Key frames practise

This was my key frame practise. I really enjoyed this and this it is something I could work with when doing my own video. I really liked linking the lyrics to the pictures which gave it a slightly more humorous feel. However, I can imagine it being extremely time consuming as this little video took me a lot of time. I also feel that this is something that could easily go wrong and look ineffective.

National Anthem

The first music video I decided to analyse is National Anthem by indie pop/sadcore artist Lana Del Rey, It is directed by popular director Anthony Mandler, who is also responsible for many of Rihanna’s videos and Nicki Minaj’s starship video.

The video starts with the artist singing happy birthday to the president, which sets the scene for the rest of the video. This scene is in black and white which helps add to the vintage feel that is maintained throughout the whole video, this vintage style video adds to Lana Del Rey’s own iconography as all her videos have this as a running theme, this agrees with Andrew Goodwin’s theory that artists may develop their own star iconography within music videos. In the beginning and throughout most of the video there are many close ups of the artist which is rather common in videos, which maintains the theory that record companies demand lots of close ups of their artists. However, in this case the Close ups also show the emotions of each character which is very important as it wouldn’t have the impact it does without them.

After this scene, the rest of the music video is then in colour. There are a few montages used of images related to the American flag and of people running and screaming, the first time this is used is just before the song begins. The images we see following this are of a family, featuring Lana Del Rey as the mother. With a large house in the background, nice clothes and lots of toys it is apparent that the family in question is extremely wealthy, they also all seem very happy and the sun is shining throughout creating this ‘perfect’ life idea. It describes a very flash lifestyle full of expensive cars, nice houses and diamonds. This is a case of the video reflecting the lyrics, for example it is clearly set in the Hamptons coinciding with the line “take me to the Hamptons” and Lana Del Rey sings “will you buy me diamonds” while being laced in diamonds herself. Voyeurism is also present within the video as there is a constant feel as though they are being watched, especially before the shooting, again backing up Andrew Goodwin’s theory involving voyeurism.   

The characters within the video are portrayed quite similarly, as they are all happy and wealthy. However, the president is portrayed as a more important and powerful man whereas Lana Del Rey takes much more of a back seat and is really seen as more of a trophy wife. When studying the video closely, there is a part of the song “he said to be cool” responded with “but I don’t know how yet” which is later repeated but the response is changed to “I’m already coolest” which backs up my thoughts that she is with this strong powerful man and has been sucked into to all the fame and fortune and learns to live with it and begins to have her life sucked into it, she has become this money orientated women and yet she loves it. Their lavish lifestyle and greed has resulted in their own downfall.

I think Lana Del Rey’s video to National Anthem would appeal more to women as they tend to be much more materialistic and her fan base is already more female heavy. However, I do think the video could attract a different audience due to its reference to political history. The video its self is based on the JFK assignation, which is where the president of the USA was being driven, with his beautiful, fashion icon wife Jackie Kennedy at his side, before being assonated. His wife then climbing over the trunk shortly after realising what had happened, which is exactly what Lana does in her music video.

With regards to editing, the video is made up of relatively quick straight cuts and also feature a vintage effect over the images creating an old film-like look. Within a music video sound is obviously very important, this one however does not just include the track but to make more of a story the singing to the president is included at the beginning and the screams of people during the montages after the shooting brings the video to life. Alongside this there is also the noise of fireworks, showing the party life style, the gun shots and a voice over at the end which is not only emotional but it finished off the video perfectly. In relation to Diane Railton and Paul Watson’s theories I feel this video fits best in the narrative group as it tells a story through what appears like home footage still including Lana Del Rey lip-synching directly to the camera. However, the video also fits into Joe Gow’s group of the enhanced performance.

Overall, this is one of the best music videos I have ever seen, I found it captivating as all the elements come together to make a video which enhances the lyrics from an almost shallow money oriented ‘Perfect life’ to a is this really what our society has become? And is it really worth it?

