Dilemma

Research and analysis of

Dilemma – Kelly Rowland ft. Nelly

The second R & B music video we have been researching is a video by the artists ‘Kelly Rowland featuring ‘Nelly’ with their song ‘Dilemma’. This video is a narrative video, as it tells a story about them expressing their love for each other. The genre of the music video is shown because Kelly is seen already as an R&B fashion icon, plus the clothes that Nelly wears are traditionally associated with R&B for example the jewelry and the baggy pants and top. There is a correlation between the lyrics and the video because they are singing about thinking about each other and the video shows them thinking about each other and missing each other. There are no impressions of being watched or any screens and telescopes etc. There are also no voyeuristic treatments towards women’s bodies except through the top Kelly is wearing when she on the road which shoes her body shape well, as Nelly sings/raps about loving Kelly and not raping or singing bout her body, which shows respect. There are no intertextual references to any films, TV programs or other music videos. This video is also targeted at older teenagers due to the features of the video and the stereotype of teenagers is primarily finding love.

Camera shots

Throughout the video there are close ups and medium of Kelly and Nelly’s faces which tells the audience that’s they are the main characters in the video as there is a lot of extras in the background. Moreover the close ups are required by the record label as a promotional method to make the audience remember their faces which makes them more memorable. *Screen shot of Kelly* *Nelly*. At the beginning of the video there are landscapes shots and the main characters are introduced. Near the end of the video, when they are outside the cinema, the background is blurred so the viewers focus on the main characters. This is called shallow depth of field. *SDF shot* The video often zooms from medium long shot to mid shot which shows the importance of the character and shows the audience who is important. There is a tilt from eye level to high angle.

Editing

The editing in the video uses fast cuts at the start to show a montage, this displays ‘nellyville’ to tell the audience what the neighborhood is like and what, the people are like. Then at the end it uses slow motion to illustrates them dreaming about being together and happy, when in reality they aren’t. There is also a use of split screen, which demonstrates them thinking about each other. The video is filmed in a bright place because it is a quite happy love story video, so even in the night scenes, its still well lit. The transitions are fades, which portrays how they can be different people when they are with their partners to when they are with each other.

By Georgina & Jecoliah