Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory' (Routledge 1992)  

Looks at the analysing of music videos. He identifies 6 key aspects of music videos which us as an audience should look out for. These are -


 The relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting.) It is important that the audience recognises the the structure of the song e.g the verses, chorus and bridge and of course the voice of the song.

Secondly,The artists voice establishes its trademarks and identification which works well with there star image. Roland Barthes Theory the grain of the voice can relate to this as the artists voice is an expression of its own instrument which makes its own associations.


Thirdly, Mode of address (The way those aspects of a text or utterence are constructed that establish relations between addresser and addressee, as opposed to those which construct representations.Songs can also be seen as stories which makes the music video communicate in two ways, them telling us a story and us listening to it.


Relationship between lyrics and visuals  - There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting. Meanings and effects are constantly shown through videos and get drummed into our vision, this is when the meaning of the song gets completely ignored.


Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics - (e.g. Stage preformance, in metal video, dance routines for boy/ girl band) and Star Performance. Themes, Fashion, Emotions.


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 accross their work (a visual style).


There is frequent reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.


There is often intertextual reference to films, tv programmes and other music videos etc…


Devlin - Let It Go (Official Music Video)