Music Video analysis

The music video i am analysing is Jesus he knows me, a song and video created by the group Genesis in 1991. The song, and group, are based in the pop/rock genre, a genre which uses music videos primarily to promote the songs they use, which is why they are normally performance based and may feature footage from gigs the band have done. However some videos, like this one, use a narrative and feature little performance of the song, except the singing the band members occasionally fit into the video's narrative flow. The band uses the video to illustrate the narrative of the song, that looks at paid for religion, known as 'televangelism'. In fact, at the time of release, two of these 'televangelist' were under investigation about the ways they got the public to send them money in return for 'financial success', or so they were told.

The lyrics of the song focus around the ideas of these televangelists being made up more like celebrities than preachers. It's also implys that maybe these people are not even religious and are just using religion as a way of making easy money. This is represented in the video by making the group (perticularly Phil Collins) seem to be living a luxury lifestyle while making occasional appearances on TV shows and in magazines in order to keep himself known to the public. Lines like "Won't find me practising what i'm preaching, won't find me making no sacrifice" are sung while the main characters are shown relaxing in a luxurious setting, creating a video narrative to the song's lyrics as they are used. As the video is used as a narrative, its important for it to keep up with the music and keep a general pace with the song.

The video itself focuses mainly on the three members of the group, who are playing characters. Close ups are used frequently on them, as a way of establishing the group despite them not strictly performing the song. By playing different roles, it allows the group to seem more fun and down to earth than a true performance of the track would.

The video uses no sexual ideas in the notion of looking, but strongly uses other forms of media. TV screens, magazines and billboards are used in the video as if the story is real life as opposed to a music video. This is especially evident at the end of the film when Collins' character invites the 'viewers' to put their hands on the screen to be 'healed'. Using these ideas highlights the idea of religion in the media and how its now creating opportunities for wannabe celebrities to make some quick money.

The video makes no direct references to other music videos but uses one or two play on words in reference to the group. In the video, a banner appears reading "Genesis 3:25" which sounds like its referring to a verse from the bible. It is in fact the group's name(Genesis), number of members in Genesis (3) and the amount of years they had been together at the time (25). By writing it to seem like a bible verse reference, it fits perfectly with the religious tones in the video.

The music video is a mixture of performance, concept and narrative:

• 20% Performance- No instruments are used, but the group do still sing along to the majority of the song.
  
• 20% Narrative- The video does illustrate certain parts of the lyrics, but does sometimes keep it more general, especially during the chorus
  
• 60% Concept- The whole concept of religion in the media and 'televangelists' is strongly used throughout the video, shown in various ways and forms.

As a usual pop/rock video, it doesn't meet up to the normal amount of performance from this genre. However, with strong concepts and narrative taken from the lyrics, it still makes the video an entertaining and well presented way to put the song to video.