1. BEYONCÉ
If I Were A Boy

2. Lyrics & Narrative
You don't listen to her
I'd listen to her You don't care how it hurts
'Cause I know how it hurts Until you lose the one you wanted
When you lose the one you wanted 'Cause you're taking her for
'Cause he's taking you for granted granted
And everything you had got And everything you had got
destroyed destroyed
The lyrics portray a narrative throughout the song which is followed in the music
video. The characters are shown in role reversal with the artist acting in place of
her husband. The music video follows an everyday life for the couple in their
reversal roles, with the lyrics reflecting the behaviour into the feelings she feels
when he acts when not with her. Towards the end of the video, it is visually
revealed that the characters are acting in reversed roles, this is also where the
lyrics change from how the artist believes the male should act to how she
understands how he feels when acting against her. The action and the lyrics run
parallel with each other. Within the music video, Beyoncé is trying to express her
feelings, as well as enable to relate it to other women in a relationship.

3. Music & Narrative
The music is at a steady tempo which may again reflect the narrative of a normal
day. However at around 4:00 the music cuts for dialogue, this reflects that there
is an important change to the narrative. In this case this is where the characters’
role reversal is revealed to the audience and they change back to their correct
roles. With the change to the narrative revealed,
the music then starts again at a slower pace
building back up to the normal tempo of the
song.

4. Mis-en-scene
The music video includes two main characters; the artist herself and her husband in
the film. The characters are both dressed to what the audience believe is their
profession, a Police woman and an Office worker. Portraying the characters in work
attire shows the audience that the characters are just two normal people living
their lives.
The song is about relationship problems and how the
man should treat a women in a relationship in
everyday life from a women’s point of view. With the
dress portraying the characters
as normal people, the video
may reflect that normal
people in life, may
suffer relationship
problems like the characters
which the audience may relate to.

5. Genre
The genre of the song is pop / R&B. The music video reflects this through a laid
back mise en scene. The simple clothing, make-up, location and narrative may
all contribute to the genre that is usually linked to the artist.

6. Camerawork
The music video contains a range of camera shots, however the most common is
mid-close ups of the characters. An example of this is at 1:45 when the colleagues
are seen looking at each other. The close up increases the intensity of the male
and female’s relationship as they are seen looking at each other making the
audience guess what each of them are thinking. Another example of this is the
close ups of the ‘husband’s’ reaction when his wife
ignores his call at 2:08. This increases the
audience’s knowledge of his position and
again make the audience guess how he
may be feeling.

7. Editing
Throughout the music video, it is shown in black and white. This may be used to
represent that the breakdown in relationships is a re-occurring problem which
has been around for a long time. The narrative is followed with continuity editing
showing the differences in the day of the two characters. The majority of the
music video is showing the women playing the role of the man’s everyday life.
Towards the end of the song we see that the role reversal showing the same
shots, for example of both of the characters walking down the stairs. Before the
role reversal is shown visually we see a fade to black. This may represent the
change to make it obvious to the audience that the role reversal is apparent and
also to give a break in the song for dialogue.

8. Star Image
the camera is used to sell Beyoncé as a performer. Various of times the
audience get close ups of her but also of the story. Beyoncé isn't dressed up
in usual costume in this video because it fits the lyrics to be under dressed.
The body language of Beyoncé is how the lyrics perceive her to be. She's
saying “if I were a boy” dressed as a male so her body language is also
masculine. Her confident masculine performance shows how confident she
is in putting on a difficult role. During the video she still has her flawless
shots and close-ups showing that this is still her usual look. Beyonce’s image
in this particular music video almost allows her to become like an idol to
other women around the world. This music video also shows another side to
her, other than her good looks and sexyness. This music video goes deeper,
and almost lets the audience get to know a bit more about the artist herself,
and her personality, rather than just her original look. In this video the artist
is almost showing the us, the audience that she as well is a normal woman,
with complications and that even her life can be hard.