Rihanna 'Stay' ft. Mikky Ekko - Goodwin & Vernallis Analysis

The second music video I chose to analyse is Rihanna's 'Stay' ft. Mikky Ekko. The video conforms to 4 of Goodwin's theories. 

The first being the relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as they are amplified by the music video as they state they're both wanting someone to stay but the video shows them individually alone and their facial expression portray them as looking lonely and upset. The lyrics are amplified by this video as Rihanna is made to look as though she is drowning her sorrows in the bath because she is going through a relationship breakup. 

Multiple close-ups are used very often throughout this video mostly to capture her facial expressions but also this creates a star image as she is prevalent compared to Mikky Ekko. From this we know that she is the main character/ lead singer and is therefore the most important. 

In the music video thought beats are partially used but are not very often as on several occasions she closes her eyes on the note that the piano key plays. Also some of the transitions change on the beat of the music too which creates an effective thought beat. 

Voyeurism is also used within this video but is not as obvious and not used as often and that would contradict the theme and issues being portrayed. At the beginning of the music video, the camera sections Rihanna's body up as she gets undressed. This is part of the 'male gaze' and is supposed to make us look at Rihanna in the same way that males would.   

This music video conforms to 3 of Carol Vernallis as there is a strong narrative with editing that fits to the song and the camera work.

The narrative is very strong throughout the video and stays in a chronological order. Its a visual response to the lyrics and the music which is portrayed through the video. It also cuts in time and rhythm with the soundtrack. 

The editing matched the musical phrases and beat for the majority of the video and the video in general cuts to the beat of the music and sometimes in time to the lyrics and lines of the song. 

The camera work conformed to Vernallis' theory as close-ups and mid shots were more commonly used throughout the entire video, this enables us to familiarise the audience with the face or the artist. The framing was unique as she was usually to the side of the frame rather than central although at points the camera did move in time/speed of the music.