Blog No.9: Music video analysis (first example)

Example: 1

Camera work

There were no high or low angles used in this video because of their meaning and representation. For example, a high angle can make the viewer dominant and a low angle can make the viewer defenceless. This can suggest the reason why they didn't want to portray any strong or weak characters in the video. For our video, we'll visualise the main character in a high angle above one of the members' shoulder and a low angle visualising them. This allows the viewer to understand how, at the start, the protagonist feels like the odd-one-out of the group. However, there was a scene that was shot  in a canted angle. Canted angles usually represent the feeling of being free and connotes the idea of being "crazy". This can suggest how this song is so "happy" it cancels out the cliché idea of having straight camera angles.

Visuals and lyrics

In terms of illustration, every actor in this video is dancing with a happy expression. In other words, everyone is happy since this song is called "happy". Furthermore, in terms of contradiction, at 1:27, Pharrell sings "a room without a roof" even though he sings that lyric inside a hallway.

Mise-en-scene

In terms of costume, each of the characters were wearing brightly coloured clothing connoting peace and friendliness. However, some of the actors were wearing hats and sunglasses just like Pharrell. With the use of sunglasses and hats, this represents a music genre of jazz and pop. It has been planned that our band will be wearing jackets, ripped jeans and possibly sunglasses. Using these costumes will be useful for representing the music genre of pop and 70's music. Most of the scenes from the video take place in the daylight for the use of setting. Since the song has a jazzy and happy theme, it would have had to take place in a sunny location.

Editing

This music video continuously uses cross cutting techniques. Each shot depicts a number of different people in different locations all acting in the same way. Each cross cut depicts these people acting happy, suggesting that the more cross cuts is visualised the more happiness is presented from these people. With the use of cross cutting, our band could play their song in multiple locations. For example, the band can play near the Ship Inn first and then the studio. If the band just plays the song in one location, our video could lack the amount of creativity. Furthermore, graphic matches are also used throughout this music video. Each shot depicts the actors walking towards the camera. Although graphic matches can be a useful editing technique, it is mostly presented from the start to the end of the video. 

Narrative

Sadly, this music video focuses entirely on the performance rather than the narrative since it just visualises people dancing and acting happy.

Performance

Reverse tracking shots were mostly used throughout the video, every actor was walking towards the camera whereas the camera was moving away from them. It has already been planned that we're starting our music video with an over the shoulder tracking shot of the main character. This can allow the viewer to feel like they are involved in the narrative by following the main character. However, whilst they're moving towards the camera, some of the actors (Pharrell included) were looking directly at the camera. This creates a direct address and relationship with the viewer, making them feel involved at the same time. However, the band itself doesn't appear, the singers are just Pharrell and the people in this video.