Analysis of types of music videos: Firth's 3 Categories of Music video

Analysis of types of music videos

• Performance based – The video is about the artist/band's performance.
• Narrative based – This is when the video follows a story, it can be linked with lyrics.
• Conceptual – The video explores a single idea , also known as ‘concept’

I will be analyzing music videos and pointing out if they are either performance based, Narrative based or are conceptual based on how the music video works.

The first type of music video is performance based videos:

In performance based videos, usually the band/artist's are shown singing a\long to the music like a band performance or just the artist lip syncing to the lyrics. The artist can also have choreographed routine in the music video that can draw the viewer in, a recent video that does this would be Justin Bieber's 'Sorry', where he has a dancing crew perform choreographed routines and lip syncing along to his song, through out the music video we don't see the main singer so this also draws more attention to the dancers and the music it self.

The video for 'Sorry':

https://youtu.be/fRh_vgS2dFE

As you can see the main point of the video is the dancers while also highlighting the music and its beat with their body. This will appeal to many target audience since the beat is very enjoyable and the lyrics are simple also, the dancers make it very enjoyable with the close ups of their facial expressions and body language throughout the video, this makes it look like the dancers are enjoying along with the music therefore, this would have a big influence on the viewer since they will also have fun watching these dancers have fun.

The second type of music video would be Narrative based:

In narrative based music videos the video would ultimately follow a strong narrative while inking with the lyrics so, the lyrics are understood better by the viewer and also help explain what they are. These videos tend to focus on a certain part of the story line or have a certain type of emotion they want to portray throughout the video. They can also be used to promote films, by including various scenes from the movie into the music video. An example of narrative based music video would be videos such as, Taylor swift's 'Bad Blood', the music video is narrative because it follows a story of this girl going from betrayal to seeking revenge. The video showcases itself as kind of a movie like, a short film, it has many characters throughout that help the hero and I think it really helps to support that its a narrative based video.

The video for 'Bad Blood':

https://youtu.be/QcIy9NiNbmo

In this video, you can clearly see how the narrative works, how the character develops over time. we can tell it is different from concept and performance because it doesn't follow just one idea or its not based on performance, it follows a story-line in which we see the character recover. we see the character interacting with other characters as she gets better, it follows the narrative of her and this makes the viewer feel closer to that character and makes feel more connected with her as they get to know her more in the video.

The third type of music video would be conceptual:

Conceptual music videos are based around an idea, concept, can also be something unusual, surreal and obscure for the audience. It will aim to keep the viewer entertained through out the music video. They can also follow certain themes such as, a rap music video can have lots of street images, pop videos may have dance routines, etc.
They can also be symbolic as they can use an image/ object to indicate something, example, graveyard can mean death etc. They could also use lots of montage to create a meaning that can sometimes often be contradictory.  The video may also be fast paced and can either support or contradict the lyrics. An example of a conceptual music video would be Taylor Swift's Wildest dreams. The concept for this video was African wildlife, it looks to me like it could have been inspired by a safari movie. Throughout the music video, we just see different areas of the place while we see a movie taking place where the main characters pretend to be in love in the movie while they are hating each other in real life.

The video for 'Wildest Dreams':

https://youtu.be/IdneKLhsWOQ

In this video we can see that it is based around a concept of wildlife and movie making, it can also be seen as a advertisement for an wildlife conversation in Africa, it also states that in the end of the video. I think that by having an idea like that it will appeal to the viewer since they get to see a different side of the artist but they also get to see what the promotion is about like, the area, by showing the area naturally through various shots and scenes it allows the viewer to think about that area and could look into it if they wanted to. Therefore, this video provides entertainment to the viewers throughout the video and also showcases what they are trying to say and promote.

Analysis of lyrics: 'The Feeling' Justin bieber

"The Feeling"

(Justin Bieber feat. Halsey)

[Justin Bieber:]

You are to me

A part of me just like anatomy

You're pulling me

You're pulling me in like you're gravity

In this part of the verse the artist, Justin Bieber, is declaring that his lover is metaphorically a part of his anatomy, meaning that she is important to him just as important as any organ, bone, or muscle. By putting this in the intro of the music, it suggests that the artist is trying to show what kind of emotion you can expect for the song to be like.

