1. Tom Snaith – A2 Media Studies
Music Video Analysis- Bon Jovi - Always
Bon Jovi are an American rock band formed in 1983. Their song ‘Always’ released in 1994 is
a power ballad. The music video to this song has a hybrid style of both narrative and
performance. Lacey’s repertoire of elements can be used to analyse the music video
performed by Bon Jovi. These elements include characters, narrative, iconography, setting
and technical/ audio codes.
The characters of the band are represented stereotypically in the way a rock band would be.
This is represented in a masculine way as the band are styled in jeans and vests with scraggy
hair and guitars. This was the general style for rock bands in the 80’s-90’s. Their body
language in the video is also represented in a provocative way; through the way they are
stood in the video when it’s showing the performance side. For example the way their hair is
blowing in the room. This has been done purposely because Bon Jovi were a famous rock
band who attracted female attention.
This music video has a strong love narrative and is portrayed well through the use of the
music video. For example the way at the beginning of the video where he is laying on a bed
thinking about her, then the music begins. This tells the audience that he’s in love with the
girl he’s singing about. The way the actors in the video act with each other is a major
element which will affect the reality of the love which is being portrayed. This is key in
making the narrative seem as real as possible for the audience.
The narrative tells the story of a guy looking back at a part of his life. In the video, the black-haired
girl and her boyfriend sometimes videotape their relationship. The girl's roommate
becomes attracted to the boyfriend when his girlfriend catches them in the act. The
girlfriend leaves and meets another guy who offers a place to stay and does a painting of
her.
She contacts her old boyfriend and tells him she still loves him, but shows
him the painting. He becomes jealous and destroys the painting in a rage.
She leaves and he sets the apartment on fire.
2. Tom Snaith – A2 Media Studies
The music video is iconic to the rock genre in the way the band is dressed and the props and
instruments they use in the video. The lead singer is stood holding an old fashioned microphone
wearing a black vest and jeans. Black is generally associated with rock bands as it represents they’re
danger and rebellion within them. Jeans are casual and were standard simple clothing back when
the video was made. Likewise the hair style is rugged and represents they don’t care too much how
they look and that they’re rebellious.
The video starts with an establishing shot of small town which isn’t recognisable.
It then cuts away to an apartment where the majority of the
narrative side of the music video is filmed.
3. Tom Snaith – A2 Media Studies
Then later on during the video it cuts into another apartment which later gets set alight. This part of
the mise en scene and setting links strongly with the narrative which is being told because it
suggests violence and anger. It represents the anger of the man because his girlfriend cheated on
him, after he had done the same to her. He realised what it felt like therefore was furious and set
the apartment alight.
Generally the mise en scene during the music video
now looks old as it was made in the late 90’s. This is through the use of style, clothing and props.
The music video plays the non-diegetic sound of the track ‘Always’ right through the video. This isn’t
interrupted by the narrative being shown as these sections of the video are silent. By doing this it
actually makes it harder for the audience to understand what the song is about therefore makes
them think in order to understand the text.
The camera use is quite close up during the performance sections of the video. This has been
purposely done to show the emotion on the face of the lead singer. It allows the audience to put the
connection of the narrative and performance together to help get a feel of his anger and love loss.
During the narrative parts of the video the camera shots are at a mid-shot to allow the audience to
understand the setting. This could make them feel more involved, make them understand the song
and feel what the words mean.
