Analysis: Bohemian Rhapsody

I created this by downloading the YouTube video via the Computer Hope website. I then added my text with Windows Live Movie Maker.

Please bear in mind with this video that I don't point something out every time it happens. For example, I only mention close-ups once, but there are several.

So, I have scored Bohemian Rhapsody a 7/10 on its ability to live up to the conventions of the Andrew Goodwin Theory. 

As is the problem with solely performance based videos, there were few clear links between the visuals and the lyrics; I still have no idea what the song is supposed to be about. Furthermore, it used few locations, none of which being particularly visually appealing. Along with this, the band were wearing only one costume throughout the video (unless you count whatever they were wearing in the super low key shots). Moreover, this costume did not give the band any sex appeal. (At least I didn't think so, maybe things were different in the seventies and girls couldn't resist men in silver latex suits, but I don't think so). Neither was there any voyeurism or sexualization of women to attract a straight male audience.

On the other hand, we have to take into account that this was pretty much the first music video ever made. I think the idea was to give the audience a taste of what a Queen gig would be like. This explains why it is performance based, and means that the video actually promotes Queen and Queen gigs. The demands of the record label are further met with the many, many close ups of the artist. There is a focus on the band throughout, and high angle shots are used to make them seem ever more impressive. They are also shown singing and playing instruments which not only showcases their skills, but creates a link between what we are seeing and hearing. Furthermore, there is a strong theme to the notion of looking; there are countless fade transitions and special effects are used to duplicate images and stuff. This is a key part to the AG theory. As for the costumes, I believe they were representative of the rock genre at the time, though this is now an outdated look. Editing and camera work has achieved to link the visuals with the music as you can see clear differences in these two aspects between the slow parts of the song and the fast parts. Lighting was also used well in this way, as explained in my video. On top of this, there are some links between the lyrics and the visual. The mood of the visuals represents the different phases in the song. Rapid cutting also makes it seem as if two people are singing to each other as they are in the song. Finally, a visual silhouette is also used in conjunction with the line "I see a little silhouetto of a man".

Overall, the video does have many basic aspects of the AG theory but it is a little outdated in how we would imagine a music video today and it misses some key conventions of these videos. None the less, it is a great song.

What would I take from this video to put into my own?

The lighting skills and the editing skills will all be necessary to make a good music video. More specifically however, I like the use of silhouettes and shadows in the low key scenes, these would be good for my song choice. I also think that the focus on the band and specifically on them playing instruments would work well at the beginning of my track. The kind of editing/special effects in this song might also be good fun to use.