The lyrics 'you're pulling me in like you're gravity', this suggests that the girl is holding him down like she is gravity and making him more humble, but the wording of the lyrics makes me question that if he's questioning his emotions like does he really love her, her pull must be confusing his emotions even more.

I'm notorious for thinking you're full of beautiful

Instead of hollow

Sugar on your lips, it's hard to kill

Jagged like a pill, so hard to swallow

In this line he is suggesting that he tried to convince himself that the girl was all beautiful on the inside but, he later couldn't stop seeing that he wasn't. The lyrics 'jagged like a pill, so hard to swallow' indicating the lyrics above it claiming the that he tried to look over the physical aspects of his relationship and by including that line he states that she was kind of like a 'sugar pill' which are a common placebos and she is just making him feel good while not actually making him good, so when he states the lyrics, it makes us think that he is forcing himself it so, he can still see her the way he wants to see her.

[Justin Bieber & Halsey:]

Am I in love with you? Am I in love with you?

Or am I in love with the feeling?

Trying to find the truth, trying to find the truth

Sometimes the heart is deceiving

Can't get out of my head, and I need you to save me

If I am delusional then maybe I'm crazy

In love with you, am I in love with you?

Or am I in love with the feeling?

The chorus suggests that love can be like a double-edged sword where they can loose themselves while blinding themselves and also making bad decisions while trying to connect to another person as love, this ultimately makes the person question whether they actually love that person or they just like the emotion of love itself. 

[Justin Bieber:]

You give to me

Everything, anything that I could dream

And at least that's what it seems

Could it be I don't know what's good for me?

In these lyrics, while he is still questioning whether he is in love with her or just with the feeling, he admits that the girl has given him everything that he ever wanted but, he still questions whether if it is what he actually wanted or he just thinks that its what he wanted.

I'm notorious for thinking you're full of beautiful

Instead of hollow

Sugar on your lips, it's hard to kill

Jagged like a pill, so hard to swallow

These lyrics still suggests he's trying to convince himself she is all beautiful on the inside while, he still struggles to look beyond the physical aspects of the relationship, although he knows that this love is going to be painful.

[Justin Bieber & Halsey:]

Am I in love with you? Am I in love with you?

Or am I in love with the feeling?

Trying to find the truth, trying to find the truth

Sometimes the heart is deceiving

Can't get out of my head, and I need you to save me

If I am delusional then maybe I'm crazy

In love with you, am I in love with you?

Or am I in love with the feeling?

This lyric still refers to whether if he actually loves that person or he just loves the feeling of it. It suggests that if he isn't in love with her then he must be crazy, and he can only find the answers if she helps him along with it.

[Justin Bieber:]

I'm sinking faster and faster

Between heaven and disaster

Sorry if I made you feel like

I'm standing on the borderline

This suggests that he is in the middle of his emotions for this person, whether if he should be with this person or if he should just leave her, while this is happening it suggests that she is wondering if he is uncertain about this relationship.

[Justin Bieber & Halsey:]

Am I in love with you? Am I in love with you?

Or am I in love with the feeling?

Trying to find the truth, trying to find the truth

Sometimes the heart is deceiving

Can't get out of my head, and I need you to save me

If I am delusional then maybe I'm crazy

In love with you, am I in love with you?

Or am I in love with the feeling?

This lyrics suggests that he is still trying to figure it all out wit the girl, if he still loves her if he just likes the feeling of love. Therefore, ultimately the lyrics suggests that this girl he is with, he's having a hard time understand his emotions for.

Overall, the lyrics really showcase a narrative of a relationship where one person doesn't understand their feelings, if they strong or not. The lyrics showcases that person's feelings really well to a point the person reading the lyrics can understand what type of massage it is trying to portray. It is very simple and has a lot of meaning behind the lyrics, which I find to be very interesting.

