Week 5 Video Reviews
Dress You Up
Artist's Name:
Madonna Madonna became one of the most popular pop singers of all time.
Song Title:
"Dress You Up"
CD/Album Title
Like a Virgin
Year
1985
Record Company
Sire Records
Director
Danny Kleinman
Narrative of Video:
The video begins with a shot of the venue where Madonna will be appearing that night. The beginning of “Dress You Up” can be heard as the camera shows cars driving up and fans getting out to go to the concert. The camera pans the audience inside and then returns to the cars outside where more fans are arriving. The video goes into a four screen split with close up shots on more fans. The camera pans across the audience again from a wide shot view. It stops on
individual fans that are dressed up like Madonna. The music picks up and the stage has several blue spotlights that pulsate with the rhythm of the song. Fans start
screaming. The camera focuses on two of the pulsating blue lights. The stage goes dark and when it lights up again, Madonna is standing in the middle of some steps. She moves in time to the music as she descends, stopping occasionally to strike a pose before continuing down the stairs. The camera moves in close when she begins to sing, then moves to an overhead shot of Madonna on stage. The camera continues to rotate shots as she sings; moving up close, then to the side, then back in close on Madonna's face. It shows the other singers/dancers on the stage and then focuses back on Madonna with the changing angled shots. The camera moves in close on the guitarist as he plays a short solo then changes angle to show Madonna and two others doing a dance routine. The camera once again rotates shots of Madonna as she continues to perform the song. The blue lights flash on and off. At one point the blue light is so strong that Madonna disappears behind it.
Toward the end of the song, Madonna removes the jacket she is wearing, then puts it on again. She walks part way back up the steps and as the video ends, she strikes a pose again.
individual fans that are dressed up like Madonna. The music picks up and the stage has several blue spotlights that pulsate with the rhythm of the song. Fans start
screaming. The camera focuses on two of the pulsating blue lights. The stage goes dark and when it lights up again, Madonna is standing in the middle of some steps. She moves in time to the music as she descends, stopping occasionally to strike a pose before continuing down the stairs. The camera moves in close when she begins to sing, then moves to an overhead shot of Madonna on stage. The camera continues to rotate shots as she sings; moving up close, then to the side, then back in close on Madonna's face. It shows the other singers/dancers on the stage and then focuses back on Madonna with the changing angled shots. The camera moves in close on the guitarist as he plays a short solo then changes angle to show Madonna and two others doing a dance routine. The camera once again rotates shots of Madonna as she continues to perform the song. The blue lights flash on and off. At one point the blue light is so strong that Madonna disappears behind it.
Toward the end of the song, Madonna removes the jacket she is wearing, then puts it on again. She walks part way back up the steps and as the video ends, she strikes a pose again.
How the Music and Video Relate:
The video, which shows Madonna during a live performance, works well for this song. The song is an energetic song with a quick tempo. Madonna’s performance works well with it.
Review:
I think the video works well with this song. It shows Madonna performing the song in front of an audience. It does a good job of showing Madonna during a time when she was extremely popular. Her performance is upbeat and her dancing is full of energy. It matches the tempo of the song.