Influential Music Videos

1. Michael Jackson - Ghost                                         

I believe this music video will influence a change in the way horror music videos are made. In previous music videos such as Michael Jackson - Thriller and Backstreet Boys - Everybody, both have a similar beginning to Michael Jackson - Ghost - where there is a short introduction of the characters before the music begins. Throughout this music video we see the same conventions we see in all three videos such as, scary costumes and dance routines. Both Thriller and Everybody introduced the artist(s) scary side by different shot types however, in Ghost, the director decided to show the audience the transformation of Michael Jackson, from being a normal human being into his scary character. Thanks to technology being enhanced this created  a better effect on getting the audience scared and making it more enjoyable. In the video we can see Michael pulling his bottom lip, ripping off his skin, turning into a skeleton, and a tall giant. The dance routines are more enjoyable as we watch people doing back flips off walls, going through pilers, and walking on walls - rather than seeing them all in one place doing the same dance routine. Overall this music video is unique and the skills used to make this will influence others to follow the same directions.

2. Michael Jackson - Speed Demon
This music video is also influencial as there is animation included. Rather than the whole music video being animated or realistic it has both aspects it in. We see humans mixing with animated characters which I believe was not seen a lot before this music video was released. The use of the director doing this instead of one or the other was to make it more fun, entertaining and unique - something that people will stop to watch as it is different from others. Even though we don't see Michael transforming into his animated character we still understand that he has and at the end we then see human Michael with animated Michael, which I believe is amazing. Overall this music videos use of a unique way of using animation has influenced over music videos to do the same.

3. Pink - Family Portrait

I believe family portrait is influential because the way the story is told through the music video is creative and different. Instead of seeing the basics of the artist singing the words to their song as the story plays out, the director of family portrait decided to put the artist Pink in the background instead of being the main focus. I believe this was an intelligent thing to do as it sends a deeper message out to the viewers. As some people normally believe that young children hardly understand what goes around them in a violent or dysfunctional household, or even feel hurt, upset or angry, this music videos reveals to us that children do understand and are even more upset by it than adults. Therefore, by having the young girl being the main focus and singing the words helps put the message across.

4. Lady Gaga - You And I
You&I is an influential music video because instead of following the typical conventions of what you would see in a song about love, it's more creative and interesting. The video doesn't have one scene of where we see the love between two people, instead there is a use of multiple clever scenes to reveal this. Even though there are different scenes and costumes used it all reflects on the lyrics.

5. Christina Aguilera - Oh Mother
This music video will inspire artist who decide to have a music video where they are singing at a live performance to add some sort of footage in their music video to make it more entertaining and engaging, especially when it comes to an emotional song - this helps the viewers to become more attached and empathize. For example, Adele's Someone Like You could be seen as a boring music video since it is just her  singing on a stage which lacks any sort of entertainment and leaves it down to the lyrics to tell the story. However, in Oh Mother, the director decided to use background footage which corresponds with the lyrics to give viewers a better understanding and makes it more interesting.