Analysis of Lyrics: 'The worst' Jhené Aiko

'The Worst'
(Jhené Aiko )

Tell me whatcha say now?

Tell me whatcha say

Come again?

If you cannot stay down

Then you do not have to pretend

Like there is no way out

I shoulda never let you in

'Cause you got me face down

The start of this lyrics, it feels more like a conversation the artist, Jhene, is having with the her lover, by the way it is worded it seems like they are having an argument over something. The lower lyrics suggest that this person doesn't put enough effort into this relationship, so she is thinking that if she hadn't let him get close to her she wouldn't have to be  arguing over him rite now.

And don't take this personal

But you're the worst

You know what you've done to me

And although it hurts I know

I just can't keep runnin' away

The first two lines suggest kind of sarcastic because shes stating to that someone to not take it 'personal' but the main object is to take it very personally so, it kind of makes the reader imagine what type of scene these lyrics are trying to convey. Later on, she states that she should just running away instead she should face her feelings and possibly let this guy go.

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you

But I want you

I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to

But I love you

The lyrics suggests that she is having debate over if she loves him or not, like one side of her wants to leave him because he has been bad to her, as it seems, and the other side of her doesn't want to let him go because she's attached to him and she might feel alone without him. By having the lyrics, cancel themselves it makes the reader see more clearly what she is thinking and makes them understand what she might be feeling.

Tell me whatcha say now

Tell me whatcha say?

You said that you would come again

You said that we would remain friends but

You know that I do not depend on

Nothing or no one

So why would you show up

So uninvited then

Just change my mind like that

The lyrics suggest that the guy must have broken up with her and they aren't a couple anymore, I believe he must have requested that they remain friends and that he will keep in touch with her, but she doesn't believe that he will follow through with what he is telling her to believe. Later on in the lyrics, the guy shows up 'uninvited', then changes her mind meaning that when he showed up she felt all the good memories of them come back, making her more emotionally unstable about the situation between them.

Please don't take this personal

But you ain't sh*t

And you weren't special

Til I made you so

You better act like you know

That I been through worse than you

I just can't keep runnin' away

This part of the lyrics reveals more about the situation about what the girl really thinks, it shows that she didn't view this guy as 'special' until she made him, she telling him she's been through worse times/ guys then him before so, she should get over this guy, however, she still deeply cares about him and loves him therefore, cannot let go of him easily. The way the lyrics are written it makes it seem like she is getting angrier throughout the video, because she is frustrated and doesn't know what to do about her emotions.

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you

But I want you (But I want you)

I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to

But I love you

The lyrics like before suggests that she wants to leave this guy but, doesn't want to because she is too attached to him and doesn't really want to let him ago.

Everybody's like

He's no item

Please don't like em

He don't wife em

He one nights em

I never listen, no

I shoulda figured tho

All that sh*t you was spittin'

So unoriginal

But it was you

So I was with it

And tell you the truth

Wish we never did it

'Cause I usually do

Stick to the business

But you came out the blue

And then you just flipped it

God damn baby

My mind's blown

I be forgettin'

You live in a different time zone

I think I know what this is

It's just the time's wrong

Yeah, I know what you did

But baby I'm grown

And my love is patient

And kind, and sh*t

If this is real we can build

And do different types of shit

If you was really the realest

Wouldn't be fightin' it

I think your pride is just

The first part of the lyrics suggest that the people around her told her constantly that the person she was with was not loyal and that she should get rid of him, so now she feels that they were right since the things the guy was saying sounded like the stuff she heard before with other guys, and she believed him because she thought he meant the words he said, but now she feels it was wrong that she got involved with him. The lyrics 'different time zone' suggests that she and the guy think differently like they are in different places at the same time so, it makes sense why this is happening to her rite now.By stating 'I'm grown', she suggesting that she doesn't care about what he has done in his past, and now she has matured enough to forgive him. she also suggests this by stating her 'love is patient, and kind...' this helps support that he is willing to forgive him in order for them to move on, or in order for her to help him become a better person.The lyrics later suggest that if the guy was good for her then they can forget about the past and build their new relationship, although I think she understands the reason they broke up was because of the guy's pride.

