Beyonce- If I was a boy
Released- October 12, 2008
Recorded- 2008
Genre- Pop/ R&B
Length- 5:05
Writer- BC Jean Gad
Producers- Toby Gad Beyonce Knowles
Synopsis of the video
Through the narrative Beyonce is expressing feelings of dissatisfaction and sadness towards the gender roles that men and women play in relationships set by the general standards of society, that has affected her own relationship. she has done this by taking the stereotypical male role in a relationship, in this case a hard working instrumental job such as policeman. This challenges the conventions of gender representation in music videos where it is usually the male is in the leading old and the woman in a position where she is being portrayed as helpless or objectified. However the story brings a plot twist when the characters swap roles revealing the reality that us women face in this society.
The storyline of this music video has inspired me a lot to create a storyline with a meaning and has message that empowers women for my own music video.
The storyline of this music video has inspired me a lot to create a storyline with a meaning and has message that empowers women for my own music video.
Is the video conceptual, narrative or performance based?
This music video is narrative based as it narrates the lives of a husband and a wife and the roles that they play in their relationship.
Camerawork
The music video contains a range of camera shots, however the most common is Mid-close ups of the characters. An example of this is at 1:45 when the colleagues are seen looking at each other. The close up increases the intensity of the Beyonce and her colleagues relationship as they seen looking at each other making the audience guess what each of the, are thinking. Another example of this is the close ups of the 'husband's' reaction when his wife ignores his call at 2:08. This increases the audience's knowledge of this positions and again make the audience guess how he may be feeling.
Editing
The song is slow and calm and editing enhances the effect along with camera work. at the beginning of the music video, there are slow scenes but fast cuts of Beyonce and her husband saying short words. then, the song starts and there are varied shots, but the cuts are not to the beat. when the song fades out mid- song and so does the shot, it slowly fades out and then shows some dialogue between Beyonce and her husband. At the end of the dialogue the roles her reversed then the shot slowly fades our and so the song slowly fades in. This could imply that she is not acting like the boy anymore. Her role faded and she is facing reality now.The music video ends with Beyonce's face slowly fading out.
Mise-en-scene
At the start of the music video where they say words that you need in a good relationship they are both in bright natural light with natural make-up which shows their true selves. following this when Beyonce is starting her day, the lighting is quite dark which signifies her dark character that she is about to embark to the viewers.
The costumes also help to create an accurate and convincing music video. the police costumes are probably real and don't look tacky or fake. additionally, the clothes they wear when they are out of their uniform are simple with either a black or white shirt with a jacket. props are used such as keys. take away coffee cups , laptops, paper, guns, handcuffs and police cars which are all use to create an accurate atmosphere to the music video. This use of mise-en-scene has inspired me to use as much props as possible that can be symbolise the lyrics for the chosen song.
Overall, this music video has been my main inspiration to create an effective storyline for my music video as it is cleverly produced with the way the lyrics contradict the imagery.
Camerawork
The music video contains a range of camera shots, however the most common is Mid-close ups of the characters. An example of this is at 1:45 when the colleagues are seen looking at each other. The close up increases the intensity of the Beyonce and her colleagues relationship as they seen looking at each other making the audience guess what each of the, are thinking. Another example of this is the close ups of the 'husband's' reaction when his wife ignores his call at 2:08. This increases the audience's knowledge of this positions and again make the audience guess how he may be feeling.
Editing
The song is slow and calm and editing enhances the effect along with camera work. at the beginning of the music video, there are slow scenes but fast cuts of Beyonce and her husband saying short words. then, the song starts and there are varied shots, but the cuts are not to the beat. when the song fades out mid- song and so does the shot, it slowly fades out and then shows some dialogue between Beyonce and her husband. At the end of the dialogue the roles her reversed then the shot slowly fades our and so the song slowly fades in. This could imply that she is not acting like the boy anymore. Her role faded and she is facing reality now.The music video ends with Beyonce's face slowly fading out.
Mise-en-scene
At the start of the music video where they say words that you need in a good relationship they are both in bright natural light with natural make-up which shows their true selves. following this when Beyonce is starting her day, the lighting is quite dark which signifies her dark character that she is about to embark to the viewers.
The costumes also help to create an accurate and convincing music video. the police costumes are probably real and don't look tacky or fake. additionally, the clothes they wear when they are out of their uniform are simple with either a black or white shirt with a jacket. props are used such as keys. take away coffee cups , laptops, paper, guns, handcuffs and police cars which are all use to create an accurate atmosphere to the music video. This use of mise-en-scene has inspired me to use as much props as possible that can be symbolise the lyrics for the chosen song.
Overall, this music video has been my main inspiration to create an effective storyline for my music video as it is cleverly produced with the way the lyrics contradict the imagery.
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