Likes and Dislikes of Music Videos recommended by Other Media Students

I asked other media students for their favourite music videos of all time and decided to watch a select few in order to see what I liked and disliked about them and to give me ideas for my music video. Here is a list of the music videos recommended to me:

The first video I chose to watch was Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers. My reason for choosing this video was the fact that it had appeared on the list many times, therefore it must be special or stand out in some way. 

Likes - I like all of the props used in the video and the mise-en-scene as it works together as a whole to create a very interesting video. The video is abstract with elements of performance which I find very intriguing. The song is very upbeat and fast paced, as is the editing. Although most of the props are very bland and just everyday items (e.g. bottles), the band find ways to make these items entertaining. As there is always something new happening in every shot it keeps the audience entertained and creates a high amount of voyeurism. The band members are also iconographic of the genre, which is alternative. They do not look like typical models you would see in pop music videos. This creates verisimilitude. I also like the different use of cinematography which gives the audience different views of things (for example the point of view shot of the drums which gives the audience the same view as the actual drummer).

Dislikes - There is nothing I dislike about this video as I think it fits the genre very well and uses conventions to create the perfect amount of voyeurism.

The next video I chose to watch is You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift.

Likes - The narrative for this video is the same as the Cinderella story which is where the dream comes true. An example of this is the movie 'Pretty Woman'. The use of props and mise-en-scene is also conventional of the genre, for example the white dress connotes purity and makes Taylor Swift look Cinderella-like, which is also conventional of the story. The cinematography is good and the performance is also convincing.

Dislikes - The music video is too cliche and therefore loses it's meaning and provides no voyeurism for me, however I do not think I am the desired audience that this genre is aimed at. 

The final video I chose to analyse was Hardest Button to Button - The White Stripes.

Likes - I particularly like the mise-en-scene in this video. I like how the props and costumes are both matching with the performers as it creates voyeurism. Also the video is filmed in stop motion and edited to the beat which makes it very appealing. The location used and quality of the camera also create an urban and alternative feel which is works cohesively with the genre. The use of stop motion has also made the video very memorable and effect as a promotional device as the aspect where the instruments are duplicated in a trail formation has been copied many times, even on 'The Simpsons'.

Dislikes - There is not much I dislike about this video, however that could be because I like the genre. If I was to choose one thing I dislike it would be the repetitive nature of the stop motion as towards the end I already know what is going to happen and get slightly bored of it, however this is not a huge concern as the video would not be as effective or memorable without it.