Estrella Bradley Ogando
A2 Coursework Component 3
Advanced Portfolio
EBO PRODUCTIONS - D-CRUZ Y ANTEX
MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS
Video 1: 'Tú Me Dejaste De Querer' by C. Tangana
The video is in the genre of Spanish-language hip-hop, and features a mix of urban and Latin American iconography, including graffiti, streetwear, and lowriders. The use of Spanish-language lyrics and rhythms reinforces the song's cultural identity and adds to its appeal for Spanish-speaking audiences. The video begins with a couple of establishing shots on what looks like a film camera considering the grain. The establishing shots all consist of the scenery around the center of Madrid, being completely empty of people and cars as it was filmed during the COVID lockdown in March of 2020. There are also graphics that appear in the middle of the screen in white font with the name of the song and the artist, as well as the featured artists underneath to establish the mood and tone of the video to the audience.
There are multiple locations used in the video that keeps cutting from one to another and are very familiar locations. For example, the first location is a young man on a plane trying to sleep while wearing a COVID-19 mask which the audience can relate to. Secondly, an over-the-shoulder shot of the main character in the music video (C. Tangana) looking over at two young people on a bench. Very familiar to locals, in a 'pueblo' (village) like setting with very casual, everyday clothing. Some of the shots are static, while others are more amateur and shaky, which makes the audience more connected to the video as it looks more realistic. The everyday casual shots that can connect with a niche audience and the establishing shots will definitely be some conventions that I will consider adding to my own music video as I am also planning on filming in the centre of Madrid. The video also uses a range of editing techniques, including dissolves, wipes, and overlays. There are also several special effects, such as glitchy overlays and distortions, that add to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the video. These effects are used sparingly, but effectively, to enhance the mood and reinforce the themes of the song.
The video features several intertextual references, including a nod to the classic French film Breathless, as well as several visual and musical references to other works by C. Tangana.
The video may appeal to audiences who are looking for emotional expression, cultural identity, or simply a stylish and entertaining music video through the uses and gratifications. It may also appeal to fans of C. Tangana's other work, or to audiences who are interested in the Spanish-language hip-hop genre.
For the mise-en-scene, the first part of the video rotates around the same 3 locations (the hotel, the plane and the two young people on the benches) while using point-of-view shots. The costumes are stylish and modern, with a mix of streetwear and high fashion. The color palette is generally dark and moody, with occasional bursts of bright color. The props are minimal and the facial expressions and body language of the performers are intense and emotional, conveying a sense of longing and despair. The video uses a combination of static and handheld shots, as well as a mix of close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots. The camera movement is generally slow and deliberate, with occasional quick cuts and zooms. The angles are often low and tilted, giving the impression of a distorted reality. This creates a sense of intimacy and tension, and reinforces the emotional intensity of the lyrics. The video presents C. Tangana and his collaborators as stylish and confident, but also vulnerable and emotionally conflicted. The themes of the song, including love, loss, and self-doubt, are reflected in the visual style and performance of the video. The video also reflects a dominant ideology of individualism and emotional authenticity, with a focus on personal expression and the pursuit of self-fulfilment. However, there are also elements of hedonism and materialism, particularly in the nightclub scenes, that could be seen as problematic. The video presents several binary oppositions, including love vs. loss, vulnerability vs. confidence, and emotional authenticity vs. materialism. These oppositions contribute to the overall thematic structure of the video and reinforce the emotional impact of the song.
INFLUENCE ON MY OWN VIDEO:
What I find the most inspiring in this video are the establishing shots that C.Tangana uses of Madrid to set the mood and tone of the video at the beginning and will want to incorporate the same in my own music video. I also really like the casual aesthetic that the video offers, with typical Spanish elements that a Spanish audience can distinguish
Video 2: 'Me Has Dejado' by Nicki Nicole feat. Delaossa
The video is a hip-hop music video, and it features several genre signifiers. These include the casual streetwear worn by the characters, the use of an abandoned building as a location, and the emotive performance style of both Delaossa and Nicki Nicole. The use of Spanish-language lyrics and rhythms reinforces the song's cultural identity and adds to its appeal for Spanish-speaking audiences.
