Textual Analysis

Here I will be analysing existing music videos that relate with the genre of my music video (pop). I would be looking at certain aspects the director/producer has used to produce a successful music video which relates well to their primary and secondary target audience.
 

The first music video that I will be analysing is ‘Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA’ this song is extremely popular and is known by numerous people (especially teenagers), the category the song falls under is also pop and the main singer is a female teenager.

The first seven shots of the music video basically set the scene and introduce the singer as she exits her expensive car. The first shot is of a Las Vega/Hollywood style sign from a low angle, from this I can connote that a party or an event of some kind is going to take place. The opening shots were rapid almost like a mini montage.

The song ‘Party in the USA’ was shot at a drive in but instead of watching a movie the main attraction was to see Miley Cyrus perform.

She has on a pair of hot pants which reveal her legs in a sexual manner, in addition she has a brown low cut tank top which show most of the upper reign of her chest. Her hair has been recently done up and she is wearing many accessories such as watch’s, rings and necklaces, lastly her eyebrows are neatly plucked and her teeth seem to be whitened, I can conclude that Miley Cyrus fits the appearance of a Hollywood celebrity.

The music video is divided into two sections within the first section she is arriving at the drive-in dancing casually with a few sexual hip movements however as the music video progresses she ends up performing to a crowd, pole dancing and grinding on a microphone stand.

The first three paragraphs of her lyrics seems as though she was writing from an underprivileged perspective, she is just arriving at Los Angeles for the first time and is feeling rather nervous. The catchy chorus is repeated many times and every time she sings the chorus there is a dance and bop to go along with it. She is only a teenager yet she discusses clubbing and ‘fitting in’ with famous people, this type of message would inspire her young audience whom admire her to live this type of lifestyle.

Like most female pop songs the director would emphasis attractive perspective of the singer thus ensuring that male eyes stay glued to the screen even though the song targets young females. Miley Cyrus is being portrayed as a young star however certain elements of her dance represent strip teasing and pole dancing, this is not suitable for a younger audience.

A few intertexuality references were recognisable when watching the music vide, During the last scene the theme form the movie grease was replicated as she swings and sings at the drive in. She sings about her favourite singers (Britney Spears and Jay-Z) and how they made her feel comfortable:
"My tummys turnin and I'm feelin kinda home sick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous,
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
and a Jay Z song was on". 
Also during the first few shots, she is exiting a pricey car where the company which made the wheels were noticeable (Cooper Cobra).