Performance Music Video Analysis

MILEY CYRUS - Party in the USA

1.The music, lyrics and imagery all work in collaboration here, with the American imagery playing a key role, evident through the lyrics, costumes and props.

2. Miley's performance and attitude drives the music video, and she definitely sustains this confident, fun attitude throughout, as the video loosely follows the narrative of her arriving and performing in the USA.

3. Her lip-sync is believable and realistic throughout.

4. Miley's role as the artist performing is cross-cut between shots of her in her 'bad-girl' character performance as she interacts with her friends and has fun in the USA.

5. As the audience would expect, we see Miley singing and dancing, thus conforming to their expectations of her.

6. Miley is visually striking, with her perfect hair and make up, and summery, teenage 'bad-girl' outfit. 

7. While Miley's costume stays pretty much the same throughout, with the same short shorts, and cowboy boots shown, typical of the character portrayed, the backdrops are changing regularly, with several settings such as a parking lot, a dark chained swingset, and a stage complete with an American flag being seen.

8. A strong sense of development is felt, as Miley's party in the USA progresses, and she moves from performing on the back of a truck, to performing on stage.

9. Miley's dancing and general attitude is very typical of her style and the image she has created for herself, and she is seen as an inspirational figure to some fans.

10. Beauty shots are frequent, with several shots of her cowboy boots also featured.

11. Juxtapositions between settings can be seen, and within her different attitudes, from the crazy party girl, to the more chilled out serious presentation.

12. Discontinuous editing is standard and is shown here, with this making sense within the music video context.

13. References to popular culture include Jay-Z and Britney, as well as several American place names mentioned.

14. Different layers of meaning are offered, while predominantly this video appears to be about having fun, and living the American Dream style life.

15. A strong audience reaction is provoked from this video, with it being very well known and memorable to both fans of Miley Cyrus and the pop genre, as well as some others.