Michael Jackson

Thrillerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

Video One

Michael Jackson - ThrillerWritten by Rod Temperton,Produced by Quincy Jones

Featuring a guest soliloquy from Vincent Price.

“Thriller is an early 1984 hit single recorded by Michael Jackson for the Epic label. It reached number 4 in the U.S. singles chart and number 10 in the UK singles chart. The 14-minute video is regarded by many as the greatest music video of all-time, and the song itself is considered to be one of Jackson’s signature songs.” There is a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visuals in the music video. Even by just looking at the name of the track you can tell that the genre is gothic horror pop and we as the audience expect to see elements of this in the video. The video starts with a drama scene on Michael Jackson and his on screen girl friend walking through a grave yard after a night at the movies. The lead up to the track creates tension and atmosphere and gives added depth to the track. This is a sort extract of the lyrics to give a clear overview of the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals.

‘It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the darkUnder the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heartYou try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make itYou start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyesYou're paralyzed'Cause this is thriller, thriller nightAnd no one's gonna save you from the beast about strikeYou know it's thriller, thriller nightYou're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight’

Visuals and Lyrics

In this particular video the visuals and lyrics play an important part in making the song different and unique. Throughout the video there is the frequent use of close up shots on the lead singer. Although this is apparent in most music videos, the close-up shots carries importance in this particular one.

The video features aspects from gothic horror and the costumes and characters that are portrayed in this video are of up most importance. By having close-up shots it is easy for the audience to see that visual change in the lead characters appearance; which has relevance to the lyrics. It also shows the importance of the lead singer. However, we also experience numerous long shots which allows us as the audience to see the mise-en-scene of the scene, again this helping to create the gothic horror set and add depth to the track.

Music Tempo

The video makes use of the tempo of the track to drive the editing and gives emphasise to particular sounds and beats. The tempo of the song is highlighted particularly in this music video by the pace of which the main artist and dancers move and walk to.

There is also emphasis on certain lyrics ( you hear the door slam) the visuals also highlight this. The foregrounding instruments are also emphasised by the dancers hitting a particular beat, the editing also cuts and skips from particular shots and angles according to the beat and tempo of the track.

Narrative and Performance

Narrative is very important and apparent in this music video. Right from the start we are introduced to two characters (one of which is the lead singer) and we are set up to a scene of which features gothic horror elements. The video allows the audience much more varied access to the performer, we see close-up shots; allowing eye contact and close observations.

The visual narrative and performance gives added depth to the track. The choreographed dance performance is an iconic routine of Michael Jackson and will live forever, this is part of the huge success of this song and video worldwide. There is a clear link between Michael Jackson and his dance routines, this is apparent in all his music videos.

Christina Aguilera

Dirtyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xMWrKhLJq4

Video Two

Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa Muhammad, and Rock wilder for Aguilera's second studio album Stripped (2002). It received mixed reviews from music critics.

The song is best remembered for its accompanying music video, for which Aguilera was allowed creative control. The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals is what brought so much controversy. The video brought her sexuality to the forefront and eliminated the "girl next door" image that she had accumulated from her previous work. The lyrics helped to create the ‘Dirrty’ ‘dark’ mood and feeling of the track. The subject matter is highlighted through the name of the track but particularly through the lyrics of the song.

Lyrics

“Ah, dirrty (dirrty) Filthy (filthy) Nasty (Christina), you nasty (yeah) Too dirrty to clean my act up If you ain't dirrty You ain't here to party (woo!)”

Music and Camera Work

The music and the tempo of the track is apparent in the video and the editing of it. The foregrounding instruments help to create the tempo and therefore the change in camera shots and visual performances. The genre of this particular track is R&B this is made apparent by the mise-en-scene, costumes and overall performance. The video proceeds to a scene of Aguilera and back-up dancers splashing and dancing while being sprayed with water in a room containing several urinals. This scene is a key feature of the R&B genre, containing certain sexual elements and references as in other R&B videos.

The camera work of this music video is very sleek and smooth. The camera cuts from shot to shot with the tempo. There is frequent use of close up shots to put emphasis on the lead singer and to show her importance in the video. The video opens with Aguilera gearing up and riding a motorcycle into a nightclub. Wearing a bikini, she is lowered from a cage into a boxing ring and dances, accompanied by several back-up dancers. The scene is inter-cut with sequences and shots of Aguilera dancing in a crop top, which she later removes to reveal a bikini top, and a micro skirt. The camera work is important to portray this “new, grown up” artist. The video generated some controversy and presented Aguilera's new public image. However, ‘Aguilera's new image was widely rejected by the public to the extent that it began to overshadow her music.’

Camera Shots

Narrative

The video doesn’t particularly show a story or narrative however, there is a clear semblance between the lyrics and the visual. She is being ‘Dirty’ and this may be showing a story in her personal life, the growth from a “school-girl” into a “Dirty-girl”. There is clear lip-sync and there is numerous choreographed dance routines throughout the video. This makes the video more interesting to watch and emphasises the new portrayal of Christina Aguilera.