Beyonce-Halo Music Video Analysis

The second music video I am going to be analysing is Halo by Beyonce, directed by Philip Andelman. There are many specific characteristics of this music video which connote what kind of music genre it belongs to. We, the audience can gather that Halo by Beyonce is an RnB song. The video is slow paced, there are many different clips yet they all fade softly into one another and we can identify a soulful atmosphere. Beyonce is also shown dancing and presented looking very angelic and graceful. These aspects also support the fact that the song doesn’t belong to a rock, pop or hip- hop type genre.
Throughout this music video there is a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visuals. The lyrics of the song suggest how Beyonce is singing about someone who she loves and admires and this is successfully displayed throughout the video. The man is presented in a positive light and there is a clear close and intimate relationship between them, there are many close ups used of him alone accompanied by bright and positive lighting. “I’ve got my angel now” implies how she has finally found her perfect man and how she would never want to lose him; the audience are able to gather this from the lyrics in the music video. High key lighting is used throughout the music video to display the sun shining though to where Beyonce and her boyfriend are. This also supports the lyrics particularly, “I’m surrounded by your embrace”, as the visuals create an angel/heaven type scene.
The relationship between the music and the visuals is also similar. The music in Halo is very soulful, slow paced and relaxing and it also creates a calm and relaxed atmosphere. For example there are many cuts in the video which all fade slowly and gracefully into one another which all adds to the mood of the song. Towards the end of the music video the music switches down to a slower pace with no lyrics and the sound of the graceful piano is clear and identifiable. On screen we are presented with a graceful like Beyonce swimming under water, almost dancing and moving in an angelic manner. This corresponds extremely well with the music as it creates a clear relationship between the visuals. The music video has been edited in this particular way to reflect the mood and pace of the song. Throughout the music video we are presented with many various shots, particularly close-ups, of Beyonce. We receive shots of her dancing and the camera successfully catches her grace and elegance. This aspect of the video allows the audience to connect, relate and in some ways build up and relationship with Beyonce. It presents the audience with a detailed view of her appearance which is very positive and the shots of her dancing present her as quite innocent and graceful creating a positive star image. During this video the camera tends to switch viewpoints to give detail from both her and her partner’s point of view. This notion of looking allows the audience to step into place of Beyonce and her boyfriend; it also allows us to view them in the light of how they see each other. This music video contains many intertextual references to other Beyonce music videos. In one of Beyonces music videos ‘Single Ladies’, she is sporting a black leotard and performing a choreographed dance which is very similar to a particular section in the music video for Halo when Beyonce is performing a dance in front of the mirrors. The music video contains many elements of performance with a little base of narrative. We receive many shots and clips of Beyonce performing her song throughout this music video however we also receive clips of narrative and can gather a clear strong relationship between her and her boyfriend.