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Music Videos Analysis

Music Videos Analysis

By Anieska Brown

History of R&B

What is R&B?

Rhythms and blue is a crossbreed of Jazz, Gospel and blues.

Typically soulful singers.

Tight Rhythm section (guitar, piano drum, bass)

Origin of R&B 50s and 60s

It was gospel music in African American churches who influences R&B Music. Back when the slaves were on the plantations working it was blues that kept them motivated, once these two genre were merged together R&B was formed.

21st Century R&B

In todays modern society there a new styles and interpretations of Soul and R&B music. The genre has really taken form in what we know today as R&B. In this decade artist such as Luther Vandross do very good job at representing of this genre.

jazz

Artists

Artist #1Usher is an American singer , songwriter, dancer and actor first in the known 1990s. Usher has become better every year,he has sold over 45 million album worldwide, he's won a number of award including 5 Grammy awards,4 music awards,4 American music award and 19 billboard awards.

The Genre of the song I will be using for my Case Study is a combination of Old School R&B and Ballad. This song be considered as a slow jam and this would evident in the instrument used; Guitar & piano, as well as the lyrics.

Image result for usher burnImage result for mariah carey we belong togetherArtist #2Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter and actresses who made her recording debut, in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. .We Belong Together is also a combination of old school R&B ballad that exhibits strong influences from pop and hip hop. We Belong Together comprises a very simple and understated musical arrangement. Careys vocal range is demonstrated with a greater emphasis in the ending chorus, where the chorus is raised an octave higher.

Artist#3Robert Sylvester Kelly other wise known as his stage name R Kelly, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. R Kelly went solo in 1933, he's well known for his songs such as ignition, I believe I can fly etc. The Genre of the song I will be using for my Case study is a combination of Old School R&B and Soul. Instrument used in the song are drums, guitar , trumpet and R Kellys soulful voice.

Usher BURN

Burn is a song by American R&B singer, song writer and dancer Usher Raymond IV or well known as his stage name Usher". The song is taken from his fourth studio album, Confessions (2004).

The song was produced by Dupri and Cox . "Burn" is about breakup in a relationship, and the public referred to it as an allusion to Usher's personal struggles. Originally planned as the album's lead single, "Burn" was pushed back after favourable responses for the song "Yeah!". "Burn" was released as the second single from the album on March 21, 2004. Burn .spent nineteen consecutive weeks at the top spot, longer than any solo artist of the Hot 100 era

Conceptual, Performance based or Narrative?

This music video is a Conceptual ( both thematic and symbolic) music video this is because the name of the song is Burn and throughout the theme is fire which is symbolic the ending of the relationship, the video also has a lot conventions that would be seen in a R&B music video.

There are sometimes subtle matches of the words with the action seen in the screen in addition to a more complex meaning portrayed by motifs for instance. In this case whenever the lyrics Burn

The female body is often used to appeal to the male audience, this is often known as the male gaze. In the music the female lead is portraying Ushers Ex love interest, in the majority of the video she is in lingerie/ bikini. This is mainly because the song is break up and it is being sung from a male perspective.

Normally in R&B music videos the lavish lifestyle of the artist is presented in the mise-en-scene. In this music video Usher is singing in his glamorous and very expensive house

Camera angles, Special effects, Mis-en-scene and Editing

Another common conventions in R&B of music videos is the camera angles; the specific close ups and fade etc.

The music video begins with an extreme close up of Ushers right eye and it pan cut over ton an extreme close of another eye which happens to be the painting of female, who seems to be talking during that point. Immediately after there's another extreme close up of his lips whilst his singing as well as a close up of the paintings lips, as if hes trying to have conversation with the painting. In this scene an Eye line match is also being used as we can see what Usher is looking at directly at the painting. It looks so mirrored as the painting and the close of Usher eyes both have a look of certainty/pain in there eyes

In R&B Music videos artist tend to endorse products; it could be the latest clothing line or latest trainers or even the latest cars. In this particular there's a lot of promotion of different products, such as the trainers and the car.

