Music Video Analysis - Rihanna - We found Love

Influential Music Videos

I decided to research music videos that are similar to one that I will be creating. All RnB music videos have a clear narrative and I want to make sure that I incorporate this into my music video .The songs below link well with my chosen song as they are about women who have been cheated on and the thoughts and feeling which they go through during this experience. The narrative in the videos were very clear and the viewer could understand clearly what was going on. I need to make sure that I do the same in my video as I do not want to loose the  audience interest. 

Music Director Research : Benny Boom

Biography 

Benny Boom is a R&B and Hip-Hop music video director. He trained at Temples University School of Radio,Television and Film, and also served as a protege of veteran Director X. Boom has directed over 150 music videos which includes artists such as 50Cent, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Pussycat Dolls, Lil Kim , LL Cool J , Nicki Minaj and manyb other artists. Furthermore he was the 2009 winner for Video Director of the year at the BET Awards and was nominated for the same award in 2011. Boom has not just only done music videoes , he has also done work in the  film industry and Televsion commercials for companies such as Honda and Ghatorade and Spears. In 2009 Boom directed his feature film "Next Day Air" and in 2011 Boom followed his film directorial debut with the action-crime film S.W.A.T.

Music Videos 

Below are some of Benny Booms popular music videos. After watching some of these videos i noticed that Benny Boom has his own signature styling style with lighting in these videos as a majority of them seem to have the same lighting. In addition to this, he also has he name feared on the begin gong of the videos so that the audience knows that he directed the video.

History Of music Videos

Pop Music TV Shows

Pop music TV shows started in the 1970's. They focused on producing short "promos", early music video which started to replace the live performance of the artist on TV-Stage.

Bohemian Rhapsody - 1975

The ground breaking  video released by Queen marked the beginning of the video era and set language for the modern music video . The video is considered one of the first to use advanced visual effects with performance and studio setup.

Technical Codes - Cinematography

• As with any moving text , how the camera is used and images are sequenced will have a significant impact upon meaning.
• Camera movement, angle and shot distance all need to be analysed .
• Camera movement may accompany movement of performers ( Walking, dancing etc.) but it may also be used to create a more dynamic feel to stage performance, for instance  constantly circling the band as they perform .

The close up does predominate , as in most TV, partly because of the size of the screen and partly because of the device to create a sense of intimacy with the viewers.  

Editing

• Though the most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast cut montage, rendering many of the images impossible to gasp on the first viewing.
• Often enhancing the editing are delightful affects which play with the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience . This might take the form of split screens, colourisation and of course blockbuster film CGI.

Development of Technical Codes

• The key innovation in the development of the modern music video was of course video record and editing processes.
• The advent of high quality colour videotape recorders and portable video cameras enabled many pop acts to produce promotional videos quickly.
• In the 1990's a number of technical codes became common:
• Most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast cut montage.
• Many images impossible to grasp on first viewing thus ensuring multiple viewing.
• Split screens  and colourisation are also commonly used effects.

Intertextuality

Using current popular music is often also used within adverts. Television shows include intertexual references, often for comic effect (parody). It even stretches to non-fiction media such as movies etc.

• Homage - Imitation is the highest form of flattery 
• Pastiche - Using the imagery of one text to make a comment about another
• Parody - Making fun of a person , show etc 

Stylistically

By imitating the style of a film or television genre, video game, cartoon etc.

Theme/Narrative

George Michael's outside uses intertextuality both stylistically in parts and through its narrative, which reps to his arrest .

Content

Some videos contain more subtle intertexual references within their content, a nod to a person or character, political comment, current news , items.