Music Video Analysis: BTS (Performance)

Save Me

This music video's best quality is the three-dimensional style of filming. The camera moves along with the group, and pans around them constantly to create a continuous yet captivating style. The camera flicks between each member, which helps to prevent the audience from feeling as though they're just looking at the same thing the whole time. An establishing shot is used at first, but the entirety of the video is made mostly of tracking and panning shots.

The simplicity of the members' costume and makeup, as well as setting helps to set the mood and not distract the audience from the song or the choreography that matches. Since the video is not a Narrative, it doesn't portray a message or tell a story. The video leaves the story to be told by the song and its lyrics. The video, in the style of a Performance, is there to provide visual entertainment for the audience and also creates a connection between the song and the artist it's made by, which isn't always seen in a Narrative music video, as the story and its morals overpower the connections between the music and the artist. "Sia"'s music videos do not have any shots of her, therefore it is harder to visually connect her to her music. Whereas BTS star in all their music videos and so, with them mouthing the lyrics, the song can be better imagined being sung by them.

The lighting within this video is completely natural: with the producers deciding to film at a time where the sun has set, a dark and seemingly gloomy atmosphere is created. The lack of high-key or low-key lighting adds to the simplicity of the music video, and how the sole focus should be on the artists themselves and nothing else.

Not Today

The video for "Not Today" mixes Performance with vague narrative to create a visual form of entertainment for the audience. Long shots are frequently used to emphasise size and can also be seen as being used to visualise isolation. This creates a form of Narrative that adds to the video. In contrast to the filming style of "Save Me", "Not Today" uses a number of different settings and costume changes to create interest and variety. Match on Action is used to show choreography from a number of different angles and to create flow within the video. It can be said that there is both high-key and low-key lighting within this; the low-key lighting can be seen at the beginning and the high-key lighting is used at the end when the sun has set. This isn't necessarily used to suggest anything, however the high-key lighting at the end of the video helps to illuminate those in the shot and allow the eyes of the audience to primarily focus on them.

Despite the traces of a Narrative within the video, "Not Today" seems to target the idea of "eye candy" and attractiveness more than anything. The varying costumes are modern and attractive to those of a younger age, primarily teenage girls. Therefore, with the use of mid-shots and close ups, it is a lot easier to take this in and can arguably be one of the prioritised factors within this music video.

War of Hormone

This Performance style music video is created almost in a comedic style. Initially, the use of colouring in Post-Production catches the eye of the audience: the colour red is projected, which some may see as symbolism for love. The song's uplifting beat is paralleled by the playful and uplifting attitude of the artist within this video. Furthermore, there are moments in which the editing is used to create flow and realism, for example at [time] where a zoom transition is used to hide one of the members running behind the other to pick them up. The zoom focuses on the latter member's face and helps to keep the video smooth and imaginable.

The overall camera style throughout this video is unique: where most people not involved in a particular shot would not be in it, this video, in almost every case, keeps all 7 members of the band in each shot regardless of if they're singing or involved in the choreography, meaning that there necessarily isn't always a central focus within it. Such a style could be appealing to many as they may feel they need to watch it a number of times, and with each time they are taking in new details. Similarly to "Save Me", some tracking shots are used when filming the choreography to create a three-dimensional effect which can help to evoke a sense of realism. The use of close up shots can be used to present the idea of a comedic video as the audience are able to see closer the members' reactions and expressions.

The Mise En Scene of this video is also unique. Though this video is deemed to be cheerful and entertaining, the use of low-key lighting towards the end of the video, which is usually used to present darkness and mystery, doesn't seem to match the style of the rest of the composition. The artists are wearing quite retro-styled clothing that, just like in "Not Today", could be appealing to the audience.

Overall, this music video creates more of a comedic atmosphere for the audience and is created in the hope that it will lift their spirits. The use of shots and Mise en Scene are created to appeal to the artists' audience and not necessarily to tell a story or portray a message, as can be seen in their Narrative style videos.