You Oughta Know - Alanis Morrissette Music Video Analysis

You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette

This music video is shown to include elements of all three types of music video: performance , narrative and conceptual, and seems to fit the pop/rock genre. The combination of all three types of music video keep the audience engaged with the video, leaving them to want to know what happens next in the song. Elements of performance are shown through the main artist lip-syncing as well as performing with a band towards the end of the video; the narrative elements express the artist's heartbreak through the use of her acting, reinforced by the lyrics; due to there being a common theme of love and relationships throughout this song, the chorus provides a catchy beat and repeatability for the audience. The heartbreak she experiences could also be referenced in the different shots, e.g. Alanis walking alone over mountains in the distance. The narrative elements allow the lyrics to be told like a story, creating a mode or address and a relationship between the artist and the audience; this would be a key theme in the 'Star Image', a concept by Andrew Goodwin (1992). In addition, conceptual elements are shown as the narrative doesn't completely tie into the song lyrics, so leaves the audience guessing what would happen next. The use of only one location adds to the conceptual narrative of this music video, slowing a different twist on a classic music video. From this video having elements from all three different types of music video, it stands out among others, so it would be easier to advertise and publicise the song. 

The first shots of the music video start with a quiet drum beat and the main vocals - these are supported with the use of a handheld camera and shots such as long takes of the main artist walking and close ups to show her singing the lyrics. The consistency of the drum beat is key to the music, as it keeps to the constant beat of the song - other instruments such as a guitar are only played periodically, mainly throughout the chorus, pre-chorus and the bridge. As the song progresses, the dynamics increase from softer vocals to a much louder ending where Alanis Morisette is seemingly more angry, shouting more. This shift in mood is shown through the editing pace, where at the beginning there are slower paced cuts in comparison to the ending, where there are many quick cuts with many different shots to reinforce the energy and anger through the singer's lyrics. Furthermore, the slow editing pace as the beginning, along with Alanis' flowing costume sets up the music video for the audience and introduces the narrative and conceptual themes of the video straight away. She is also shown to be more calm throughout the beginning of the video, supported by her voice being much quieter. However, the build up to the end of the song shows how Alanis' emotion becomes much stronger, supported by the faster, harsher moments and louder vocals

Andrew Goodwin's 5 Theories (1992) have all been carefully considered and used throughout this music video efficiently. For example, as 'You Oughta Know' is considered to be a Pop Rock song and it features the main artist, Alanis Morrissette in close ups all through the song along with with her performing with a band nearer to the end of the video, creating the 'Star Image'. Because Alanis stars in the music video, it suggests that the lyrics are very personal to her, giving the music video meaning, adding to the narrative aspects of the music video. Alanis' voice is very distinctive, allowing the audience to immediately identify her music amongst other artists, adding to this aspect of music videos. In addition to this, The two costumes worn in the music video could connote to the artist's mental state throughout the song, as the darker costume shown at the beginning could show her mourning stage for her significant other whom she lost, whereas the white costume could reference her getting over them and feeling free and independent again. 
There is a significant prop shown throughout the music video, a briefcase, another conceptual theme in the video as no one knows what's inside it or what it's for, leaving the audience guessing and wanting more.

In addition to this, the video uses Goodwin's theory of Amplification as the narrative and the lyrics don't completely link up due to certain tweaks, but there are some instances in which there are slight crossovers, e.g. the lyrics 'Its not fair to remind you of the mess you left' could link to Alanis' mental state, show through her aggressive vocals closer to the end of the song.