Music Video Analysis Conclusion: Kylie vs Avril

Throughout their music careers, both Kylie and Avril have changed their star image in order to compete with existing female artists and to keep up to date with the changing trends. As Kylie triumphed the image change successfully and is still known as one of the sexiest female pop artists of all time, Avril’s same image has had mixed reviews and has not been deemed popular by all her fans.  

When Kylie decided to switch her acting career for a singing career, her image very important due to the character she played on the Australian soap drama. As her character was a favourite role model to teens and young adults, her image had to relate to them in order to sell copies. “I Should Be So Lucky” was an instant hit with her target audience and made her a real competitor in the music charts across the world. As Kylie’s music career became more successful, so did her image. By evolving her image from ‘the girl next door’ into a woman meant that Kylie grew up with her fans and understood how to keep them loyal supporters. Today Kylie is still very popular in the charts and is an international role model to women and teenagers unlike many artists around her time who have faded away. It was the change of image at the right times that enabled Kylie to keep building on her success and to make her as iconic as she is.

Avril’s star image in 2000 was against the mainstream image for celebrity women. As she was competing with the likes of Britney Spears who was your all American sweetheart, Avril’s image stood out to those who were not fans of the stereotypical pop star.  By being a tom boy who was shot playing music with her band and wearing clothes and make up that was against the grain enabled Avril to secure a spot in the charts and gain an army of supporters. Throughout her career, Avril stayed true to her roots and was different to any other teenage female singer. However, after taking a break from music and coming back with a new album, her image stayed the same which was a major downfall. While many critics accused Avril to be acting ‘too immature’ and delivering ‘careless and racial’ messages in her music videos, she defended herself by admitting she only wanted to have fun and show her obsession with Hello Kitty.

For some artists such as Kylie, changing her image was beneficial and gave her a long lasting legacy in the music industry; however by failing to change and growing up with the audience proves unpopular. By Avril sticking with the immature image instead of growing up resulted in a fall in her chart success and left doubt in her fans.