2. Genre Music Video Analysis

I am going to analyse Usher ft. Rick Ross - "Lemme' See"

I have chosen to analyse this music video because it is similar to the music video I have chosen to remake myself. They both fit into the same genre and so it is suitible for me to analyze a music video of this R'n'B genre.   

It is positioned in the 'R'n'b/Rap'music genre with conventions that abide by the stereotypical conventions of the genre.

 I know this video is of the R'n'B genre because from the mise en scene we can tell that the whole video is about the artist's perception of love and relationships, therefore showing numerous shots of attractive women. We can also see the

 

3: Analyse the setting and décor of the music video.



The artist/producer has tried to create a moody, sexual vibe in the video, as it consists of dim lighting, creating a seductive atmosphere.
Why do you think the director has chosen it? The director has chosen to use dim lights because it also adds a hint of mystery. The artist is always in the dark areas of the shot, until he takes off his top half of clothing.

4. Analyse the costumes of the music videos

• At the beginning of the video, Usher has his top on, and his bare skin is covered up. As the lyrics play on, when it comes to "take my shirt off, show my chest" Usher removes his top. This is an example of when the lyrics coincide with the actions on video. He shows the audience his bare body, without a shirt on, connotating that he is proud and aware of his muscular framed figure. 
• I think the director chose to show Usher with his top off because it targets a particular audience of girls and women as they may be physically attracted to his muscular torso. 
• This video definitely fits the genre, as the R'n'B genre consists of love and romance, sex, relationships etc, Usher ft Rick Ross 'Lemme See' portrays exactly the same conventions.  
• The two artists are the only two people throughout the whole video. They both follow the same topless theme, but Rick Ross is wearing numerous diamond chains round his neck to demonstrate his wealth and superiority. He also wears a thick diamond encrusted Rolex watch in which he wears alongside his neck jewellery, again, showing how extreme his wealthiness is. 

5. Props

• The props that the director has used are a piece of rope in which a woman is tied up in, within the artists fantasy. 
• The rope prop has been used to connotate restriction to the audience. This gives the audience the impression that the woman entangled in the rope, is 'tied down', either, phsyically or metaphorically.  
• Does it fit the genre of the music video? The props used gives the audience the impression that the video is of the R'n'B/Rap genre.        

6. Body Language and Movement

• The body language displayed in the music video shows the audience that the artist is very open and proud about their image. Although 'Rick Ross' is overweight, he still feels obliged to take his shirt off and rap his lyrics, while showing off his expensive chains and wrist watch.   
• I think the director has done this because Rick Ross' tattooed body with the diamond chains have become an iconic symbol in the rap/R'n'B genre, displaying a significant level of wealth and richness.
• Does it fit the genre of the music video? The body language fits the genre because you would expect to see exaggerated hand and body movements, in which Usher and Rick Ross demonstrate perfectly.   
• How could different audiences interpret this? Different audiences could interpret this as being too 'over the top', but if you are a fan of the R'n'B/Rap genre, you will appreciate that both artists need to exaggerate body language and hand gestures to aid in delivering the song.  
• If so why and to what effect? The artists in the video act move and act quite similar, although Rick Ross is more from the hoodlem area of America, Mississippi, his gestures and body language seem more fiery and direct, compared to Usher.  

7. Performance

• How important are the artist(s) in the music video? In this video the artists are the most important, as they are the only two men in the video. There is a female actor who plays the mystery woman in which the artist interacts with.     
• What does the performance add to the music video? The performance helps the video make sense and seem more realistic.   

8. Narrative

• Is there a narrative? There is a narrative in this song/video. The artist is talking about wanting to 'see' this woman.  
• Does the artist take part in the narrative? The artist takes part in the narrative as he is the main actor explaining the narrative. 
• Does the narrative link with the lyrics of the song? The narrative links with the lyrics of the song, as the lyrics coming from the artist can have two meanings, an innocent meaning, and also a sexual reference.        
• What does the narrative add to the music video? The narrative adds a story and adds some more meaning to the video as a whole. The artist can tell a story through his lyrics and the audience may find that they have found themselves in similar situations, thus making it easy for them to relate to the song/video.