Brainstorm; Love The Way You Lie

Continuing my research into existing music video's I decided to look at the US Billboard Hot 100, in which 'Love The Way You Lie' by Eminem featuring Rihanna, had been holding the number one spot for seven consecutive weeks giving Eminem his fourth Hot 100 number-one hit and Rihanna her seventh. It was immediently evident once i watched the music video as to why.

The music video was very narrative, with a powerful, gripping storyline. It presented a couple who have a love/hate relationship. They can't help but love eachother, but can't help but hurt eachother. The characters in the video are two A-listers; Dominic Monaghan (best known for his role in 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Lost') and Megan Fox (best known for her role in 'Transformers' which gave her a reputation as one of the most attractive women in the world). I believe the best quality of the music video is the passion enforced by the characters in the relationship portrayed, as well as the passion in the voices of the collaborating artists. Additionally to this the visual effects are equally as eyecatching. The couple are either involved in dramatic disputes and rows which fixates its audience, or they are gradually being engulfed by flames, which is equally as transfixing!


Additionally to the narrative, there are the seperate shots of the artists, which I find equally as inticing. When I first viewed the music video I noticed mainly the idealic setting of a field of gold, with a strong sun beating down, in Eminem's scenes. This contrasted with Rihanna's settings as she was outside a house on an empty street at night. There was so much drama and energy in the music video I had to watch it again and noticed the second time round a deeper meaning behind these mis-en-scenes. Eminem is presented in a beautiful, golden field wearing a white vest, with a blue sky and a lovely sun, whereas Rihanna is presented at night, wearing black clothes, dark mascarra, with red hair, in front of a burning building. I realised then that they each represent good and evil, and furthermore, God and Satan. Blending this initiative with the narrative storyline, it's obvious that they are the angel and devil on the characters shoulders, as the music video presents bad times and good times experienced by the couple in their relationship.

The music video is extremely powerful and expressess the contrasts in passion from hardships along with the love found in a relationships, and also shows how love will conquor all as the couple withstand and embrace whilst their house burns down. I cannot fault it and love the fervour and obssessive enfatiuation demonstrated by the characters and the artists. In the words of director Sanaa Hamri "A video is one that makes the song go from good to great".