1. KristianaConstantinou –Final
Bo Saris – “She’s on Fire”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-cUVZThQVs
Bo Saris is a motown artist from Holland in 2012. The music video I am analysing is Bo
Saris “She’ on fire”. This music video is within the Jazz/blues genre which is the genre I
have chosen for my music video and ancillary products. This music video has film clips
from Salma Hayek, Demi Moore and Rosie McGowan.
The first shot we are instantly presented with is a mid shot of a band member playing the
drums which has a filter over it showing us this clip is from a dated period. This is
displayed with a dark black circle around to focus the audience’s attention on the person
which is very iconic to 60s videos on TV’s.
I feel this specific shot was correctly chosen to focus our attention on the drums
themselves, however directing us to the Digetic sounds they are creating. This causes
us to pay more attention to the beat of the music. The mise en scene throughout this
music video is very brief. The lighting is minimal having the lighting only focusing around
the drums and instruments of the band. This indicates to us that the genre is dedicated
to the instruments and they are the main source of the genre. The costumes the band
members are wearing are sophisticated and “cool” due to how the genre is
stereotypically represented. The Jazz and blues genre has always been a genre that is
much respected in terms of the music, and it shows that the artists have to portray that
as well through costume. The camera shots vary between different shots however
mainly focus on mid shots, enabling us to see the instruments and top half of the artists.
This indicates that nothing below the camera is importance to us and we are provided
with the necessary shot. We don’t experience a lot of time to look around the shots and
explore the surroundings. I think this is to do with the fast editing pace to fit in with the
music. The costumes are very sophisticated to fit in with the jazz/blues genre.
Stereotypically you understand from movies such as “Men in black” that the Jazz/blues
genre is a sophisticated looking type of music. I feel this has intended Bo Saris to have a
suit and tie look to have a connection to the music and visuals as well as the era.
At 0:09 seconds we are presented with the drums as a
form of prop for this music video. An African American
man is playing then which connects to the founding of the
genre. Bo Saris is w white man from Holland however
isn’t seen within this music video. However what we do
see is an African American. The blues/jazz genre was
founded by African American communities and therefore
is conventional to the genre and has been applied to the
music video are often displayed throughout this genre due to the important connection
they have. Instruments in all types of music play a big role, however I feel in the
Jazz/blues genre, specific instruments such as drums and saxophones play an
enormous role in the overall outcome because of the sharp sounds they bring to the
song.

2. KristianaConstantinou –Final
This music video very much relies on the instruments to make it as catchy as it is.
The drums and guitar that are briefly shown at 0:14 seconds and 0:15 seconds make an
appearance briefly throughout the entire music video.
This connects to the rhythmical editing used in this music video.
Particularly focusing on the drums in this music video, in order to understand the editing,
you will notice that the visuals often change to the beat of the drums (parallel editing). I
think this causes an audience to feel entertained (uses of gratification theory) and also
makes them more focused on the music as well as the brief change of visuals. As well
as this guitars (as seen in the shot on the right) are conventional to the genre, due to the
distinct sound they make that makes the genre unique.
At 0:33 seconds and 0:34 seconds we are presented with two females in two different
shots however both mid shots. The second shot is at a lower angle, giving the female
more power. I feel both these shots have a direct effect on the audience, injecting the
idea of sexual appeal. This creates an idea of sexy and sophistication in connection to
the music video (Hyperdermic needle theory). The shots have a slight filter used to
create a mysterious atmosphere to the genre. This is also contributed through the
lighting and characters within the music video.
The narrative is based around a female. The music video is divided into past and
present. Past being the performance and the present being the female empowerment.
The scenes of the woman who is strongly represented as a sexy woman, is actually
taken from scenes from films within the 90s/00’s. They represent several portrayals of
woman. The lyrics try to connect to the audience by describing her by describing her as
on fire indicating she is sexy and beautiful. This creates an image for the audience to

3. KristianaConstantinou –Final
imagine. This informs the audience (uses and gratification theory) and helps them
understand the music video more.
However the visuals to go with the lyrics and narrative bring out the sexual side to the
song. I think that the narrative is portraying women as sexual objects.
On the other hand, I think that the visuals appeal to the audience. In today’s society the
idea of being ‘sexy’ and displaying sexy women in music videos are coming more and
more popular. Particularly with men this would be appealing due to the skin showing and
the type of dancing involved within the music video.
However, the idea of sophistication, music and sexy appearance may appeal to women
to aspire to be like that.
A lot of the video is mainly in black and white. However
you get an occasional glimpse of colour.
At 1:41 we are displayed with a lighting affect when
camera comes in contact with the light. This may not
have been intentionally but has made the shot more
seductive. It is used to indicate another verse within the
song.
Throughout this music video a lot of shots become
repetitive. I think this is in order to not only keep the flow consistent, but to also ensure a
connection in order to understand the narrative.
Although there are many shots within the entire 02:52 minutes, the music video is quite
simplistic in terms of expanding ideas.
At 2:09 although this is a jazz/blues song, we get the idea of
burlesque. Though it may not have been intentionally however
sometimes the style of burlesque fits in with the genre
Jazz/Blues.
Just as the music video is coming to an end there is a variation of
shots of women dancing in costumes such as corsets and tassel skirts etc.
However noticing how the music video began with the drummer being displayed in a mid
shot, the drummer reappears at the end of the music video also again in a mid shot
briefly. This makes a clear flow and connection to the beginning and end of the video.