Styles of Music Video

To begin our music video project, We began looking at the different types of music videos and soon found that most music videos fall into three main categories of the way in which they are presented.
We chose one music video from each category and further analysed them.
These categories are:
-Performance music videos: David Bowie, Life on Mars?
-Conceptual music videos: Queen, I Want to Break Free
and
-Narrative music videos: Bon Jovi, Always

We analysed the music videos by commenting on the main style of the video and the stages that it goes through, describing the image of the artist, describing the purpose of the music video and if there were any 'WOW' moments within the video.

Describe the style of the music video. Describe the 'stages' the video goes through.
David Bowie, Life on Mars?



This video is a performance piece by David Bowie. As you can see, there are lots of long shots used to present the detail in his person. He is very serious in his appearance to show that this performance is not humorous and is important. the detail allows the audience to connect with the artist through the bold makeup and 'different' colour suit to the classic black suit and tie.

Queen, I Want to Break Free



This video is more humorous than David Bowies, Life on Mars? 
The first shot involves Freddie Mercury, dressed as a woman hoovering a carpet which is very humorous for the audience to watch because they are not used to seeing him in this light. This music video is based on the concept of wanting something more out of life. Freddie is dressed as a house wife but only dreams to be in the 'bigger world' so the video progresses to reveal Freddie looking at a photograph hanging in the wall of the house, only to notice that as the photograph zooms in, it comes to life and he is actually in the shot.

Bon Jovi, Always



this narrative video involves the heartbreak of a man who loses his girlfriend due to cheating and then realises that he has a made a big mistake, only to find that when he returns after he, she has gone off with another guy.
The story begins very mellow and comfortable as the couple are in love. As the song progresses, so does the video. It becomes heightened. The characters begin to get enhance their performance and become more intriguing. 
There are cutaways to show the performance of Bon Jovi playing with passion throughout the whole video, becoming more intense and emphasised just like the characters do as the video progresses.

Describe the image of the artist(s) that is being represented. How is this technically achieved?
David Bowie, Life on Mars? 
In this video, David Bowie is being represented as being serious about the issue he is singing about. He is singing about being alone and not fitting in his world. The use of extreme close ups allow the audience to connect with him. His outfit and extreme outfit allow us to see that he is 'different' to the typical stereotypical artist, therefore clarifying his position he is singing about in his song.
Queen, I Want to Break Free
Freddie Mercury is being represented as very humorous in this video. He is dressed as a woman and is acting very melodramatic, therefore allowing the audience to enjoy the song and enjoy his performance.
Bon Jovi, Always
Bon Jovi are being represented as very passionate about there song. As they sing about love, they show the passion in their voices and connect well with the song, therefore allowing the audience to become involved with the lyrics.

What is the purpose of the music video? What is it designed to do to your opinion?
David Bowie, Life on Mars?
David Bowie is trying to send a serious message in this video that he feels alone in the world and is different. On the contrary he is showing he isn't afraid to be different because of the extravagancy of his makeup and the colour of his suit. He is the only person in the whole music video which shows he is not afraid to be the centre of attention, yet at the same time, he is singing about a sensitive topic of not being the centre of attention.
Queen, I Want to Break Free
This video is more for the audience to relate their lives to it. People always want to strive for their larger dreams and so this video gives the lyrics justice and puts the artists in the same position as the audience of always wanting more out of their life.
Bon Jovi, Always
This video is very specific in the narrative and what actually happens therefore it is harder for the audience to actually relate in detail. But by watching this, the audience can still feel some of what the characters might be feeling, therefore trying to send the message of losing and learning, and always remembering that love is not a hard emotion to simply release.

Any 'WOW' moments?
David Bowie, Life on Mars?
The first vertical pan revealing David Bowie in a close up of his face and his body.
Queen, I Want to Break Free
The first moment we see Freddie Mercury dressed as a woman
Bon Jovi, Always
The moment that the boyfriend lights fire to an apartment of a man that his girlfriend was seeing. It amplifies the smoothness of the video.

Music Video Representation

We looked at the representation of particular artists in their music videos. This included:

-solo female: Beyoncé, Crazy in Love- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViwtNLUqkMY

-solo male: Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp-EO5I60KA

-boy group:Backstreet Boys, I Want it That Way-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg

-girl group: All Saints, Black Coffee-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Xej6Sz5nU

-male band: Muse, Mercy-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5bjJzJ-T4c

-female band: Hole, Celebrity skin-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3dWBLoU--E

After looking at all of these music videos, We then commented on the representation of each artist, and also commented on features of the music video style and the way in which it complements the according representation.

BEYONCÉ-CRAZY IN LOVE

comments on representation: 

• used to contribute to the Male Gaze.
• Beyoncé is central to the camera composition 
• used to convert girl power
• her ethnicity is represented as being Ghetto stylish and glamourised

comments on features of the music video style:

• her body is emphasised as being sexy
• romance and flirtation with Jay-Z the male character

ED SHEERAN-THINKING OUT LOUD

comments on representation:

• his loyalty to the female character 
• non threatening, innocent, romantic
• he is showing elegance
• metrosexuality contributing to emotional depth 

comments on features of the music video style:

• balanced between both genders
• female gaze, sleeves rolled up to reveal tattoos, nice suit.

BACKSTREET BOYS-I WANT IT THAT WAY

comments on representation:

• they are represented as a group
• suggestively desirable, through the fans in their video, having a named jet
• being unthreatening and presented as the boys next door
• each member has a significant identity 

comments on features of the music video:

• a shared harmonised chorus
• individual solos
• a dance break
• singing to the camera, pointing=inviting

ALL SAINTS- BLACK COFFEE

comments on representation:

• the male gaze isn't as large as the female solo
• they show a sense of girl unity

comments on features of the music video:

• individual segments 
• harmonising chorus

HOLE-CELEBRITY SKIN

comments on representation:

• challenging 
• direct to the camera
• quite intense
• hierocracy of hollywood glamour 

comments on features of the music video:

• fast paced
• focus on the band
• lots of focus on the singer
• cutaways to singing separately