Music Video Analysis #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVBsypHzF3U&ob=av3e

Lady Gaga feat Beyonce - Telephone

Hello, hello, baby
You called, I can't hear a thing
I have got no service
In the club, you see, see
Wha-Wha-What did you say?
Oh, you're breaking up on me
Sorry, I cannot hear you
I'm kinda busy

K-kinda busy
K-kinda busy
Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy

Just a second
It's my favorite song they're gonna play
And I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh
You should've made some plans with me
You knew that I was free
And now you wont stop calling me
I'm kinda busy

Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna think anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna talk anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)
Im busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (I'm busy)
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)

Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
Out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone!
Out in the club and I'm sippin' that bub
And youre not gonna reach my telephone!

[Beyoncé]
Boy, the way you blowin' up my phone
Won't make me leave no faster
Put my coat on faster
Leave my girls no faster
I should've left my phone at home
'Cuz this is a disaster
Callin' like a collector
Sorry, I cannot answer

Not that I don't like you
I'm just at a party
And I am sick and tired of my phone r-ringing

[Beyoncé]
Sometimes I feel like
I live in Grand Central Station.
But tonight I'm not takin' no calls,
'Cuz Ill be dancin' (dance)
(Tonight I'm dancing)
Cause Ill be dancin' (dance)
(Tonight I'm dancing)
'Cuz I'll be dancin' (tonight I'm dancing)
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cuz I'll be dancin'

Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna think anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna talk anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna think anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna talk anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (I'm busy)
I'm busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (I'm busy)

Can call all you want but there's no one home
'Cuz I'm out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
Cause I'm out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone! (D-D-D-Darkchild)

My telephone
M-m-my telephone
'Cuz I'm out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

My telephone
M-m-my telephone

'Cuz I'm out in the club and Im sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
We're sorry, We're sorry,
the number you have reached is not in service at this time
Please check the number, or try your call again

This particular song fits into the pop/hip-hop genre, which is reflected by Lady Gaga whose music is usually focused around pop, and Beyoncé whose music is predominately R&B. The video is largely narrative based, and includes an extended narrative which ultimately results in the video being over nine minutes long; compared to the typical three or four minutes of regular length music videos.

The video begins in continuation from Lady Gaga's previous released song 'Paparazzi', in which she poisons her boyfriend and is arrested for her crime. Within the telephone video, the establishing shot is of a metal gate, surrounded by barbed wire. From this, we can instantly assume that the video will be shot within a prison. Credits introducing the names of those within the video, the name of the song, and its production company appear over the images of the video, and from this the 'short story' aspect of the video is established. The production company is named 'Serial pictures', and this links with the crime within Gaga's last video, and those that she will commit alongside Beyoncé within this video, causing the two of them to become 'serial killers'. Our first shot of Gaga is of her being dragged through a prison, surrounded by cells containing women shouting abuse at her. Gaga is dressed in a black and white striped dress; the colours and pattern often associated with criminals. The next scene shows Gaga entering the exercise yard of the prison, this time dressed in black and wrapped in chains; referencing her lack of freedom. We see Gaga then kiss a very masculine looking female, which establishes the stereotypes of a female prison, in which many of them are addressed as being 'butch' or homosexual. Both Gaga and the other female appear to have tattoos; also another stereotype of criminals.

The next scene shows Gaga back inside the prison, in a large cell full of lots of woman, all of whom are dressed in black and white; again the colours associated with criminals. Two of the women get into a fight, which is another stereotype of what goes on within a prison. Whilst the fight occurs, a voice over the speaker within the cell state 'Beyoncé on the phone for Gaga'. Gaga answers the phone, and with this the song begins. Gaga performs a dance routine with several other women within the prison, all of whom are scantily clad. Dance routines are typical of videos for this type of upbeat, 'club-worthy' song, and so this is a conventional aspect of the video. Later in the video, there is also another dance routine performed by Beyoncé and Gaga together with a group of other people. Within this routine, Gaga and Beyoncé are centred to show that this is their video and they are the most important people within the shot. Another scene shows Gaga within her own prison cell, this time wearing only yellow 'crime scene' tape, which represents the scene from her last video in which she killed her boyfriend. Following this scene, the song is intervened by another piece of the narrative, in which Gaga is bailed out of prison by an unknown source. As Gaga leaves the prison, the first thing we see is a red and yellow painted vehicle with the text 'pussy wagon' written on the back. Gaga enters the car, though her large black hat covers the face of who is in the driving seat. As Gaga sits back, Beyoncé is revealed. Beyoncé comes across as a very poor actor within this scene, though this is used to add to the comedy aspect of the video. Gaga calls Beyoncé 'Honey Bee', which is a reference to the character Honey Bunny in the 1994 crime film 'Pulp Fiction.' The song starts up again and Beyoncé begins her verse as she drives the car. After her verse, the song stops and the narrative begins again. The sign for a diner is shown, which establishes the location and mise-en-scene for the next shot. Beyoncé enters the diner wearing all yellow, with a pair of black glasses the double as a pair of black ears; an outfit that is similar to the outfit Gaga wore within her previous video in order to poison her boyfriend. Beyoncé sits opposite her boyfriend, and instead of speaking words to each other, the words they wish to say are displayed in bold text across the bottom of scene. We can instantly see that Beyoncé’s boyfriend is arrogant and disrespectful towards her, from his attitude to an innocent man sat by the counter of the diner, and from the way in which he smacks another girl as he passes. In the meantime, we see Beyoncé pouring a small bottle of blue liquid into his cup of tea, and a small skeleton logo often associated with harmful products displays next to the cup in order to show us that the liquid is poison. The next scene shows Gaga within the kitchen of the diner, wearing a hat made out of pieces of a blue telephone. The words 'let’s make a sandwich' are displayed across the scene, and Gaga proceeds to do this amongst dancing with the kitchen staff, all of whom are wearing white; typical of chefs.

When the song ends and we see Gaga and Beyoncé driving down a long stretch of road in their truck. Before the pair drive into the distance, we see a close-up of their hands as they link them together; which is also a reference from the film 'Bonny and Clyde', and the words 'To be continued...' are displayed across the screen. Within the background we can hear police sirens, suggesting that the pair is fleeing the crime and are now on the run. This also gives hope to the audience that the pair will duo again. The credits for the short film are quickly run down the screen, whilst in the background we hear an operator for a phone, and the video ends.

The audience for this video are both pop and hip-hop fans, as well as fans of Gaga and of Beyoncé. This will be both males and females of ages from 12 to 30. Gaga and Beyoncé’s collaboration comes from two different record labels, as Beyoncé is signed to Columbia which is owned by Sony Music Entertainment and Gaga to Interscope Records, owned by Universal Music Group.