http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i38JRTyMik
As the music begins immediately the camera is shown to be driving down a sunny road in California, with palm trees either side. This conforms to Hebdige's theory of subcultures. The camera cuts to a close up shot of the rapper Jay Z, it shows he is in the back of the car that seems to be travelling down the road. By using a close up shot of the rapper, the audience can see who is being featured in the video with Beyonce. The camera then cuts quickly back to the road, then back to Jay Z before returning to cut back to the road again. The cuts between scenes are in time with the beat of the music. After cutting back to the road Beyonce is seen to be walking towards the camera up the road. She is perceived as a sex symbol as she is wearing a low cut vest top and short shorts.(see picture)
She flicks her hair in the wind. The camera then cuts to a low tracking shot of her high red heels as she continues to strut to the beat of the music. The camera then cuts again to a shot from behind which focuses on her rear – as this is a well known trademark of Beyonce’s. The camera then quickly cuts to a low angle medium shot of Beyonce walking up to what looks like a barn entrance but by cutting to a long shot of Beyonce on the wooden planks it gives the impression to the audience that it is a stage. This conforms to Richard Dyer's theory of stardom. As the idea of the audience looking up to the star, but cannot reach her, gives the singer power.(see picture)
As Beyonce begins to seductively dance on her own, the camera cuts to a close up of Jay Z again before using a low angle panning shot on the singer as she keeps eye contact with the camera constantly, it gives the impression she is drawing in the audience. The height of the camera is level with the singers head as she dances on the floor, therefore connecting with the audience - Dyer's theory - as the audience can connect with the star. The camera then pans back the other way as the eye contact is still maintained.
The camera then zooms out to a long shot where the audience can see the location of Beyonce before quickly cutting to a close up shot, an extreme close up, back to a medium shot of the singer. These quick cuts are in time with the music – which is very fast. This is a common convention used for this pop genre. The pace is then slowed as the music continues it’s fast beat; Beyonce is seen slowly moving her arms and posing for the camera up against a wall, in an attempt to seduce the audience. Four of these shots are used before returning back to the singer performing on the wooden stage. She lies down flat on the stage and the camera rapidly zooms out and out, through the legs of another shot of Beyonce.
In this scene, Beyonce is wearing a much more glamorous outfit as she is wearing a short, fitted gold dress, with lots of gold jewellery and sky scraper heels. A long shot is used to show the audience the difference in location. The superimposed backdrop of New York City is seen and the singer is dancing on a small, rounded stage with spot lights and camera flashes. This is a prime example of Dyer's theory. The theme of this scene is city glam.
Close up shots are used of Beyonce’s face as she sings, each cutting to a close up shot at a different angle, this shows variety, the timing of the camera cuts still remain in time with the beat of the music. A low angle shot is then used which shows that the singer is important and powerful and begins to rotate around her body as she dances. By using a low angle shot when the singer is wearing a short dress and heels makes Beyonce look like a sex symbol. She remains to keep eye contact with the camera as she sings. The camera then quickly cuts back to the first scene of Beyonce lying on the wooden stage before returning to the bright lights. An insert shot is then used as a close up shot of a camera lens is used and Beyonce’s face is seen in the reflection which looks very effective.(see picture)
The camera then cuts back to a medium shot of the singer dancing on stage with paparazzi flashes before cutting to a new scene.
The third scene of the music video is Beyonce strutting towards the camera – similar to the very first scene. But she is wearing more casual clothes. A baseball cap and jacket fit in with the location of an alley where she is walking through. This also conforms to Hebdige's theory of subcultures. She is accompanied by 5 other dancers dressed in baseball jackets. Beyonce still remains to appear sexy as she has her hair down and full make up. The camera cuts back and forth to the previous scene four times before returning to the present location of the alley.
A long shot is then used that shows all the dancers including Beyonce dancing in synchronization with one another.(see picture)
The trademark ‘Beyonce booty shake’ is then shown with all 5 dancers performing the same move. The camera then cuts to a close up of Beyonce’s shaking her ‘booty’ before returning to a medium shot of faces. A close up shot of Beyonce’s face is then used as she walks in and out of the dancers, by maintaining eye contact with the camera, the audience are drawn into the song. This is again a convention used to conform to Dyer's stardom theory as the audience may feel a sense of intimacy. The camera is level with the singers face and by having other dancers pass in front of Beyonce, it gives the impression that the audience are really there with her. She stops, pressed against the wall in a sexy manner as a medium shot is used to show her body language before walking out of shot and into the distance.
