Video analysis of Music Videos

Im Beamin'-Lupe Fiasco 

This Music Video that I'm analysing about is called I’m Beamin’ by Lupe Fiasco taken from the album L.A.S.E.R.S.Lupe Fiasco is an American artist who specializes in Hip-Hop/Rap & this belongs to the mainstream audience because it has broad characteristics that appeal to many people.Lupe Fiasco is an artist who is known world wide for producing music to inspire the young people away from the violence and crime in today's society.However Hip-Hop has a different view on others,meaning people think Hip-Hop is a living a life of drugs,money,alcohol,women,and gangs.But Lupe Fiasco is trying to show the world the true side of Hip-Hop through is style of music and lyrics.

In the music video Im' Beamin' , Lupe uses many different types of close ups and medium shots because he is trying preform as well has rap to the beat.The relationship between the lyrics & visuals in the Music Video is illustrated in many ways throughout the video. There are loads of after effects used throughout which helps Lupe to deliver his lyrics & at the same time being illustrated with the special effects used.You also see many side shots of him,while he plays the piano because it shows the body language and mood he is in (which is relaxed and cool).I also like how the camera focuses on him then de-focuses,this shows that he is the dominate image of the video.Hes also a creative artist because his style of special effects used in the video is not the typical Hip-Hop/Rap style like in the Look At Me Now Music Video by Chris Brown.

The camera hardly moves in the video however Lupe keeps moving along with the beat with a slow tempo,a example is when the 2nd verse when Lupe moves his finger and the camera moves just a bit by following his actions while using the editing cutting along with the beat.The relationship between the music and the visuals varied & illustrated as well but not as much as the lyrics with the visuals. This is because the lyrics accompany the special effects very well which really works in terms of this type of song. But an example of the music altered the visual in the video is when Lupe starts his 1st verse & the screen has the earthquake effect because of the sudden bass drum that plays to start the tune playing from the instrumental of Lupe playing the piano. This editing really works so it gives the feelings to the audience that the 1st verse has started and it has a very intriguing start to it.Theres alot of zooming in and a good flow of camera editing,it looks like the video hardly has any cuts because of the use of continuous editing.The Music Video is very unique in terms of the usage if the extra actors & actresses by using young children to act & help Lupe to deliver his lyrics to the screen clearly by using special effects. The usage of special effects is an inspiration for my Look At Me Now Remix.

The mise en scene in I'm Beamin' is the best part of the music video in my opinion,this is because the idea of using cardboard cutouts is so basic and yet so effective. the use of special effects also makes this video more unique, he didn't go over the top. but just used it for the lasers symbolizing his album L.A.S.E.R.S. Hes always under a spot light to show he is the dominate image through out the film which really worked in terms of this type of song. He also wears black clothes (which is also in the trend of today's fashion ,this also shows that he respects younger audience) without any hard core bling like other rappers would do,this makes him counter-typical.

The editing of the music video is slow and steady which makes a calm tempo with a cut that's less frequent but if there's a beat which is fast,the cut would be quick and more frequent. 

Lupe fiasco is much more different to other rappers. Hes not a conventional rapper.He hated early Hip-Hop,because the genre degraded woman.He is a rapper who does not drink alcohol,smoke or wears ridiculous amount of bling or tattoos.Instead he helps become more mainstream by rapping with the help of children in his music video.where as you would see woman in other rap videos,this makes Lupe Fiasco countersterotypical.

Till I’m Gone – Tinie Tempah

This is Tinie’s second single in the US & it is not much promoted in the UK as it is in the US. Tinie Tempah is one of our inspiration. The genre of this song are Hip-Hop/Rap & RnB because of the tune, beat & element of Rap with a singing chorus by Wiz Khalifa that has a deep love meaning lyrics about 2 lovers. This song has broad characteristics in the genre & has wide target listeners because of the meaning of the song & the popularity of the artists which is Tinie who is the current number 1 UK rapper and is building up his mainstream music worldwide starting in the US. Also Wiz Khalifa who is a mainstream rising star from the US who is gaining popularity worldwide.

The lyrics of the song can be related to many people who are in love, missing each other or one person leaves/travelling far away to pursue his/her career or dream but will be back one day, which shows the commitment of the lovers to each other. The official video of this song, different people can represent this song in any way they want but for me the message of the lyrics of the song which is one of the lovers goes away to pursue their dream then will be back one day. The lyrics are very powerful in terms of the main message & we want to try & make a music video that will be realistic, fits to the lyrics & eventually makes the message of the song stronger to the viewers.

