Closer Video Analysis

Beautiful Liar
Beginning shots, medium shots with smoke machines to cover their faces henceforth making the two singers looks more mysterious. The make-up artists have made their hair look similar, with their dresses; Beyonce went on a diet to have a similar figure as Shakira and their black dresses are alike.

Slim figure, black with a lighter touch. 

There are several cuts between the two; they are done so quick that the only way to tell the difference from the two singers when the cuts are moving really fast, are the different coloured backgrounds (blue and yellow). Even in Shaikira’s solo shots of Beyonce is still shown looking very alike to her however this unnecessary show of Beyonce is disguised by both of their solo parts in the same verse. Towards the end (the peak of the song) it becomes harder for the audience to tell the difference between the two, in both the Egyptian pyramid interior and the water/rain scenes. Not only are the shots quick but then they start swapping positions, this can the director signifying that they are agreeing with each-other more, or a more blunter/commercial reason so they look as identical as possible to promote them as sexually as possible. Further evidence is of this sexual promotion is the dancing on the floor when it seems as there are possessed by the issue, along with melody of the song that depicts the characteristics of a snake piper and his snake symbolises submission to a masculine presence; Beyonce and Shakira are desirable ladies, the song is directed at men, their faces can’t been seen and the lack of identification the video and song entwines to make a desirable feature to men. The directing of this video is deceptive, so the audience can subconsciously think that the women are identical and good for the same thing, shown by the images this isn't the truth...obviously...so it makes you really think who is the Beautiful Liar....

Slim figure, caucasian with a mediterranean
touch.   

Runway Love 

 Beginning ten seconds, shows the two artists walking past walls covered with wanted posters,lost ones shrines and candles with the title of the song within the posters drawn by red flyers and bunches of flowers. This sets a serious tone for the video as it places the focus of the audience's attention on the serious issues behind the song (missing girls' cases). 

'Runway' in red flyers

'Love' in bunches of flowers 

Then there are quick cuts of closeup shots of the artists that quickly progress to shots of the actresses playing the roles of the characters described in the stories of the verses.  Again bringing the audience's focus to the cases of the girls instead of showing off the artists moves/clothes or looks especially the clothes of the artists which is a common feature of videos involving rappers. Also the shots of the artists show both of them humbly moving to the music as if they are personally connected to the personas of the stories.  The first verse; Ludacris is dressed in black, making him look mysterious as he stands in the same rooms as the girl narrating the role she is playing, the people act as if they can't see him as if he's a ghost and he is omniscient which makes him powerful but not to be praised but to entitle him to show the audience what is happening in the video. This arrangement continues throughout  the whole video with the girls near Mary J Blige during the chrous, the video centres around the actresses and other youg girls in the video and the song and the video are supportive to these 'runaways' and give a affectionate attitude to people who are going through hard times. 

Millionaire