The camera movement in the video is mostly steady, with some tracking shots used to follow the characters as they move through the building. The shots are predominantly medium-close-up shots, which allow the viewer to focus on the facial expressions and emotions of the characters. The camera angles are mostly eye-level or slightly above eye level, which gives the viewer a sense of being in the same space as the characters. The video uses a range of editing transitions, including fades, cuts, and dissolves. These transitions are used to create a sense of continuity between shots and to emphasise emotional beats in the song. The video also features some special effects, including a distorted mirror effect and a pulsating visual effect that appears during the chorus.
Regarding mise-en-scene, the video features a variety of settings, including a village, a dessert and a lake, which are constantly being rotated while both singers sing (both sing together in the village plaza, while Delaossa sings alone in the dessert and Nicki Nicole sings alone in the lake). The costumes are stylish and modern, with a mix of streetwear and high fashion. The color palette is generally bright and warm, with occasional bursts of bright color. The props are minimal, but include a car and a motorcycle. The facial expressions and body language of the performers are intense and emotional, conveying a sense of longing and despair. The video presents Delaossa and Nicki Nicole as stylish and confident, but also vulnerable and emotionally conflicted. The themes of the song, including heartbreak and betrayal, are reflected in the visual style and performance of the video. The video reflects a dominant ideology of emotional authenticity and individualism, with a focus on personal expression and the pursuit of self-fulfillment. However, there are also elements of hedonism and materialism, particularly in the nightclub scenes, that could be seen as problematic. The video features several intertextual references, including a nod to the classic Western film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, as well as several visual and musical references to other works by Delaossa. The video may also appeal to audiences who are looking for emotional expression, cultural identity, or simply a stylish and entertaining music video. It may also appeal to fans of Delaossa and Nicki Nicole's other work, or to audiences who are interested in the Spanish-language hip-hop genre. The video does not feature any obvious binary oppositions. However, the themes of youth vs. age and love vs. heartbreak could be seen as potential binary oppositions within the video.
INFLUENCE ON MY OWN VIDEO:
I really like the urban and casual aesthetic of this music video and will want to incorporate a similar style in my video, in a casual plaza in a town maybe.
Video 3: 'family ties' by Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar
The video features a lot of handheld camera movements that create a sense of immediacy and urgency. The camera often follows the characters as they move around, creating a sense of energy and momentum. There are also many close-up shots of the characters' faces, highlighting their emotions and reactions. The use of different angles, such as low angles and Dutch angles, adds a sense of unease and instability to the visuals. The editing transitions in the video are fast and frenetic, with quick cuts that match the song's fast-paced beat. The use of special effects, such as glitches and overlays of multiple different videos over each other (see on left-hand side), adds to the video's overall aesthetic and creates a sense of chaos and disorientation. Regarding the mise-en-scene, the video's color palette is mainly red and blue, which creates a stark contrast and adds to the video's intensity. The characters' costumes are also bold and colorful, with Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar wearing matching red suits in one scene. The video's location is primarily a desert, which adds to the video's rugged and raw feel. The characters in the video are portrayed as powerful and confident. Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar are shown as leaders of a group of people, with Baby Keem even standing on top of a car at one point to address the crowd. The video also features a diverse cast of characters, which adds to the video's inclusivity.
The dominant ideology presented in the video is one of power and strength. The characters are shown as being in control and having a sense of authority. The video also promotes individualism and self-reliance. The video's genre is rap/hip-hop, which is signified through the use of urban and street iconography, bold and colorful costumes, and a focus on the characters' individuality. The video does not feature any explicit intertextual references. As far as uses and gratifications, an audience might watch and enjoy this video for its high energy, bold visuals, and sense of power and authority. The video's fast-paced editing and use of special effects also add to its overall appeal. One binary opposition present in the video is youth vs. age, as the video focuses on young, confident characters who are in control and exert their authority over others.
