Theories - Andrew Goodwin

Dancing in the Distraction Factory

He talked about 3 types of videos that use set conventions:

1) Illustrations - Videos that show lyrics.

Music:

- Always Cuts on beat.

Lyrics:

- Images show the literal meaning or feeling of the lyrics. Often just with singing and dancing.

e.g. Alicia Keys; she's on stairs, showing that she is backed into a corner.

Band Image:

- Band shown as a band; dressed how you would expect.

Michael Jackson; In Thriller he is dressed as the lead character and is at the front of dancing.

2) Amplification - amplifies the lyrics.

Music:

- Cut on beat most of the time; but cuts off beat to emphasise features.

e.g. Pixie Lott - Turn it up; when the music gets slower at the bridge.

Lyrics:

- Images amplify the lyrics.

- Narrative may be used to show what lyrics alone can't.

Band image:

- Band takes on fictional roles in the narrative.

e.g. Lady Gaga - Telephone;

3) Disjuncture:

Music:

- Cut off beat

- Sometimes the sign of a bad music video

Lyrics:

- Images that do not relate to the lyrics are used.

- Sometimes used by a band that is already well known and established

- They can afford to take the risk.

Band image:

- Band takes on an image that is nothing like the expected image.

- New band; can't take risk; can't break an image that hasn't been made; would just look like a bad video; need an image that will make money.

e.g. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire; the video is very abstract as it doesn't follow any concept.

Analysis of Guns n Roses - Sweet Child O Mine

Cinematography -

- Longshot of Band

- Close up of Solo

- Low angles

Sound -

- Shouting


- Guitar solo


- Drums

Editing -

- Cut on beat

- Black and white/ Colour

Mise en Scene -

- Long hair
- Smoky background
- Tattoos

- Smoking

Perfomance -

- Play own instruments

- Random dancing

- Shaking head

- Lip sync

Analysis of Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart

Cinematography -

- Longshot of scenery

- Close up of lip syncing

- Free hand camera

- Moving camera

Editing -

- Splitscreen

- Montage

- Lots of cuts

- Concept

- Superhero

Sound -

- Crescendo

- Cut on beat

- Music

Mise en Scene -

- Motor Cycle

- Big earrings

- Sunglasses

- High key lighting

- On stairs

- On top of building

- Run down are

Performance -

- Lip sync

- Eye contact

- Plays piano

- Super hero

- Reaching out to audience

Forms and Conventions

3-5 minutes long
Group or solo artist

Can involve Dancing

Can use concert footage

Can be animated

Lip syncing

Close-up of artist

Eye contact

Long shots of band

Lots of locations

Costume changes

Lots of cuts/ Fast cuts

Cut on beat

Montage editing

Can have a concept

Analysis of Jay Sean - Down

1) Jay Sean - Down

2) Album - All or Nothing
Released - US Radio May 31, 2009. iTunes - June 30 2009
3) Director - Richard Pengelley
4) I think the song is about someone doing something wrong to upset a girl so now he is trying to convince her to let it go and be happy.
5) There's a party going on and the singer is walking through trying to get to the girl he wants. He dances a lot with people in a formation behind him. The song mainly takes place in the different rooms of a big house. Another singer joins in half way through in a more abstract area.
6) 0:00 - He is getting ready and then goes towards the girls to see wahts wrong. He pushes a button and a magic effect makes a chandelier and a room full of people dancing appear.

0:30 - Doors get opened for him and he walks in as a girl goes towards him. Someone puts his jacket on him and they all start dancing.

1:00 - Walks into a new room and all the dance with him leading.

1:30 - Him and the girl are alone outside and then walk in together. He dances with 2 girls but then goes back to his one.

2:00 - Fast cuts of dancing as he sings. The him and the girl dancing alone.

2:30 - New singer appears and the background changes to red. Abstract cuts relating to lyrics. Star glitter in the background.

3:00 - Man and woman go to new room. Cut aways to different red area with a man sitting down. Shots of singer in background and money symbols.

7) The video is a narrative with some abstract. He lip syncs throughout and dances regularly. It is a narrative when he is in the house with the party but abstract when the second singer is introduced.
8) The lyrics almost fit the song but isn't literal to everything he says. When it goes anbstract, the background and effects link more to the lyrics.
9) I think the target audience is male teenagers.
10) In the video we meet Jay Sean, the artist. Lil Wayne is also introduced towards the end of the song. The main focus is on Jay Sean, following what he does.
11) The majority of the video takes place in a massive house and all its rooms. A small section is outside by a wall, but very little. The video also takes place in an abstact area towards the end.
12) The video has a romantic atmosphere and leaves the audience in an uplifted mood.

13) The use of special effects draws my attention to the video in particular.

14) The artist is tryin to present himself as being very smooth and a talented artist.

15) I think the combination of lyrics and the video work very well. The change of style of music with the change of background works well.

Analysis of The Killers - Somebody Told Me

1) The Killers - Somebody Told Me

2) Released - 15 March 2004
3) Director - Brett Simon
4) I think the lyrics are saying that someone wants to go out with a girl that isn't tha

t interested in him.5) The video is mainly the band performing with a screen in the background that shows different images or clips. It's mainly focussed on the singer lip syncing but allso shows each member of the band.

6) 0:00 - Starts showing weird lights. Band shown in sillouhette. Drummer is the first person shown. Abstract and performance.

0:30 - Cuts to each member of band. Shows band as whole. Shows background.

1:00 - Longshot of band. Moving camera. Close up of lip syncing.

1:30 - Same throughout.

2:00 - Repeats as before. Music loses drums for a while.

2:30 - Choras again. Girl dancing in front of screen. "The Killers" flies out.

3:00 - Goes to day time. Extreme longshot to show isolation of band. Band takes instruments off and stop.

7) It is a performance video showing the band playing the instruments while singing.
8) There isn't an obvious connection between the video and lyrics. The video is them performing as a band rather than showing lyrics.
9) I think the target audience are early 20's/ late teen females. Males may like seeing how the band play their instruments.
10) We meet the whole band in the video. The whole video is focussed on the band.
11) The video takes place in a desert with a big screen behind the band. They are outside throughout but it changes from night to day.
12) The video has a strange atmosphere but doesn't affect me personally.
13) Their weird clothing attracts you to the video and females may be drawn in by the singer.
14) The band uses the video to present themselves as normal and not needing to use lots of help to make good music. They can just turn up anywhere and play.
15) I don't think the video works too well. It is good as showing the band and their talent but its the same thing throught the whole song.