Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Music Video Analysis: She Ain't You - Chris Brown

 She Ain't You - Chris brown (Colin Tilley, 2011)


CONCEPT, PERFORMANCE, AND NARRATIVE

The music video is majorly consists of dancing performances of Chris Brown and the dancing crew, in front of very eye-catching neon-lit background. Chris is seen to be wearing suits that pay tributes to the late Michael Jackson from some of his famous dancing pieces (Smooth Criminals). 

CAMERA WORK

There might be instances of multiple exposures or split screens, where different scenes or perspectives are shown simultaneously. This technique adds a layer of visual complexity and can convey multiple narratives or emotions at once. The video likely incorporates shots focusing on dance routines, showcasing the performers' choreography. These shots may involve wide angles to capture the entire dance sequence or close-ups to highlight specific movements.

MISE-EN-SCÈNE

Chris Brown is seen wearing suits (intertextuality to Michael Jackson), which satisfies the codes and conventions of R&Bs - characters wearing fashionable and inviting clothing. The background is a wall of neon lights, which indicates the modernize and luxurious setting. Hard-key lighting was used to reflect clearly the clothing and to further emphasize the performance.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS

The music video consists of dancing performances with neon light in the background, which indicates the vibrant and glamorous of R&B songs. Chris Brown is also seen to be wearing very conventionally stylish suit, which is an attracting pulling factor towards the selectivity of certain audiences of this music genre. A couple of footage showing a female wearing very revealing clothing also satisfies the sexual iconography of R&Bs. There is also a female singer singing along side Chris, allowing him to come across as "charming", attracting potential viewers. 

INTERTEXTUALITY: TRIBUTES TO MICHAEL JACKSON

Brown pays tribute to Michael Jackson throughout the music video, and according to Lewis Corner of Digital Spy, "Brown has also choreographed a selection of iconic Jackson-inspired moves for the song's dance routine." "Dedicated to my biggest inspiration of all time... I Love You," the video's opening line reads. Brown then makes an appearance wearing a white suit a la the 1980s and a black fedora as he performs a choreography with male and female dancers in front of a neon-light wall. Jackson's attire in his music video for "Smooth Criminal" from 1988 was compared to Brown's outfit, which attracted attention.

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