Analysis of 'S&M' by Rihanna and 'Like A Prayer' by Madonna

Rihanna's 'S&M' video both conforms to and challanges the characteristics of a pop music video. It conforms to the characteristics of a pop music video by the use of colours. The colours used are very bright and vibrant. The video is upbeat with a lot going on within it.

 

The relationship between the visuals and the lyrics are interpreted to being quite blatant. The lyrics are related to sadomasochism - that is sexual pleasure in forms of pain or humiliation.

The lyrics are simply about sex and fetishes and sexual fantasies. This is portrayed throughout the video in many different ways. Here, we see Rihanna being tied by rope in a leotard and high heels. Nevertheless, the video remains convenmtionally pop because the colours remain bubbly and bright all throughout.

However, she adultifies it by wearing a latex bikini and giving a lap dance to a man bound by tape on a chair. This suggests bondage.

She uses fruit to reference sexual activity.

And she uses a man - known as Perez Hilton who is gay - as a dog wearing a leash and is gagging.

So, basically, it is a sexy song that have a video that includes many sexual references. 'S&M' is both a concept based music video because of all of its references to sexual activity and it is also a performance based video. Rihanna performs the song in different scenes within the video, like here, where she is bound to the wall by cling film with microphones in front of her.

There is most definitely a relationship between the music and the visuals. The song is up-tempo and the video is erotic, fast and lively. Furthermore, Rihanna's tone while singing the song is quite aggressive and then high pitched at points, this is represented during the video, her aggressive tone goes with her being man handled by security in the video and she also plays with a whip which is an aggressive tool. And most importantly, the editing is submissive to the beat.

The video conforms to Goodwin's theory about a developed motif or signiture of an artist being used throughout their work. Rihanna's Rated R signiture is shown within the music video and she is further known for being comfortable with her sexuality which is evident within the video too.

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'Like A Prayer' is a pop rock song that incorporates elements of gospel music into it. Madonna's 'Like A Prayer' video mostly challanges Goodwin's theory. The music video is a narrative music video whereas most pop/rock music video's (especially in her time) were more concept and performance based. Whilst most pop music videos are bright and vibrant and fun to watch - like Rihanna's video - 'Like A Prayer' isn't the type of video you'd let a child watch. It is quite dark and expresses many different issues in a provocative way. The video adresses racism and religion. So it challanges Goodwin's theory by not conforming to the usual characteristics of a pop music video.



Some people could argue that there isn't really any relationship between the visuals and the lyrics. This is because the lyrics are subject to ambiguity. So one cannot really pinpoint what she specifically meant, however, there are sexual innuendos present in it. Madonna wrote the song to provoke a reaction from her listeners. So again, the music video challanges Goodwin's theory by not conforming to the visuals and the lyrics having a relationship. Rather, the lyrics had a purpose and the video is just a story that can relate to the lyrics in some ways.

Certain parts of the video like this have no relation to the lyrics whatsoever, neither do they conform to the characteristics of pop videos.

Nevertheless, the music video conforms to Goodwin's theory by the visuals maintaining a relationship with the visuals. The editing is in tempo with the music. For example, when Madonna is dancing to the chorus.

 

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I beleive that the reason that both these pop videos challange Andrew Goodwin's some/most of theory is because both these artists were progressing in their careers and decided to incorporate their personal views through their music.

 

With Rihanna, the video was inspired by Rihanna's so-called sadomasochist relationship with the press rather than it just about a bunch of whips and chains. Rihanna said the video was mainly about having confidence in one's identity, and about being impervious to rumors and criticism. This video was made not long after she was abused by her ex-boyfried Chris Brown, this caused the press to be very imposing in and around her lifestyle. The abuse also sent her off into a rebellious stage where she today says it was a very angry and dark time for her.

 

With Madonna, she was experiencing emotional turmoil behind the scenes, also, she was at a point in her career where she was aiming more towards an adult audience. She claimed that she was aware of the impact it would make and that the song was very important to her. Madonna meant for the song to be spiritual as well touch on her personal opinion on certain issues.

 

Both music videos received wide criticism. Madonna's was condemned because of its religious, racial and sexual references. The Catholic church protested enough to get her pepsi commercial, which advertised the song, to be cancelled. Rihanna's music video was banned in over 11 countries because they felt that the sexual content was just too much and unnecessary.