Goodwin's Analysis: Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire

Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire

Several of Goodwin’s points can be seen in the music video above, titled ‘Sex on Fire’ by The Kings of Leon.

Lyrics and music – Some parts of the lyrics including the lines “feels like you’re dying, you’re dying” and “hot as a fever, rattling bones” the beat and the bass become heavier to intensify the moment and create suspense among the viewers.

Lyrics and visuals – within this video there are a handful of links between lyrics and visuals for example, “lay where you’re laying” you see the lead singer of the band lying down where he is. Another example is when the lyrics say “I know you’re watching…” and the visual is of one of the band member’s faces, with the camera focusing on his eyes to show that he is watching. The links between the lyrics and visuals can also be seen during the instrumental parts of the song, or when the beat gets heavier, for instance, one of the instrumental parts shows visuals of the guitarists and the drummer playing.

Genre characteristics – The Kings of Leon come under a handful of rock genres including alternative rock, southern rock and garage rock revival. Some of the key aspects in a rock video include a dark place with dim lighting, instruments, leather and props. These aspects are included in the Kings of Leon’s music video. Below are some stills from their music video which demonstrate the things I have just mentioned.

"Lay where you're laying"

"I know you're watching..."

Dim lighting

Performing

Instrumental visuals

Instrumental visuals

Instrumental visuals

Kings of Leon performing 'Sex on Fire'...

Notions of looking – Rock videos don’t usually contain much notions of looking. Both men and women can be portrayed as rebels or love interests in music videos of the rock genre. From watching the music video for ‘Sex on Fire’ the only notions I picked up on was how the band members could possibly be seen as rebels.

Intertextual reference – The Kings of Leon are signed to several labels including Sony Music, RCA Music Label (a flagship label of Sony Music Entertainment), Columbia Records and Island Records Music Label. Sony is a globally known company in the music and entertainment industry making the Kings of Leon a hugely successful rock band all over the world. With such a successful company distributing the band and music video it’s no wonder the official music video has had more than 40 million YouTube hits in less than 2 years!

Demands on label – Being signed to extremely successful record labels, the rock band have developed a successful image with a rebellious rock edge. This can be seen through the music videos that the band makes and also through aspects such as interviews, outfits and styling, performances and lyrics. This all helps with the band and the record labels success around the world.

Structure – From watching the music video you can tell that the structure of the video is a performance as there isn’t really a story being told. Although the rock band isn’t performing in front of a huge crowd, the viewers can still tell that they are doing a rock performance due to the lighting, styling, camera shots and most importantly the music.

Goodwin's Analysis: Jessie J - Price Tag

Jessie J's music video for her song 'Price Tag' incorporates many of Goodwin's points. These points include:

• Links between lyrics and visuals - This video shows some images which tie in with the lyrics being sung. This gives the video a more entertaining element as the audience can see pictures and images that match up to the lyrics. Some of these images are more literal than others. For example, when the lyrics say "when the sale comes first" Jessie J puts up her index finger, signalling 'number one'. Or when she sings "it's not about the money, money, money" the video shows her standing in front of a tree made of money. Another example is when she sings "forget about the price tag" we see her standing with a large price tag. However, some imagery is not as obvious. Such as when the lyrics say "why is everybody so serious?" the image of three men dressed in suites appear. This implies the men are "serious" and perhaps seen as 'boring'.   

 

"It's not about the money, money, money..."

"Forget about the price tag..."





















"Everybody look to the left..."



"When the sale comes first..."











"Why is everybody so serious?"

  



• Genre characteristics - Jessie J is classed under the genres of pop and RnB. The video includes popular traits for a pop video including bright colours and a lot of visual aids such as props. Props used in this video include the big bear, the tree full of money, the price tag and car. The video also features Jessie J in a number of costumes and outfits which is another concept typical of pop and RnB music videos.

• Notions of looking - This music video doesn't really include notions of looking usually shown in RnB videos such as a female being portrayed as an object or men being represented as cheats or gangsters.

•  Intertextual reference - 'Price Tag' has contains an intertextual reference to Jessie J's previous music video 'Do It Like A Dude'. This appears when she sings the lyrics "and it wasn't low blows and video hoes" showing Jessie J in the same outfit as her previous video and dancing in a similar way. This is portrayed as a 'mickey take' to herself which makes the video have a humorous element to it.



Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude



"Video hoes..."













• Demands on the label - Jessie J is part of Lava Records, Universal Republic Records and Island Records. Jessie J has developed a motif of being an 'independent' and 'strong' women. This reoccurs throughout her music videos through aspects such as styling and outfits, dance moves and lyrics. This all contributes to Jessie J's current and individual look which is portrayed throughout her music videos.

• Structure - The music video 'Price Tag' is a performance based video as it doesn't tell a particular story. However, it is not taken from a live performance. The video shows different clips of Jessie J in various outfits and scenarios. This makes it more interesting for the audience as there is a variety of scenes which keeps it entertaining to watch.

Goodwin's Analysis - Ed Sheeran: You Need Me, I Don't Need You

Ed Sheeran - You Need Me, I Don't Need You


This video shows some of Goodwin's Analysis points such as:

Links between lyrics and music - His lyrics are about the artist being independent and his music is quite upbeat to match the lyrics.

Links between lyrics and visuals - there are a few basic visuals to a phrase in the song for example: "Selling CD's from my rucksack..." then a picture of a rucksack appears on the screen. His video includes the camera shot 'match on action' so in some parts of the song, you'll hear the artist sing a line, but you'll see an image of something else that relates to that line. Another aspect of the music video is the main character doing sign language as Ed Sheeran raps. This gives the video an edgier and unique feel. The majority of the video consists of the main character saying the lyrics through his hand movements (sign language).

Below are some stills from Ed Sheeran's music video "You Need Me, I Don't Need You).



"But I haven’t got a house plus I live on the couch"



"Selling CD's from my rucksack aiming for the papers"

Guitar introduction...

Genre characteristics - Ed Sheeran comes under several genres including folk rock, acoustic, hip-hop, grime and pop. His music video is quite unique and straight to the point. Everything is so simple yet looks complicated due to the several effects and camera shots. The video being shot in black and white helps bring out the simplicity making it look more appealing to the audience.

Notions of looking - the idea of notions of looking isn't really represented within the music video we are analysing.

Intertextual reference - Although its not stereotypical in intertextual reference, its distributed by Warner Brothers therefore just by being distributed by that company, you know the song is going to be a big hit. Currently on YouTube, the official music video has over 2 million hits in less than 2 months.

Demands on label - Ed Sheeran is signed to two labels; 'Asylum' and 'Atlantic Records'. Sheeran has been in the music industry since 2005 however he has only really become well known the past year. He has chosen his label to fit his style of music. The labels he is currently signed to both have links to Warner Brothers who distribute the type of genre Ed Sheeran focuses on.

Structure - The music video has a linear narrative. Although the music video itself isnt extremely concise, the words Ed Sheeran are singing complete the puzzle so that the viewers are not confused whilst watching the music video.

Goodwin's Analysis

A2 Media Studies Goodwin Analysis: Music Videos

Goodwin’s Theory

Music videos are associated with:

1.     Links between lyrics and music

2.     Links between music and visuals

3.     Genre characteristics

4.     Intertextual reference

5.     Notions of looking

6.     Performance, narrative, and concept based music videos.

7.     Demands of the record label

Lyrics and visuals – Goodwin suggests lyrics will make constant references to visuals on screen.

Visuals will reinforce what the lyrics say; e.g.: Beyoncé – Single Ladies.

Genre characteristics – These are depicted as the certain traits associated with a particular music genre.

Notions of looking – notions of looking plays on the idea of gaze and the way characters are visualized and represented. For example, the female character as an object. Notions of looking however is not just restricted to women, it may also representation of men as particular as; gangsters, cheats etc.

Intertextual reference – the way in which texts refer to other media texts that producers assume audiences will recognize. Music videos are one medium which relies heavily on intertextuality to achieve a particular effect. For instance, referring to other videos, films, TV programmes of other media texts.

Demands on label – the record label has a certain control over the artist they sign

Artist/s may develop a motif which would recur across their work.

Beyoncé – independent women image – band women – dancers usually women – lyrics about being independent.

Such demand could be made by the label e.g. to develop a single image, sexy image etc.

Structure – Narrative:

Linear: tells a story from start to end

Fragmented: tells a story not necessarily in the right order

Performance – for example takes from live performances/does not have a particular story