Kinnick Dahlstrom

Deborah Strehle

14 February, 2021

Analysis of Two Music Videos of The Same Song

Analysis of Two Music Videos of The Same Song

Music is a powerful tool that can connect with people in many different ways. One such

way people connect with music is through emotions and the music video is a key component in

this. When people view the music video it has the power to make a song mean more to the

viewer than just the lyrics. It shows the viewer how they can connect with it and like the petals

of a flower at first opening there is a new understanding to the lyrics. With more viewings of

both the flower and the video a viewer has a deeper understanding and appreciation of what is

being said and how it can connect to their lives. This metaphor holds true when there are songs

that have different versions. One such song that exemplifies this is; “What is Love.” It has two

different versions, one of them is the original by Haddaway, and the other version by Jaymes

Young. These two music videos have many differences and similarities. They share the same

pain in the person having hardship in their love life, but the difference is what the hardship is.

In the original version of the song, “What is Love,” by Haddaway, has two main

characters. The first being a man who is in love with a female counterpart who has him under a

spell. He doesn’t want to leave her for the particular reason that he could not live without her.

The other main character, in fact one that seems like an antagonist, is the woman, and she

appears to be a vampire. She seems to have the man under a spell and she is trying to leave him.

In the newer version of the song, “ What is love,” by Jaymes Young. The main character is a

man who lost his wife in a car accident and has trouble forgetting the good times he had with his
wife, and can’t move on in life. The second character in this song is the memory of his wife

before she died.

The story being told in the original video is that of a man wanting love from the woman

he loves who has him under a spell that has him in a state of intoxication. While this man is

“drunk in love” we want to know where the love his partner is giving him is going because he

doesn’t seem to feel or get the same amount of love that he is giving into the relationship from

her. In the newer version of the song the story being told is of a man who is struggling with the

loss of his wife. While they were taking a car ride they got t-boned and he made it out alive

while she didn’t. While he is trying to live his everyday life he has flashbacks to the times he

had with his wife and can’t control his feelings.

The main claim in the original music video from Haddaway is if the woman that he loves

leaves he wouldn’t want to live anymore. While she has him under a sort of spell she is trying to

leave but the man stops her. The music video makes you think about why this woman wants to

leave and why the man doesn’t want her to leave. In the newer version of the song from Jaymes

Young is showing that how people have a harder time getting over loses than others but we need

to learn to move on. If we were to not fear the loss of others then we would not have to mourn

their death and be able to move on easier.

In the original video they use pathos to capture the emotion of the person watching the

video. Pathos is when something uses emotion to capture the person who is interacting with

something to keep them there. In the newer video they also use pathos in the music video for the

particular reason that emotion is shown throughout the video. The use of pathos also enables the

viewer and listener to connect emotionally with the music. As an active viewer and listener the
audience is able to put themselves in the position of the one being “left behind” and not being

able to live without their love.

The original music video is trying to attract teens to young adults who like to dance. The

music video reminds me of a highschool play. It isn’t a traditional music video, it's more of a

drama class type of dancing. In the newer version of the song the music artist is trying to reach

people who are enduring hardships no matter age, sex, religion, nor race. The music video has

one person struggling to let go of his lost loved one and it's not meant to relate to a certain person

just people who are struggling as well.

To sum up everything that has been stated so far, music videos can be alike and different.

Although the words may be the same the videos depict different things. The newer version of

the song, “ What is Love,” appears to be sadder even though the lyrics are the same because the

music video makes it seem that way. While at some points in the original music video don’t

seem merely as sad as in the newer version. These two music videos have many similarities and

differences while their claim is merely the same.

Haddaway, “What is Love”, Youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEXWRTEbj1I

Accessed February 10, 2021

Young, Jaymes, “What is Love”, Youtube.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=nIvvHKp0JNI

Accessed February 10, 2021