Analysis of last year's videos

P2-32, 'This Electric'



I like the variety of shots in this video, especially the use of close ups and the low shots. The fish-eye effect on the band shots works well, and creates an interesting visual effect. The split screen at the beginning of the video is effective, as it allows the audience to see all the members of the band at once. The lip-syncing is well executed, and the performance is very believable. I really like the ending of the video, where the shots run in reverse and the boy is shown waking up (like at the beginning of the clip). This gives the video a sort of cyclical, dreamlike quality.

- Umit






Group R1-12 -
2Gether - ‘U+Me=Us’

This music video demonstrates a lot of conventional characteristics of its boy band genre, which accord well with the music. However the humour placed behind the use of the conventions of the genre are clear and allow me to appreciate the cleverness of the music video.
The relationship between the lyrics and the words was physically demonstrated with hand actions, the actors’ facial expressions and also direct gazes into the camera, which is also a generic convention of the boy band genre and is illustrative of the meanings intended within the song. The visuals, which include some beautiful locations, silhouettes of the actors, or ‘band’, against a sunset,
grassy hills, blue skies and a stage, assist the genre characteristics by also illustrating the themes and meanings within the song.
The lip synching within the video was badly done, which is one thing which defies the characteristics of the boy band genre; however it is unclear whether this was done purposely or not.
There was a sufficient amount of close-ups, mid shots and long shots, and also a successful use of mise-en-scene with regards to positioning the band in the frame, to satisfy the viewer. A motif which was clear within the piece, and which is used in a lot of boy band music videos, is for the band to be wearing matching colours and similar clothes, which was a technique adopted in this music video. An example of this was when the band appeared on the stage location all wearing matching black suits with white shirts; this gives a sense of unison and assists the clear deliverance of the song by directing audience focus to the band.
Overall I felt that this music video was successful in its aims, despite the bad lip synching, and was enjoyable to watch.

- By Ruth Noakes