Music Video Deconstruction Using Goodwin's Points

Pitbull Ft Marc Anthony – Rain Over Me

The video that I am going to be deconstructing using Goodwin’s points is Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony – Rain Over Me, as this video also depicts genre characteristics, relationships between lyrics and visuals and depicts a dance routine between both singers.

 

1.       Music Videos Demonstrate Genre Characteristics

Throughout the music video there are references made depicting the genre of the song, however the most powerful scene in the video that illustrates this is when the video reaches 1:26. Pitbull and Marc Anthony perform what resembles a mini stage performance where they are exemplified dancing on screen where their moves are sharp, fun and fast paced as the frame rate is exceedingly quick. The dances that both singers perform in their music video portray an element of hip-hop which is the genre characteristics of their video.

2.       There is a Relationship Between Lyrics and Visuals

 In this particular music video there is a distinct relationship between the lyrics and visuals as they are amplified. This is depicted in the chorus when Pitbull and Marc Anthony sing “I’m rising so high, out of my mind, so let it rain over me”. When you watch the dance routine to the lyrics that both Pitbull and Marc are singing you begin to see how they dance according to what they sing. For the lyric “Out of my mind”, Marc raises his hand to his head and begins to point and turn his finger to show that he is out of his mind. Additionally, they do the same for the lyric “so let it rain over me”, as they both raise their arms into the air and the rain suddenly begins to fall down upon them.

3.       There is a Relationship Between Music and Visuals

The video begins with the sound of a helicopter flying overhead even though it does not make an appearance in this scene, yet a few seconds later a light, mellow electro tune is heard very softly in the background as Marc Anthony sings the beginning lines of the song. However, moments later the tune begins to increase and get louder as the song progresses and a stronger upbeat, bass drum is heard overpowering the main tune as the frame rate speed up according to the individual beat of the song.

4.        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

Pitbull and Marc Anthony are promoted as being the main stars of the music video. They are each represented by the use of close ups of their face which clearly allows the audience to feel as though they can connect with them as they feed off their facial expressions and emotions. Particular close ups portray the singers confidence, attractiveness and charisma as they stare into the camera providing the audience with a warm, gentle smile and they will sometimes use their expression to show a slightly cheeky side of themselves by raising their eyebrows and making signals towards the female dancers.

5.        There is Frequently Reference to Notion of Looking and Voyeuristic Treatment of the Female Body

The video focuses on many close ups of the female dancers – not only of their facial features, but mainly focusing on their physique, therefore using the women as a sexual objects. With the camera capturing the female dancers body the directors and producers are the flaunting the girls sexuality to help sell the video as it will capture the audience’s attention. Additionally, in the video there is use of screens within screens whereby wire-framing is used to import two different videos displaying two different scenes of events and importing this onto one screen.

6.        There is Often Intertextual Reference (to Films, TV Programmes and other Music Videos)

In the music video one of the female dancers is depicted as a silhouette dancing in front of a special effect that makes up Marc Anthony’s face using lights and consists of rain falling down upon it. The dance moves used in this scene are sharp and slightly robotic due to the frames changing and zooming in onto one another and this particular clip is an intertextual reference to a TV programmes opening titles called “Tales of the Unexpected”, whereby female dancers are displayed as silhouettes’ dancing in front of backdrops that consist of fire and water.