Cont.

Burn is the main focus of this music video, hence the reason why there's fire in almost every scene. In the Beginning of the video there is 35 seconds of dialogue in which Usher mentions the word burn TWICE. However the second time seems to be more important as there's a close up of fire in his eyes which symbolise his pain.

The lyrics are constructed in the traditional verse-chorus form. "Burn" is constructed from "two-step concept". In the lyrics "You know that it's over / You know that it was through / Let it burn / Got to let it burn", Usher breaks up with his woman but found her sad about feeling bad about what happened to their relationship. However, Usher says that she must deal with it before she can accept the truth. For the lines "It's been fifty-eleven days / Umpteen hours / I'm going to be burnin' / Till you return", the direction changes after Usher realized that breaking up with her was a huge mistake and that he wanted her back to him. Wide shot and long shots were mainly used to show the passion/heart break in Ushers body language and hand gestures, the camera angles are also used to show the fire in the background.Cont.

In R&B music videos there's a lot of quick cuts ,fade etc. The use of the quick cut used in this video presents how everything (relationship) ended so quickly. The pace of the video match is the beat. In this video lighting is very important as it is used effectively to convey a certain meaning/mood.

Target Audience

Image result for black teenage girlsThe genre of Burn is R&B, slow jam. The majority of people who listen to r&b are Black American/British. Ushers main target audience are females between the age of 16-20 who idolise Usher and The fancy cars and house attract these females attention and make them want to lead this lifestyle. It is also targeted at this age range because 16- 20 is when many young teens are going through their first relationship / heartbreak, therefore the girls can relate to this song.

Image result for heartbreak emojiImage result for heartbreak emoji We Belong together Mariah Carey

We Belong together is song by American singer, songwriter Mariah Carey. The Song is taken from her 10th studio album Emancipation of Mimi (2005).

This is a song about heartbreak makes reference to some R&B songs that share a similar theme: you can't stop thinking about the person you broke up with. In the song, Mariah is listening to the radio when Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" comes onThe song broke chart records in the United States and became Carey's sixteenth topper on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Conceptual, Performance based or Narrative?

This Music Video is a Narrative about a broken relationship, in which Mariah Carey is declaring her unconditional love for her ex partner. This is slightly different from Ushers Burn video because unlike Mariah usher was try to burn the memories of his relationship where as Mariah is trying to go back. Mariah plays the lead role within playing the one caught up in love. Just like a story board the music video has its beginning its peak and the ending which creates story of love.

This video confirms to the typical R&B music video convention of the artist having a lavish lifestyle. Introduction theres wide shot of a big house that resembles a castle, and also the fancy car.

In the beginning of the video Mariah is barely wearing clothes, she wrap up in sheets. This is typical in a R&B music video, women are often seen in sexual way, with very minimal clothing.


FADES

As mentioned before about Ushers video, R&B videos tend to have a lot of close ups to show the artist/actor's emotions weather it be happy, sad, confused etc. Extreme close ups of Mariahs lips are often seen in this music video, this could be her saying read my lips, this can also be seen in Ushers video Burn.

The camera zooms into Mariah who is sitting facing the mirror, as she gets dress for her wedding. This is often seen in the R&B genre, women are represented to be always looking good and taking care of themselves.

Fades and fast paste cutting n this video more or less in this video is synchronies with b the beat of the song/lyrics.

Camera angles, Special effects, Mis-en-scene and Editing

Cont.

We see a wide shot of Mariah Carey sitting in then centre of a dark room and the light in focus on her. This is done in a particular way to show off her body and her pink silk dress with two split to show off her legs. This highlights her femininity and her attractiveness. That fact that she is front and centre attract the male gaze t focus on her.

In this particular video there are few close ups of Mariah in the shower which could symbolise shes metaphorically washing the pain away, similarly in the video Burn the artist metaphorically Burns the pain away.

