Research: Analysis of 'All Falls Down' by Kanye West

The music video for rapper Kanye West’s song ‘All Falls Down’ was released in 2003. The video shares the same themes as the song, regarding the perils of a life focused on materialism, and these themes are presented through narrative and performance in the video.

The video opens on a mid shot of the protagonist, a girl (Stacey Dash) in the back of a limo. She has only one item with her: a typically expensive Louis Vuitton handbag, which suggests she has considerable wealth. As the limo stops the girl steps out, and the camera follows her. The girl approaches the camera and it quickly becomes apparent that the ‘camera’ is actually a separate character, from whose point of view the music video is shot. The girl has her luggage taken for her by airport staff, and it is apparent that all of her luggage is of the Louis Vuitton designer brand, which further implies her wealth.

The camera performs a whip pan and we see that it is from the perspective of Kanye West himself that the video is taking place. A visual effect is employed so that it appears that Kanye is looking in the mirror and the camera cannot be seen. The performance elements of the video take place whenever Kanye is looking upon himself in the mirror. The girl gives Kanye a kiss, implying that this is his girlfriend.

Upon entering the airport it is implied that Kanye and his girlfriend are late for a flight. While running through the airport Kanye is looking at his visibly expensive watch when a child spills mustard down his shirt. Despite being late for a flight and in a hurry, Kanye rushes to the nearest bathroom to wash his stain. This is in line with one of the themes of the song, about how conscious Kanye is of his appearance and what others think of him, to the point where his appearance takes priority over his being on time for a flight.

In the public bathroom, Kanye continues the performance element of the video in the mirror. While gesturing in his performance, Kanye’s hands are visible both in the mirror and before the camera; a visual effect achieved most likely using a green screen key. The music itself becomes somewhat diegetic in this section of the video, as in the bathroom there is a slight echo to the audio, to create the effect that Kanye is really performing the song in a small public bathroom. The scene uses a creative transition as Kanye splashes water in his eyes (and thus in the camera lens) and the shot changes as the water is splashed away.

Walking down the airport hallway the video is set in slow motion, and multiple strangers are looking directly at the camera (and at Kanye), which implies that he has some form of celebrity status. The slow motion could be a way of depicting how self conscious Kanye is about being seen and more importantly how he is seen.

Kanye reaches the metal detector at airport security and is stopped three times, after removing his watch and a necklace, so Kanye elects to send his whole body through the X-Ray. This could suggest that he has so much jewellery that it would be easier to simply put his entire body through the X-Ray. Alternatively, this may simply be to reference the metal plate Kanye has on his jaw in real life following a car accident he was involved in.

This scene also allows for a visual metaphor and one of the main themes of the song, as we see Kanye’s body through the X-Ray and it is apparent that behind all of his jewellery and expensive clothing, on the inside he looks and feels much like everyone else.

As the girl is leaving for her flight, Kanye lifts her sunglasses and we see a tear in her eye as she leaves. This shows that this girl, despite all the wealth she is blessed with, is not truly happy, and that she was hiding her true sadness behind expensive sunglasses. Money cannot fix her sadness. Kanye leaves for his limousine and watches his girlfriend’s plane take off from the sunroof. From his reflection in the window we briefly see Kanye’s glum expression. The video ends on a sad note, with both characters not finding happiness despite all their material possessions.

Kanye West’s ‘All Falls Down’ music video uses a narrative that is told exclusively through visuals to portray the scenario spoken through the lyrics of the song, with both characters representing Kanye in real life, suggesting that he hides behind material possessions to portray an image of happiness and pride, when in reality he is often unhappy and in-fact self conscious.

Research: Analysis of 'Earth Song' by Michael Jackson

Analysis of ‘Earth Song’ by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s music video for his song ‘Earth Song’ was released in 1995, and through its visuals follows the same narrative as the song it accompanies. The video incorporates both performance (delivered by Michael Jackson), and a narrative, the two of which are intertwined.

The video opens on a bird sitting on a tree in the rainforest. The camera pans and we see great trees, a blanketing mist, the beaming sunshine and a group of monkeys sitting in the rainforest branches. These images all evoke a presence of nature and harmony, along with the prominent green and white colours in this shot. As the melody kicks in, the camera pans across to a destructive grey vehicle tearing down parts of the greenery. The vehicle also acts as a metaphorical vehicle for the setting to transition into a desolate wasteland.

