Goodwin's theory
Goodwin's music video theory consists of 7 steps:
- Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
- There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
- There is a relationship between music and visuals
- The demand of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work
- There is a frequent reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body
- There is often intersexual references.
- Whether the video is primarily performance based, narrative based or concept based.
In this post I am going to relate Goodwin's theory to a music video I have chosen. The music video I have chosen is "See you again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. The song was made for fast and furious 7 to commemorate the death of one of the actors Paul Walker.
I have chosen to use this song because it shows all 7 point clearly within the video itself. This way I will find it easier to analyse the points from Goodwin's theory.
See you again
Point 1: Music video demonstrates genre characteristics.
The song "see you again" is in the genre category "Hip Hop" because of a number of factors. Firstly, the main artist that sings the song is Wiz Khalifa who is a well known rap artist. He is well known for performing songs like "We dem boys" and "Promises" which are two hit Rap songs. Also in the video itself there are a number of sports cars shown behind the artists when they are performing. This is stereotypical of the hip hop genre because you would expect to see expensive cars included within the video. The expensive cars behind the artists shows that they have a lot of money and that the aren't afraid to show off their wealth. Girls are also shown a lot in the video "See you again". This again is stereotypical of the hip hop genre because you would often expect to see girls next to or behind the artist performing. However, we only see the girls in the clips included from the movie Fast and furious 7. Never the less we still see girls included in the video. Hip hop artists do this to show that they are popular with the female sex and it also helps them promote their ego. Artists like Drake and Kid ink do this in almost every video they perform in because they like the attention it gives them. This is probably one of the most stereotypical techniques used to represent the hip hop genre.
Point 2 : There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
At the start of the video the artist "Charlie puth" is singing while playing the piano at the same time. When he sings the lyrics "Its been a long day, without you my friend" he is looking directly at the camera. This makes the audience think that he is singing those lyrics directly to them. This builds the relationship between the audience and the artist because the audience are engaged further because they believe that the artist is speaking to them through the song. This is turn makes the audience relate those lyrics to a person in their life that they are missing, causing them to relate life experiences to the song more. This makes the song more recognisable to them.
Around half way through the video, Charlie Puth looks up to the sky and sings "Let the light guide your way". These lyrics are relating to death because when you die you are told to follow the light up to heaven. This links in to the video because the song "See You Again" was made to commemorate the life of Paul Walker, an actor in Fast and Furious who passed away in a car accident. This again helps the audience relate to the video because everyone's had someone they love pass away. This in turn makes the bond between the artist and the audience stronger.
Point 3: There is a relationship between music and visuals.
In the video "See you again " there is a clear relationship between the music and visuals. This is shown in the scene where Wiz Khalifa is standing in a dark room with a number of sports cars. As the beat kicks in the cars lights turn on in time with the beat being played. This is a clever technique used a lot in music videos because It looks very professional and its well though out. This technique engages the audience into the song more because the beat in the song isn't interrupted. The beat is constantly being played in the background helping it flow better.
Point 4:
Don't understand this point due to me missing the lesson, will ask a fellow student for help!
Point 5: Frequent reference of notion of looking and voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
Whenever the chorus is being played, Charlie Puth is often looking up towards the sky. This is to show that he is missing someone close to him that has recently passed. This links in with the music video because the lyrics about an actor who passed away. This helps build a bond with the audience and the artist because the audience can relate to someone close to them dyeing. This will in turn engage them more within the song.
Women aren't shown a lot throughout this music video, however when they are they are either in revealing clothing or constantly surrounded by men. This shows that Females are the weaker sex because they are shown as being trophies instead of actual people.
Point 6: There is often intertextual references
The whole music video of "See you again" is based around the previous 7 films of Fast and Furious. There are often references in the music video either in the form of lyrics or actual footage. The whole point of the song was in remembrance of Paul Walker who played in the film who recently passed away. This in turn will draw fans of the film to listen to the song because they would be interested to see how it links in with the film.
