Music Video Analysis Beyoncé Hold Up

1. Music Videos
Beyoncé – Hold Up

2. Lyrics
“What’s worst looking jealous or crazy”
Beyoncé smashes the window of a car with
a baseball bat as she the lyric “… jealous or
crazy is sung” which portrays her to be
crazy.
The next lyric states “I’d rather be crazy” as
she then hits a water drain with the baseball
bat, causing a burst of water, which again
resembles her to be “crazy”, she then walks
off smiling.
Beyoncé relates her lyrics to her
actions in the music video, it makes
the lyrics come to life, illustrating
her feelings clearly to the audience.

3. Music
The song comes under the genre “POP”, a steady paced song, the tune/beat makes
the song seem happy as it is soft and upbeat, the lyrics seem to portray a girl after
a break up. The juxtaposition of the music compared to the lyrics.

4. Mise En Scene
Costume
Beyoncé wears a yellow dress that symbolises happiness, with a black bra
underneath, the bra is visible this could be to attract men or to sexualise the plain
outfit. She holds a baseball bat, the baseball bat can symboliser anger and can be
a use of the enigma code as it raises the audiences questions to why she is holding
a bat as it is out of costume. Her hair is down
which can symbolise freedom.

5. Mise En Scene
Lighting
The lighting stays the same throughout the video. It isn’t too bright or dull, just
normal dim daylight. The lighting allows Beyoncé to stand out and be the centre of
attention in her yellow outfit.

6. Mise En Scene
Props
The music video takes place in a old fashioned road, therefore there are multiple
shops and cars parked along the road, Beyoncé holds a baseball bat where she
then smashes the windows of cars, so the cars parked are an important prop for
Beyoncé to portray her anger through them. There is a water drain in the
pavement that is an important prop as Beyoncé hits it with the bat, it then
explodes that could symbolise her anger being let out, or t her freedom.

7. Mise En Scene
Location
There music video takes place in a set to be made to look like an old street in
America. Which can normalise the music video as it is simply Beyonce walking
down the street.

8. Camera Work
Beyoncé is the main attraction throughout the whole video, she is in the centre of
every wide shot and there are multiple close ups of her.
The main shot through out is Beyoncé walking down the road towards the camera,
which would have needed a “Dolly” to be able to video.
Close ups appear either on Beyoncé's face or on whatever she destroys next with
the baseball bat.

9. Editing
The setting does not change throughout the music video, the editing is made to
look like it was filmed all in one shot, as it is continuous. There hasn’t been
anything put in via computer editing, it makes the video seem more realistic and
can make the audience feel part of it.

10. Intertextuality
Beyoncé wears a yellow dress that does reveal a black lacy bra.
The use of the yellow dress can suggest happiness, however the black laced bra
underneath that is visible does create a sexual symbol, and is on show for a reason.
The main use of the yellow dress is to symbolise she is happy and free, linking to
the lyrics, she is happy to be free from this man.

11. Narrative/Performance
The use of Beyoncé smashing cars expresses her letting her anger out, she walks
down the street alone and there are no males giving her attention or walking
beside her which shows independence.

12. Star Image/The Brand
The video makes Beyoncé seem to be “crazy” as she smashes the windows of
random cars on a street by herself.
However at the same time she also portrays that she can be independent.
There is no specific brand highlighted.

13. Voyeurism
The use of Beyoncé wearing a long yellow dress, does not attract men. The use of it
being yellow instead of a colour like red does not make her stand out for male
attention reasons. However she wears a black bra and it is visible, this could be to
attract male attention, as the colour black is bold and stands out, and it has
purposely been made to be visible. Where the
camera follows her walking down the street,
she can be unaware of the male attention or any
attention that she is getting.

14. Context
The video makes Beyoncé to be a independent woman who doesn’t need a man,
as she walks alone and conquers dangerous events by herself (smashing drains and
glass windows)
The lyrics are based on her reaction after a break up, therefore this can be
relatable or inspiration for some women.