Dan Media Explosion: unit 16

unit 16

music video thory

Andrew Goodwin's music video theory- Dancing in the distraction factory

Backstreet boys-Everybody

1) Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics

The music video 'Everybody' is in the style of the horror genre. Its got a very 1990's cliche feel. Its very cheesy and dramatic at the same time. The dancing, props and costumes reflect this. It has slight similarities to the musical phantom of the opera. They have used certain props and choreography that is similar to this musical but have given it their own pop element.

Comparison between Backstreet Boys' everybody and Calvin Harris-This is what you came for feat Rhianna. The genre isn't as apparent as in the backstreet boys video because there isn't much of a story line and there is a lot of special effects used such as flashing lights and use of green screens. It is similar to what you would expect to see in some independent art films. It also has a sense of sci-fi to it. Some of the scenes could be related to the matrix. In conclusion the backstreet boys music video shows a clearer genre than other music video I have looked at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M6samPEMpM- Backstreet boys-Everybody

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOkQ4T5WO9E- Calvin Harris - This Is What You Came For ft. Rihanna.

2) There is frequently reference to notion of looking

The music video starts off with telling a story with no music or dancing. It then develops to a highly organised choreographed dance that is reasonably innocent and doesn't have any voyeuristic treatment of the female body. The scenes of this cuts to the member's of the group turning into monsters and then cuts to a voyeuristic scene of a scantly dressed attractive female looking directly into the camera with wind blowing into her hair. Another suggestive scene is a female licking a coffin. Another voyeuristic scene is when a member of the group dressed as a vampire is being very touchy feely towards an attractive female and it shows him almost kissing her neck.

Comparison between Backstreet boys- Everybody and Disclosure - Magnets ft. Lorde. Disclosure's music video is very sexual. The whole music video is based around the main singer having an affair and shows quite a lot of sexual scenes surrounding this event. Compared to backstreet boys this video is way more explicit. Backstreet boys are more hinting towards voyeuristic scenes whereas the other music video is very upfront with the voyeuristic treatment of the female body. This video follows Andrew Goodwin's rule a lot more than the backstreet boys's music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_KfnGBtVeA Disclosure - Magnets ft. Lorde

3) There is a relationship between music and visuals

In this music video there is not a lot of connection between the lyrics and the plot. The lyrics are very generic and describe having a party. There a couple of scenes where the lyrics match up to the plot. The lyrics "throw your hand up in the air" then shows a couple of actors dancing with their hands in the air. The lyrics "rock your body" and "shake your body" shows various actors and dancing doing exactly this.

Comparison between The Streets - Blinded By Lights and the Backstreet boys-Everybody. In the streets music video the main singer does nearly everything that he say's. For example "I wish this bar lady would appear so she can come and serve overhear" The scene shows him waiting at a bar. Whereas in the Backstreet boys's video it doesn't follow Andrew Goodwin's rule anywhere near as much as it does in the streets music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSe95yskUoI -The streets-blinded by the lights

4) Demands of record label will include lots of close ups of the artist:

In Britney Spear's video "Hit me baby one more time" lots of close ups are used to promote the artist's image. Although there's lots of back up dancers, Britney is the main focus. This was one of Britney's first music video as she was just starting out in the industry so we can assume the record label wanted to get her image known.

However, in the Backstreet Boys' video of "Everybody" there are not as many close ups because they were already quite established. In this particular music video they are not their usual selves, they are dressed up as monsters. As they were a group, there isn't any one person that is the main focus and furthermore the video's purpose was to draw people in by using lots of different people, not just the band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-u5WLJ9Yk4- Britney Spears hit me baby one more time

5) Intertextual references to audiences: