OMG by Usher (Andrew Goodwin Theory)

The Genre and Characteristics:

General examples
The music video most of the time narrative bright lighting, a lot of dance choreography.

Detailed example
The lighting used are strobe lighting, coloured lights. Using chroma key effects and digital made backgrounds. Mimed singer. All bright and smooth high budgets.

The relationship between lyrics and visuals?
The relationship is well integrated the lyrics are also expressed visually both work together.

The relationship between the music and the visuals?
The music is aligning with the dance chorography, and the digital backgrounds suit the style of the music.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
The video consists of close up shots of the artist, miming his song. And showing what he does best, well-choreographed dance moves, and fashionably cool dressed he is with different outfits and his black shades. Well groomed to look the best he can. All this to sell the artist and his style.

Is there reference to notion of looking?
Yes this video shows women dancing around him under his control and dressed in erotic office wear. Which this flows through all R&B music videos

Is there intertextual reference?
Is very similar to most R&B music videos of today full of CGI, strong dance, chorography, major lighting effects totally glamorised and carrying on with this treatment of women’s body for men’s pleasure
Is it performance based or narrative based and how much: It is performance based and narrative all through with many camera cuts to different things going on .

Basic Codes and Conventions

CGI
LIGHTING EFFECTS
DANCE CHOROGRAPHY
THE WAY WOMEN ARE PORTRAYED FOR MENS PLEASURE
MIMING TO MUSIC
STYLISH CLOTHING

Sweet child o' mine by Guns and Roses ( andrew goodwin theory method)

The Genre and Characteristics:

General examples
The music video is mainly filmed on a stage format, were all the band equipment is on show. Like the guitars, mic stand and the drums. And is set in a warehouse style place which are the styles of a rock band rough and edgy.
Detailed example
The lighting is dark and dingy with a little light coming through on top of were their performing. Their clothing is typical scruffy, with lots of black leather all compononents of a rock band.

The relationship between lyrics and visuals?
The relationship is contradicted there is not much comparison, the visuals is showing them as a band performing the song there is a little bit of narrative to it. The visual is not explaining all of the lyrics. But does show breath ones for example “she got eyes” then it would cut into girl’s eyes then back to the band just how they perform the song.

The relationship between the music and the visuals?
The both seem integrated and fits well together as the music gets fast so does the editing, making quick cuts to match the songs speed. As the song slows it shows flashes of behind the scene work.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
The video consists of close up shot of each member of the band, singing into the mic or playing their instrument to show that they are creating their music and showing that this is a rock band as rock is all about composing your music and the performance you show, with primary instruments like guitars and drums. And showing them as a band doing this.

Is there reference to notion of looking? No this is purely showing the band and how they play on live gigs.

Is there intertextual reference: only the styles of other rock bands. Like main scene stage or garage type place, similar lighting and same camera movements.

Is it performance based or narrative based and how much: It is performance based all through with flashes of them showing behind the scenes camera people and sound editors appearing in as well as the stage visuals.


Basic Codes and conventions :

more performance less narrative
show use of instruments
little lighting
main focus is the band
show performance
close-up of band members in action

Goodwin's music video theory

Andrew Goodwin’s theory
Music video analysis

Andrew Godwin writing in “ Dancing in the distraction factory”
(Rout ledge 1992)

1. Music Videos demonstrate Genre and Characteristics E.g. stage performance for a rock band or nigh club based for dance music.

2. That there is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals you are showing. Or the relationship between the two that they contradict each other.

3. The Demands of the record label, that will include the need for lots of close ups of the Artists and the developments of motifs. Which recur across most of the Artists work. This is called the Visual Style.

4. Voyeurism is used to increase the videos attractiveness, particularly to males, whilst intertextuality is often in humorous videos

5. Intertextual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts, these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewer/fans