A forth scene is then shown of Beyonce trapped in a car, the lighting is dim and the singer looks troubles which makes the audience curious about what is going to happen. The camera position is hidden in the corner and Beyonce is unaware, this is an example of Dyer's intimacy theory, as the audience may feel as though they are looking into Beyonce's private life - therefore they continue to watch. The camera then cuts back to the camera following Beyonce in her baseball jacket and cap and she turns round and blows a large blue bubble at the camera, turns away and walks off the screen. This shows a hint of immaturity which may attract other audiences. The shot then cuts back to Beyonce sitting down at the back of a car. The car has bright orange and yellow covers which contrast with the singer’s dark hair, skin and clothes.(see picture)
This scene is then cut to a long shot showing a shadowy figure in the foreground and the audience can see the car which they assume Beyonce is sat in, in the background. The camera then cuts back to Beyonce in the car before cutting straight to an extreme close up of a lighter being lit – this signifies danger. The camera then cuts back to inside the car where Beyonce can hear the danger she is in. By using this combination of shots, it is as if a story is being told through the song - an easy narrative originates from Archer's theory.
The shadowy figure (Jay Z) then drops the lighter on the floor and a low angle close up shot is used when the floor is seen to catch fire and slowly spread to the car. A long shot is then used to show the car catch fire and a big explosion is seen as Jay Z is stood in the foreground. This then cuts to a medium shot of the rapper and Beyonce dressed in a glamorous outfit; with heels and a fur coat on struts onto the screen and drapes herself round the rapper. This is another example of Dyer's theory, this luxurious lifestyle is what the audience envy and idolise the singer. A panning low angle shot is then used on both the singers as this makes them look powerful. (See picture)
By using a two shot – it gives the impression of the sexual tension between them both whilst dancing with each other. A medium shot of Beyonce cuts quickly to the explosion of the car, to a close up of Jay Z and then returning back to a close-up shot of Beyonce. The fast paced cutting between shots adds excitement to the video and maintains the audience’s attention. As the tone of the music changes slightly, the camera cuts to a shot of Beyonce kicking a water pipe and spraying water all over the dark alley way.
The camera cuts quickly back to the previous scene for around 4 seconds then returning to a medium shot of Beyonce dancing, raising her arms to the music in the spray of the water pipe. The scene looks dark and shadowy but it adds atmosphere. The camera then cuts to a low angle panning shot of Beyonce as she is getting covered in rain.(see picture)
A close up shot shows her facial expression and she still remains provocative even though she is very wet. She then poses for the camera in the street before cutting to another scene.
The final scene shows Beyonce dresses in a brightly coloured dress, with heels in front of an enormous fan which blows her hair. The camera cuts to and from the previous scene 5 times in the beat of the music. During the scene of the large fan, Beyonce is seen to repeat her strut towards the camera, similar to scene 1 and 3 with her dancers by her side. Another long shot is used to show the synchronization between all 6 women, it looks very professional as they are all in time with one another.(see picture)
This is followed by a variety of close, medium and long shots before the camera zooms out of the scene and cuts to a long shot of Beyonce dancing in the rain. As the finale of the song approaches the burning car scene is shown through a long shot, cuts back to a medium shot in the rain then the camera cuts again to a close up shot of Beyonce with the large fan. This sequence is very fast paces and complicated but it looks very visually appealing as three are lots of bright colours and action taking place. As the song finishes, Beyonce walks towards the camera, with the wind in her hair, adding to her sex appeal, she walks away out of shot. The last cut of the video is Beyonce posing in the back of the car, the medium shot shows her body language and the scene gradually fades to black.
This is an effective ending as the song is very fast paced and includes a lot of action in a small space of time. But by ending slowly and quietly it adds a quirky ending and leaves the audience exhausted.
Written by Hollie
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