Analysis of Music Video

Alicia Keys

• Birth Name: Alicia Augello Cook

• Occupations: Actress, Singer-Songwriter

• Genres: R&B, Pop and Soul

• Labels: Artista, Columbia J, RCA

• As I Am Album debuted number one on the Billboard 200

Analysis of Music Video

If I Ain’t Got You

• Keys said that the idea of the song was inspired by Aaliyah’s death: “The song idea came together right after Aaliyah passed away. It was such a sad time and no one wanted to believe it. It just made everything crystal clear to me- what matters, and what doesn’t.”

• Song was recorded, written and produced by Alicia Keys.

• Released in February 2004

• Keys won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for this song at the 2005 Grammy Awards.

“Life’s a boreSo full of the superficial.”

“Hand me the world on a silver platter And what good would it be With no one to shareWith no one who truly cares for me…”

• Narrative improved by visuals • Serves to a young demographic

• Contradicts the emphasis of superficiality• Individualises her as an artist

• Visuals edited to the bass• Emphasis on musical arrangement

• Importance of Keys and Piano

• Glamourised by musical talent • Centralisation

• Projected as being unaffected by fame• Ideology of empowerment, avoidance of objectification

Single Cover

Single Cover

• The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray’s 1924 painting Le Violon d’Ingres.

• The idea of the cover being bare shows the portrayal of physical things taking over a persons life.