Focus Group

I made several focus group questions to ask my audience which were:

• What is it about a music video that draws your attention?
• What is your favorite music video genre?
• When you see a music video of the pop genre what conventions do you expect to see?
• Would you rather see a narrative storyboard, performance or abstract music video?
• Where would you usually watch music videos?
• Have you heard of the artist Beyonce
• What do you like about her music?

Mock Up Story Board Beyonce Broken Hearted Girl

Initial Ideas

My Chosen Music Video

My Chosen Music Video by s0014859 on GoAnimate


I have produced a go animate to show the audience what music genre i have chosen for my music video. I have also included why i have chosen the genre and what i am going to include in my music video.

Music Video History Censorship

Music Video History

Lyrics Analysis

   "Broken-Hearted Girl"

You're everything I thought you never were

And nothing like I thought you could have been

But still you live inside of me,

So tell me how is that?

You're the only one I wish I could forget

The only one I love to not forgive

And though you break my heart,

You're the only one

And though there are times when I hate you

'Cause I can't erase

The times that you hurt me and put tears on my face

And even now, while I hate you,

It pains me to say

I know I'll be there at the end of the day

I don't wanna be without you, babe

I don't want a broken heart

Don't wanna take a breath without you, babe

I don't wanna play that part

I know that I love you, but let me just say

I don't wanna love you in no kind of way, no no

I don't want a broken heart

I don't wanna play the broken-hearted girl

No, no, no broken-hearted girl

I'm no broken-hearted girl

There's something that I feel I need to say

But up til' now I've always been afraid

That you would never come around

And still I wanna put this out

You say you've got the most respect for me

But, sometimes I feel you're not deserving of me

And still, you're in my heart

But you're the only one

And yes, there are times when I hate you,

But I don't complain

'Cause I've been afraid that you would walk away

Oh, but now I don't hate you

I'm happy to say

That I will be there at the end of the day

I don't wanna be without you, babe

I don't want a broken heart

Don't wanna take a breath without you, babe

I don't wanna play that part

I know that I love you, but let me just say

I don't wanna love you in no kind of way, no no

I don't want a broken heart

I don't wanna play the broken-hearted girl

No, no, no broken-hearted girl

Now I'm at a place I thought I'd never be, ooh

I'm living in a world that's all about you and me, yeah

Ain't gotta be afraid, my broken heart is free

To spread my wings and fly away, away with you..., yeah, yeah, yeah

I don't wanna be without my baby

I don't want a broken heart

Don't wanna take a breath without my baby

I don't wanna play that part

I know that I love you, but let me just say

I don't wanna love you in no kind of way, no no

I don't want a broken heart

I don't wanna play the broken-hearted girl

No, no, no broken-hearted girl

Broken-hearted girl

No, no, no broken-hearted girl

No broken-hearted girl


The lyrics that are used in this music video are extremely emotional and touching. This is unusual for the pop genre to include a song like this one. The song explores a woman's emotions on the ups and downs of being in love with somebody. The protagonist which is the female sings about heartache and been disappointed and let down time and time again. The emotional hurt she experiences although painful and unfortunate she still puts up with because she is in love. It shows the audience the things people do for the ones that they love and why they do these things. After analyzing the situation throughout the lyrics she realizes that her love is too strong and would never let him go no matter what he did to her. Some of the words used in the lyrics appear to be very contradicting when they are picked out as single words such as 'everything' and 'nothing'. These two words mean the complete opposite but describe how her emotions appear to be up and down constantly. The words 'forgive' and 'forget' are also used which are very powerful things to appreciate when in love with somebody. Forgiving and forgetting can often be very important and essential. The words 'love' and 'hate' tell us about the protagonists insecurities about her feelings because one minute she feels hate and the next she feels love. The word 'love' itself is used several times throughout the lyrics for the music video showing which one overrides the other eventually. Words such as 'respect' and 'deserving' are said so that the audience can relate to the protagonist and realize what she expects from the antagonist. The words 'broken' and 'hearted' are also used regularly to express what she doesn't want to happen and how the story eventually shouldn't end.' Babe' and 'Baby' are used in the lyrics as a way of showing affection in the way that she is describing her partner. The lyrics for this music video describe the narrative extremely well making the story line easy to understand and follow so that relations can be made to the protagonist and antagonist.