The video is very intriguing & has the supporting relationship between the music & lyrics. It shows close-ups of Tinie, Wiz, Tinie’s girlfriend who walked away because Tinie has to go and chase his dream. This video does not represent a different image of Tinie, but it does a bit to Wiz. The Disturbing London Records who are representing Tinie always have him wear Ray-Ban Wayfarers or Tom Ford Wayfarers in their music videos because this is his Trademark. Wiz seems to join the trend of these Ray-Ban Wayfarers but the see-through looking one which are called Nerd glasses. They always wear Nike trainers/sneakers, Rolex watches, Rings on pinky fingers, religious beads on his wrist & cool in-trend clothes. They are always the main focus to be represented in their music videos because they are a mainstream music artists & they are being represented very positively because of their look & style are in fashion worldwide today.

In this Till I’m Gone video, it shows that the male are cool & hang out like a group of gangsters with nice cars & the female are being represented as beautiful & very feminine because of the clothes that they wear. Camera work are very basic but once they used a silhouette to portray Tinie & Wiz’s crew walking on the hill which is very inspiring & cool visual to look at. The cuts are very in time with the music, everytime the main tune or beat of the drums change, the visual change which is very well done & it keeps the viewers intrigued & not gets bored by it.

This video of Till I’m Gone has a very good example on how to make a music video that increases the meaning of the lyrics of the song through to the viewers by visual image. We definitely will stay & try to stick to this element & add more of something else that we think will work by looking at other music videos within the same mainstream genre & artists like Tinie Tempah & Wiz Khalifa.

John-Lil Wayne feat.Rick Ross

The official Music Video of John is directed by the famous Colin Tiley who has directed loads of Music Videos for mainstream artists. Examples are Look At Me Now by Chris Brown Music Video, Down On Me by Jeremiah & many more. John is a Hip-Hop/Rap music by Lil Wayne featuring Rick Ross, rap superstars who are very well known across the globe. Therefore the target audience will be mainstream as loads of people will want to listen and watch the Music Video.

The relationship between the lyrics and visuals are very illustrated in the video. For example when Lil Wayne says he got 3 girls on him, the Music Video shows the girls and he delivers the lyrics by putting 3 fingers up while he raps to the song. Another examle when Lil Wayne mentions he got a rifle on him for protection, AK 47, instead of holding a real AK he holds the microphone stand the way he would hold a rifle which are clearly illustrated in the Music Video. Overall the music video are made to illustrate the lyrics to the audience by the artists delivery of the lyrics and other mise en scene such as actresses on set & it alo represent a sexualised display that he is a ladies man and sexy women are his entertainment which he can get everyday.

The relationship between music and visuals are very well illustrated in the Music Video. The video cut accroding to the snare drums, bass drums or the main tune of the song. Examples of these are the first minute of the song from the instrumental to the 1^st verse & you can see more variety of changes in the video according to the beat or tune throughout the song. The solo instrumental of the song in the beginning shows changes more to the main tune & shows Lil Wayne dancing to the beat to introduce who is the artist of this song. The pace of the music is mostly the same throughout because the tune of the song is very similar but the texture of the song such as drums playing with the tune is the only changes & therefore the video has less cuts to shows its smoothness according to the tune of the song.

The Young Money Record label which is owned by Lil Wayne himself definitely tried to sell this track on how wealthy and powerful Lil Wayne & Rick Ross are. There are loads of close ups, medium shots & long shots from diffewrent views or angles of the artists throughout. This is to represent the expensive jewellery, clothes, shoes & show their dominance in the song & other actresses and actors are their crew who works for them. This video continues its tradition of representing Lil Wayne as wealthy, powerful & a ladies man which are a very good representation of himself to the world to make his fans and other people shows some respect & honor. This also shows that he is not just a music artists but he is an art himself, as he got tatoos all over his body & diamond teeth.

The Music video is mostly balanced between performance & concept made by Lil Wayne, Rick Ross & the director Colin Tiley. The isn’t any story or narrative told in this video, this is because they want to sell the artists more than a story which can accompany the song. By doing this the artists appearance and style reputatuion are increasing more than put a side story while the music is playing.Colin Tiley did a nother successful Music Video with a very suitable & well chosen mise en scene that really supports the tempo, tone & style of the song John by Lil Wayne. The camera work, editing & style are definitely an inspiration for my Look At Me Now Remix Music Video.