Music Video Analysis

Last Friday Night(T.G.I.F) - Katy Perry

Extended Edition

Featuring: Rebecca Black, Darren Criss, Kevin McHale, Hanson, Kenny G, Debbie Gibson and Corey Feldman
Producer: John Winter
Production Company: Rockhard Films
Director: Marc Klasfeld

Applying the 10 Features of effective Music Videos

1. Instant impact - The clip opens in a filmic style, indicating that there is going to be a clear narrative structure. The first time Katy Perry is introduced as 'Kathy Beth Terry' instant impact is achieved as she is styled as an unflattering 80s dork, in vast contrast to her other videos in which she traditionally is made to look as pretty as possible.
2. Non-linear editing - The video cuts between Katy on her bed, using her laptop to recount the night before, and the actual party. In addition, a 'sub-plot' is used, showing Kevin McHale and Katy Perry in a King Arthur style environment.
3. Repetitions - The repeated shots of Katy on her bed lip-syncing the lyrics are used in this case to create humour from her expressions, and to emphasise the party as a flashback.
4. Strong sense of artist identity - The funny costumes and the exaggerated facial expressions suggest that Katy Perry is not a 'serious' artist, but her obvious comfort in dressing like that indicates that she is confident in portraying herself in an unflattering light. 
5. A Performance - The cameos by Hanson and Kenny G playing the musical instruments fulfills the definition of a performance, as does the dance sequence in front of the video game.
6. Visual Pleasures - The colour scheme is very bright and colourful, whilst the indicators of the night before such as the hen and the partiers tied up in gaffer tape create humour as well as suggest an interesting back story. The party itself is made to look amazing and enjoyable, relating to the teenage target audience.
7. Wow Factor - The first wow factor is the introduction as Katy Perry wearing the head brace, but the entire clip stands out through it's highly decorated location and numerous celebrity cameos.
8. Provoke a reaction - The shock of seeing several famous faces cast against type provokes a reaction - for example seeing the typically beautiful Katy Perry as a cringey awkward girl and the young, 'annoying' Rebecca Black as her cool best friend.
9. Works on different levels - Whilst the world of 'Kathy Terry' is initially set up to appear embarrassing, so that the audience pity the central character, as the video develops there is a change in tone so that by the end the audience want to be at the party.
10. Pop Culture - There are numerous references to pop culture in the video - the narrative is reminiscent of traditional high-school movies like 'Grease' in which the dorky protagonist learns to be popular, whilst several of the cameos are used to draw in extra viewers. For example, Darren Criss and Kevin McHale are from the very popular teenage show 'Glee', whilst Rebecca Black had recently released her own song virally on the Internet, called 'Friday'.