Music videos analysis

MUSIC VIDEO EXAMPLES

The videos included all share I similar theme in which they are gleeful, innovative, creative videos from the 80's where the first ever music videos were televised to the world in colour shaping music production and viewer counter-ship for the industry. Nowadays it is a must need for a song to have a video for it in order to promote the song. Music Videos are a chance for creators and musicians to express themselves, their music and a construct for audience. The videos included as part of my analysis are 'Video killed the radio star' by The Buggles (1981), the first ever music video revolutionising the consumption of music. My second video I have chosen to analyse is 'Cant Tell Me Nothing' by Kanye West (2007), I chose this video as it is executed perfectly to be a high production piece of art despite the low budget and simplistic setting. The natural light, editing and small use of pyrotechnics shift a simple video to a promotional film. The 3rd and final video I have chosen to analyse is 'Grenade' by Bruno Mars (2010) for its dramatic execution of a love song.

These videos will help in my production of my own through their ideas, techniques and themes. It was hard to find love songs which share I a similar appearance to 'I Want You Back' which was also produced in the 60's where music videos weren't around so these videos are a mix of random, same genre and just unique styles in different era's.

 Video Killed The Radio Star

The first ever music video to be broadcasted on MTV is a perfect example of how much video production has developed. Its the closest video which is well made to the 60's when The Jackson 5 were around (Band I'm using for song). The video is not as well executed as it would be today which makes sense seen as no creativity for the video could really be generated with no prior ideas. However when released it was innovative and set a standard for which to be improved.

The first scene shows a girl turning on a radio with a very obviously fake water effect behind with a main light to portray a moon against the water.

In this scene the radio the girl uses is broken and only turns on when the chorus starts.

In this scene we see Trevor Horn (the singer) singing over the scene as if he's commentating on it. The editing used to portray Trevor in front of the scene as if he's more important when performing his music then the image created.

As the song implies that music videos will kill the radio, the radio seen in scene 1 blows up along with a lot more very cheap effects.

Most of the video is compromised of one camera shot per scene with cheap props that are used to the fullest to create a setting stage.  

Lighting used on certain characters give them a spotlight of  attention. Minimal camera work is used between scenes with hardly many scene changes.

The video closes out with the band performing in a white light room without any extra props just instruments used to create the imagination of the song being played live on the video.

Cant Tell Me Nothing

Kanye West's 'Cant tell me nothing' is one of the best low budget and low quality videos I could find when looking for ideas on how to make a low budget short film. The little use of scenes and transitions show that anyone can make a good music video no matter the circumstances. 

The whole video is recorded in one place but with editing and changing light on the scene bring the video to life and makes it feel as if the video is brimming with more ideas.than it has. Its important to understand how this is done and implement it into my own.

The movement of the camera slowly shows different clear perspectives of the video. However Kanye's interaction with the camera is equally important as he bonds with the lens with body movement, lip syncing and head movement always changing to fit the camera aim.

The other scene in the video is in the same place but with the use of lighting, editing and special effects brings what would be a dull backdrop to a scene filled with diversity. 

For most of this scene Kanye dancing and in sync with the music whilst the special effects in the background conclude the videos aim of being chill and not over dramatic and over exaggerated.  

The use of natural light in this video is utilized tom perfection as the 3 settings of the video are all made to look different because of this change in light. The light change can portray different parts of a song in a music video and can alter feelings and themes e.g. Bright light = Happy, Love, Heaven / Darkness = Sadness, Depression, Hell.

 

Finally, the video does present an importance when it comes to costume/clothing. In the final scenes a woman dressed in all black is made to look like a elegant figure with her long dress blowing in the wind. A sense of beauty is created through her movement and costume.

Grenade

Grenade by Bruno Mars is a high level made music production with the video featuring depth techniques such as focus, lighting, colours, props etc. It is high price production with lots of scenes and props brought and pulled together with high quality camerawork. I chose this video as it performs as a dramatic love song which I personally believe have the most creativity when looking at other performed love songs. The video is a blockbuster tragedy and Bruno Mars performance capitalizes on this amazing directed show.

The video starts with Bruno in his room by himself in the dark whilst ran clatters the window creating a sense of suffocation as he is consumed by misery. This scene perfectly sets up the story of the video. The importance of the first scene.

The next scene in contrast shows Bruno in struggle and determination as he drags a piano behind his back (possibly suggesting that the piano, for a girl he used to love, is now behind him in the past almost) whilst in tuxedo seemingly for this girl he loves. The close ups of his face in these scenes demonstrate true feelings of pain and neglect as he works hard to win this girl over. The lyrics: 

"I'd catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya I'd jump in front of a train for ya You know I'd do anything for ya I would go through all this pain Take a bullet straight through my brain Yes, I would die for you, baby But you won't do the same"

These lyrics were almost made for the video rather the other way round. The video perfectly executes this message Bruno tries to get across. He puts in effort whilst his lover isn't even showing an appearance, its that silent reply which echos his pain.

The use of light in the scene where he finds his lover with another emphasises his emotions as when he looks up to see her his face is filled with light as if he is expecting the best outcome. When he comes to realisation that its the bad outcome half his face fills with shadow, a sign of darkness and sadness overruns this once hard working person we saw in earlier scenes.

The video mirrors the end with the start with the only change in Bruno showing little effort and more frustration rather than strength. This perfectly embodies a tragedy of a love song as one person falls short. The use of lighting, effects and transitions to showcase Bruno's emotions through close-up shots of him in pain is the reason why this video is an amazingly directed and performed love song.