They include modern costume which helps audiences relate to the artist. Props such as mobile phones, every day items which again help audiences connect and familiarise with the arist/band.
Settings were every day settings this creates verisimilatude.
A linear Narrative structure so audiences are able to have a full understanding of beginning, middle and end. Camera shots were mainly close ups and medium shots, enabling the audience to relate and have an understanding of the artists feelings and thoughts. Camera movements seemed to have alot of zoom ins and zoom outs, this shows the build up of seeing the artist up close.
Here is my analysis of 6 R&B videos including a sample of a few R&B videos that i analysed...
Ne-Yo: ‘Mad’
This music video by Ne-Yo applies Todorov’s narrative theory. The equilibrium is when the couple are arguing, the disruption is when the male protagonist is run over and killed. The realization of the disruption is the funeral where the female protagonist is crying. The attempt to repair the damage is the female protagonist is crying trying to grieve and then let go. Finally the new state of equilibrium is the female protagonist leaving the cemetery an indication of her moving on which results into the ghost of the male protagonist disappearing. The disappearance of him at the end symbolizes that he can move on now knowing that his lover is okay. Camera shots that are used are close ups and medium close ups, these shots are significant as we get an indication of what the characters are feeling and audience get to see their facial expressions which is a connotation of their emotions. There are lots of straight cuts from the man to the woman the use of straight cuts indicates how strong their connection is to one another. The settings in this video are every day settings for example in this video the main settings are in an apartment, the road of where he was killed and the cemetery. All of these settings have an important significance as the apartment is where the couple live, the cemetery is where he has been buried and where he was killed are small elements which help build up the narrative.
Through out the narrative there are camera shots of the artist singing; here we can really connect with the artist and his emotions. The line ‘Baby I know sometimes it’s gonna rain’ plays a significant part because when this line is being played the artist is being shot in the rain, this is simplistic but very effective at the same time. The costume is modern which helps audiences familiarize with the artist. For example the artist is wearing jeans, trainers, hoody and a hat and the female protagonist is wearing modern sophisticated clothes.
Chris Brown: ‘With You’
This video is set in a public setting which helps audiences familiarize and relate to the artist. It starts off with different shots of the city and people walking around, this creates verisimilitude. What is very interesting is the artist’s jumper changes colour. In my interpretation this could symbolize the changing of his mood. There are fade inns and fade outs which show an indication of changes between different scenes but it is also an indication of the artist’s change of costume.
The costume he wears again is youthful and modern which helps captivate audiences and to help them familiarize with the artist. His facial expressions tell a lot about his personality. There is a scene where Chris Brown is on the bus and in this scene there are straight cuts between him and other people this shows the relationship and bond that certain people have on the bus with one another which is relevant to the song as it is a song talking about love.
Towards the end of the song the artist kneels on the floor singing and showing his emotions, this challenges male stereotypes of being all tough and creates the idea that in fact men can be sensitive and warm. In this case the artist isn’t afraid of showing his feelings. The lighting is high key, this allows verisimilitude to be created.
Rihanna: ‘Unfaithful’
The first thing we notice in the video is the artist’s costume which is a revealing sexy black dress this automatically connotes the idea of women being portrayed as sex symbols. Her costume alternates through out the video and her other choice of wardrobe appears to be modern and casual again this helps the artist to relate with the audience and also creates verisimilitude. In this video propps character’s theory is applied. The artist could be interpreted as the princess or the villain. She could be interpreted as a princess because she needs rescue and help into making her decision on which man to have. However she could be seen as the villain as she is cheating on her boyfriend. The camera shots which are most common in this video are close ups and medium close ups, these types of shots are relevant to this video as it really captivates the emotions on the two male protagonists and the female protagonist (artist).
The settings in this video are every day settings for example settings in this video are a bedroom, a public street and a café. Obviously all audiences can relate to these settings as these are settings in which we come across every day of our lives. The whole concept of this video challenges female stereotypes as we usually expect and suspect that it is always males that do the cheating. However in this video it is the female protagonist doing the dirty. The use of fast straight cuts is very effective as it builds up the suspense to the narrative. The lighting within this video tends to be high key which creates verisimilitude.
It came to my attention that the lighting differs when she is with each male. When she is with her boyfriend it is bright and high key connoting innocence and purity. Where as when she is with the other male lighting is low an indication that being with him is wrong.
Usher ‘Burn’
This video entails high key lighting in order to create verisimilitude. We first see the male artist sitting in a chair singing his emotions that in which he feels like his relationship is failing despite still having feelings for his lover. The picture behind him is a big picture of a female this automatically gives us an indication that the photo is an image of his ‘girlfriend’. There are a wide variety of shots used in this video as there are close ups, medium close ups, medium long shots and at certain points there are extreme close ups where we only capture an image of his eyes. That image is portrayed at the beginning of the video, this is effective as we get a reaction of what he is feeling. We see Usher in his home which indicates his power and wealth but also shows having a big nice house and having luxuries doesn’t necessarily buy someone happiness because in this video he seems more upset and unhappy than ever.
Straight cuts between the male protagonist and the female protagonist automatically show us their connection with one another. There is a scene where she jumps into a huge swimming pool which then starts to burn on fire. This is ironic as it relates to the song as it is called ‘Burn’. The pool being set on fire is also symbolic for their relationship ending and her walking out of his life.
There are also low angle shots which look upon the artist, moments like this give the artist recognition and audiences have all eyes on him.
White flashes are used through out, these white flashes help to represent flash backs to when the male protagonist was with the female protagonist. This helps piece the narrative together well as audiences can differentiate what scenes are the present and what scenes are the past.
Alesha Dixon ‘To Love Again’
The setting of the music video contrasts with the melancholy mood of the song being about a love that the artist has lost. The setting seems to be in a park with leaves every where representing autumn which autumn represents cold weather, which you could say the weather represents the artists emotions in this song. There are fade throughs through out this video. At the beginning the sun is shining down on her face which can give audiences the impression that she is a beautiful independent woman. The close ups of the female protagonist helps audiences to relate to the artist and relate to similar experiences that we may have gone through.
The sun seems to shine on her making her shimmer and stand out. This is effective as all attention is on her and we could suggest that the song is very personal to her. Alesha Dixon wears only one costume through out that in which she only appears to be wearing her winter coat. Her legs are on show indicating a sophisticated but sexy look at the same time again reinforcing the idea that women are seen as sex iconic symbols.
At the start of the video it is day and at the end of the video it is night time this could be a connotation of the beginning and the end of the song. Not only that but it could be interpreted as her long emotional journey.
Akon: ‘Beautiful’
There are flashing lights at the beginning this is a representation of a camera taking photos. Through out the video the back ground is plain and simple there is a continuous transition from a white to a black background with a few lights. This technique allows more attention to be focused on the artists and the female characters. In every scene there is a different woman with the artist, each woman is dressed sexy but sophisticated. This image being portrayed from the women through out make them look appealing and attractive but at the same time making them look respectful. This in my opinion contrasts with the title of the song beautiful because of course the artist is singing about the women with him in the music video.
Different camera shots are used through out. There are long shots and medium close ups, by having these different ranges of shots it makes the music video less repetitive and more interesting to watch. The male costumes are modern but flashy as they are wearing suits. This gives the audience the impression that they are wealthy and rich. Fast pace straight cuts are used to emphasise the upbeat tone of the song and again keeps the music video engaging to watch. The contrast of the backgrounds is very effective as the white shows purity and innocence and the black flashing background connotes the artist’s night and party life, almost shows a lively wild side to the song in which audiences can relate to.
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