Confessions part
ii Music Video Analysis
In order to further develop own media production and to gain
a better understanding of the in and out’s of creating, producing, and editing
our own media projects. It was thought best to focus on Hip-Hop/RnB music, as
we had decided this would be our chosen genre. By looking at this music video I
would be able to gain an insight into target audience, different camera
techniques and even creative ideas.
The video I analysed was Usher’s – Confessions part II. This
video was a follow on from part 1. It is important to note that the song was
from his own experiences and very personal. It is this key factor that may have
had an affect on the making of the video and is again something we may be able
to use.
The beginning of the video starts with Usher’s interlude in
which he is talking on the phone. High key lighting has been used. This plays a
larger part once the audience watches further into the music video. Soon
enough, the lighting changes from high key to low key. The video becomes a lot
darker and more intimate. The fact it is so light in the beginning is possibly
because the status quo had not changed. After the phone call however this
changes. Lighting could be suggestive of the protagonists, Usher’s, mood. Where
at the beginning he was content. Now he has a secret. Something he has to get
off his chest, so the music video follows his mood.
To match the lighting is his clothing. From the images above it is very clear to see that in the first image, his clothing is very light, and bright and generally a lot more happier. In the second image it is darker, and more dismal. Clothing is suggestive for the way the audience feels, where in the first image the audience themselves feel a lot more calm, a lot more happier. Where as watching Usher in his darker clothing, it reflects on the audience, viewing becomes a lot more intense.
One of the camera shots that stands out in the music video
is the tracking shot at the beginning of the music video. Here an audience
feels a very personal connection to Usher. Where he is walking away from
everyone else, he is still with us (the audience). Usher is singing into the camera which is
tracking him. As if he is singing to us directly. Automatically the feel of the
video changes, from something that was potentially a cheerful song. However
once the status quo changes, the feel for the song turns dark, and a lot more
intimate as he pours his heart out to the viewer. In many way the audience
adopts the role of a friend, who Usher is confessing to.
A second technique used by Usher is silhouettes. Again
playing on the use of light. The black could convey a meaning of darkness and
unknown but more than that he is in a confession booth, playing on the words of
the title. CONFESSIONS. As if he is confessing his sins to a Pastor.
Shots remain relatively low, and the video is broken down
through the use of jump cuts. The fact Usher employs the use of so many jump
cuts could fir the fact his mind is wandering as he reveals all his secrets to
the audience.
|The narrative of the video follows the lyrics very
closely. However, rather than show the
narrative through use of acting, Usher again simply reverts to the play on
words of the title, revealing what he has done to the audience.
One thing to note is that Usher subverts the normal
conventions of a Hip-Hop/RnB music video. For one he is the only actor seen, no
one else, except for one case near the end.
Usher doesn’t use flashy cars, or special effects, or establishing
shots. The general feel to the music video plays on the intimacy the audience
feels with usher. Close up’s are the main shots used.
In the video it could be suggested usher aims not to
represent any given social group. He is simply a man singing about his mistakes
in life and in love.
This photo is one we may use on the front cover of our CD cover along side the image below, because of the poses i can add interesting effects to them making them appeal to my target audience.
this shot can be used as a feature page in the magazine me and my group are going to create this shot will be effective as the male actor is dressed to fit the genre of music which is Hip hop and R&B the hood and the baseball cap are key signifiers of the hip hop genre.
the reasons i will not proceed with this photo is because my Actor is supposed to represent the singer Will i am, whilst 95% of the costume fits his representation the Snap back takes this representation into hip hop where as Will I Am's genre is R&B so i will re shoot this pose but with a different hat.
out of the two images above this i would most likely use this one for the simple reason the representation of this shot suggests this actor (myself ) is an R&B singer the signifiers of this is the contrast between the costumes of the two male actors, Male actor 1 in grey has an urban hip hop representation whilst, Male actor 2 has a softer R&B representation and the combination of these two photos can be used to fit into the music genre of hip hop and R&B.
This particular shot of Male actor one is the one i would most likely use in the creation of our music magazine as his body language and facial expressions are in symetry with the signifiers of the hip hop genre making this photo effective.
The body language of Male actor two fits the R&B genre and can be manipulated well to in a magazine. 
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