This classic rendition of Stevie Wonder's 70's star-studded hit was released in the late 80's by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Their unique rock twist to the song resulted in the song becoming a commercial success. Although the video seems quite simplistic and repetitive at first glance, it is evident that the Chilli's still clearly used the the conventions featured within any rock video.
The main visual effect used in this background is the use of a green screen behind all artists. This meant that they could add any supervisual effect post-performance. These images generally feature bright colours and effects which gives a classic psychadelic rock feel to the track - an element the band generally liked to touch on. However, I also found it interesting how the superimposed images often linked in with the actual lyrics throughout the video. i.e. when Anthony Kledis (lead vocalist) speaks of soldiers warrin', they decided to use actual war footage.
The video also features sections of the band actually performing, with members playing the guitar and drums, as well as the lead artist lip-synching along with most of the song too as well as simply performing to the camera. This is a typical convention of a music video.
You can also see frequently how the band are represented with a very powerful persona. They are often shown through low angles to make them seem dominant and their performance is very strong and confident, making them seem professional and very good at what they do.
2 examples of editing that has been cut to the beat at the very beginning and end of the video:
It is alsonotable that the fast pace editing and cutaways also reintroduce that psychedelic feel to the audience, as well as keeping up with the fast, lose-your-head rock persona.
As it first first of all starts off with a typical, old-fashion, spooky set-up, we think that we have seen something like this before, until Freddie Mercury appears to be styled as some sort of magician. As he walks into an abandoned theatre, he uses powers to change homeless people into the rest of the band members of Queen before then too changing his own clothing. Afterwards, Queeen begin to follow typical rock conventions of a music video by performing live on stage within the abandoned theatre, playing instruments and lip-synching throughout. By wearing sunglasses indoors and suiting crazy haircuts, this too supports this. As Mercury leaves the theatre, everything starts to go back to normal. The band's performance throughout is very positive and uplifting, linking in with the song, especially within vocal and instrumental solos. Mercury uses a lot of facial and body expressions whilst performing too to signify that he is very passionate about what he is singing, but also that he is a very powerful human being, capturing the audiences attention and making them almost believe that he'd be capable of the magic he's doing in the video.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The band are generally shown through low angles, giving them a very strong persona throughout after being transformed from tramps to stars. The camerawork does vary a lot throughout, showing match on action shots of Mercury performing as well as a sudden change from mid-shots to extreme close-ups of other members performing. This is so it looks like a live performance trying to cover everyone playing at once.It also makes them look exciting and fun to watch. This is a very typical convention of rock videos as it promotes the band and makes fans want to see them live. You can tell that a lot of planning and preparation had taken place before shooting for post-production too as Mercury is often placed in rule-of-third shots so that they could then add animation in with him. Whips and track pans also add to the live effect.
EDITING
There are frequent visual effects used in the video which signify the magic coming from Mercury. These turn to create backing dancers for Queen within the video too. Throughout the video, all cartoon images and sparks move to the beat of the music. Also, the pace of the editing is very quick and keeps to the beat of the song. This is so they can show a vast amount of shots in a short space of time, so you can see all elements of the performance as well as being able to add in cutaways of the venue/magic easily. Within the video, some parts are sped up and slowed down as well as being superimposed to link in with the magic aspect.
This classic song by Alicia Keys features a moving, heartwarming video about a woman who is in love with a man who doesn't even know she exists. This is explained lyrically as well as visually within the music video. This is a very conventional video that follows a storyline throughout.
Like a lot of modern music videos, there is an introduction to the video to set the scene to the audience before the music starts. First of all, we meet Alicia Keys who is dressed as a waitress at coffee shop, in New York. The music then starts when a customer chooses a song on the jukebox and Alicia lays eyes on her sweetheart. This tells the audience that Alicia is represented as a very normal, average woman who has simply fallen in love.
Editing has also been cut to the beat within parts of the video. The specific example shown in the TubeChop shows how they've used some cutaway shots of the cafe to set the scene even more for the audience. We then see how the director has chosen to superimpose the scripted performance with the soundtrack. This is done to show the audience how much Alicia wants her lover to notice her.
The next location is at a party where Alicia Keys has made herself look beautiful to try and impress the man she likes. There is a change of hair, make-up, and costume to signify this. However, just before the man goes to talk to Alicia, a fight breaks out at the party and everyone leaves. The colour red is used a lot within this scene. At first, it is to connote the possible love and warmth between the two, but when the fight breaks out, it also symbolises that red can represent anger and danger too. It is quite effective how they've also included focus pulls on Alicia Keys - such as the one to the right - to ensure that the audience see the eye contact with the man, whilst consistently maintaining focus on the artist and the fact that she has dressed up, which suggests the affection she has for the man.
This final section of the video after Alicia Keys has played the piano (a convention in itself that is featured in almost all of her videos) depicts her finally plucking up the courage to ask Michael out for a date. Whilst she is talking to him, shots of them hugging, meeting and caressing each other are shown to insinuate that she is imagining what it'd be like for them to be together for the first time. Past shots of Michael in the coffee shop are also shown, implying that she is also reflecting on past memories. I love how the director has created a realisation of the relationship the pair share, simply through lighting, props and costume. The idea of a love concept is something I may include in my video.
