Research; Music Video

The music video for ‘Inna, Hot’ starts off with a medium shot of a woman’s legs, pulling up tights, which conveys to the audience that she may be getting ready to go out somewhere. The next shot is a medium shot of three women getting ready, which establishes the setting for the audience as you can clearly see they are in some sort of dressing room. The costume of the three women is very revealing and alluring, which fits with the conventional costume seen in other dance music videos and dance album covers. The use of the colours black and red of the costume connote mystery, possibly love but also possibly danger of there night ahead.

The rule of thirds is used within the shot with the blonde woman, portraying that she may have importance in the rest of the video. The iconography of a blusher brush connotes femininity and the smiling facial expression conveys a happy mood and tone when listening to the song. The use of a close up via the mirror of the woman’s chest conveys a very sexual approach and links with the typical conventions of dance music and women.

When the beat of the song kicks in, there is a straight cut to switch settings. You see a medium long shot of a woman dancing on what seems to be a raised podium, which allows the audience to relate to the music video as this would be typically what the audience would do if they were in a club and this song came on. There are a lot of fast jump cuts switching between three different scenes, which create an effect of the stages you go through before going out clubbing and also, the edits link with the time of the music allowing a smooth transition between the edits.

There is then a close up of a woman’s face, who would be seen as the artist as she is singing, with a relatively sad facial expression. This challenges the stereotype of dance music, but when listening to the lyrics, fits with what is being said. This also challenges the stereotype of the dance genre as the woman has dark brown hair, which is curly, unlike the typical blonde hair, straightened look which appears on most of the dance album covers, such as ‘Clubland.’

Then next shot shows the artist within the frame, using the rule of thirds and posing seductively in a close up shot of her. Her facial expressions and body movement convey she wants something or someone which she cannot have and the makeup, such as her smokey eyes, connotes mystery towards her.

The setting then switches to the same woman with her two friends in a medium shot with a bunch of red roses. The colour red of the roses connotes passion and love, which could link to the dance genre as it is quite passionate music.

We then get a shot of this blonde woman dancing excessively again, which could portray passion for the dance music, and also engages the audience as this woman is in a nightclub and this would be what the audience would be doing within a nightclub. The lighting of the frame is clear so you can engage with this woman as you can clearly see her facial expression and she is looking at the camera.

The lighting when the frame switches to the setting of the darker haired woman, the artist, is key lighting which reflects off her key features on her face and accentuates her features also.

Next within the frame is the first really shot of a man. There is a quick close up of his face, so the audience can grasp what he looks like, although he is wearing sunglasses, which connote definite mystery, as he is inside a club at night. There then goes on to be a close up of a glass with a drink in, possibly alcohol as they are in a club.

The scene then quickly changes to a new setting where there are over the shoulder shots of two people, a man and a woman, arguing over something, which could connote that too much clubbing can cause arguments within relationships and break-ups. The facial expressions and body language of these two people is very angry and distressed. This may be shown within this video as to say, you can calm down and relax when listening to this music.

There then goes on to be multiple changing shots of close ups and medium shots between a child, who is drawing, and the dark haired artist, conveying that maybe they have a link in some way. There seems to be key importance of the child within the frame as there are multiple medium shots and close ups of her, maybe suggesting that even if you have a family at home you can still enjoy dance music and can still go clubbing.

The shot then changes into the blonde haired woman dancing, but being placed in what seems slow motion, therefore still representing the night club theme throughout the song. The video seems to be portraying the sense of a story in the way of relationships and music, along with if you listen to the lyrics being sung.

There are repetitive shots and scenarios when coming to the end of the video such as a medium shot of a woman getting red roses and a close up of a mysterious man drinking which could connote a repetitive dance scene, but the beat of the music portrays an upbeat and lively scenario. Close up shots of a man dj-ing etc. all conform to the conventions of the dance music genre and clubbing which allow the audience to relate to the music video.

Near the end of the video there is a over the shoulder shot of a man and a woman hugging, with the repetitive iconography of red roses, which conveys that dance music can create relationships and allow happiness into peoples lives.

Todorov's narrative theory could be applied to the music video as there is an equilibrium, which is then disturbed by family arguments, which follows by a possible break up. The equilibrium is then realised by the male father character and he also tries to repair the disruption. A new equilibrium is then realised and restored near the end of a video with the father giving roses to the mother, showing he is the secret admirer and creating a new connection between the two people, connoting love. This could also link to uses and gratifications theory as it enables audience's to relate to the music video for identity or relationships, therefore possible use of comfort for the audience.