Music Video techniques

Large Number of Cuts

A large number of cuts is a technique used to create an effect where the video cuts faster if it's a fast song or cuts slower it's a slow song.

Good Example 

Nas "The Don" is a great example of large number of cut because nearly every few seconds the song changes because it's a fast paced song. So Nas want to create a video that gets his audience jumping in the air this explains why the large number of cuts was successful, at 02:08 seconds it shows the audience jumping in the air. The music video also shows that at 00:35 seconds there's designer clothes and at 00:36 seconds it shows expensive glasses. This video is basically showing the audience that it's very energetic. For example at 01:17 seconds it shows to cuts one where Nas is hanging with his crew then at 00:18 seconds he's in a car reading a new paper.

The large number of cuts is used in this music video because Nas wanted to create a music video that  addressed himself as the street poet to the audience this video explains how he's now living luxurious.

This is an advantage for me because it kept me occupied because of the pace of the cuts. This video is for entertainment to celebrate the "Life Is Good" album.

This music video represents Nas by the life that he's living now he's wearing expensive designer clothes, eating expensive food and drinking expensive wine and also he's getting drove around in an expensive car. Also he's representing New York City which is the city he grew up in and he's representing Def Jam which is the label he's signed to.This video also shows he's a creative person by  structuring the whole video together.

Bad Example


Alicia Keys "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" is a poor example for the large number of cuts technique because since the song is quite slow there aren't as many cuts.

At 00:47 seconds it shows Alicia Keys on her bed laying down slowing get up within the 7 seconds passing by until it reaches 00:53 seconds for the video to cut to the next scene where it shows a comic strip the first half shows her phone on the silk blanket and the second half of her eyes.

The large amount of cuts technique is used here because Alicia Keys was trying to show she has a broken heart and the reason why the tempo of the song is so slow is because she's upset trying to get over the fact that her lover and her broke up and she's upset.

This is a impact on me because I've known people that have had there hearts broken by other people so this video for me and for anyone else is sad

This music video represents Alicia Keys by expressing how she feels and she as well is also representing her city which is also New York City. The message of the video is that you eventually get over your break ups.


Special effects 

Special effects are when they add animation, graphics or CGI to the music videos to make the music video look more exciting or dramatic.

Good Example


Joey Bada$$ "Christ Conscious" is an awesome example for special effects because at 00:13 seconds if you look carefully you can see the pulse of the beat.  At 00:59 to 01:01 seconds you see his eye and then it takes you to his brain and the takes you out again. At 01:35 seconds it shows a visual transparent mirror that looks kind of like a hologram. Then at 01:45 second from his hand it takes you to his liver and takes you back takes you back out again.

The special effects technique is used in the Christ Conscious music video because to show to the audience that he's started thinking in the corridors of his own brain and then near the end it's like he's ascending to the next level.

The technique is this music video is successful because the special effects take the music video to another level.

The Joey Bada$$ "Christ Conscious" is an awesome choice for special effects because when I first watch it my first thoughts were that's freaky with a mix of cool my mind was on another level. 

This music video represents Joey Bada$$ because it indicates  that he's got a very creative mind it shows that the special effects were well thought out. 

Bad Example 

Michael Jackson "Blame it on the boogie" is a  awful example of special effects because the technology back in the 1978 which was when they didn't have the technology as advanced as today's modern technology.

At 00:14 seconds Michael Jackson is dancing and when he moves the special effects are all colorful. 

The special effects technique in this music video are used to jazz up the video. 

From my perspective if I grew up in the late 70's the disco era those special effects would be really cool but in modern day where technology is change almost everyday this video would seem accent and therefore I think the special effects are awful.

The Jackson 5 "Blame it on the boogie" the music video represents the Jackson 5 brothers as a happy bunch of people that are just dancing and they can't stop because of the catchy song. 

Cutting To The Beat 

Cutting to the beat is when each time there a beat the scene changes.

