My Music Video Analysis

Abbi Finney

Alexandre Burke – Bad Boys

Girls Aloud - Jump

Beyonce – Single Ladies

Alexandra Burke – Bad Boys

I found this video on YouTube. Alexandra Burke is the 2008 X Factor winner, so there were many high expectations and media speculation on what this video would be like. Alexandra really had to pull out the stops to satisfy the media. I think she has done a good job, and you can see she has put a lot of effort in it along with Syco music and the video producers. Alexandra has also teamed up with Flow Rida to add more of the wow factor to her music. The video takes the form of the typical dark, gloomy type of basement setting, with the dancers bringing the scene to life. This is quite typical in RnB singers. For example Timberland ft. Nicole Sherzinger and Keri Hilson also used the same sort of setting in the ‘Scream’ Video. The dancers don’t seem to a have a particular dance routine, but it is very well choreographed as they bounce off what Alexandra is doing.

For example: At this particular point in the video, Alexandra stops, mid walk, and acts as if she is pushing the guys away, they dramatise this move and all jump out in different directions. All the dramatic movements go hand in hand with the beat of the music. It is as if they would do anything Alexandra does. Screen shot (1)

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Alexandra does later break into a choreographed routine, showing off her dancing abilities, which the dancers join in with. The whole performance is professional and well timed together. During this dance routine, there are two different camera shots of Alexandra. One where she is dancing with the dancers, dressed in black leather, the other, a more relaxed Alexandra, dressed in a silver sparkly dress. Still in the same setting, but Alexandra seems to look more relaxed in the quick glimpse we get of her on her own.

The quick editing of the camera work only gives us a short clip of Alexandra in a different scene, which works well, as it quickly goes back to the dance routine.

Alexandra is lip synching the whole way through the song. Even as the camera changes scene, with Alexandra on her own, she still lip synchs as she does when dancing. This works well as she is also telling the story through her movements. She always seems in character and as if she really understands and believes in what she is singing about. As she is singing the lyrics, her movements always go with the beat of the music.

When Flo Rida joins the video, (screen shot 2) the who arrangement changes. The dancers start to live up to the ‘Bay Boys’ reputation. Flo Rida, keeps his cool, swarve look, as he stands near a wall with spotlights on him, whilst the dancers break loose!

Alexandra looks very relaxed and almost arrogant, but this shines through as a good arrogance as it shows as confidence. Alexandra's eye contact with the camera is amazing! She is always focused on the

camera, and it is really striking as a viewer, as she seems to connect with the audience.

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(cont. from last page) . As the music style changes, with Flo Rida’s rapping, so does the atmosphere of the video.

The dancers start fighting, and Alexandra is no where to be seen. When Alexandra does return, she certainly makes an entrance as she flips over the dancers. (screen shot 3) This is obviously edited in to the shot. There is a dramatic break in the song, where once again Alexandra makes an entrance, looking stunning, making the guys stare. The next point in the video, is where Alexandra starts a dance routine off. She begins to dance, and gradually the dancers join in. (screen shot 4) This is a really good feature to the video as it is an impressive dance routine.

All in all, I think Alexandra Burke has definitely made her mark in the music industry with this music video. It is modern, inventive and there is some impressive dancing too!

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Alexandra Burke – Bad Boys Lyrics

[Flo Rida] Flo Rida

Alexandra girl, i know what you like.

[Alexandra] Some people call them players but I’m far from terrified Somehow I’m drawn to danger and have been all my life It feels my heart's divided halfway between wrong and right I know I'm playin with fire but I don't mind

[Chorus] Yeah, the bad boys are always catching my eye, I said the bad boys are always spinning in my mind, Even though I know they’re no good for me it’s the risk I take for the chemistry, With the bad boys always catching my eye

Ooooah

Girls Aloud - Jump Girls aloud shot to fame in 2002, after appearing on Pop Stars: The Rivals. The group were put together after a series of auditions, and live performances in front of audiences of millions, who eventually decided who would make the band. They were signed to Polydor records and have 20 consecutive top 10 hits to date.This particular song of Girls Aloud, has a comical video, representing the link with the film Love Actually. Originally Girls Aloud were due to sing Jump in the film. This decision later got changed and the original Pointer Sisters track was put in the film. Jump, sung by Girls Aloud, was still released and on the Love Actually soundtrack in 2003.The whole video is based on the film. This is similar to videos such as ‘Beyonce – Listen’ which are also songs that are featured in films, which is ‘Dream Girls’. The first scene of the video is the girls climbing through a window, this is later shown it is the window to Number 10, Downing Street, which is where the main scenes of the film is set. The girls are acting as if they are breaking in to the house, which is really playing the part, as normally outsiders would not be allowed into the prime ministers house. In the video girls aloud are effectively acting as if they are in the film. The editing is done so the scenes in the film are bouncing off the lyrics of the song. For example:

