Andrew goodwin’s key characteristics of a music video

Andrew goodwin’s key characteristics of a music video

1.

A relationship between visuals either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.

1.

“From what I heard she got a baby by Busta”

“She got one of your kids, got you for 18 years”

“We want pre nupt, we want pre nupt, yeah!”

“You don’t want a dude to smoke, but he cant buy weed”

2.A relationship between the music and visuals again either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.

2.In this part of the video he makes ajumping sign with his hand in a forward motion. This has relation to the lyrics as he sings “If you don’t like my lyrics you can press fast forward.”

In a later part of the video we can see a row of, what look like, expensive chains. The biggest one is a chain with a dollar sign which again has relation to the lyrics as he says “plus I got a few dollars.”

3.

Music genres have their own video style and iconography.

3.Grime Emo

Punk

Music genre characteristics – typical setting of a grime music video; dark dingy atmosphere and dressed in hoods

Another part of the video shows a person in a hoodie spraying graffiti. This is supporting the stereotype.

Music genre characteristics – typical setting of a emo punk music video; mainly black clothing and the men typically wearing dark heavy eye makeup.Another part of the video shows a desolate place that has an eerie depressing theme. This is supporting the stereotype.

4.

There is likely to be voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of women.

4.

The woman in this video is dancing around a pole in a tight outfit, just next to the lead singer.

This video is very similar to the top video, except there is a full shot of the woman who is wearing very little and dancing provocatively.

5.

There’s a demand on part of the record company for lots of close-ups of the main artist/vocalist.

5.

In this shot the lead singer is in the foreground while all the other members of the band are in the background

In this shot there is a close up of the lead singer completely on her own, while throughout the video this does not happen for the other members.

6.

There is likely to be intertextual references either to other music videos or to films, TV and text.

6.

The video for Shania Twain’s ‘Addicted To Love’ features an all male band playing guitars.

Which is very similar to Robert Palmer’s video for ‘Addicted To Love’ which features an all female band playing guitars.