History of Music Videos
As part of my research and planning, I am going to look into the history of music videos. I will look at 5 artists music videos and compare their most recent and successful music videos with thier eldest ones. Whilst doing this I will evaluate how the music videos have developed and changed but also, whether there are key features and motifs which are still used in old and new music videos.
Immediately, you can see a clear change in Rihanna's music videos and how they have developed in the past 11 years. The location is probably the most dramatic initial change which shapes your view on the rest of the video. 'Unfaithful' begins with a much longer introduction setting the scene for the narrative, which is to take place in what looks like a dressing room where she remembers flashbacks of a boyfriend. This scene is also much more simple, and although it has changing locations it presents a much more realistic lifestyle. Whereas 'wild thoughts' goes straight into lyrics and is set in a vibrant, crowded dance scene. Although both music videos use the idea of the 'male gaze' when filming Rihanna 'unfaithful' is presented in a more emotional, romantic light, whereas 'wild thoughts' is typically in a sexual light. This dramatic change is noticeable in nearly all music video's. In 2006 'unfaithful' the lyrics amplify the visuals, creating a story, however the lyrics in 'wild thoughts' focus on voyeuristic angles of Rihanna to portray her in a sexual light. As a result of the location and costumes being simple and more accessible, you would presume 'unfaithful' would have had a much smaller budget for their music video. However over the last 11 years Rihanna has become substantially more famous, meaning by 2017 the budget would have been much bigger.
Contrasting to Rihanna, Beyonce's 2003 music video (crazy in love), immediately goes straight into the lyrics. Unlike 'hold up' which almost has a two minute introduction of Beyonce talking, before it begins. 'Crazy in love' is typically a performance based music video, where Beyonce's dancing is filmed using voyeuristic angles. Due to it not being a narrative the lyrics do not amplify the visuals shown in the music video. Comparatively, 'hold up' is typically a narrative with little dancing. The visuals denoted in the video amplify the the lyrics presented in 'hold up'. Despite this, the location in both videos are surprisingly similar, as both look like they are filmed in relatively simple but run down areas. However in 'crazy in love' there are multiple locations towards the end of the music video, which look much more dramatic and performance like. One of the most obvious changes which are presented in the music videos is the costumes Beyonce wears. In her 2003 'crazy in love' video she begins wearing shorts and a plain vest top, before changing into bright, revealing dresses. However, throughout 'hold up' she wears a long, sweeping, pleated gown, a now iconic design 'practically made for slow-mo' (InStyle magazine).
There is a clear change in Justin Bieber videos from 'Baby' in 2010 to 'Despacito' in 2017. The song 'Baby' is a narrative video, where the visuals amplify the lyrics sung. However the music video also has a performance element, where the audience are shown low angle closeups of Justin Bieber. Comparatively, Despacito does not have a narrative but is made up of montages, where the audience are shown multiple closeup, and mid shots of Justin Bieber. One of the most notable changes is probably the location. 'Baby' is filmed in a bowling alley, with many teenagers (younger people) in the shots, whereas 'Despacito' (as well as the montage) is filmed in the streets where a party scene is taking place. Although there are many similarities within the videos, including the number of people in shots and the use of a performance, there are also many differences. It is not only the lyrics but the location the music video is filmed in. Furthermore, 'Baby' had dark monotone colours, whereas 'despacito' had bright, lively colours, matching the vibrancy and energy in the lyrics.
When comparing the development of music videos and the artists, Taylor Swift defiantly had changed the most significantly. 'Love story' 2003, begins with bright lighting, hugely contrasting with the sinister and dark monotone lighting in 'look what you made me do'. Although in both music videos the visuals amplify the lyrics, 'love story' has a much more lighthearted narrative and sense of her innocent personality. Comparatively, the audience can see a drastic change in 2017, where she presents a darker aspect of her personality. 'Look what you made me do', is not quite a narrative, however shows the audience snapshots of stages in her music career. Despite this both videos contain a number of close ups and mid shots.
