Textual Analysis: Music Videos - Ne-yo

Ne-yo: 'So Sick'

Ne-yo’s video to his song ‘So Sick’ begins with an image of mountains, to symbolise the peaceful and soulful diachronic sound before the lyrics start. The image is split into three sections, with the middle section changing to show his face and a woman’s, of which the song is about. The image is constantly moving at a fast pace with quick flashes of human form and Ne-yo’s name in a bold, white font. This theme continues, as the lyrics start, with a continuous image of the singer and other images that refer to the lyrics e.g. a phone. There is also a close up of the female who stars in the video just before shots of the two of them together fighting. The three that the video is split into is not only the backdrop for snowy mountains but of the singer himself, highlighting his importance in the frame. The costume is in keeping with the location and backdrop, as the pair are in white, which could symbolise happier times together of which Ne-yo is remembering and singing about. Ne-yo is in the majority shot alone in simple locations, such as outside in the snow or in an open plan home. The video is on the whole shot in black and white but when images of the woman character appears, the mid-section becomes colourful with flashing lights, to symbolise happiness and excitement. The flashbacks he has when remembering this woman are of happy and loving times, with them playing in the snow, kissing and her smiling. When the song gets more upbeat and emotional, Ne-yo is seen gesturing along to the words and dancing, which is common within R ‘n’ B videos. Another code and convention of an R ‘n’ B music video is having a sexy image, which this at times portrays. Ne-yo is shot holding and kissing the female counterpart, who is dressed provocatively in a leopard print bustier.