Goodwin's Music Video Analysis

Andrew Goodwin has written a theory for music videos of which consists of six elements. Goodwin claims that each music video contains all of these six elements. The six elements are the following;

• Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. For example stage performances often appear in rock videos.
• There is an instinct relationship between lyrics and visuals.
• There is also a relationship between music and visuals. Visuals would be affected by tempo, beat, speed, pitch, etc. (Relationships could amplifie, contradict or illustrate.)
• The demands of the record label include lots of close ups of their artists and developed motifs which recur across their work as well as promotional methods. These demands give the band an identity. A great example of this theory is the use of a motif by Green Day. Green Days motif in a Grenade being held. This motif appears as their album cover but also as a static image used throughout their video of 'American Idiot'
• There is frequently reference to the notion of looking and particulary voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
• Videos also often use intertextual reference, to TV, Film etc.

Intertextual Reference

Intertextual Reference is apart of Goodwins music video theory. Intertextuality is when a music video may borrow images from other media texts. It can relate to Film, Tv or Video games.

Film;
Madonna's music video for 'Material Girl' is an example where intertextual reference relates to film. This video contains scenes which are inspired from the 1950's film 'Men Prefer Blondes'. This film stars Marilyn Monroe, but rather than comparing Madonna to Marylin Monroe, both videos are trying to capture the stereotypical image the the Hollywood sexy blonde. aspects of the mise-en-scene, choreography and colour theme all relate to one another.

TV;

REM's Bad Day video is a great example where intertextual reference relates to TV. This video takes shape of a news programme.The video appears to be the news, where the presenters are singing the music track.

Video Games;
Music video's intertextual references can also refer to video games. Robbie Williams' video of 'Let love be your energy' takes form of what appears to be a video game. Rather than the video taking form of a performance based video, it appears all to be animated. The singer appears on screen as a cartoon/figure which is similar of one which you would see in a computer game.

Star Image Motif

Star Image Motifs are the demands of records labels. Record labels require a unique selling point inorder to market their bands. Record labels do this by either using the artists own image, with the use of close ups and stereotyping or a record label market a band through the use of a motif, logo or video style. Record labels promote artists using music, video and adveristing. This aspects of Star Image motifs recur across the work of an artist and give the band an identity.

Examples;

• Amy Winehouse is a great example of an artist being sold on her own image.
• Green day sell themselves through a band logo of a hand clutching a grenade, this logo appears in videos and on album covers. The Gorillas also represent themselves through motif.
• The gorillas do not appear as themselves in music videos but behind the faces of cartoon characters.

Goodwins Theory Tested

Goodwin claims of six element which appear in every music video. I have tested goodwins six elements using Plan B's music video 'She Said' to see if is appears true that a video should contain every element.

• Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. For example stage performances often appear in rock videos.

Being an individual artist, with a hip hop and rap genre, Ben Drew is represented in a chart narrative video. This type of video demonstrates the genre characteristics of the music that him and similar artists create.

• There is an instinct relationship between lyrics and visuals.

This relationship is very obvious in this video. The artist sings lyrics such as 'so now up in the courtspleading my case from the witness box', while standing in the 'witness' box. This relationship appears strongly between lyrics and visuals through out the video. We see it once again when he sings 'as my girl cries tears from the galleries' as a female figure is crying in the court room. This video is very much narrative. The video silently tells the very same story as the lyrics individually.

• There is also a relationship between music and visuals. Visuals would be affected by tempo, beat, speed, pitch, etc. (Relationships could amplifie, contradict or illustrate.)

This is another relationship that is signified very strongly in the video. A good Example of this is right at the start of the video when people in the court room began to click to the beat in the music. Each charater is so in sync and the technique is seen very cleverly by the audience.

• The demands of the record label include lots of close ups of their artists and developed motifs which recur across their work as well as promotional methods. These demands give the band an identity.

This video includes alot of close ups of Ben Drew, Plan B's singer. Alot of profile shots are used as well.

• There is frequently reference to the notion of looking and particulary voyeuristic treatment of the female body

This reference can be seen right at the start of the video, when the singer is seen being led out of a lift by a girl. He looks the girl up and down after the pair are viewed kissing.

• Videos also often use intertextual reference, to TV, Film etc.

Scenes from this video could be compared to Police TV dramas. The mise en scene and use of characters shows comparisons, it also correlates to the meaning of the song.

My research into Plan B's video has proven Goodwin's Theory to be correct. All of his six elements have played some part in the making of this video, and are shown clearly.