Analysis of Music Videos

Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)

Michael Jackson’s 1983 video Thriller is one of the most recognisable music videos made. It is a 14 minute video for the song of the same name. The video was directed by John Landis, who also directed An American Werewolf in London and another music video for Michael Jackson – Black or White. It was the most expensive video of its time costing US $500,000. In 2006, Guinness World records listed it as one of the most successful music videos of all time, selling over 9 million units.
Often credited as the greatest music video of all time, Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture, and was named “a watershed moment for the music industry” for its unique merging of filmmaking and music.
With regards to codes and conventions, Thriller was less of a typical music video and more like a short film because of the length of the full version. It is a horror film homage featuring choreographed zombies performing with Michael Jackson. During the video, Jackson transforms into both a werewolf and a zombie, as well as performing the climatic dance sequence.
The video was also iconic because at the time, MTV didn’t really air black musicians. However, when Thriller aired, Michael Jackson became the first African American to be on MTV.
Another reason the video will appeal to horror film fans is the voiceover from Vincent Price, who has been in horror films such as the original House of Wax.


At the beginning of the video, it is evident from the clothing worn that it is the 1950’s. Jackson and his date, in typical horror film tradition, run out of petrol in the middle of the woods at night. They walk off into the forest and start talking. Whilst talking, Jackson and his date are shown in separate shots, isolating them from each other on the screen, as oppose to a two shot, which would show them united as a couple. This changes when he proposes to her and they are closer to each other. However, as he reveals his secret to her, they become separated once again. The close ups of her face reveal her shock as he transforms into a werewolf. The close-ups also show Jackson changing into the werewolf in more detail, for example, his ears and hands.
The scene cuts away to a modern day cinema where Michael and his date are watching the scene unfold in a film called Thriller starring Vincent Price. When the couple leave the cinema is the first time that the music starts to play. As the couple are walking home along a foggy street, he teases her with the opening verses of the song. He dances around her as she strolls along, at certain points, he imitates a zombie chasing her. They pass a graveyard, where corpses begin to rise from their graves. It is at this point that Vincent Price performs part of his voiceover as if he is one of the zombies. Michael and his date find themselves surrounded by zombies, with point of view shots and close ups showing their terror. All of a sudden, the camera pans around to the girls point of view, and Michael has turned into a zombie himself. They then perform the famous dance sequence together. All of the other zombies are behind Michael and he is wearing significantly brighter colours, which makes him stand out more. This is followed by the chorus, by which time Michael has changed back to human form.
The girl is chased by the zombies, which now include Michael, to an abandoned house. As the zombies approach, we see the girl’s eyes in an extreme close up to portray how scared she is. The camera then cuts to her point of view as Michael and the rest of the zombies approach. As he reaches for her throat, she screams, when the camera cuts back to Michael, we realise at the same time as the girl does, that it was just a dream. As they leave the room, Michael is the centre of the shot and turns around to reveal his werewolf-like eyes, accompanied by the haunting laugh of Vincent Price. The camera zooms into his eyes as the credits appear


Duffy: Mercy (2008)

The official music video for Mercy, directed by Daniel Wolfe, features Duffy standing in top of a platform performing the song. Choreographed by Natricia Bernard, the dancing involves elaborate moves, as well as the use of fire. The video opens with a close up of someone’s feet as they are dancing. At this point, it becomes clear that the song is going to be upbeat and catchy rather than a ballad. Duffy is shown in the centre of the room on a raised platform with the light shining on her, suggesting that she is the dominant figure in the video. There is a low angle shot of her that reinforces this. However, the lyrics of the song imply that “I’m under your spell; you got me begging you for mercy”. It appears that she can’t help but be mesmerised by their dancing. The lighting in the video is effective as she is shown as innocent in the light, and the male dancers are more mysterious in the darker areas of the room. There are various close ups of Duffy in the video to give her identity to the audience, also, when the camera is on her, there are slow tracking shots and zooms, giving us more chance to connect with her. However, when the men are shown, we don’t really see their faces, and the quick cuts don’t give the audience enough time to connect with them. The closest shots of the dancers are on their feet, showing that their feet are their ‘weapon’. The dancers are moving their feet in time with the music, and during the video, their feet catch fire. The element of fire makes the dancing seem more elaborate. Fire has connotations of the devil/evil, which could indicate that the dancers in the video are dark characters, compared to Duffy, who is made to look innocent. The last shots of the video are very similar to the first shots, which could show that the dancers are still ultimately in control of the situation.
When asked of the lyrical meaning of the song, Duffy said:
"The lyrics were about having a feeling towards someone, whether it’s a romantic feeling or just some chemistry that you don’t want, and you desperately want to be released from that feeling."




Destiny's Child: Girl (2005)

The music video for Girl by Destiny’s Child is a very clever narrative video. There are obvious references in the video to Sex and the City – a lot of the video is a direct copy of the introduction to the TV show. The video is split into two different worlds, the first being Destiny’s Child in Beyoncé’s apartment, and the same trio on a fictional TV show styled exactly the same as Sex and the City. The audience are able to distinguish between the two different worlds from the clothes that the characters are wearing and also the shots/editing. For the characters at home, the girls are dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts, whereas in the TV version of themselves, they could be considered to be power dressing and very stylish. Also, the shots for the opening of the TV shots look exactly like they do on the actual TV Show and are a lot more edited than the shots when the girls are just chilling out at home.
The video begins with Beyoncé, Michelle, and Kelly in Beyoncé's apartment and settling down with snacks and wine as they watch a fictional TV show. There is a medium shot to shot all of the girls on the sofa together as a unit. After the mock credits, Beyoncé and Michelle meet Kelly for lunch. Throughout the video, the women at home respond to the events of the program through gestures and actions, while, on the television, the dialogue of the song matches the conversation of the women in the restaurant. The reaction of all 3 of the girls is exactly the same each time, indicating that they are on the same wavelength as each other and understand one another. Throughout most of the video, all 3 of the girls will be in the same shot (unless in different scenarios) to show their bond with each other.
Beyoncé confronts Kelly about her sad demeanor and suspected boyfriend problems, but Kelly feigns shock and insists that nothing is wrong. Neither Michelle nor Beyoncé are convinced. The video intercuts between two different scenes and the viewers can see that, on one occasion, her boyfriend took hours to come home without explanation and, when he finally arrived, a hurt Kelly threw his food away before running upstairs to cry. Kelly admits to some problems, while making excuses for her boyfriend, such as his busy schedule and her own moodiness. Beyoncé, however, rolls her eyes at the thin excuses, and assures Kelly that she and Michelle love her and she need not suffer alone. At this, Kelly begins to cry and laugh at the same time. Michelle goes on to tell her of the day she confronted Kelly's boyfriend when she saw him browsing through jewellery with another woman.
Later on, Kelly can seen be seen looking cold and angry as her boyfriend comes home. He arrives apologetic, but Kelly perks up, dangling a pair of furry handcuffs. He smiles and begins to follow her upstairs. In the immediately following scene, he is naked except for a pair of boxers and handcuffed to the balcony. With her bags packed and the handcuff key in hand, she leaves—laughing happily. The girls are finally seen walking down the city street, holding hands, as an image of them passes by on a city bus.