1. Rebecca Gooch
Textual Analysis of a music video
Name of video: U can’t touch this
Artist: MC Hammer
Date released: 13th January 1990
Producer: MC Hammer
Writer: MC Hammer, Rick James, Alonzo Miller
The textual analysis music video I have chosen is MC Hammer
U can’t touch this released 13th January 1990. The song was
written by MC Hammer, Rick James, Alonzo Miller and was
produced by MC Hammer. The genre of the song is new jack swing and hip hop,
elements you would expect to find in this genre are rapping, DJing, sampling,
scratching and beatboxing, break dancing. The characteristics of this music video
define its genre of hip hop because it includes break dancing, an upbeat song with
rapping.
Links appear between the lyrics and visuals throughout the song. “Cant touch
this”; at the beginning of the song MC Hammer raises his hand which then the song
commences and the break dancing and lyrics begin. “Fresh new kicks and pants”
these lyrics refer to the costume and the moves of the
artist. Mc Hammer is wearing a bright, smart yellow hip
hop jacket and shiny baggy trousers and begins to
break dance pulling quick and sharp moves in time
with the beat. This example shows the links appearing
between the lyrics and visuals. “That’s word because
you know . . . U can’t touch this” As the artist is rapping
these lyrics his hand movement emphasizes the words
U can’t touch this. “Break it down” as these lyrics are said the tempo picks up the
beat becomes faster and MC Hammer and the dance group behind him break
dance all carrying out the same moves. “Stop Hammer time” this is a perfect
example of the links between the lyrics and the visuals as the lyrics are said MC
Hammer puts his hand up and emphasizes the lyric stop. Some lyrics within the
song have visuals that appear with them but most lyrics tend to have MC Hammer
and the dance group breaking their moves out on the dance floor.
Links appear between the music and visuals. With every beat the video cuts
from shot to shot an example of this is when the artist and the dance group are
dancing (as shown below
right) and then when the lyrics
“Stop Hammer time” is said
the shot then changes to a
medium shot of MC Hammer.
Another point the
actions/moves in the video
executed by the artist and
dances are in time with the
beat an example of this is when the dances bang their feet on the floor the beat
changes. Another point that I have found is the shots change over quicker when the
beat is faster and when the beat is slow the opposite happens – the shots change

2. Rebecca Gooch
over slower. At the very end both the music and video fade out together at the
same time to create the perfect finish to the song.
Throughout the video there are no close up shots of MC Hammer because
he is constantly moving so you wouldn’t be able to see a close up shot of him
because he would be moving but most shots are medium to long shot so that the
audience are able to watch all the dance moves executed. The record company
look to sell the track by having MC Hammer perform the whole way through the
song to promote the new song to make sure it sells successfully. The image of the
artist created from the music video is MC Hammer being a live person who loves to
perform as if he was born to perform and likes to dance and rap with a dancing
group behind. This particular has some reference or relates to another video by MC
Hammer which is “Pump it” which also has a backing dance group behind MC
Hammer and they are all break dancing in time with the beats to a fast pace track.
Also included in the visuals are hometowns in America which have been included in
both videos showing the artists and backing group dancing in possibly their home
towns.
I think the female backing dance group behind MC Hammer are on sexual
display because MC Hammer is the only male out of the group. Also MC Hammer
himself I think is on display as well because of the chorography – quick and slick
executed, precise and accurate dance moves. Also the females are wearing small
and tight costumes and don’t seem to be wearing a lot whist break dancing in time
with the beat a feature of being on display. From the elements I have mentioned
above I feel they are on sexual display mainly through the chorography. The
costumes and dance moves I feel fit in well with the genre of hip hop.
No intertextuals references appear to relate to any separate texts such as TV
programmes or films.
The music video mainly is performance – based. From the points and
elements I have mentioned above to sum all the main points I have discussed; the
characteristics included in the video define the genre of being hip hop. Links appear
between the lyrics and the visuals as do the links between the music and visual
which makes the overall video run smoothly and also fit in with genre of hip hop.
Another point I have mentioned is through the elements stated the dance group of
females are on sexual display and possibly MC Hammer to. From studying this
music video and from the following points I have studied we can conclude that the
genre is hip hop and the video is most definitely upbeat and the script and
chorography fit in well with the music and visuals.
Lyrics
Can't touch this (x2)
Can't touch this (oh-oh oh oh oh-oh-oh) (x2)
My-my-my-my music hits me so hard makes me say oh my Lord
Thank you for blessing me with a mind to rhyme and two hyped feet
It feels good when you know you're down
A superdope homeboy from the Oaktown
And I'm known as such
And this is a beat uh u can't touch

3. Rebecca Gooch
I told you homeboy u can't touch this
Yeah that's how we're livin' and you know u can't touch this
Look in my eyes man u can't touch this
You know let me bust the funky lyrics u can't touch this
Fresh new kicks and pants
You got it like that now you know you wanna dance
So move out of your seat
And get a fly girl and catch this beat
While it's rollin' hold on pump a little bit
And let me know it's going on like that like that
Cold on a mission so pull on back
Let 'em know that you're too much
And this is a beat uh u can't touch
Yo I told you u can't touch this
Why you standing there man u can't touch this
Yo sound the bells school is in sucker u can't touch this
Give me a song or rhythm
Making 'em sweat that's what I'm giving 'em
Now they know when you talk about the Hammer
You talk about a show that's hyped and tight
Singers are sweatin' so pass them a mic
Or a tape to learn what it's gonna take
And now he's gonna burn
The charts legit either work hard
Or you might as well quit
That's word because you know
U can't touch this (oh-oh oh oh-oh-oh) (x2)
Break it down
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh oh-oh) (x4)
Stop Hammer time
Go with the flow in a spin if you can't move to this
Then you probably are dead
So wave your hands in the air
Bust throught the moves run your fingers through your hair
This is it for a winner
Dance to this and you're gonna get thinner
Move slide your rump
Just for a minute let's all do the bump
Bump bump bump yeah
U can't touch this
Look man u can't touch this
You'll probably get hyped boy
'Cause you know you can't u can't touch this
Ring the bell school's back in break it down
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) (x4)
Stop Hammer time

4. Rebecca Gooch
(Oh-oh oh oh oh-oh-oh) (x2)
(Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh)
(Oh-oh oh oh oh-oh-oh) u can't touch this (x3)
(Oh-oh oh oh oh-oh-oh) break it down
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) (x2)
Stop Hammer time
Every time you see me that Hammer's just so hype
I'm dope on the floor and I'm magic on the mic
Now why would I ever stop doing this
With others makin' records that just don't hit
I toured around the world from London to the BAY
It's Hammer go Hammer
mc hammer yo hammer and the rest can go and play
U can't touch this (oh-oh oh oh oh-oh-oh) (x2)
U can't touch this (oh-oh oh-oh-oh)
Yeah u can't touch this
I told you u can't touch this (oh-oh oh-oh-oh)
Too hype can't touch this
Get me outta here u can't touch this
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)