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Andrew Goodwins Theory.

Ashanti - Foolish

Genre Characteristics

The genre characteristics of the R&B Genre are very similar. Most music videos include the same story line, being in a relationship, a song about a breakup that left a negative mark on the singer. Most R&B videos are made to send a message to the audience who match the lyrics with the visuals about something that took place in the artists past life. Common settings of the R&B genre may include sophisticated areas like; restaurants, big houses or in cars, this is to show the audience that the artist is very wealthy. This also promotes the artist in a way because it makes them look attractive to the audience so that the audience is reeled in to buying their music. A common feature of all R&B songs is that they have to be melodic with a calm, predictable beat. Up-tempo R&B songs have a melody that is fast enough to be energetic and that could be danced to. Slower R&B songs usually have a melody with a beat that allows slow two people to dance to it. Lyrically, most R&B songs are about love, sex or relationships in general both positive and negative. Some R&B songs involve the telling of an elaborate story like a soap opera.

“You said you love me, no one above me and I was all you had”

“I don't know howI allow you to treat me this way and still I stay”

“See my days are cold without youBut I'm hurtin while I'm with you”

And though my heart can't take no moreI keep on running back to you

Links between Lyrics and visuals

“Baby I don't know why ya wanna do me wrongSee when I'm home, I'm all alone And you are always gone And boy, you know I really love you I can't deny I can't see how you could bring me to so many tears after all these years “

Part 2, continued.

Lack of looking at the camera/Promoting the artist

Most R&B songs are either positive or negative. When shooting the music video the video is mainly about stories about the artists past and the videos narrative will convey this to the audience, but the narrative will not match the story like in the artists past but it will be similar. That is why in the R&B genre there is a lack of frequent looking at the camera. This may be because they want the audience to sympathize with the artists and this may also promote the artist.

Promoting the artist may come in different ways in the R&B genre, one may be trying to get the audience to sympathize with the artist by including a negative narrative to the audience so the audience are reeled in. Or if the artist was Female they will attempt to make her look attractive (by making her wear nice expensive dresses or by scantily dressing her). If the artist was male then the video will mainly include cars, money or drugs to try to appeal to the youth because they will be more easily indoctrinated. These are ways that the artist will be promoted to the audience, giving them unrealistic aspirations.

Intertextuality

Big diamond ring (Connotes wealth, strong woman)

3 men wearing suits (Sense of dominance and power, strong authority in community)

A couple in bed (Woman watching over man, suggests that the woman has a lot of power and is more dominant)