Song title: Dancing Queen
Artist: ABBA
Year of release: 1976
The music video for ‘Dancing Queen’ is
shot in one location, a club where we can see everyone dancing.
At the beginning of the MV, we can see a
variety of wide and close up shots, showcasing Abba, musicians and the dancers.
There are occasional close ups to one teenage girl who we can presume is the
title ‘Dancing Queen’. As the MV progresses the shots become shorter and the
close up shots are used more often. The close up shots present the musicians,
each one of the Abba singers and the ‘Dancing Queen’ in that order.
Both of the singers are seen to be
dancing and there are many shots of them turning around as well as many profile
shots.
Although, we are shown a party at a club,
there is no clear narrative to the MV.
The costumes also don’t change.
Song title: Beat It
Artist: Michael Jackson
Year: 1982
The music video for Michael Jackson’s
song ‘Beat it’ is set in variety of environments such as a bar, bedroom, a
hallway, and a city at night environment. We can also see a costume change
where at the beginning Michael Jackson is wearing jeans and white shirt, but as
he comes out of the bedroom, he is also wearing a red jacket.
The video consists of variety of shots
and the choreography matches the rhythm of the song, such as; when we see
Michael getting out of bed, he is shot from a profile, but turns his head
towards the camera when lip syncing the words ‘beat it’.
The dancing does
not start until 1:58, when Michael is in the hallway. The intensity of the
choreography increases as the MV progresses. By the end, everyone is dancing to
the rhythm of the music.
There is also a clear narrative of two
gangs preparing for a fight together, but Michael resolves the fight through
dancing.
Song title: (You Drive Me) Crazy
Artist: Britney Spears
Year of release: 1999
(You Drive Me) Crazy is a teen pop song
accompanied by a music video. The video has a small narrative and features the
character Sabrina from ‘Sabrina the teenage witch’ and was used as a
promotional song for the series. Although the MV includes many shots of
Sabrina, the main focus of the video is Britney.
There is a set choreography, but the
dance doesn’t begin until the chorus at 0:39.
The entire music video is has 3 sets, one
in which we can see everyone dancing and the second set that drives the
narrative with Sabrina. Both sets are however linked together as seen by the
end of the song. The third set, most likely in the same location, is in front
of a big sign ‘crazy’, which is the title of the song. This is the only set
where we see Britney on her own and singing, but not dancing. This setting look
similar to Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ where he would sing to the
microphone with a plain background. This style of shots was popular at the
time.
There is also a costume change; at the
beginning we can see Britney in a waitress outfit with glasses and two
pigtails, doing her make-up, but soon after she changes into a green top and
black trousers to match other dancers. Her hair is also down.