- Rihanna- Unfaithful 2006 and Wild thoughts 2017
Immediately, you can see a clear change in Rihanna's music videos and how they have developed in the past 11 years. The location is probably the most dramatic initial change which shapes your view on the rest of the video. 'Unfaithful' begins with a much longer introduction setting the scene for the narrative, which is to take place in what looks like a dressing room where she remembers flashbacks of a boyfriend. This scene is also much more simple, and although it has changing locations it presents a much more realistic lifestyle. Whereas 'wild thoughts' goes straight into lyrics and is set in a vibrant, crowded dance scene. Although both music videos use the idea of the 'male gaze' when filming Rihanna 'unfaithful' is presented in a more emotional, romantic light, whereas 'wild thoughts' is typically in a sexual light. This dramatic change is noticeable in nearly all music video's. In 2006 'unfaithful' the lyrics amplify the visuals, creating a story, however the lyrics in 'wild thoughts' focus on voyeuristic angles of Rihanna to portray her in a sexual light. As a result of the location and costumes being simple and more accessible, you would presume 'unfaithful' would have had a much smaller budget for their music video. However over the last 11 years Rihanna has become substantially more famous, meaning by 2017 the budget would have been much bigger.
- Beyonce- Crazy in love 2003 and Hold up 2016
Contrasting to Rihanna, Beyonce's 2003 music video (crazy in love), immediately goes straight into the lyrics. Unlike 'hold up' which almost has a two minute introduction of Beyonce talking, before it begins. 'Crazy in love' is typically a performance based music video, where Beyonce's dancing is filmed using voyeuristic angles. Due to it not being a narrative the lyrics do not amplify the visuals shown in the music video. Comparatively, 'hold up' is typically a narrative with little dancing. The visuals denoted in the video amplify the the lyrics presented in 'hold up'. Despite this, the location in both videos are surprisingly similar, as both look like they are filmed in relatively simple but run down areas. However in 'crazy in love' there are multiple locations towards the end of the music video, which look much more dramatic and performance like. One of the most obvious changes which are presented in the music videos is the costumes Beyonce wears. In her 2003 'crazy in love' video she begins wearing shorts and a plain vest top, before changing into bright, revealing dresses. However, throughout 'hold up' she wears a long, sweeping, pleated gown, a now iconic design 'practically made for slow-mo' (InStyle magazine).
- Justin Bieber- Baby 2010 and Despacito 2017
There is a clear change in Justin Bieber videos from 'Baby' in 2010 to 'Despacito' in 2017. The song 'Baby' is a narrative video, where the visuals amplify the lyrics sung. However the music video also has a performance element, where the audience are shown low angle closeups of Justin Bieber. Comparatively, Despacito does not have a narrative but is made up of montages, where the audience are shown multiple closeup, and mid shots of Justin Bieber. One of the most notable changes is probably the location. 'Baby' is filmed in a bowling alley, with many teenagers (younger people) in the shots, whereas 'Despacito' (as well as the montage) is filmed in the streets where a party scene is taking place. Although there are many similarities within the videos, including the number of people in shots and the use of a performance, there are also many differences. It is not only the lyrics but the location the music video is filmed in. Furthermore, 'Baby' had dark monotone colours, whereas 'despacito' had bright, lively colours, matching the vibrancy and energy in the lyrics.
- Taylor Swift- Love story 2008 and Look what you made me do 2017
When comparing the development of music videos and the artists, Taylor Swift defiantly had changed the most significantly. 'Love story' 2003, begins with bright lighting, hugely contrasting with the sinister and dark monotone lighting in 'look what you made me do'. Although in both music videos the visuals amplify the lyrics, 'love story' has a much more lighthearted narrative and sense of her innocent personality. Comparatively, the audience can see a drastic change in 2017, where she presents a darker aspect of her personality. 'Look what you made me do', is not quite a narrative, however shows the audience snapshots of stages in her music career. Despite this both videos contain a number of close ups and mid shots.
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