Music Video Deconstruction and Analysis: Calvin Harris - This Is What You Came For ft. Rihanna

Performer and Record Label:

Calvin Harris, (real name Adam Richard Wiles) is a Scottish record producer, singer, songwriter and DJ. Calvin Harris founded his own record label called “Fly Eye Records” in 2010, whom he is to my knowledge currently signed with. Calvin Harris has Scottish routes however produces most of his music in LA.

Rihanna, (real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty) is a Barbadian singer. She was born in Barbados but now holds residence in New York City, USA. Rihanna signed with the label Def Jam Recordings in 2003, she also has links with Roc Nation Records and SRP Records. She is a household name and focuses her music genre on pop and R&B.

"This is What You Came For"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOkQ4T5WO9E

Lyrics:

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes every time she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, oh, oh

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes every time she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, oh, oh

We go fast with the game we play

Who knows why it's gotta be this way

We say nothing more than we need

I say, "Your place, " when we leave

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes every time she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, oh, oh

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes every time she moves

Yeah

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes every time she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, you, oh, oh

You, oh, oh, oh, oh

Lyrics Analysis:

Narrative:

The narrative for this video in particular is hard to describe as it doesn't tell an obvious story. Rihanna is having a great time dancing away to the song and miming to the camera whilst the colours and scenery around her changes but there isn't a clear narrative. At the end of the video all the lights go out and the camera does a birds-eye-view shot of what seems to be a house with only one light left on but I personally cannot see this as being a link the story of the video. 

Shot Analysis:

Total Time = 3:59

Total Shots = 117

Total Cuts = 124

Close-Up Shots = 47

Mid Shot = 49

Long Shot = 43

POV Shot = 0

Over-the-Shoulder Shot = 0

There were a lot of merged shots which were counted in individual tallies as oppose to their own separate category.

Mise en Scene

Setting:

The music video opens with a couple of shots of various settings such as the beach and a field, however the main setting is in a white room with Rihanna standing in the middle of it. Throughout the video the room merges into different locations but only visually, Rihanna stays put in the room with the locations projected onto the setting. There is a lack of geographical features so the location in which the video is shot is unknown, however based on the singers background and that of Calvin Harris himself, it can be assumed the video was shot in LA. Rihanna is completely alone throughout the entire video, making her very isolated in the setting, this is strange because the song has connotations of a love song, "baby, this is what you came for", however nobody else is seen. Calvin is also isolated outside the white cube.

Costume, makeup and props:

Rihanna has one costume throughout the entire video, a glittery ensemble with heels and a glittery headband. Her makeup is very natural and doesn't stand out. Rihanna't outfit coincides with that of someone who is going on a night out, lots of sparkle and glitter. This fits in with the EDM club theme. There is not an obvious use of props in the music video, it is very simplistic and has a focus on just Rihanna herself. Calvin is wearing jeans and a jacket, something typical of a male artist, the makeup is not obvious and he doesn't stand out. However, his white t-shirt and trainers do as a contrast to the dark background.

Lighting and Colour:

There are a lot of colour changes in this music video because, with almost every change in the song there is a different colour which the once white rooms merges into, such as yellow and red. The lighting remains fairly consistent because throughout the colour changes Rihanna remains in focus thanks to the lighting. When the outside locations are shown they posses very natural colour and lighting. Whilst showing Calvin Harris, the lighting is very dark.

Camera and Editing:

The camera work and editing of this music video follows the basic EDM music video structure. When the music changes by means of a cut or beat the visual changes too to match. At the same time the camera work needs to both fit the song and work for the editing process. When the song is going solid, the visual usually shows Rihanna dancing around in front of a projected visual, and when its faced paced, the editing shows quick cuts and various colours. The camera is very free flowing in the music video and by this i mean that it moves with Rihanna rather than being placed at various points and pivoting to see her. The camera work is very fluid and makes the video easier to watch because its not jumpy and unfocused.

Focus Group Opinions:

"I love Calvin Harris and this song, I just wished it would be longer and not conform to the radio standard 3/4 minute songs. The video is cool but I personally don't see it as being unique or very creative."

"I feel like the song and video doesn't really match in terms of visuals and lyrics. I couldn't make any connection with the lyrics to the visuals and that made the video hard for me to connect to and enjoy wholeheartedly."

"This song and video is nothing I haven't seen or heard before, I'm not a fan of it."

"I really love this song and I love that Rihanna was so simple in this video, i didn't feel a connection but still I loved it none the less and EDM is one of my favourite genres of music.