Analysis of a music video

Single Ladies // Beyoncé

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
The genre of Single Ladies by Beyoncé is a hip hop/dance video, this is because it consists of the main focus on the artist, and the women dancers who are half naked just in leotards dancing. The dancing genre applies to this video because the whole video consists of women dancing in matching outfits. Beyoncé is singing in the video, along with dancing with just two other dancers. The two dancers are dressed and styled identically to Beyoncé, like she is the leader and they are her followers. They are doing the same dance as her which again adds to the idea of her being the leader. All three of them are wearing black leotards, which Beyoncé's being just slightly different as its a one shouldered, 3/4 sleeve leotard making her stand out from the others so everyone is aware she is the leader and is individual. Their hair, shoes and makeup all remain exactly the same. Beyoncé is mainly featured being in the middle of the two dancers or dancing in front of them, showing she is in charge.

Lyrics and Visuals
“If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it”
This line is in the chorus, and it is repeated over and over, this relates to the visuals that are seen on screen as there is a main prop that identifies the dancers to be different to Beyoncé which is the heavy metal glove she has on, with contains a ring. This indicates she is the one the song is talking about. This is the ring that the lyrics are referring too.

Music and Visuals
With this video being mainly dance genre related, this means that it is important that the dancing and lip-syncing is in time with the beat of the song, which it is. When the beat speeds up, so does the timing of the dance routines. The dancing becomes faster and the dancer move around a lot more around the room as the beat picks up.

Records Company
The video is mainly featured on Beyoncé, with most of the shots capturing her in particular. They have done this by ensuring she is dancing in the middle of the two dancers or is slightly in front to show she is the important one, and she is the one the song is referring too. This is the evidence to show that the focus should be on her.
Frequent reference to notion of looking
In this video it shows how Beyoncé is more superior and powerful compared to the other to identical dancers. With her being in the middle or slightly in front, it represents her being in change and the others following and copying her.

Intertextuality
At the end of the song they have a close up shot of Beyoncé with her hand up, showing off the heavy metal glove with the ring, by doing this they are showing the audience exactly what they are on about which is proposal. The other dancers are also pointing at their marriage finger, to also represent the meaning behind the song.