Likes and Dislikes of Music Videos recommended by Other Media Students

I asked other media students for their favourite music videos of all time and decided to watch a select few in order to see what I liked and disliked about them and to give me ideas for my music video. Here is a list of the music videos recommended to me:

The first video I chose to watch was Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers. My reason for choosing this video was the pure fact that it appeared on the list more than once and therefore stood out. Considering it was recommended to me more than once there must be something different about it.
Likes - First of all, the opening shot is very fun and bright. It puts the audience in an unusual position, rather than just watching a performer sing and dance. They're taken through the twists and turns of the tube which matches the non-diegetic music. I like all of the props used in the video and the mise-en-scene as it works together as a whole to create a very interesting video. The video is abstract with elements of performance which I find very intriguing. The song is very upbeat and fast paced, as is the editing. Although most of the props are very bland and just everyday items (e.g. bottles), the band find ways to make these items entertaining. As there is always something new happening in every shot it keeps the audience entertained and creates a high amount of voyeurism. The band members are also iconographic of the genre, which is alternative. They do not look like typical models you would see in pop music videos. This creates verisimilitude. The lead singer (Anthony Keidis) is shirtless throughout the video. This is iconographic and expected of from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I also like the different use of cinematography which gives the audience different views of things (for example the point of view shot of the drums which gives the audience the same view as the actual drummer) - which makes the audience feel more involved. This is unusual and not often seen in music videos - however I think it works to their advantage.
Dislikes - There is nothing I dislike about this video as I think it fits the genre very well and uses conventions in an interesting and unique way to create the perfect amount of voyeurism. If I had to find a fault with it, it would be that it does not appeal to every audience group. However; I also see this as a positive thing as they're sticking to what they want to do and what they want to create rather than giving in to the system.

The next video I chose to watch is You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift.

Likes - The narrative for this video is the same as the Cinderella story which is where the dream comes true. An example of this is the movie 'Pretty Woman'. The use of props and mise-en-scene is also conventional of the genre, for example the white dress connotes purity and makes Taylor Swift look Cinderella-like, which is conventional of the story. The cinematography is good and the performance is also convincing. The use of props and locations within the mise-en-scene creates verisimilitude within the diegesis. You can see a huge contrast between Taylor in the first scenes and the last. At first, we see her wearing glasses, little makeup and a baggy tshirt. These semiotics denote that she is a nerd. She also sings "But she wears short skirts,I wear t-shirts,She's cheer captain And I'm on the bleachers" The lyrics match up with the narrative as Nerdy Taylor Swift is wearing a baggy t-shirt, and later in the video we see her on the bleachers. The popular Taylor Swift is wearing revealing clothes (i.e short skirts) and she is cheer captain,

Dislikes - The music video is too cliche and therefore loses it's meaning and provides no voyeurism for me, however I do not think I am the desired audience that this genre is aimed at. I also find the use of cinematography very boring and un-inventive. 

The final video I chose to analyse was Hardest Button to Button - The White Stripes.

Likes -I particularly like the mise-en-scene in this video. I like how the props and costumes are both matching with the performers as it creates voyeurism and also creates an iconographic image for the band. The video is filmed in stop motion and edited to the beat which makes it very appealing and unique. The location used and quality of the camera also create an urban and alternative feel which works cohesively with the genre. The use of  repeatitive use of stop motion has also made the video very memorable and re-reinforce it's place as a promotional device, since the image of the instruments being duplicated in a trail formation has been copied many times, even on 'The Simpsons'.

Dislikes-There is not much I dislike about this video, however that could be because I like the genre. If I was to choose one thing I dislike it would be the repetitive nature of the stop motion as towards the end I already know what is going to happen and get slightly bored of it, however this is not a huge concern as the video would not be as effective or memorable without it.