Sound/Music: focused analysis

I chose this video for my focused analysis for sound/music as the way the video is edited fits perfectly with the music and the beat of the song. As soon as the song starts, it is edited to the music. There are a number of different shots and angles put together so that it cuts to a different shot at every beat. At 0:05 the beat drops and the character punches the wall with the beat. This creates the image that the character is connected with the music, as the video flows better and is more emotional than if the character is detached from the song. At 0:11 seconds there is a profile shot of the main character and, then as the pace of the song changes, the shot changes to one of him standing infront of a window with the sun streaming in behind him. These are all methods of connecting the character and therefore the audience to the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdYQX8J-FFo

Focused Analysis : Characters

This is the music video for Beautiful by Christina Aguilera. I chose this video for my focused analysis on characters, as throughout the video, there are a number of characters that all represent something, and have their own storyline going on. They all begin the video feeling glum over personal issues involving society's way of judging them. Theres the anorexic girl, weightlifting young boy, model who feels worthless, goth punk guy, transvestite and gay couple who all go through the motions in the video, but towards the end, end up smiling. The large number of different characters are used to get the songs message out to the audience, to show a variety of people who all are rejected by society in one way or another, and through believing the songs message, know that they are beautiful, no matter what. It is supposed to be able to relate to the audience in some way, and with lots of characters, will be more effective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwI9-Xh9SWc


This video is in complete contrast to Waking Up In Vegas. It is stripped down to its bare bones, theres nothing glamorous, colourful, or opulent about the video, and thats the whole idea. The whole video was done in one complete take, which is difficult to do but also portrays to the viewer that the song is about emotions and feelings, rather than being glamorous and having a storyline. It puts the viewers complete attention on Christina, the main, and only character in the video. Its as if theyre saying "Weve got christina, we dont need anything, or anyone else in this video". It begins with a close up of christina, which puts the viewers entire attention on her, and her expressive eyes, filled with emotion. Her hair is jet black which creates a contrast against her pail skin. The whole video is in black and white, which again emphasizes the simplicity of the video, and portrays how she is feeling. This opening shot, captivates the audience, they're staring into her emotional eyes and wanting the story to unfold. (0.37) The camera begins to zoom out slowly, with the background blurred, thus the attention still fully on Christina, and fills the viewer with a sense of anticipation as they want to know her story and where she is etc. The audience is now able to see her surroundings, it works as a type of establishing shot. Shes in a empty, abandoned prop room, sitting on a box with old props used for the lighting, emphasizing the simplicty once again, and that shes alone. Shes wearing no jewellery, just a nighty type dress, which puts her in an almost vulnerable looking state. (1:40) She then stands up, and the hand held camera follows her, its slightly jerky, and is another emphasis on her vulnerable, unsure state of mind. The camera continues to follow her and starts to lift up, so its a medium shot, cutting off her waist and below. This gives an imperfect effect, the video is not supposed to be perfect and this shot emphasises it, it gets a lot of the background in, but still manages to keep your attention on her throughout. The camera continues to circle her slowly, while she's singing the song and using her arms and facial expressions to express her feelings, and then as soon as the music darkens and gets more fast paced, her emotions become more aggressive, and she begins to run towards the camera, shouting the song. This again, captures the viewer and quickens the pace rapidly. The camera remains infront of her the whole time and she sings into it, pointing into the camera as if she is singing to the viewer and involving them in the video. This puts the viewers attention on the lyrics and emotion and passion of the song. She runs through several rooms demonstrating to the audience her journey thorugh life not just the video, and continues to sing into the camera the line "You know that im talking to you" where she points into the camera and stops running when the song slows to a stop. The music fastens again and she starts wlaking, all her actions are tied in with the music and make the video flow. After her journey thorugh all the rooms she eventually crosses the road and comes to a light box. As the song starts to slow down and come to an end, she lies on the box as though shes reached her destination. The light is shining brightly and represents the bright and happy point shes finally reached. With that, the camera zooms out to a high angle shot as if the story is coming to a close and the camera tilts up and into the dark sky.