Andrew Goodwin's Method of Analysing Music Videos

Andrew Goodwin's Music Video Analysis is all about defining the characteristics of music videos. There are 6 main methods of analysing music video such as:

• Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics e.g. AFI - The Leaving song Part 2 (Rock)

• There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals e.g. R.E.M - Shiny Happy People

• There is a relationship between music and visuals 

e.g. Madness - It Must Be Love (contradictory music video)

e.g. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (Amplifying music video)

e.g.  Sidney Samson ft Wizard Sleeve - Riverside (Lyrical + Visual)

• The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style) e.g. Alex Clare - Too Close 

• There are frequent references to the notion of looking (screen, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic/erotic treatment of the female body (or even male) e.g. Beyonce - Crazy in Love  

• There is often inter-textual reference (to film, TV programmers or other music videos etc) e.g Madonna - Material girl (includes from "Gentlemen prefer blondes" - 1953)