Analysing Music Videos – Applying Goodwin's Theory

By Karla Costa

Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran – Everything Has Changed This music video is structured as a narrative

video. There is a clear story behind it where two young children who symbolise Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are falling in love. They are experiencing school and are exploring childhood together.

Genre: Romantic, pop

Link Between Visuals & Lyrics Whilst all the other kids re in

the background, blurred out, the main focus is on the two kids who run out of class. “open up the door for you”

“And lead me there tonight”, he shown to be taking the girl into the hall.

The Demand of Record Label At the end of the video, the record label is presented.

This is great publicity for the label due to the fact that it is advertised to the large number of views of the audience that watches this music video.

This record label will hold a certain reputation that requires this song and video to fit into. As a result of the record label being a smaller company, they are less likely to take risks than a larger company. Big Machine Company is based in Nashville and mainly specialises in country artists and therefor explicit video would not fit into to their companies image.

Visuals This video is set in a school location and as a

result of there being a large number of people featuring in the video, the editor has blurred out the other kinds who are less important in the video and placed the main focus on the two main characters who appear to have a childhood crush. Although “everything has changed” as when Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift feature in the video at the end, they are no longer in love, their children have taken their place.

Representation Of Artists The artists are only shown towards the

end of the video as they have been replaced with two young children who are meant to represent them.

They are shown as once being in love which is shown by the eye contact mad between them, although they have grown apart.

Ariana Grande - Focus This video is a performance. The artist

features in it throughout and is the main character. Ariana Grande also changed her close when she changes location.

Link Between Visuals & Lyrics “Focus on me”, the artist is shown to

be taking a picture of herself as if she is someone of high status, demanding attention.

“I’m about to put them all away”, her hand movements are as if she is moving something away from her, a fleeing action.

When “Focus on me” is repeated, a group of women are dancing but due to the fact that she is wearing less than the others, the attention is on her.

Link Between Music & Visuals When the sound of the chime is heard, she winks

at the camera.

Shows Voyeurism Ariana Grande is wearing a

provocative outfit and is also in a sexual position which can attract the interest of many as a result of its sexual nature.

Notion Of Looking In this image below, Ariana Grande is shown

to be looking into the camera whilst dancing along with the music sexually. A a result of this it catches the audience attention.

Representation Of Artist Focuses on Ariana Grande’s hair style

and clothing choice which is revealing and provocative. This attracts the male viewers.

Fifth Harmony - Work from Home ft. Ty Dolla $ign Finally, this music video is in the form of

a performance. The band are shown to be dancing and singing in many different locations and costumes.

Genre: Pop

Link Between Visuals & Lyrics “I just need your body”, her hand movements that run

along her body is a sexual message to the men that are working.

“Can you make em clap”. “Take it to the ground”. The girls are slowly moving down

towards the ground in a sexual way.

Link Between Music & Visuals The choreography is well adapted to fit

into the music. Every time the song reaches the

chorus, the camera focuses on the whole group rather than just one where they are synchronized.

Intertextuality The name of the song and the artists

are placed on the outer packaging of bricks at the start of the video for publicity.

Representation Of Artists The band are surrounded by male, muscular

builders. The women in the band catch their attention as a result of their dancing and also clothing choices. All the singers are wearing short bottoms and also a cropped top which shows of their bodies and consequently catches the eyes of the men.

Voyeurism These women are on a building site where

they are dressed in revealing work cloths surrounded by topless, sweaty men. Whilst dancing, they are shown to be dancing in a sexual manner to entertain the audience. The women are seen to be trying to get the men’s attention by dancing in this way. They are also using the object used for building as a dancing companion which is indicated on the tractor. By dancing like this they are acting as if they are sexual objects for the men.The way that they are looking at the camera (notion of looking) is shown to be in a sexual manner.

E.T. - Katy Pery This song is a conceptual music video

as it is based on the idea that Katy Perry is an alien in space. This idea is metaphorical as it is based on the love between this two people, and the way that he has influenced her, “You opened my eyes”.

Link Between Visuals & Lyrics “Different DNA”, the lyrics are shown

with an image of a DNA structure. “You opened my eyes”, Katy Perry is

shown to open her eyes in time with the lyrics.

“A different dimension” - she is floating in space with a planet in the background.

Link Between Music & Visuals Throughout the music video, the mise-

en-scene links with the music. For example, the music is about how

this man has made had an effect on her emotionally.

Representation Of The Artist Katy Perry is wearing an alien costume

throughout the music video although the style outfits change. She is shown to be conservative which is indicated through her lyrics and choice clothing.

Kanye West on the other hand if floating in the air wearing normal, smart cloths.

Notion Of Looking Towards the end of the music video

when Katy Perry revives Kanye West, they are looking deeply into each others eyes which indicates that there is love between them.