Textual analysis of Katy Perry

Katy Perry– California girls

​In order to understand music videos, I have analysed the textual side of Katy Perry's music video, so that when I produce my music video, it shall be easier to break it down, and have a better understanding of what to include.

I am analysing ‘California girls’ by Katy Perry, which was directed by Matthew Cullen. The genre of the music is pop, the broad characteristics of the genre are that the video is extremely colourful, and bright, with a big set, with candy props, reinforcing the ‘sweet’ pop genre. The lyrics are amplified by the visuals as when she says ‘California gurls, we’re unforgettable’ as she is shown lying down naked on pink clouds, which is quite revealing reinforcing the ‘unforgettable’ word. ‘Daisy dukes, bikinis on top’- this lyric was illustrated in the video, as it shows her and other girls in short shorts. ‘Toned tan, fit and ready’- this lyric is illustrated in the video, as that is exactly how the girls are perceived. ‘Fine, fresh, fierce’- this lyric is illustrated in the video, as they are shown as being quite outgoing, with their provocative dance moves.

The video does cut to the beat, as when Katy Perry is singing in the beginning, the beat and the pace that she is walking matches, as it starts off quite slow at first. But as the song progresses, it gets quite upbeat to the chorus, and for example the chorus; it shows the girls dancing to the up-beat tune.

The record company is looking to sell this track, by using striking bright colours from the set, to attract the audience who are mainly teenagers, so by using this kind of ‘candy’ theme it matches well with the pop genre. It is an extremely upbeat, fun song which matches the video as well as by connoting the ‘California girls’ title as a girl who is possibly ‘out of this world’ by creating this imaginative set, again attracting the audience in order to sell the record. The image of the artist that is being offered is quite sexual and outgoing, as Katy Perry is shown naked lying down on pink ‘candy floss’ clouds. The clothing is also quite limited, for all the girls who is featured in the music video; either wearing a bikini, or shorts. This video relates to previous videos Katy Perry has done, as her videos are very entertaining, as they are funny to watch, also due to her genre being ‘pop’ they are quite upbeat to match the visuals. There are motifs that have been used previously which is the theme of ‘girls’ and how they are revealed as being quite sexual and provocative, which is shown in her ‘I kissed a girl’ video, but overall her videos are mostly humorous, or quite emotional sometimes.
There is a sense that the artist is on sexual display, as she and other girls are shown in revealing outfits- for example they are wearing extremely short shorts, with bras that have some sort of sweet plastered on them e.g. cupcakes, this then relates to the theme of the candy land. They are also dancing in a provocative manner, to reinforce the ‘California girl’ look.

The camerawork also implies sexualised display, as some shots, are zoomed into the women’s breasts or bottoms. There is some sort of reference to ‘looking’ as ‘Snoop Dogg’ is shown to be the person looking and playing this ‘game’, as he is shown rolling dice, and manipulating what happens within the game, maybe hinting that ‘California girls’ can be easily influenced. The music video relates quite a lot to games, for example the snakes that are shown, could refer to snakes and ladders, and with ‘Snoop Dogg’ rolling the dice could refer to any board game with dices involved. A gingerbread man is also shown in the video, which refers to the story. The whole theme of Katy Perry’s video relates to the driving game in ‘Wreck it Ralph’ (Candy rush), with the whole theme full of different sweets. The music video is mainly narrative and performance-based, as first it shows a board game box, written on the board it said ‘Face the sugar daddy’s dice to free the Queens of California’- so that was the main plot for the video. So as Katy Perry is walking through this candy land, she is freeing the ‘California girls’ ending the video with winning, a battle with the gummy bears. Overall ‘California girls’ are being portrayed as being quite provocative, and sexual, with the outfits and dancing involved. The candy land theme relates to the pop genre as well.