Digipak Analysis

Rihanna's face is the focus on her album LOUD. This implies that the album is not only about the songs, but the sales are down to her face. She is important for the sales of the album. It also implies that she's famous, as people would recognise her from the cover, also the fact that her own name is written small faded white text indicates that her face plays a vital role. The colours sync with her make up and hair

When comparing Rihannas' debut album 'Music of the Sun' released in 2005, there isn't much difference. She is still sexualised. It's still about her, rather than symbolic images. Again

her hair and clothing matches the setting and colours used in the digipak.

Analysing Digipaks

Nicki Minaj 'Pink' Friday

The name Nicki Minaj's is just her stage name, her real name

is Onika Tanya Maraj. The name 'Nicki Minaj' is just one of her 'alter-egos'. The name is a reference to the french phrase 'menage a trois', portraying a sexual symbol. She's also known as Nicki Lewinsky, in reference to the 'Lewinsky Scandal'. The public get the impression that she's just a sexual symbol. However her CD cover represents her other alter ego 'Harajuku Barbie', which is her more'appealing' look as the audience is open to young females and males who find her attractive.

Nickis fame was at first based on her talent, but gradually the focus has become her image and she now attracts media attention because of her unique wild looks. She's also had a major impact on the public and her fans she calls her 'barbs'.

Rihanna's face is the focus on her album LOUD. This implies that the album is not only about the songs, but the sales are down to her face. She is important for the sales of the album. It also implies that she's famous, as people would recognise her from the cover, also the fact that her own name is written small faded white text indicates that her face plays a vital role. The colours sync with her make up and hair

When comparing Rihannas' debut album 'Music of the Sun' released in 2005, there isn't much difference. She is still sexualised. It's still about her, rather than symbolic images. Again

her hair and clothing matches the setting and colours used in the digipak.

Analysing Aaliyahs Costume

Aaliyah's first hit 'Back & Forth'. She's wearing a black tube top, black sunglasses, big jean jacket and bandana on her head. This was her casual everyday look which many young girls emulated in that era.

she was being represented as quite masculine, but sexy she portrayed herself as an independent powerful young woman. Aaliyahs other single 'If your girl only knew', she is presented as 'one of the guys'.

We get the impression that she's respected. Her outfits were a 'tomboy' style with a hint of chic as her midriff was usually on show, but everything else was covered up. We can see Jive were trying to target both male and female audiences with her songs and image, as her music was usually a hard beat which guys enjoy with her soft vocals over it which girls would be attracted to sing along to.

Aaliyahs Photos

Aaliyahs Star Image Analysis

1.Intro
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16,1979 – August 25, 2001)
She was an AmericanR&B singer, actress & model. Aaliyah's career began in 1991 when she was 12 and got signed to Blackground Records, then Jives Records and finally Atlantic Records where her music career started to rocket.



In Aaliyahs earliest images her label; Jives records, represented her as quite masculine, but sexy she portrayed herself as an independent powerful young woman. For example her first hit single 'Back & Forth' she's wearing baggy jeans, a tube top, black hat & black sunglasses and her other single 'If your girl only knew', Aaliyah is presented as 'one of the guys'. We get the impression that she's respected. Her outfits were a 'tomboy' style with a hint of chic as her midriff was usually on show, but everything else was covered up. We can see Jive were trying to target both male and female audiences with her songs and image, as her music was usually a hard beat which guys enjoy with her soft vocals over it which girls would be attractedto sing along to.


From the start Aaliyah performed a simple dance in her video, however in the beginning she danced with males but as her image went from 'street' to 'sassy', she performed choreographed dance routines with girls and boys. Later on in her musical career Aaliyah also developed an acting career.n 2000 she starred alongside Jet Li in martial arts film 'RomeoMust Die'. Her hit single 'Try Again' produced by Timbaland was the soundtrack to the film. In this video she acts as the character she played in the movie, Jet Li also took part in the video.


Throughout Aaliyahs career there have been closeup shotsof her face as all her record companies focused on Aaliyahs image. However Atlantic focused more on her sexuality rather than her music. In the beginning Aaliyah wore her hair down straight, with a hat, baggy clothes and very little make up. Her success was evidently due to her 'different' style and music. As time went by and whenshe moved to Jives & Atlantic we can see the changes in the stars image as she goes from a little tomboy to a sexy young lady. In her early work they used props such as, basketballs and motorcycles etcetera to emphasise her 'boyish' look, but as she got older them props disappeared and the focus was more on Aaliyah. Aaliyahs video 'If Your girl Only Knew' is a significant video in contrast to her last video before she passed 'Rock The Boat', because we witness two very different style of music,setting & style.


A lot of long shots & close up shots were used throughout Aaliyahs music career and I think this was because of her unique style of clothing and dancing. In the beginningof her career Aaliyahs style and image was very important so we got a lot of longshots of her dancing, and a few close up shots of her body and face. However the close up shots weren't shots to seduce a viewer but for them to engage , but as she got more famous there were much more close up shots of her bod and maked up faced to emphasise her 'sexiness' and 'beauty'.


I would say Aaliyah was popular at this time because it was the beginning ofan evolution between hip-hop and R&B which some called in those times 'nu jack' music. She was also popular for her unique style, but not so much for her vocal talent, but how well her voice synced with the beat and how well she performed. Some claimed her fame also grew due to allegations that she illegally married well knowKing of R&B R-Kelly at the age of 14 which is why some claim she went from Blackground Records to Jive.


'If Your Girl Only Knew'
This early video by Aaliyah contrasts greatly to her last video 'Rock the Boat', for example 'If your girl' is shot in black and white, she's seen wearing all black whereas in 'Rock the boat' she's wearing bright colours on a beach.


I







Aaliyah once said it's "important… to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack", and from my research it is evident that this is what Aaliyah lived by but in due time like many other stars she began to conform and become what we call today 'mainstream' or 'commercial'. I do believe Aaliyah was comfortable with changing her image as she became more and more successful as an artist, model and actress. Overall I liked her when she started off as 'herself', but everybody has to blossom at some point.