Analysing Music Videos

Katy Perry - Thinking of You

Goodwin's theory states that music genres each have their own particular characteristics which define them. Key conventions of pop videos are the performance element - where we see the artist performing their song, and either a concept or narrative based video. Katy Perry's 'Thinking of You' music video is narrative based, and although she is playing the protagonist, there are clips of her performing the song included throughout the video, therefore the video conforms to genre characteristics. A genre convention in editing is the use of fade-in and fade-out transitions, such as the opening and closing shots in the 'Thinking of You' video. The video also uses neutral colour schemes, another convention of pop music videos. The storyline of the video is also described in the lyrics, the lyrics talk about a couple separated by war, and the lyrics are reflected through the visuals of the music video; the video provides insight to the woman's life and relationship before the war, and shows her failing attempt to move on with another man. One particular example is where the artist sings: "I'm thinking of you", and the video cuts to a flashback clip of the couple, symbolising whom she is thinking of. The editing also amplifies the music, as jump cuts are made to the beat.

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Billie Jean is another Pop-style music video, and seems to follow similar genre characteristics, with a large basis on narrative, but mixed with the artist's own style. The lyrics of the song are loosely represented throughout the video, for example, something as simple as when the word 'round' is used in the song, the artist spins during his dance sequence. There is a strong connection between the music and the visuals, in the definitive scene where the paving slabs light up, Jackson stands on the steps in time with the beat of the music. The artist's dancing is also in time with the beat. Michael Jackson also built his brand identity through his videos, this video portrays Jackson as a star, as he is shown turning everything he touches into 'gold'. There are also examples of voyeuristic points of view, one scene that displays the notion of looking is when the camera in the window is taking a shot of the reporter sneaking up behind Jackson, and the polaroid prints out showing just the man and the pole, with Jackson missing.

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal

This is a cover of a pop song, which has keep the original lyrics, but changed the genre and instruments used. There is reference to the original song and it's artist, as the band does Michael Jackson's signature lean in the early stages of the video, and also at one point the band steps onto the pavement, and the floor below them lights up, like the music video for 'Billie Jean'. It is a mixture in genres between alternative rock and maybe metal. The video itself is a performance and not narrative based, therefore the lyrics do not connect with the video. The tempo is important in this genre of music as it is used to keep rythm within the band, and the video emphasises this by showing the band moving to the beat. One other thing which emphasises the genre is the fact that we see the artists playing the instruments. The artists themselves have built up a reputation of a band who like to cause mayhem, this is shown in the video as they perform to a huge, out of control crowd in the middle of a wrestling ring. This style is also frequented in their other videos, and they create their own image through this, and also elements of humour to show they don't take themselves too seriously.