Released in 1986, "You Give Love a Bad Name" is the 1st single from Bon Jovi's 3rd album "Slippery When Wet" and was the band's 1st video to be shown on MTV as well as being thier 1st US number 1. Thier genre is rock or "glam rock". The song tells us of a man's pain at how a woman he loves has treated him this is made clear in the song's opening lyrics "Shot through the heart and your to blame darlin you give love a bad name".
The video itself is performance based. This is emphasised straight away by the panning shot moving from the audience to the stage, then having the stage lights come up and the band begin to play.The video stays performance based throughout this I feel is to show how much Bon Jovi enjoy performing live this is evident when you look at/ more the band's greatest hits for example the videos for "Livin On a Prayer" and "Bad Medicine"are also performance based 
The audience aspect of the show are also emphasised straight away by the fact the diegetic audience cheering is the first thing you hear. The audience are then refered to a couple more times through mid shots during the rest of the video the connotations of this are that the audience are enjoying themselves and the denontations are they are fans of Bon Jovi. The use of the camera in this way also shows us a convention of the genre, as the camera reguarly shows female members of the audience in revealing clothes. With regards to the camera work on stage the camera mainly focuses on the singer (Jon Bon Jovi) and the lead guitaurist (Richie Sambora).
The audience aspect of the show are also emphasised straight away by the fact the diegetic audience cheering is the first thing you hear. The audience are then refered to a couple more times through mid shots during the rest of the video the connotations of this are that the audience are enjoying themselves and the denontations are they are fans of Bon Jovi. The use of the camera in this way also shows us a convention of the genre, as the camera reguarly shows female members of the audience in revealing clothes. With regards to the camera work on stage the camera mainly focuses on the singer (Jon Bon Jovi) and the lead guitaurist (Richie Sambora). 
I feel this is because these two are seen as the band's leading pair, so they would want Richie and Jon to be seen as much as possible. I also feel that they're emphasised because I think that a performance video limits the amount of camera shots you can use. For example close ups of the band members and tracking shots of Jon moving up and down stage are used frequently. The visuals do suit the song overall, especially the opening section where you here this extremly powerful chorus followed by pyrotecnics the pace of the editing fits the song as it is relatively quick throughout, however, although the editing fits the pace of the instrumentals it doesn't really fit the lyrics as it is more upbeat than the song suggests. Another thing that doesn't fit the lyrics is the fact the band's facial expression. For example the lyric "your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye" I think should have a stronger facial expression but the band focus more on showing people they are enjoying being on stage and performing. Also the performance aspect of the video highlights a convention of the rock genre, the recklessnes of the performers. This is shown when Jon throws his guitaur into the audience at the end of the opening guitaur solo then starting to sing.
Despite the limitations performance videos are a convention of the rock genre another example is Guns 'N' Roses "Paradise City"
Other conventions of the rock genre are met in the video such as the fact the costume for it is leather trousers, leather jackets or in Jon's case a denim jacket. Also the band's costume is more flamboyant than other rock band's costume because Bon Jovi are also classed as a sub genre called "Glam rock" which is why the costumes are as in your face as they are. The tassels on the leather jackets and the big hair cuts for example, the glam rock genre is also why the band's wearing slightly more than basic make up more eye liner for example. Other glam rock bands include Aerosmith and KISS.Another rock genre convention is that the main theme of a song is love or passion, this is also the theme in "You Give Love a Bad Name" feel the lighting of the video helps suit this theme as the whole stage is in a dark red colour. Red has connotations of love and passion. Other than that another convention the lighting meets is the use of pyrotecnics. I feel that suits the song as it is the first glimpse of the band before the main lighting comes up, but also the opening lyrics are loud and fairly aggressive, this also links in with the performance video idea because the opening grabs the audience's attention straight away and the pyrotecnics help with this. This is also why Bon Jovi often open thier live shows with "You Give Love a Bad Name".
Does the video promote the artist successfully?
ReplyDeleteKeep asking ‘why’? Why do we focus on Bon Jovi the most? Why are particular props or lighting techniques used?
It’s good but it needs more. Camera – think composition, focus, movements. Editing – you’ve neglected. Pace, transitions, etc.
Props, lighting, body language and the connotations of all of these need discussing, Currently mid level 3 (C grade). Aim for a B.