Genre Conventions

Pop Genre Conventions

I have chosen the genre pop for my music video and in doing this the codes and conventions of the genre have to be followed. This makes the music video recognizable to the audience and clear that the genre is pop. I have chosen this genre because I am interested in everything about the pop music industry including the attitudes of the artists as well as the settings and costumes. Pop music is often performance based through the music video and lyrics. The performance usually illustrates the lyrics.

 This can be linked with Goodwin’s theory of narrative and performance within a music video. He states that we tend to make up our own idea of the messages being sent in a song from a basic understanding of what it might actually be about. He also thinks that all music videos should be of the same standard every time and that narrative and performance work together in order to keep the audience interested and not become bored of the music video. When the artist acts as the actor and singer it makes the music video original and more entertaining. He says that miming is still the most popular thing done in music videos to this day. It is how the artist makes it look as real as possible to the audience that attracts them to the music video.

The pacing of pop music videos is usually fast with some exceptions for example my chosen music video is a slow paced pop song. The music videos for pop songs are usually shot during the summer period when the weather is positive. The artist mainly wears fashionable including designer brands during their music videos which suggest wealth and fortune. Female costumes are stereo-typically extremely revealing with a lot of sexual connotations about them.

 This relates to the male gaze and how Laura Mulvey thinks that men look at women, how women look at themselves and how women look at other women. The concept of the gaze is one that deals with how the audience view people on how they present themselves. She believes that in media the audience have to view characters from a heterosexual male perspective. Cameras focus on female curves on the body of women which relegates women to the status of been an object rather than a person.

Ke$ha-Tik Tok

Throughout the pop music video typical codes and conventions of the genre are shown including:

• Partying

• Alcohol

• Dancing

• Clubs

• Piercings

• Jewelry

• Bright Colors

• Male Attention

• Fast Cars

• Revealing Clothing

• Attractive Females

• Seductive Poses

• Rebellious Attitude

• Defiant Behavior

• Sexual Connotations

The scenes shown in the music video are typical mainly focusing on the theme of teenage partying. It shows how young people like to consume large amounts of alcohol and stay out late at night in clubs with their friends. The girls are wearing revealing clothing and portraying their bodies in a negative way to males. Lots of sexual connotations can be noticed as girls throw themselves at males and behave seductively. Bright colors can be seen as well as lots of modern and young ideas such as piercings and heavy make up. Male attention is a main impression given whilst watching the music video and it is shown as a normal and acceptable way to behave. The image shown gives teenagers a bad reputation because pople stereotype all teenagers to behave in the exact same way as this.

The Wanted-Walks Like Rihanna

Throughout the pop music video typical codes and conventions of the genre are shown including:

Attractive Females

• Attractive Males

• High Heels

• Revealing Clothing

• Bright Lights

• Fashionable Clothing

• Modern Technology

• Jewelry

• White/Black Suits

• Makeup

• Male Attention

• Flashing Lights

• Bright Colors

In this music video the main focus is on males giving females attention and the focus of the female body. It shows that the males are clearly very attracted to the females by their actions throughout the music video. A lot of stage presence and acting as well as singing and dancing can be seen in the music video. Lots of speakers and bright lights are shown so that the party atmosphere can be taken in by the audience. The clothes worn support the idea of fashion and designer clothing which are stereotypical to the genre. The shots are all fast paced showing that a lot is going on during the video and plenty of action takes place. The image that is portrayed because of this music video is that males see women as sexual objects and something to look at that pleases them and not an actual person.

Miley Cyrus-We Can't Stop

Throughout the pop music video typical codes and conventions of the genre are shown including:

White Clothing

• Modern technology

• Red Lipstick

• Heavy Makeup

• Tattoos

• Jewelry

• Bleached Hair

• Seductive Poses

• Sexual Attitude

• Sunglasses

• Fire

• Money

• Pool Party

• Chewing Gum

• False Nails

• Dancing

• Revealing Clothing

• Male Attention

This music video particularly focuses on the rebellious behavior of teenagers and they're actions. Many controversial issues could be raised throughout watching the music video. Sexual and provocative behavior is a main issue followed by the image that is been portrayed. The females are wearing lots of make up and have tattoos and piercings which only some people think are an acceptable ides in society. Red lipstick if worn which makes a bold statement to the audience about what sort of person would wear this. After viewing this music video the idea that the majority of people would get is that girls behave and make themselves appear slutty to attract male attention and be noticed.