Task 2a- Genre R&B

In a music video there are different types of codes and convection of genre that music a music video hyper real and makes an individual artist create their image. There are different types of genre such as, pop music, R&B, Hip-Hop- Rock Metal and Indie. In order to have a successful music video you need to know the genre an artist is going for to fit their target audiences.

As I was researching I come across the  genre R&B which is usually is slow tempo and is usually based on the theme of relationships. An artist that incorporate the genre R&B in the music video is Ne-yo ‘Mad’. ‘Mad’ by Ne-yo is designed to set a mood which is usually sad or happy. Another example that has sense of happy or sad moment’s relationship in the artist’s music video is ‘Curtain Close’ by Ray J. In this video he artist explains his relationship that has happy bits and sad bits. Another R&B music video that has theme of happy sad is ‘Boys two Men- End of the Road’ that is sad theme of relationship is broken. However not all R&B are not always depressing comparing to an another example  Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Dilemma’ Have the same theme which is happy and more up lifting.  

                                                                          MES 

R&B music video are usually slow tempo and designed to make the target audience get a sense of feel.  The music video ‘Mad’ has MES that is suited to the music which is laid back clothing whereas, in a Hip-Hop or Pop music video the MES would be very strong with clothing and props use in the music video, such as, Lady Gaga- Bad Romance as she is wearing different clothing that really brings out her image as being creative and wild and prop used product placement such as beats headphone, whereas the genre does not have no product placement . Another example that uses MES that is suited to the genre R&B ‘Curtain Close’ by Ray j. the artist is wearing laid back clothing, however the artist wearing 2 different outfits one was laid back and suit and tie. The music video ‘Boys two Men- End of the Road’ have same sense MES, which the clothing is laid back. Last example, Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Dilemma’ has MES that suited to the trend in that time period of time that is also laid back clothing. Even though it is in black and white you can also see lightening being used such as low key lightening. 

The music video is shot as a short film as at the beginning of music there was an intro of two character auguring and then goes into the song. It also had narrative throughout the music video starring the artist taking on a character that going through a difficult time in his relationship. We also see this in Curtain Close’ by Ray and ‘Boys two Men- End of the Road’ when both of artists shows difficult time during their relation whether it they lost their love ones and they had an argument, and also has short introduction whilst music video is playing. Base on three type of music video the genre R&B usually base on couples.  Whereas Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Dilemma’ is different because it has an introduction of film even though there is no dialog you can see it that acting before song starts .     

                                                                             Camera Work 

In this video they also use camera shots such as, close up is to focus on the artist more and through this techniques we see the characters emotions. Also uses camera shots such as over the shoulder shot to show  that the character is more dominate so in this case the girl was more dominate. There are some camera movement such as panning and still shot this is because the camera person want to focus on the artist more. ‘Curtain Close’ by Ray J’ also has close up in the music video when fades to his suit and shows important event in the artist lives at time (1.57-1.59). Also Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Dilemma’ has some close up such as, the artist’s face to show emotion at time (4.08-4.09). However Boys two Men- End of the Road’ do not have any close ups in the music video. 

 Editing 

All the shots are slow paste cutting to beat of song due to R&B are quite slow.  In music video ‘Mad’ by Ne-yo there different location being show for example, house, street and a cemetery. This music video would be filmed with a single camera and broken down is series of shots base on editing of the soundtrack. As watching the music video it was continuity editing no jump cut are showed. All of this music video all consider this editing for example,  Curtain Close’ by Ray j’ had loads of fades into the next shot or scene , as well as boys to men Boys two Men- End of the Road’ Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Dilemma’ are all slow songs and because of this the editing or paste of this song is not that fast or upbeat e.g colour)

 In conclusion whilst watching all 4 music music 2 of the video it was in black and white. Black and white purposely use for  a sense of intelligent and realism. In R&B videos the artist usually has black and white. But in this case Ne-yo done different to create meaning which is this relationship has no life and mood is dark.  Similar to this theme is Curtain Close’ by Ray j’ which also a black and white music video. However Boys two Men- End of the Road’ and Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Dilemma’ has colour to music video. 

The videos for R&B Genre