown above as well as
the first two on the second row. This aspect of this music video has inspired
me to use a similar sort of style in my own music video; using bright and vibrant
colours with a white background with a similar number of actors in order to
create something as memorable and effective as this. I particularly like the
part of the video nearer the end where Foxes is shown to be covered in
colour by the actor’s hands (can be seen above). This both creates a 'fun' feel
to the video as well as Foxes as an artist; the video itself reflecting her
'young' and very 'on trend' personality (brand) being a very 'now and current'
artist; reflecting her individuality through videos such as
this.
Analysis of 'Wilkinson - Afterglow'
The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals
The relationship
between the lyrics and the visuals both illuminate their meaning as well as add
a sense of humour and 'personality' to the video (the characters acting within
it). Having a strong narrative throughout; the video explores the relationship
between the two actors over the course of five years, picking out fairly random
facts about them and putting strong visuals with the lyrics in order to show
these facts. The four examples above are good examples of 'quirky'
interpretations of the lyrics in accordance to the actor's relationship.
The first screen-grab shows the video interpreting 'who cares where we
go' with '16 trips', the second 'lights and action' with '128
movies', 'strong attraction' with '147 sweet temptations' and finally 'even
thought the dancings done' with '123 arguments'. This fact like element of the
music video brings the lyrics with the visuals together very effectively in a
very individual 'quirky' way; being the most memorable and effective part of
the video overall.
The relationship between the music and the visuals
The beginning of
the music video is a good reflection of how the video 'cuts to the beat'
meaning a very strong relationship between the music and the visuals. The
opening instrumental to the dance themed music (the genre of this video) starts
fairly slow (in contrast to the rest of the song); the visuals cutting to this
slow beat-the three screen grabs above being the shots shown (cut) at this
point. The first shot introducing the two main characters (actors) within the
video and the loose narrative; cuts to shot the two individual characters
through a big close-up. I believe this is very
effective as this introduces them as a couple but also individuals before
being 'thrown into' their relationship with the 'quirky' fact style video. I
think this is very effective and I would like to consider doing a similar
introduction to my own music video when creating it.
References to the notion of 'looking'
Throughout the
video there are many references to the 'notion of looking' and sexual
references; most of them being put in for a comical element-e.g.
'356 minutes lost' that can be seen above. Even though these
references are put in for comical effect they still sexualise the main female
character within the video as well as another female actress (can be seen
above-'83 daydreams'). The use of sexual references also add to the loose
narrative-including 'facts' of the
two main actors 'five year relationship' (the first two screen-grabs from the video are good examples).
INSPIRATION FROM THIS VIDEO
The screen grabs
above show my main inspiration/favourite aspect of this video in terms of the
narrative and the effectiveness (memorability) of it as a whole. The use of
'facts' throughout the video of the two main characters 'five year
relationship' add an 'individual' aspect to the video-allowing it to stand out
through this creative, sometimes funny way. The comical aspect that this brings
to the video can be seen in the '1 predator' screen grab as well as the final
screen grab where it starts as '1 bad argument' and leads to argument being
crossed-out and replaces with 'joke'; meaning a comical aspect is given to both
the video itself but also the two actors relationship. I would like to try and adapt with
comical element to a couple within my video; potentially adding an extra
element to it (maybe another narrative strand or just include a couple within
my video with comical aspects to them).
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