Features Observations Examples

Genre characteristics
Relationship between
lyrics and visuals?
Relationship between
music and visuals?
Are there any in
intertextual
references?
Name of Artist: Kiesza Name of Track: Hideaway
The genre of this music video is
deep house. This is a sub-genre
of house music and is a
combination of soul and jazz
style music.
There are many examples of deep house genre in this
video. These include: bright colours, 90 style
fashion/costume, slow and concentrated melodies,
urban run-down setting, and modern commercial
dancing and smooth movements.
Lyrics and changes in music are
emphasised by the sudden and
bold movements performed by
dancers in the video matching the
style. Actions match the words.
Dancers move in time with the
beat/music. The movements
performed by the dancers and
Kiesza suit the music which can
be heard at the same time.
Smooth and flowing movements (often in the style/
form of dancing) to match the style of the song. The feet
of the dancers move in time with the drum claps.
Movements suited to the timing and style of the beat.
Dancing gets quicker as beat picks up. Passion increases
when the beat gets quicker.
Kiesza lip is lip synching throughout. She sings the words over
me whilst moving her arms over her head; showing a
relationship. As she sings the word dreaming she looks
straight ahead into the distance to represent her future.
Shiver up my spine hand moves down spine. Bringing me
closer Kiesza moves towards the camera showing a close up
on her. Head into the clouds points upwards towards the
sky. Floating hand moves in a floating motion.
Kiesza uses many other existing
music videos as intertextual
references as she uses ideas
from existing videos and puts
them together collectively to
create her own suited version for
Hideaway.
One existing video used as intertextual reference for
Hideaway includes: Salt-N-Pepa: Push It. The style of
dancing in Hideaway is similar and may have been an
influence when creating the routine- the single and
video were released in 1988 which matches the 1990s
style for the video making it relevant. Another video of
intertextual reference for Hideaway would include MC
Hammer- U Cant Touch This. Dancing is, again, of a very
similar style and at some stages even exactly the same.
The video for this also has a bright and urban feel to it;
this is something also presented in hideaway and similar
themes show intertextual referencing. Both the videos
mentioned above feature hip hop genre of dancing
which is also presented through hideaway. Also,
Massive Attack- Unfinished Sympathy could be seen as
an intertextual reference for this video by Kiesza as it
features a female walking down an urban city street
presented in the form of a one shot by the camera.
Various background things arise as she walks down the
street; this resembles ideas and the camera shot used in
Hideaway.





Are there close ups of
the artist and star
image motifs?
Is there reference to
the notion of looking?
What category is the
video? How much of
each?
This video features a number of
close ups achieved by the one
shot video through the camera
zooming inwards and back
outwards when going back into a
mid-shot or by the artist going
towards the camera herself to
achieve the same outcome.
There is a star image motive
used through Hideaway (the
song title) being included at the
beginning of the video; this was
the same font as the one used on
the album.
Kiesza walks forwards and therefore creates one
example of a close up within the video. This contributes
to establishing her band and audience awareness of
Kiesza; as this is her first music video released at this
level she needed to create a video which is able to help
establish and develop a brand. The font used for the title
at the start enabled the audience to recognise this on
the album/single cover; increasing audience awareness.
The close ups allow the audience to develop more
knowledge on Kiesza and her appearance, enabling
them to recognise her when in interviews and featured
elsewhere.
There are many examples of
Kiesza performing seductive acts
within the video to make
reference to the notion of
looking. As well as this, there are
many examples where the artist
makes eye contact with the
camera to create a link with the
audience and add a personal feel
to the video.

Kiesza moves her hands slowly upwards from her hips
seductively. Slow and flirtatious movements e.g. when
she walks she is energetic and bounces to emphasise the
motion. She also dances seductively up against the wall
to attract the male gaze. Constantly touching herself:
arms, etc. whilst walking to seem flirtatious. She Leans
up against the wall. Seductive and passionate
movements when Kiesza and the male dancer are
dancing together, seeming playful and flirtatious again.
Often eye contact with the camera, however this is
usually from a distance; this still creates a bond between
audience and person. Slides herself down the wall
seductively. Eye contact between male dancer and
Kiesza as the music becomes a quicker beat suggests
passion and appears seductive. Acting out a passionate
kiss. Eye contact with camera and a smile; seems cheeky
after the heated moment with the male dancer and
allows the audience to feel involved and identify the
humorous and flirtatious aspect.
This music video is within the
illustration category as it features
a performance as well as a simple
narrative.
It is also connected loosely to the
amplification category of music
video as it visuals connote to part
of the lyrics and beat/sound- the
director has creatively amplified
lyrics and sounds through a direct
link to the song itself.
This performance narrative visualises the music in a
simple way and it features a section with Kiesza and an
individual male dancer to create a simple story line that
relates to the lyrics which seem to be related to a
male/somebody she finds an escape from reality in. The
video is a performance type as there is dance
throughout (whether it is Kiesza solo or with others);
this means that the video is mainly a category
illustration. With regards to amplification examples,
many of the dance moves featured in the video and
performed by the dancers connote the lyrics and beat of
the song; as she sings Hideaway and Dreaming actions
shown connote to something futuristic and magical
which is suited to the meanings of the words. I do not
feel that this video is within the disjuncture category as
there is nothing in the video which doesnt relate at all
to the music, lyrics or artist; Kiesza is always in the shot
and is always lip synching, therefore there is always the
aspect relevance to this video.