Case Study 2: Beyonce - If I Were a Boy

Artist: Beyonce
Producer: Unknown
Date Released (On youtube): 02/10/09


This video is about Beyonce suggesting that if roles were switched in her relationship, her partner wouldn't like all the things that she does and would be hurt or jealous by her actions. Beyonce is trying to get him to understand the way he makes her feel, but at the end of the song, she comes to a realisation that roles will never switch and so he won't ever understand.

This video is both narrative and conceptual based. This is because it has a clear storyline which is shown throughout the whole video, as well as putting forward the concept that men wouldn't like it if women treated them the way they treat women.


The whole video is kept in grayscale with no colour shown to create simplicity through the whole video as they want the audience to focus on the meaning of the lyrics and what is happening in the video. It can also be that it refers to the saying 'it's as clear as black and white' when you can see someone isn't happy with you or that you're hurting them.


At the beginning of the video, you see Beyoncé with her partner in separate cuts, phrasing words which are required in a relationship such as 'intimacy' and 'commitment'. On every cut, it gets closer and closer to their face until theyre speaking in unison saying 'you' and 'me'. However, on the word 'us' you fail to see their face, suggesting that an 'us' doesn't exist between  them.


There is then a wide shot of the kitchen showing that he has made breakfast for her but you see from her body language that she isn't interested and rushes off to leave for work. There is a cut to her walking out of the front door and walking down the steps in her police uniform. This is done in slow motion for the audience to take in that specific scene as it is used later on. It is also used to help show her status and her role and she is a police officer, it shows she has authority and a high status, which is also further shown by her sunglasses - even though you cant see if it's sunny or not as the video is in grayscale, it gives her a high status. This authority is further accompanied by an image of strength as she arrests males and shoots a gun in a fire range.


After being shown Beyoncé flirting with her colleague at work, it cuts to her partner at work where is he shown being loyal to her as his colleague comes in with cleavage on show, giving temptation, but as he is committed to her, he doesn't give in to the temptation like Beyoncé does.


Throughout the song, there is no lip syncing, however, there is a break in the song where you see Beyoncé sitting in front of the mirror doing her hair and her partner standing against the wall. There is a close up of both of their faces, which highlights to the audience that he looks intimidated by her and she looks arrogant. She asks why is so jealous and there is then an echo as they both say 'what', emphasising that a change is happening. It cuts back and forth from their faces showing their personality and status changing. The roles then switch and she looks intimidated and he looks arrogant. He then asks the same question she did 'why you so jealous?'. There is then an extreme close up on Beyoncé as you see a tear stroll down her cheek, symbolising pain and hurt.


There is then a flash back to the first scene, a wide shot of the kitchen, however, he is the one hurrying off to work. You then see him walk out of the house and down the stairs in slow motion, which again emphasises his authority in his uniform and makes you think back to when roles were switched and it was Beyoncé, making the audience link the two scenes together. You then see a close up of Beyoncé as it slowly fades out to the music and the song ends.


The target audience for the song is around 18 - 25 as it is an R&B genre song which particularly attracts that specific age group.


What I can take from this video is the use of colour as it remains grayscale through the whole thing, proving to me that bright or certain colours aren't needed in order to create a mood. Also the use of cuts, showing both sides of their story, even though it's only 1 person singing is something I can take from this as it made the video narrative and effective.