TLC- Waterfalls

Forms and Conventions/InstitutionsGenre: R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop

Released in 1995Director: F. Gary Gray

Reached #1 in the ‘Billboard US Hot 100’ ChartLabel: LaFace Records

Channels such as MTV played this music video as the channel plays music videos that can appeal to a wide audience, in which this video’s message was the issue of drug dealing and HIV, something that is relatable to a variety of audiences, whether they listen

to R&B/Soul/Hip Hop.Hybrid of Performance, Concept and Narrative

Performance as they are dancing and singing (lip syncing) to the audience

Concept based as Waterfalls represents the issues that they are tackling.

There are two narratives in this video, both tackling a world issue. One is tackling HIV, whereby the other is tackling the pressure of drug dealing, in which they both die.

Cinematography

Relationship between sound and imagesEditing

Mise-en-scene

In this extreme close-up, the singers say ‘he doesn’t recognize his reflection’. This links with the fact that he has just slept with a female with AIDS, and has seen early symptoms of the disease. This allows the audience to acknowledge that he feels as if he is completely changed, as eyes are a ‘window to a person’s soul’, therefore as he can’t even recognize his eyes, it shows that the change in himself is large. This links with the fact that this song is categorised as R&B, as it allows the audience to empathise and be emotive.

One editing technique used is when many shots are used within 5 seconds of different settings, whereby they zoom into the cities. This technique allows the audience to acknowledge that the song is about people from inner cities, whereby many individuals of the world can identify.

In parts of the video TLC are lip syncing the lyrics of the song.

In parts of the video, TLC are narrating the stories shown in the video. In this shot, the lyrics sung is ‘He cant seem to keep his self out of trouble’ which is in reference to the male going inside a car to drug deal whereby his mother is against it.

Taking the techniques used into consideration, I believe that these techniques adhere to the Hip-Hop/R&B/Soul genre, as it allows the audience to identify with human problems, and is emotive, which are qualities seen in these genres. However, I believe that the fact that they are not talking about themselves subverts the Hip-Hop/Soul/R&B genre, but also attracts a wider audience and invites the audience to feel more involved into the song.

There are many images of waterfalls collapsing into rivers (setting). Parallels can be drawn between this and the lyric ‘Don’t be chasing waterfalls’ whereby waterfalls are in reference to the issues tackled in inner cities.

Representations The people in this video are represented as easily lead, with the artists being the narrators.

Evidence through Mise-en-Scene, Camera and Editing

This wide shot allows the audience to see the male making the wrong and dangerous decision and being easily lead by his peers to sell drugs, leading him to death. The wide shot also allows the audience to visualise the contrast between the male choosing his mothers decision and his peers decision. As his mother is pictured to be faint, this suggests that he is not listening to his mothers advice.

Audiences

I believe the target audience for this music video are individuals who are tackling common inner city issues such as HIV and drug dealing. As this music video doesn’t provide a resolution to the problems, it allows the audience to reflect on their past experiences and hopefully improve, again allowing them to feel involved in regards to with the music video. Therefore according to the Uses and Gratification theory, the audience are able to empathise with the narratives.

Target Audience and Audience Theories