In this scene, we can see the girls acting as if they are listening to what is going on in the next room. The next shot we can see a clip from the film, where the characters are having a board meeting. (Screen shot 1)(1)

(Cont. from last page) This is very good and effective editing, as the video seems to tell a story. As the video goes on we can see that there is two main stories. The first is obviously the link with the film Love Actually, the other is simply the girls performing their song. There is no real structure to the video, as in choreography, it is very freestyle and looks as if the girls are just having fun! They are lip synching parts to the song and performing it with freestyle dance to the beat. The girls also have great eye contact with the camera, which makes it look as if they are interacting with the audience. The fast based editing makes it easy to define the two scenes. The main part of the singing is based in a bedroom. The lighting and effects on the scene, brings the bedroom alive, to co-operate with the fast paced, up-beat music.

This is another example of scenes from the film, being used with the words from the scene. The lyrics here are ‘Jump’. They have linked the lyrics with the visuals and edited these shots quickly back to Girls Aloud. (Screen shot 2)

Throughout the video, Girls Aloud do not have an costume changes, and the clothes they are wearing are very casual and sporty, accessorised by high heels, to add femininity. As a viewer you can tell that the girls are trying to look natural and like they are enjoying themselves, which fits perfectly with the genre of music they are singing. The video works so well because the dancing, singing and acting all fit together with the genre of music. The fresh, pop music brings a lively feel to the music, and the performance from the girls adds to this, that is why i enjoyed this video so much!

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Girls Aloud - Jump Lyrics

Your eyes, tell me how you want meI can feel it in your heart beatI know you like what you seeHold me, I'll give you all that you needWrap your love around meYou're so excited, I can feel you getting hotter, oh baby

I'll take you down, I'll take you downWhere no one's ever gone beforeAnd if you want more, if you want moreMore, more

Then, Jump!For my loveJump in!And feel my touchJump, if you want to taste my kisses in the night then,Jump for my loveI know my heart can make you happyJump in! You know these arms can feel you upJump, if you want to taste my kisses in the night then,Jump! For my love

Beyonce – Single LadiesBeyonce, once a member of Destiny’s Child, is an American RnB/pop singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, choreographer, video director, actress and model. She has sold over 75 million records worldwide, including her solo records. She is also the female artist with the most cumulative weeks at number one this decade, with 37 total weeks at number one. Beyonce has also been involved in films including ‘Dream Girls’ which she released the song ‘Listen’ after it was such a hit in the film.

On the release of ‘Single Ladies’ everyone went mad for Beyonce. This was when she released her album ‘I am....Sasha Fierce’ and embarked on a worldwide tour. The aim concept of the video is so simple. Three girls dancing, with a plain white backdrop, yet it works fantastically. Beyonce, accompanied with two dancers perform a perfectly choreographed dance routine in perfect timing. The three girls in the video wear simple but effective costumes, all

wearing the same. (Screen shot 1) For Beyonce to wear almost identical outfits, it shows how Beyonce is the same as the dancers. She is not trying to show that she is the main focus, and wants to be centre of attention. The outfits could be described as exhibitionism, as they are slightly provocative and skimpy. Beyonce and the dancers work well together, performing in perfect synch. (1)

Beyonce is lip synching throughout the video and you can see that she is telling the story of the song. Some of the words that she sings, she uses hand gestures to show what she is singing. For example ‘I got gloss

on my lips, a man on my hips’ this is shown in the screen shot (2). Beyonce and the dancers also use dance moves to the words ‘Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it’ on every chorus. Throughout the video, the camera angle does not change very much. There is a central view of Beyonce and her dancers. The focus is always on them as there is nothing else to see. There is no use of props, or backdrops of any description. The lighting is also very simple, a spotlight on the three girls. The rest of the scene is quite dark so the spotlight reflects well on the girls. There is a change in lighting as the build up to the chorus begins. The whole shot becomes a lot brighter and this works extremely well as the dark costumes they dancers are wearing stands out from the bright light. This is shown in the screen shot (3). There is not much editing used in the video, as there is no real change between shots.Personally, I enjoyed watching this video as I

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think Beyonce interacts with the audience really well, and the dancing is amazing!

All the single ladies (7x)Now put your hands upUp in the club, we just broke upI’m doing my own little thingyou Decided to dip but now you wanna tripCuz another brother noticed meI’m up on him, he up on medont pay him any attentioncuz i cried my tears, GAVE three good yearsYa can’t be mad at me

[Chorus]Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on itIf you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on itDon’t be mad once you see that he want itIf you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

Beyonce – Single Ladies Lyrics