Music Video Analysis-Keyshia Cole

The second music video I have chosen to analyse is 'Trust' by Keyshia Cole and Monica. It has an R&B genre and is slow song.

The opening shot of the music video is a large cream mansion with is straight away known to be in Tuscany, Italy as this is written across the bottom of the screen. Sound of birds 'chirping' can be heard making the scene feel calm and happy. The sound of the birds is continued through each shot known as a sound bridge until the melody begins.

The first straight cut shot is of the artist, Keyshia sat down, looking rather unhappy and looking down at her phone suggesting she is waiting for someone to get in touch. Her being unhappy is fairly strange as the singing birds make the audience think it should be a happy or calm mood. The artist is then seen looking out the window after the front door to the house is opened, indicating that she may not want them to leave. This is the point the music begins, suggesting the narrative is beginning. She is then seen again, this time on the phone ringing someone.
At this point the second artist, Monica is introduced as a shot of her is seen on the phone; it is clear that they are close friends as they use nicknames for each other, showing they have known each other for a long time.

While on the phone Keyshia says 'I've been thinking about this guy', at this point a shot of a guy who is leaving the house is seen, indicating who she is talking about.
Also whilst on the phone a shot reverse shot pattern is used between the artists, also the shot of Keyshia looking down at the phone is used emphasising the time she is waiting for the phone to ring.

At the end of the conversation Keyshia says 'I just feel like', at this point the beat and song begins with her miming, however she is not looking directly at the camera but it is a side shot of her. This is effective because it makes the audience feel her emotion without her having to look directly at you; this is something many people do when telling their emotions as they can't face the person directly.

The shot of the guy leaving and her watching is used again, really emphasising the connection and feelings between them. In one shot the guy is seen from the front rather then the back as previously seen. As she says 'Don't you run from me, baby', he is seen walking away from the house, suggesting a break up.
She is then seen again miming the song, this time the shot is face on, however she is still not looking at the camera, highlighting her emotion.

A shot of her in the bath is then seen before she is accompanied by the guy, most likely to be the past. Both of them are happy showing the audience how content the relationship was.
This is then cut to Keyshia again sat down, however in a medium close up shot where the phone is no longer visible. She is looking directly at the camera, not miming but looking really sad before slowly lowering her head; this is really effective as the audience is really feeling her emotion.
Instead of the usual straight cut, the shot is faded out to black before another shot of her miming is faded in.
The shot of her in the bath with the guy is used again using the fade out to black.

The next shot introduces Monica who is also sat down in a medium shot, with two other people in the shot. The two unknown people in the shot are sat closer to the right of the camera, with their backs facing the audience. This could suggest that she is in a public place or are friends of hers.

Monica is also miming the song and again isn't looking at the camera, however she has more eye contact then Keyshia suggesting she is trying to give advice to her and be strong for her. A shot reverse shot pattern is used between both artists as though they are talking to each other with the lyrics in the song.

Just before the chorus of the song begins a short shot of a candle holder with lit candles is seen before quickly fading out. This is used because the next shot of Keyshiais used in the same location as the candle, which can be recognised because of the paintings on the walls in both shots.
The colour in the shot is fairly white/ yellow as though representing the candles as they are the same colour.

Also in the shot of Keyshia and then Monica they are both looking at the camera a lot more and are both dressed differently suggesting that they are not apart of the narrative but are performing.
In the chorus another shot of Keyshia with the guy is used again from the past, but this time they are seen sat together 'playing' around and again looking happy. However in one shot of them together it is seen that she answers the phone and is protective of him not looking at who it is, which makes the audience understand how the guy must feel, especially relating it to the song lyrics and meaning of his trust.
The shot then cuts back to Keyshia who is sat in the place as the beginning of the video, again not looking at the camera each time the words 'I need you', are sang, emphasising her need for him back.

Throughout the chorus shots between Keyshia, Monica and the past shots are all straight cut, short shots, which coincides with the pace of the music as it speeds up.
Towards the end of the song both the artists are seen together for the first time miming the song again performing to the audience.

As the song is coming to an end the narrative side of the video is used again and the shot of the guy leaving with Keyshia watching him go is used again, emphasising her pain again.
Shots between the narrative and the performance are used in pace with the music in short shots.

At the end of the song it is seen that the guy comes back, which makes the audience happy after feeling all the sad emotion through the song.

Overall the music video is a combination of performance-based, with the artists miming the song to the camera, narrative-based as there is a story within the video which counterpart with the song, and finally abstract-based as it really creates a mood and emotion that the audience feel through listening to the song and watching the video.