Analysis of Britney Spears' ... Baby one more time using Goodwin's theory

2. So as to create a music video that is believably within the pop genre – I shall analyse 3
real products:
• Britney spears, “Baby One more time”
• Ella Eyre, “If I Go”
• Avril Lavigne “What the Hell”
I will be using Goodwin's music video analysis theory to analyse these products.
Goodwin Theorised:
1. Music videos show genre
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist
(so as to sell the artist, and create recognition) and the artist may develop motifs which
recur across their work - The artist may develop a certain visual style as a trademark.
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens or
telescopes) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body
6. There is often intertextuality - references to films, TV programs and other music videos

3. Britney Spears, wears 90s clothing with pinks so as
to represent the 90s girly style typical of the time, as
well as the actors wearing sports clothing, this video
is therefore exhibiting current fashion trends.
Large number of extras, surrounds the artist and
creates a representation of the artist being
approachable and popular.
Frequent shots of extras smiling, upbeat and happy
tone. High key lighting links to the upbeat tone
throughout the video.

4. Britney Spear’s video involves
both illustrative and
contradicting elements, for
example, “my loneliness is
killing me” is matched with a
shot of the artist surrounded
by people therefore not
mirroring the lyrics, however
“I shouldn't’t have let you
know” is matched with a shot
of the artist sitting alone in a
large room, this is illustrative
as represents loss and regret.

5. The visuals in Britney Spears’ video are illustrative in relation to the audio, e.g. at the
slowest part of the song, when the music is low, the artist is shown alone in a large
room, and when the music immediately increases, the artist is shown with a large
group of dancers and a large use of lighting, this shows the contrast and mirrors the
music.

6. Britney Spears is shot close up at multiple points throughout the video, only the artist
shot close up so as to allow the audience to recognise the artists as the most important
person within the video and to establish the image of the artist.

7. • Britney Spears is shown in a school uniform,
with thigh high socks and the shirt tied around
her midsection, this makes the artist look more
promiscuous and places the artist within the
male gaze.
• The image of a schoolgirl is often sexuallised
and fetishised, as a result also giving this image
of the artist

8. While Spears does not reference other works, the inspiration of the video was her fans,
hence the costuming and school setting, the artist wanted the video to reflect the lives
of her fans, teenagers, this was behind the artistic decisions within the video.