In the way

Funny how everything changed

Once you got all that you wanted

Nothing was ever the same

In these lyrics, she explains that since he got what he really wanted, now she can see why he lied to about the other things like being with her, etc. She is also stating that after this nothing will be the same so they can grow but she has doubts that they will be able to grow happily.

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you

I still want you

I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to

But I, but I love you

I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you, I don't need you

But I want you

I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to, I don't mean to

But I love you

In these lyrics it shows us that even through she went through all that she still admits that she loves him, even if what he did was bad for her and she might not be able to be happy with this guy again. I think that the way this situation is written should make it relate able for someone who has been in a relationship and wants to end it with someone knowing how bad they are for them but, not being able to let that person go since they are attached to them deeply.

Analyse music Video: Goodwin's 6 features of music video

Analyse music Video: F(x) - 4 Walls
https://youtu.be/4j7Umwfx60Q

The music video I would be analyzing is F(x)'s '4 Walls'. The music is mostly influenced by EDM, which presents the artist in a light fantasy fill when presented with the music video.


1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. Stage performances in metal videos, dance routines for boy/girl bands)

In most Electro-pop, synth-pop, Kpop, EDM, genre music videos include a lot of scenes such as 'party' scenes or have many people within the video other then the artist but, in this music video '4 Walls' there isn't any club scenes or any other characters then the artist themselves.
By having scenes like this, it makes this music video more focused on the narrative or focus more on the artist so, they can have an understanding of what is going on in the video and how it is different to other Electro-pop genre music videos, such as Calvin Harris' music videos, where he usually has the artist but there will be lots of people in the music video other then the artists and will have them interacting in a club scene or partying etc, where as in this music video the music is much more calm and has soft vocals so it makes the viewer feel more interested in the narrative of the video.


2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

The lyrics in the music video feel  incomplete when listened to it by itself, when paired up with the video the lyrics fit in really well and it makes the narrative very clear and understandable. It also allows the viewer to feel like they are closer with the artists and are able to travel with them through the video. there are a lot of theories involved in the video, mostly associated with love, bonds between friends which is very dominant in the video.

The video references the love between friends, where walls are needed for a strong foundation. since there are four members in the group, the four walls signify how they are stuck together as a unit and friends that overcome struggles together. In the video they can be seen being able to navigate through the confusing world, the maze, with their bond.

The narrative can also be decoded as a confusing love, like some relationships can feel like they can be confining, the person can feel like they are trapped within the four walls, or it can also be decoded to love which can be a strong foundation, by using the four walls. Also, in some cases love in the narrative could also mean that the person can become a beacon, symbolized by the blue lights in the video, to help navigate the world better as a stronger person.

The lyrics that stand out the most are in the chorus, "Love is 4 walls, the mirror that is filled by you, Love is 4 walls, the mysterious maze", this symbolism to that these four people are like one and they have to figure everything out by themselves. I think this because the lyrics 'mirror that is filled by you' suggests that they all see themselves as one or that they see each other every time they try and look at themselves and the lyrics 'the mysterious maze' indicates that they are in this unpredictable maze to find something, a solution or to find themselves.

3. There is a relationship between the music and the visuals (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

The music and the video fit in really well because, '4 Walls' video is dominated by feminine, muted colors to help portray the members in a dreamy light, the video itself shows two different dimensions such as the present and anther dimension where things happen to them in the present but, they get to see it happen to one another and try and fix the problem that created it all. the video is presented jumpy editing, it has artsy cinematography that allows the viewer to decode the narrative behind the video and the music.

The thing that stands out the most in the music video would be is butterflies that appear in the video, the butterflies sort of hint to the reader about the 'Butterfly effect' in the narrative, how one small change can change the outcome of something that is going to happen. therefore, throughout the video we see the members experiencing this and the viewers get to experience it with the members.

