Beyonce Video Deconstruction

Beyoncé- 1+1               Signed to Columbia             Genre: R&B/Pop

SHOT: Close up

LYRICS: ‘If I ain’t got nothing, I got you’

EDIT: Fades to black then next shot fades in

ANALYSIS: The establishing shot of this music video shows the artist, Beyoncé. The background is black to make her stand out more against it; she is the audience’s main focus of attention. They have chosen to use this simple establishing shot as it reflects the lyrics of the song. ‘If I aint got nothing’ is reflected in the plain black background. She does not look at the camera until the lyrics ‘I got you’ at which point her eyes flick up to look directly into the lense. This direct mode of address involves the audience and makes them feel as though she is looking at them. In this shot the artist has a shine and glitter covering her skin. This is to emphasize the perfection that her fans see in her. It is playing on the ‘idol’ image that the artist has. It makes her seem supernatural, something that the audience will relate to; they will be in awe of her. This shot also has some sexual appeal, making the video more open to a wider audience rather than just her fans.

SHOT: Medium Close Up

LYRICS: ‘And it’s me and you’

EDIT: Fades to black then next shot fades in

ANALYSIS: This shot shows slightly more of the artist than the last. Similar to the first, in this shot her hair is down and natural to give her a sense of vulnerability. Also the fact she looks almost naked gives us the sense that she has been stripped down both physically and emotionally which is shown through the way she looks and the lyrics of the song. This goes against female pop/R&B music video conventions as we are typically used to seeing artists like Beyoncé very made up with their hair done immaculately. Although she is wearing make-up, it has been used to make her look natural and vulnerable. Her vulnerability shown in the video make the audience feel that she is being completely honest in the lyrics that she is singing. This will help the audience to relate to the song as they relate to her. It will make them feel closer to the artist as fans.

SHOT: Medium Close Up

LYRICS: ‘Make love to me’

EDIT: Cross fades into next shot

ANALYSIS: This shot is extremely powerful and completely contrasts the whole beginning part of the video. The wind blowing her hair up makes her seem a lot bigger than she is, making her seem powerful and independent. She is also wearing more make up in this shot to show that she is not vulnerable anymore. She takes up almost the whole frame, again showing that she is dominant which also reflects the lyrics. There is still the hint that she is not wearing any clothes which reminds the audience of her vulnerability before and shows now how she has overcome it. 

SHOT: Close Up

LYRICS: ‘Baby we ain’t got nothing, but love’

EDIT: Fades to black then next shot fades in

ANALYSIS: Despite the previous shot when the artist is shown to be powerful, it then fades to this shot. This close up shows the artist being very vulnerable again as she is crying in this shot. However her tears are happy as she smiles while crying and singing. Her direct mode of address again involves the audience and almost makes them feel that she is confiding in them, making them feel close to her. It makes them feel as though they are not just a fan, that they have a personal connection to her.