               

Rude Boy

My next video is taken from the RnB genre, Rude Boy by Rihanna, directed by Melina Matsoukas. The video features Rihanna in very little clothing, which has become part of her iconography within her videos alongside, dancing very seductively. As her music videos tend to be very raunchy, complementing her explicit lyrics. For example, when she sings “are you big enough?” she reaches down to a male dancer and looks down his trousers, which is being extremely suggestive. This is just one of many of Andrew Goodwin’s conventions featured in this particular video.

Other Conventions include having lots of close ups of the artists. They are slightly unusual close ups as they have been laced heavily with special effects, but none the less there are frequent close-ups of Rihanna’s face, and other parts of her body. In addition to this, Rihanna’s lack of clothing and seductive dancing backs up Andrew Goodwin’s theory that there is likely to be reference to voyeurism within music videos. This video shows a strong female artist who is taking a stance against the stereo-typical man who can get whatever girl he likes and use them, by showing that women can do it too. This ensures that young females would find this video appealing however due to its sexual nature so would young males, but I believe there would be too much going on for it to be aimed at an older generation.

Joe Gow would certainly fit this in to his special effects extravaganza group as the main focus is the special effects. Flashing words, clashing colours and random images are thrust upon the screen; also making it a rather busy video with a lot to take in. And if that wasn’t enough some of the images have been reflected on to the other side of the screen to create a mirror image. All the different images are cut in time with the music, making the video almost seem as though it is part of the music itself.  When placing the video in to different groups it is clear that with reference to Diane Railton and Paul Watson’s book, it would fit into the art video category perfectly due to all the bright colours and it can’t really be described as much else other than art.

Compared to other music videos of this genre is it unique as normally there are more of a song and dance full of strict choreography set in a simple studio, although this is also set in a studio, special effects have taken centre stage rather than choreography. Overall, I like this video because it is different to most of it genre and it tends to push the boundaries of what music videos belonging to this genre should look like.

 

 

Sweet Child O’mine

Finally, this video performed by Guns n roses and directed by Nigel Dick, is the final one I analysed. The performance is based around a rehearsal in Huntington ballroom and is in black and white. It starts with an image of the bands logo followed with lots of footage of the band playing, chatting to each other and talking to girls, the stereo-typical life of a rock band. As the music begins the video is quite slow as if they are just setting up, and then the more it goes on and they being to sing then the video is paced a lot quicker. There is obviously a big focus on music as well as the lyrics as the song features many guitar solos where the camera is solely focused on Slash. This is apparent with many rock music videos as the guitar is almost considered the most important aspect of a rock band.

With regards to categorizing this video, Joe Gow would place this in the performance documentary group as it is filmed much like a documentary and features footage of the band doing living their daily lives. Similarly, these reasons would place it in Diane Railton and Paul Watson’s group of the Pseudo-documentary music video. It does not feel like a staged performance as there is not direct eye contact with any of the cameras and there are quite often objects or people, crossing in front of the camera. This adds a feel of voyeurism; it is as though the band is being watched.

This leads on the Andrew Goodwin’s conventions. He believed that most videos will have reference to voyeurism. Also, his conventions state that an record companies demand close ups of the artist, which this video would also comply with as there features many close ups of not only Axl Rose but of the other band members as well, it even features one part when Slash is being filmed as if his guitar is actually singing. This is very common with guitarists in rock bands and adds to the iconography of a rock music video. The video is aimed at fans of the band as they show the logo and it presents the artists as typical rock stars, they are dressed similarly as well as acting like other rock bands would.

I like this video as it is very natural, all the movement flows and it feels as though you are actually sat there watching them practise. Without a doubt this is a performance documentary video as the lyrics are completely unrelated to what happens in the video and it allows the audience a sneak peek into the lives of some notorious rock stars. I find it interesting to watch them sing this song as they sing it with such passion and it comes so naturally. It’s much nicer to watch a video like this instead of watching some structured choreographed, almost passionless pop video.