Analysis

The music video 'Candyman' by Christina Aguilera is based on the second world war and focuses on the relationship between the soldiers and women. The video mainly consists of close up shots from different angles and a lot of cuts to ensure the video maintains a fast paced effect that links with the song. The camera work is especially effective in the way that it makes the audience feel like they are there and are part of the crowd due to the angle of the shots. The video has also been edited to look like the main singer, Christina Aguilera, is singing in a trio (which was very common at the time) with the technique of filming her in three different places then changing her hair colour each time (blonde, black, red). The mise-en-scene is in keeping with the style of video, and links with a 1940's war scene. The video itself was filmed in an airport hanger in Southern California to help the video seem more authentic. This also links in with the clothing everyone in the video is wearing, the soliders are dressed in green uniforms and the singers change there outfits in keeping with the era (1940's). Linking in with Andrew Goodwin's theory, the video is in keeping with the song and isn't narrative unlike most music videos. The speed and fast-paced feel of the video keeps up with the music and helps make the video feel more authentic. Aguilera also creates a different star image for herself with contrast from her previous videos. The song does relate to the relationship between soldiers and women, but there is an added provocatively to the song. The singers are dancing in a way that at the time would have been seen as provocative, which is also shown in the way that the audience (the soldiers) are reacting. Another advantage with the song, which is what Andrew Goodwin points out is that Aguilera's voice is so unique that it fits perfectly with the style of song. Goodwin also points out that other than the star, there are technical aspects to make the video effective, such as editing cuts to the beat of the song which is also shown in the song 'Candyman'.