The love interest that Mariah is singing about is often seen in long shots and closes ups to show off his body language and how the break up has really effected him.

Cont.2

As Mariah is reminiscing about her lover, there's is a black and white flash back to the first time the couple met. In then scene the love interest throws Mariah a white rose, the same white rose that fell from her hand at the beginning. This is significant as the rose is still in good condition and it is pure like her love for him.

Again in this music video Mariah Carey is seen in room where the light is only position on her. she's also wearing pure white dress that signifies her innocents

Towards the end of the video we see Mariah Carey walking down the aisle. The audiences then witness that she changes her mind doesnt actually marry her fianc she runs away with her love interest into his car this is seen as a happy ending.

Target audience

Mariah Careys main target audience varies from male and female between the age of 25-30 who a little be more mature and can understand what a heartbreak truly feels like, however people age 16-45 do enjoy her music(based on my own investigation).

R Kelly Happy People

Happy People is a song by Robert Sylvester Kelly other wise known as his stage name R Kelly', this song is taken from his sixth studio and second Studio album Happy People/U saved me (2004)

The song is about people going out and just having a good time. It allows people to let loose and just relax. This song is often played at birthdays and weddings along side another song about R Kelly called step n the name of love, these two songs just sets the atmosphere for a good vibes. It peaked at No. 2 on the pop albums chart and went on to be certified three times Platinum.

Conceptual, Performance based or Narrative?

This video is a Hybrid of performance and conceptual. The videos concept is that R Kelly would perform his song on a stage with a band, and the hall would be filled with Happy People. Some scenes in the video R Kelly is seen partying with his friends which is narrative as he sings

This music video slightly subverts the conventional ideas that typically R&B music videos would; one way in which the music video is subverted Is that the women in the video are not sexualise, the majority of the are fully clothed apart from some of the dancers.

Another way this subvert; is that the artist is not showing off any fancy cars however that being said the hall he is performing in is fancy; it furnish with gold furniture and the walls are painted gold this symbolise wealth.

This video does confirm to the lavish lifestyle of celebrities, throughout the video when R Kelly isnt performing on stage his is seen in a black and gold blazer wit designer glasses on

throughout the video there are genuinely happy people; dancing, smiling and taking pictures

Camera angles, Special effects, Mis-en-scene and Editing

Like many R&B music video, This Music video has a lot of fades and quick cuts thats correlates to the beat of the song.

Theres a lot of wide shots and mid shots in the video to show of the positive Happy vibes in the hall.

Throughout the video the director pans across to the room to show the dancing people.

Target Audience

R Kellys Target audience are women is very similar to Usher and Mariah Careys age range,25-35. R Kelly's songs are often about things of sexual nature which would be more mature and appealing to that age range. These women are likely to be working class women, who fantasies about R Kelly or a relatable situation.

Image result for weave hairstylesImage result for r kelly on stageCD Cover Analysis-Usher Burn

Image result for usher burnTheres fire on both front and the back cover of the CD, this is significant as it

The Arist is on the front and back

Track

Track remixes

Logos and paragraph about the how the song was made

Warm colours to emphasise the pain and hurt

CD Analysis Mariah Carey We Belong together

Image result for mariah carey we belong togetherARIST

COLOUR SCHEME;Suttle,innocence

Plain writing

Italic mimic hand writing almost makinfthe album feel personal for the fans

CD Analysis R Kelly Happy People.

Warm colours symbolising that the album is friendly, relax and chilled.

Two CDs

Different poses, he looks like he's feeling the music.

Evaluation

From analysing Burn, We belong together and happy people I have listed a few ideas of what I include my own video;

Music VideoFades and Quick paced cutting to beat

Theme and Symbolic lyrical meaning

Close ups

Stylish costume

CDArtist (front and back)

Colours that represent or links with theme of the song

Remixes

Font (fancy/handwriting)

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