Analysis of 'Ghetto Gospel' music video

This music video is called Ghetto Gospel which is oxymonoric as the two words don't go together and this also applies to the two artists, as Elton John is more of a rock and soulful singer whereas 2Pac is the opposite as he is a rapper.

Already we know that the music video is going to involve crime and religion as the title 'Ghetto Gospel' indicates and gives the audience a clue to what the video is going to be about if it follows a narrative. But as a viewer we are intrigued to how the artists are going to achieve this.

The music video begins with diegetic sounds of a helicopter which is code for crime and the typical convention of it happening at night and raining as well which adds to the setting. There is a point of view shot which creates a feeling that as a viewer you are somehow there or seeing it through someone else's eyes which makes it more personal to you. Still hearing the sirens, police radio and helicopter sounds we are first shown a shot of a man lying on the floor and a woman sobbing over him, which is realistic but a typical convention of such a dramatic scene. '10:04pm' appears in the bottom right hand corner of the screen which is in the style of a documentary, we find out why this appears as times appear throughout the music video, documenting certain times of what he does throughout his day and builds up to a climax.

Firstly an establishing shot sets the scene at the beginning of where the crime took place. The camera is at ground floor level sow e are looking through peoples legs but it creates a personal effect as we are on the same level as the body. The camera has close ups on the crowds faces to see their reactions of what has happened, their expressions don't look surprised, this suggests that this happens regularly but it they are saddened by it. They look helpless but suggests that this is a fact they have had to come to terms with on the street.

The music then begins and the camera defocuses and rises up, symbolic to the dead man on the floor representing his spirit or a holy-like onlooker.

The next shot is of the man again but at '9:00am' lying on his bed he then looks straight at the camera with an expressionless face as if he is already telling us what is going to happen or just simply that he has woken to another day in his rat race of life. Certain images match the lyrics of the song, 'the red sun' we then see a shot of the sun followed by a series of establishing shots which creates a sense of urbanisation which is where he lives.

We are then shown a scene of him and what we can assume to be his wife eating breakfast which shows their relationship and how normal their life is. there is religious connotation as the painting in the background, adjacent with him at the table is a painting of the last supper. Giving the viewer an indication and foreshadowing future events.

The next shot is of a community centre for addicts to alcohol or drugs, outside there are people leaning against the walls in baggy and dark clothing. Their body language suggests that they are involved in something illegal as they look uneasy and shifty. The close-up on his hands doing the deal progresses the narrative.

The shot of him play fighting with his friend shows his youth and how simple life can be. He walks out of the centre and across the road is a church and stands there facing that as something is compelling him to it. The next shot is of religious iconography but they use a low angle shot as if to represent heaven. The shot fades out slightly as if someone blinks which is different to the rest of the sharp shots in the music video maybe to represent what he see's when he dies or again foreshadowing events. The next scene is of him with his family playing with his son which shows that he is a good guy and changes the perception of what stereotypes the viewer may have had of him.

The next shot is of him standing on the roof looking out on to the city standing in the position of Jesus with his arms out. Maybe to show he wants to be free from the place he is in. We are shown him standing with his friends on the street involved in something and he walks away as he doesn't want to be involved.

The shot then ends in the same place the music video began. The last shot is of his wife dressed in black outside the church presumably for his funeral and she thinks see's him with his hand covering where he was shot symbolic to Jesus being resurrected.