This technique also helps promote the films because the song was such a hit with fans of the films and fans of the artists. This must have been a strategy thought up by the producers to try and help promote the film and the song.
Point 7
The last concept of Goodwin's theory is whether or not the music video is performance based concept based or narrative based. This music video that I have chosen is performance based and narrative based. It is performance based because the artist is acting in front of the camera trying to show off his wealth and singing abilities. He is also trying to show that he can handle the high notes and fast rap routine. However it is also narrative based because there is a story being told in the background behind all the singing. The artists main goal is to try and tell the story of Paul walker and how his life ended and how it was lived.
Conclusion
To conclude this blog has been very beneficial for me because it has helped me understand Goodwin's theory and how I can use it within my own blog. I have learnt that there is more towards making a music video than I previously thought. The main point that will help me in the making of my music video is point 1. You have to relate your video to the genre of music that your artist is singing. For example an R an B music video should have girls in and a Hip Hop video should have dance routines and cars. Overall this post has been key with the making of my music video.
Around half way through the video, Charlie Puth looks up to the sky and sings "Let the light guide your way". These lyrics are relating to death because when you die you are told to follow the light up to heaven. This links in to the video because the song "See You Again" was made to commemorate the life of Paul Walker, an actor in Fast and Furious who passed away in a car accident. This again helps the audience relate to the video because everyone's had someone they love pass away. This in turn makes the bond between the artist and the audience stronger.
Point 3: There is a relationship between music and visuals.
In the video "See you again " there is a clear relationship between the music and visuals. This is shown in the scene where Wiz Khalifa is standing in a dark room with a number of sports cars. As the beat kicks in the cars lights turn on in time with the beat being played. This is a clever technique used a lot in music videos because It looks very professional and its well though out. This technique engages the audience into the song more because the beat in the song isn't interrupted. The beat is constantly being played in the background helping it flow better.Point 4:
Don't understand this point due to me missing the lesson, will ask a fellow student for help!
Point 5: Frequent reference of notion of looking and voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
Whenever the chorus is being played, Charlie Puth is often looking up towards the sky. This is to show that he is missing someone close to him that has recently passed. This links in with the music video because the lyrics about an actor who passed away. This helps build a bond with the audience and the artist because the audience can relate to someone close to them dyeing. This will in turn engage them more within the song. Women aren't shown a lot throughout this music video, however when they are they are either in revealing clothing or constantly surrounded by men. This shows that Females are the weaker sex because they are shown as being trophies instead of actual people.
Point 6: There is often intertextual references
The whole music video of "See you again" is based around the previous 7 films of Fast and Furious. There are often references in the music video either in the form of lyrics or actual footage. The whole point of the song was in remembrance of Paul Walker who played in the film who recently passed away. This in turn will draw fans of the film to listen to the song because they would be interested to see how it links in with the film.This technique also helps promote the films because the song was such a hit with fans of the films and fans of the artists. This must have been a strategy thought up by the producers to try and help promote the film and the song.
Point 7
The last concept of Goodwin's theory is whether or not the music video is performance based concept based or narrative based. This music video that I have chosen is performance based and narrative based. It is performance based because the artist is acting in front of the camera trying to show off his wealth and singing abilities. He is also trying to show that he can handle the high notes and fast rap routine. However it is also narrative based because there is a story being told in the background behind all the singing. The artists main goal is to try and tell the story of Paul walker and how his life ended and how it was lived.
Conclusion
To conclude this blog has been very beneficial for me because it has helped me understand Goodwin's theory and how I can use it within my own blog. I have learnt that there is more towards making a music video than I previously thought. The main point that will help me in the making of my music video is point 1. You have to relate your video to the genre of music that your artist is singing. For example an R an B music video should have girls in and a Hip Hop video should have dance routines and cars. Overall this post has been key with the making of my music video.
