Research Music video analysis 3: Geri Halliwell's 'Its raining men'
Geri Halliwell released smash hit 'It's raining men' in 2001 with her own spin on it after the original being released by The Weather girls in 1983. However Geri's version was released in time with popular movie Bridget Jone's Diary.
The beginning of the music video is a remake of the movie 'Flashdance' for the song 'What a feeling' which starts off in a very similar room with the costume being the same and with very similar choreography being done. Through this long shot of Geri it is showing a very strong position implying her power and strength.
In the video this is the first time we see Geri's face, after her dance going wrong resulting in her falling. This close up is the first view of Geri's new look that the audience gets due to her working hard prior to the video to achieve a new body after being labeled in the media 'the chubby one from the spice girls'.
Once restarting the routine like seen in Flash dance Geri's whole new image is revealed. Throughout the whole video there is lots of close up shots of her stomach and her achievements in creating a new image and look for herself. At this point in the video the camera pans up her body and ends at her face, just before she starts singing. Showing the artist singing directly into camera is a convention of a music video. Also having the artist singing directly into camera shows the relationship between the music and the visuals used.
The video also uses a recreation of Flash dance by showing a medium shot of the judges feet tapping along to the music just before the first chorus is played. Using this particular sequence shows a direct link to the movie Flashdance 'What a feeling'.
Once all the dancers enter in a flash mob the costumes worn by the dancers are very reflective of the genre, due to the costumes being a variety of bright colours, which is stereotypical of the pop genre. When all the dancers enter this sequence has links to the amazing Fame! Linking this video to that also.
At this sequence Geri is seen kissing one of the judges on the judging panel. This relates to when Geri was part of the Spice Girls and she kissed the prince in a very different way to what a prince is usually treated by a lady. During this sequence is where this video really differs from its original links to 'Flashdance' as this is very modern compared to that.
The video is different at this section due to Geri speaking of the song which is an unusual aspect for a music video due to this section the speaking not fitting with the music which is not a convention of music videos.
Here is another reference to Flashdance due to the story surrounding a women who is a welder having a dream of becoming a ballet dancer and pursuing her dream but finding it very difficult. The longshot above shows Geri dressed as a ballerina taking part in a basic ballet lesson. Whereas later we see her trying ballet again.
During this sequence Geri's new figure is shown off through her showing some gymnastic moves and showing off her flexibility. Mulvey's theory can also be applied here due to her figure being put on display and being a very eye catching move.
Here again we see Geri partaking in ballet lessons but giving up due to not being able to do the lift, then showing her leaving the shot and pulling her ponytail out. This is shown through a longshot so the whole lift can be seen. This is something we could create in our music video but would be hard to find the people who would be willing to do this for us.
The next sequence see's the whole dance troop doing a dance routine in the street. This looks really effective due to everyone doing the same and being very reflective of the genre of the song 'pop'. The majority of the camera shots in this sequence are long shots so the audience can view the whole of the routine.
The special effect used for this low angle shot is very effective due to showing the sky to be cloudy almost like a storm is going to come, which in a later sequence it does. Geri again is poseing in a very sexy male appealing way again revealing her new image so she is know longer known in the media as 'chubby spice'.
At this stage during the music video all of the dancers including Geri stretch their arms into the air then it starts to rain. This feature is very relevant towards the song due to it stating that 'It's Raining men' also the dancers that are clear in the camera angle are all males which links the action to the lyrics. The rain also starts at the same point that the song repeats to the chorus linking due to the chorus being the most intense part of the song linking to the dance routine shown in the video.
Once the rain sequence has started the camera shows a series of medium close ups of Geri in the rain. Here again she is showing off her new image and showing she is confident with her new figure that she has worked very hard for. The positions she is making are showing a sexy side to Geri showing that she is still young and attractive and Laura Mulvey's theory of 'the male gaze' can be applied to Geri during this sequence of the music video. Here Geri's t-shirt says 'famous' this is another cross link to the smash hit 'Fame'.
The ending shot is of all the dancers dancing in the street with the rain still pouring. This effect is really effective for the music video but it is something that we wouldn't be able to use for our music video as it would be hard to make it look effective due to having a low budget.
An excellent level 4 post. I would like to see a bullet point list at the bottom:
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