Music Video Inspirations

Music Video Inspirations

This task involved analysing many different styles and genres of music videos which contained many different conventions and aspects which have in turn, given me inspiration when creating my own soul music video. The inspirations that I hope to include have not been taken from my selected genre, but from a varied range of genres in which I think will achieve my desired effect in my music video and help to engage the audience as they are watching.

Music Video 1: Charlie Puth - Marvin Gaye

The first video in which I have analysed is Charlie Puth with his music video of "Marvin Gaye". From analysing this music video it can be seen that the style of the music video is a combination of both a narrative based video and performance based also. I have taken inspiration from this music video and hope to include this when I begin filming my own music video which is based on the soul genre of music. This style of music video usually includes both narrative and performance based music video styles, as this allows for the audience to understand what is happening in regards to the narrative of the music video as well as the artist being able to portray their emotion behind the lyrics to the song through the use of performance. This also helps to build a relationship between the artist and audience as they can see through the use of close ups and body language of the artist throughout the performance scenes how passionate the artist is of their music. 

Music Video 2: John Legend - All of Me

The second music video which I have analysed is "All of Me" by John Legend. The first aspect of the music video which I noticed supports my first point and inspiration which I will include in my music video, of the artist including two style's in the music video, including a performance and narrative based music video. Again, I would like to include this within my music video as I feel that this is more engaging for the audience to watch as it not only allows them to understand the lyrics of the song more clearly, but also enables them to relate to the artist on the basis of how much passion the artist displays through the performance aspect of the video. Additionally to this, another aspect of the music video which I would like to incorporate into my music video when I come to planning this is the use of a black and white editing filter. This can be seen throughout the entire music video from the artist John Legend, but I would want to incorporate this technique throughout certain aspects of my music video so that it is more engaging for the audience and has a purpose. The use of different colours in the music video can be intriguing for the audience as it suggests different moods, or possibly different time periods which could be significant to the narrative of the music video and make it easier for the audience to follow along. The use of the colours black and white could also represent the artist within our soul music video conventionally as this helps to portray their low and depressive state in regards to the lyrics which is stereotypical of a soul music artist.

Music Video 3: Duffy - Warwick Avenue




Furthermore, I have watched the artist Duffy's music video for her song "Warwick Avenue" which consists of the artist seeming upset in the back of what appears to be a taxi as she is being taken somewhere. I am wanting to include this, and have taken inspiration of this idea as this is how I would like my artist to also be represented throughout our music video. I would like the artist to appear emotional and low which will help to build a relationship with the artist and the audience as the audience feel as though the artist is not trying to hide her true, and raw emotions that have been provoked due to the subject which she is singing about. This presents the artist as down to earth and genuine which will in turn gain respect from the audience. Not only this, but it is also engaging for the audience to watch as they may be able to relate in some way to how the artist is feeling. This would not be interesting to watch for the audience if the artist carried out a monotone expression whilst singing lyrics with meaning and emotion. 

Music Video 4: Ella Henderson - Yours

Another music video which I have analysed is "Yours" by artist Ella Henderson. The first inspiration that I have taken from this music video is the use of a black and white filter throughout the music video. I have taken inspiration of this technique from previous music videos and have noticed it also in this music video. The different colours such as black and white help to represent the artists depressive state and also allows the audience to think deeply into the narrative questioning the purpose of the filter, whether or not this represents a different time period for the artist. Additionally to this which I have previously mentioned, is also the use of a combination of music styles. In this music video the artist includes both narrative and performance based music video styles. This is more engaging for the audience to watch as they can see the emotion and passion behind the artists performance alongside the narrative style which helps to make the narrative more clear for the audience. Lastly, another inspiration in which I have taken from this particular music video is the use of an editing technique. This is when the artist seems to be layered over a building. I would like to use this technique within my music video as I feel as though this helps to represent the artists emotional state and her feelings, also representing the artist as vulnerable which is a conventional representation of a soul music artist. This could suggest that the artist has many different mixed emotions and is confused in the way that she is feeling, making the audience sympathize for the artist as they may be able to relate to the artist in some way.


Music Video 5: Birdy - Skinny Love

The fifth music video which I have analysed is from the artist Birdy and her song "Skinny Love". From analysing this specific music video I have taken inspiration from conventions in which she has included. The main inspiration that I would like to incorporate into my music video is the use of different styles of lighting. Within this music video, the lighting changes dramatically from being low key lighting, to high/natural lighting. By incorporating this into my music video this helps to represent to the audience the different moods and emotions which the artist is feeling. This could suggest that one moment the artist may be feeling okay and not so emotional, then the next in a low, emotional and depressive state which is conventional of the soul artist. The mix of emotions and state that the artist is represented as could suggest vulnerability which is another conventional representation of a soul artist. This in turn may make the audience more engaged as they are focusing on different key lighting elements which suggest the artists mood and emotions which may make them sympathize for the artist.

Music Video 6: Rihanna - Stay

The last music video in which I have analysed is "Stay" by artist Rihanna. From this specific music video I have taken inspiration as I would like to incorporate multiple close ups within my music video, which typically is a tight frame to capture a person or object. I would use this when the artist is singing as this helps to display the passion and emotion that she feels towards her lyrics. This helps to establish the relationship between the artist and the audience as they see her true, raw emotions up close which most people would not usually be able to see as this is something private which the artist may not want to share with the outside world. This presents the artist as natural and down to earth as she is willing to share her emotion with the audience which gives them an insight to her personality which nobody has seen before. The audience feel as though they are beginning to know the artist as they have shared their emotions and feelings which is something you would usually do if you were close to somebody and felt as though you could trust them with her emotions. This particular shot is conventional to the soul genre because it helps to illustrate the artists vulnerability and sadness through the facial expressions, which reiterates what the artist is singing about, and how this makes her feel. This makes the audience sympathise for the artist as they may have been in this situation before.

Our group have already selected the genre of soul to be what our music video is based on. Knowing this, I am considering choosing one of three separate songs from soul music artists. The first includes, "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" by artist Paloma Faith. I have taken this song into consideration on the basis that I think that my group will be able to come up with a unique narrative which matches the meaning behind the lyrics which also can be easily understood, yet engaging for our target audience. Furthermore, the next two songs which I have taken into consideration to use for making our own music video are from the artist Adele. I have considered both songs "Someone Like You" and "Hometown Glory". Again, as previously mentioned I believe that both of these particular songs allow my group to come up with a narrative which relates to the lyrics of the song, in which the target audience may also be able to relate to and understand easily, which is the main concept we are hoping to achieve with our music video, this is the audience remain engaged throughout with a narrative which they enjoy and can understand. However, both of these songs can contain a concept which I have been inspired by from several music videos. This is to include both a narrative and performance based music video style which allows for the audience to become further engaged as they can also see the passion and determination as they see the artist perform the lyrics. I am going to share all three songs which I have selected to my group, in hope that they will have also selected similar songs for similar reasons which will allow our group to include several concepts which are stereotypical to the genre of music which we have selected.