The wasteland setting acts as a binary opposite to the rainforest in its visual presentation. Across the land are a spread of dead tree stumps, the air is filled with smoke rather than mist, and on the ground are a number of small fires. The colour in this setting also is in contrast to the previous setting; featuring primarily reds and dark browns, as opposed to the natural greens of before. The performance element of the video is introduced in this setting, as Michael Jackson walks, looking defeated, through the wasteland wearing dark and heavily weathered clothing.

The scene transitions to somewhere in Africa, where a poached Elephant and baby are being mourned by local people, who are dressed in traditional African clothing. In a similar tone, we see the people indigenous to the rainforest watch as they powerlessly witness trees come crashing down. Both the African and rainforest settings feature desaturated, bleak colours. This brief sequence, through visuals only, demonstrates the grief that the careless and destructive nature of those in power has brought to the native people.

After a series of reaction shots, the camera zooms into a close-up of a young African boy. From his point of view, the landscape suddenly changes: the sky is blue once again, the greenery in the landscape is restored, as is all the wildlife. We see quick images of zebras and giraffes running freely. As the visuals begin to look more hopeful, there is a heartbroken look in the young boy’s eyes as he bows his head and the wildlife fades away, no more than a child’s reminiscent vision.

The next setting is in a more western land in the streets. The landscape features damaged buildings, debris scattered around with a greatly desaturated colour palette. Military personnel followed by a tank enter the streets, suggesting that the land has been torn apart by war. This presents a global message. It is not just in area’s of wildlife that man’s destructive ways have had impact, but it is across the world through the effects of war.

As Michael is singing in the wasteland mentioned earlier, he approaches a tree stump. He briefly sees it in it’s natural, healthy state and, not believing his vision is real, reaches out to touch it, before his hand is denied by a chainsaw quickly cutting at the tree. In the war-torn land, a father looks upon a broken bicycle, closing his eyes in pain. Through his memories we see a time before, where his daughter runs to her bicycle through vibrant, green grass, as the father sits with his wife peacefully enjoying a picnic. Both this father and Michael are brought back to reality, and through their visions we learn that in this desolate future, people everywhere are looking fondly to the past, before the world reached this state. This fits with the message of the song, about treasuring and protecting the Earth we have before it is too late.

In the form of a montage sequence, we see groups of people across the world falling to their knees and clutching soil, as if to physically connect with the Earth and with nature. Following this, a huge gust of wind blows across all areas of the world, so strong that many are seen grabbing hold of things to stay on the ground. From here, time begins to move in reverse, as trees stand tall once again, and the sky reverts to a rich blue colour. In the war-torn land the military is pushed back, powerless to the forces of nature. The eyes of a dead man are bound open, and he stands up. In the African setting, the elephant seen earlier has it’s wounds begin to heal, it’s tusks regrow and it is alive once again. This ending section of the video is very powerful as it shows nature standing up against its destruction at the hands of mankind.

The once bleak and desaturated wasteland is restored to the lush variety of mother nature by the end of the video, as the message is given that if all people attempt to connect with nature and with the Earth, then we can reverse the damage done to the planet and live in a world thats beauty is in it’s nature. This is the overall message of the song, and in accompanying the song, the video for Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’ succeeds with a powerful narrative.

Planning: Music Video Pitch for The Beatles - Nowhere Man

This is the pitch for my music video that I delivered to a class of students aged 17-18. The pitch allowed to me to present my ideas and gain audience feedback, which I can use in future to aid the development of my product.

In my pitch I discussed the narrative elements of my music video, and compared them with the lyrics of the song I have chosen. I presented visual portrayals of how I expect my video to look, along with the shooting locations I am planning to use and a brief schedule.

I asked my audience three questions at the end of the pitch, and took note of the responses I received. I was advised by my audience to focus on narrative rather than performance in my product. Along with this, I was told by the majority to take a retro approach to the visuals in my product, in order to correlate with the song I have selected, which is 52 years old. The responses to my final question suggested that I should use third-person storytelling in the narrative of my product.