Kayne West is an extremely talented individual, known for combining experimental sounds and sampling. He breaks the barriers between genres by mixing different elements from each genre into a huge melting pot. 'Paranoid' features Mr. Hudson and Rihanna
The use of Black and White in this video, creates a surrela 'Sin City' like effect. Even the texts in the credits remind me of the film. The video opens with a track shot of Rihanna on a bed. The track moves Rihanna from scene to scene. I really like this clever effect. For a musician of such with calibre, it's strange that she's a cameo and not really featured artists as she doesn't sing. The mise-en-scene is important, she wears extremely provacative clothes. This can fall into the generic convention of a Hip-Hop music video, where women do not dress modestly. Stop-motion in the extreme-close-ups of Rihanna. Possibly because she is a household name, collaboration with her would make more money for Kanye's record label.
The opening lyrics are haunting and sound effects have been added in "why are you so paranoid?", it sounds echoey - as if Kanye is singing to the viewer, questioning our own paranoia. The mood, lyrics and instrumentals are parallel to the frantic and spontaneous visuals. This video reminds me of 'film noir' movies, when a deranged woman drives a car that seems to be going nowhere. Post-modern intertexuality - Kanye may be original in his music but this video has elements of things they’ve been done many times before.
Post a Comment