Analysis of 'Just Dance' by Lady GaGa

The music video I am analysing is called ‘Just dance’ by Lady Gaga. Just Dance is written by Gaga and Akon with co-writing by Redone. The video was directed by music video director Melina Matsoukas. It was released in 2008 as the lead single from Gaga’s debut album ‘The Fame’. Being Gaga’s first video, this video is extremely important in presenting her image to the audience, and positively received by critics, the video was very popular on the internet, and selling over 3.3 million copies. The characteristics of electro-pop videos are based on the club –like nature so typically parties and dancing will be featured in the video. Following this, electro pop videos normally consist of people having a good time, dancing and usually loads of people are involved in the video.

The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals are very clear and we can see this as we work our way through the video. The most obvious of lyrics is the chorus ’Just Dance’. These words are amplified through the visuals at the start of the video one of the dancers puts a Discolite Boombox on, blaring the music through the house. The crowd at the party appear to be sleeping in different areas, and are awoken by the music. They all start to dance with outbursts of energy when she says ‘just dance’. She also states in her video ‘we’re all getting hosed tonight’ as she pours a bottle of champagne onto the floor, showing the audience that she wants to get drunk. She also states in the lyrics where are my keys, I lost my phone’. as Gaga says this as she empties her bag and pretends to look through her keys however we see her using her phone even though she says ‘ I lost my phone’. Only in this section do the visuals contradict the lyrics. This video has the conventions of a typical house party due to music blaring, dancing and alcohol.

The relationship between the music and the visuals helps the audience understand the music and tempo better. This video definitely cuts to the beat because of its genre which elect which in turn enhances the effect of the party- like nature. Solo instruments are illustrated at the start of the track. It is used to show the build up of the track, so when the beat starts it has a much bigger effect on the audience because of the suspense. The video does change pace with the music because it cuts to the beat.

In this video there are a variety of shots of the artist but mainly close-ups. This is because it gets the audience’s attention and shows off her unique style. There are mainly close-ups of Gaga in her videos because she is the main attraction. She wears a blue, lightning-bolt shaped sticker beneath her right eye like that on the single cover, which was a tribute to her music idol David Bowie. This is another reason why close-ups on her face are so important. Although this is Gaga’s first video, she instantly creates motifs and characteristics in her video. We also see evidence of this in her later videos and gain knowledge of how the record company is trying to sell her music. For example there are more close-ups shots.

When watching this video you get a sense that the artist is on sexual display which is shown through certain factors such as camerawork, costume and dance. In the middle of the video a man looks though a camera a takes a picture of the professional camera as if he is taking a picture of the audience.
The camerawork reinforces sexual display by using close-ups and long shots of her face and body. When the camera focuses in on her face, our main attraction is her eyes because it pulls her audience in making them want to see more. It also shows off her personality which is interpreted through her make-up that is influenced by David bowie. Her costume is also an important part of her being sexy and stylish. Her short dresses and revealing top puts her on sexual display for most of the video. Gaga’s choreographer clearly had the vision of sex appeal and used her flirtatious dancing to put her on sexual display to help make this particular video more popular.

In Gaga’s video there is a inter textual reference to new years eve. The is a part where an old lady is wearing 2006 glittery glasses and most people would wear these if it was news years. There is also a party going on which could be a new years party maybe suggesting a new revolution (herself).

This music video is definitely performance-based. It follows the stereotype of an electro-pop beat and just normally features people having a good time and some sort of party going on. This enables the audience not only to enjoy the rhythm of the beat, it allows them to watch something enjoyable as well. Lyrically, the song doesn’t focus on anything accept the fact that she wants a good time so it makes a lot of sense being a performance based video.

This music video is clearly uplifting and enjoyable to everyone especially the audience. Gaga comes across quite strict and militant in her hand signals at some points in the video. However this is a good thing as it shows she knows what she wants and her militant ways shows that she is the leader or the soul of the party.