Good Example

Chris Brown "With You" is a acceptable example for cutting to the beat because at 00:13 seconds Chris Brown is wearing a hoody and a black hat then when the next beat drops is switches to another scene. 

The cutting to the beat technique is used in this music video because Chris Brown is thinking about the girls he loves.

This technique is useful because it helps the you can keep up with the beat from the precise pace of cuts.

For me I like this music video because Chris Brown is one of the singers/rappers that I grew up listening to and I remember seeing this video during my childhood.

Chris Brown is representing himself by showing us as the audience his personality.

Bad Example

LMFAO "Party Rock Anthem" is a a awful example of the cutting to the beat technique because it's not even on the same time as the beat with it cuts to the next scene.

 For example at 03:12 seconds you see LMFAO there both dancing but there not dancing to there not dancing at the same time of the beat.

This technique is unsuccessful for this music video because the cut doesn't cut when it's suppose to.

Although I've said that I do like this music video just because it's catchy.

LMFAO are representing themselves by showing that they just party animals.

Varied camera language

Varied camera language is where the music artist is using diverse angles, movement and shot types.

Good Example

Joey Bada$$ "From the tombs" is a decent example because at 00:49 seconds it shows him on basketball hoop form a low angle. also at 01:21 seconds it shows he jumping up to climb up the hoop and the camera is moving as he's jumping.

The varied camera language technique is used in this video because it makes the video a little more interesting.

This successful because the way they've used the camera is really good.

In my own opinion I like the video because of the way it's set up I like the way they've made it look 3D I think it's also authentic.

Joey Bada$$ is representing his city which is Brooklyn where he was raised.

Bad Example

 Michael Jackson "The Way You Make Me Feel" isn't such a good example because at 01:41 seconds it shows a long shot of Michael Jackson just standing there and the camera language is really basic and it's not really that interesting.

This technique is used in this music video because he's trying to explain to this girl how she makes him feel.

This technique is unsuccessful because I don't think it adds any effect to the music video.

I like this song because it's one of my favorite songs from Michael Jackson.

This represents Michael because it's showing another side of his personality.

Green screen

Green screen is where your usually stand behind green screen which is a green background and you can make something look really realistic in the song.

Good Example

Katy Perry "Roar" is a good example because at 00:10 seconds Katy Perry is in a jungle type location and you can see the broken plane and the explosion. At 01:19 seconds she looks into the water and she see the reflection on a tiger.

Green screen is used is the music video because it makes her look like the queen of the jungle.

This music video is successful because the green screen is used very well.

 I don't particularly like this video it's catchy but I  don't like that much.

Katy is representing herself in this video, this video is showing the audience that see got a very creative mind.

Bad Example

Eminem ft Lil Wayne "No Love" at 00:44 seconds is a bad example because the background looks plain and basic.

Green screen is used in this specific video because to make the video look a bit more effective.

The green screen in this music video is unsuccessful because it looks like they didn't put that much effort into the music video.

I'm not a big Lil Wayne so this song isn't really a good song to me.

Lil Wayne and Eminem is representing  people that are struggling with life.



Lip-synching 

Lip synching is when your miming the lyrics to a song.


Beyonce' "Crazy in love" is a good example because at 00:27 to 00:41 seconds it shows her dancing a lot and she's probably lip synching because she's dancing a lot.

Lip-synching is used in this video because she's doing a lot of dancing so I don't think she would sing every single lyric of the song.

This technique is successful because it looks believable that she sang the whole song.

For me this is another childhood music video that I grew up listening to so I like this song.

Beyonce' is representing jay z because he's featured in her song.


Bad example 

Drake "Tuesday"  is a bad example for the lip-syching because throughout the whole music video he's lip synching someone else lyrics.

Lip synching is used in this video because drake couldn't be asked to rap/sing his own lyrics.

The lip synching technique is used unsuccessfully as the video bores me

My personal appearance is that this video is rubbish it doesn't interest me at all.

 Drake is representing ilovemakonnen.