The opening of the music video we can see the girls waking up and getting ready, within that scene we also see a jump cut to a dark tree with 4 birds on the top of it while the sky goes by really quickly, in that scene, I think it symbolism that these four people are like these birds they are just there not going anywhere. while this scene is taking place, we can see that the editing of the scene is fitted with the beat so if the beat changes the scene will switch to another close up of the member. This indicates to the viewer about what pace this video is going to be at and helps understand what the viewers can expect from the editing and the visuals.

The entire video is framed around what could happen if the member drops the teacup in the beginning of the video. this is because when that teacup drops it sets off a chain of reactions that ultimately leads to one of the members falling and causing her death, this leads to the members in the other dimension where they try and solve her death and try to fix it by undoing it. All of the members are in that dimension and have to experience each other's lives to see how they can solve what went wrong.

Overall, I think the music and the visuals fitted in really well, the music makes sense when watched with the video but, is also enjoyable too by itself but, it can have a different effect, it can give off more of a dance,club music type which is what most Electro-pop genre music have a vibe of, but I think that the music itself would be a bit lighter then the ones usually made by artist like Calvin Harris.

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (e.g. A visual style)

In this music video, there are a lot of close ups in most scenes there are close ups of the members faces while they lip sync or there would be a long shot, mid shot, of what they are doing but still focus on their faces. there are many scenes especially in the beginning of the music video where we are introduced to the members of the group, but we see them in a similar way to each other, because the way the editing is done, we see them for a second then we see another member doing the same thing, and example we see a member opening the fridge then we see another member in that same place closing it, so the way the editing is done we see them all being connected to each other, even in these types of scenes the main focus would usually be an object or just the members face, usually both. this should make the viewer feel more close with the members since it becomes easier for them to know who they are then spot them throughout the video.

The close ups of the artists is a well known thing especially since their label SM Entertainment usually has the artist themselves being the main focus and therefore, asks for lots of close ups to be taken of them. it is visible in the later work and in their present work, in these videos we see the colours are usually quite mute or are colourful but still dream like this fits in well with the '4 Walls' music video since its very fantasy like and has soft music to follow it, so its not too hard like follow many EDM music videos.

5. There are frequent references to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic (sexual) treatment of the female body

There are a lot of close ups of the members bodies but, i don't think they are many voyuesristic treatment in this music video, I think the aim objective was to show the members as simple and colourful while still keeping the narrative and the setting of the music video.

I think we see them simple because in the beginning of the video in the present dimension the clothes they are wearing is quite simple and not colourful like the ones they are wearing in the forest scenes, where they are wearing dresses and are showing more skin then the other scenes, but the scenes where they are wearing clothes like this the camera tends to focus more on the scene then on the clothes.

However, there are scenes where the camera focuses one of the members but we can still see bits of their clothing like laces, etc, and there are scenes where they are in bed but, they aren't really sexualised. In the forest scene we see one of the members wear a crop top with shorts, i think this could be considered as voyeuristic as, we are able to see the midriff of the member, when she was running the camera focused on her upper body and on her legs, therefore, kind of indicating the voyeuristic treatment to her body.

There are scenes where it frequently references to the notion of looking, such as looking in the mirror, looking out the window. This indicates to me as if they know something is going to happen as everyone seems to be distracted by something, and this makes the viewer feel like they are waiting for something to happen or if it has started to happen.

6. There is often intertextual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)

There isn't many intertexual references in this music video, it just states things like 'Butterfly effect', or animals such as horses which can be portrayed in the way such as guide or a massanger so the person can find the right path to go to.

Selena Gomez- "Same Old Love" Analysis

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Florence and the Machine - "Queen of Peace" Analysis

Music Video Analysis of Florence + The MAchine - "Queen of Peace" from 09knepalimedia

Here is my Analysis of Florence and The Machine's "Queen of Peace".