Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Goodwin's Music Video Analysis
1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics ( e.g. stage performance in a rock video, dance routine for a boy/girl pop band)
A music video that I think represents particular genre characteristics similar to a typical girly pop song would be the Spice Girls' music video for "Wannabe". The music video is typically 90's, which is reflected in the clothing, and the atmosphere of the video reflects the upbeat mood of the song. Their crop tops, high heels, short dresses and hair reflect "girl power" or female empowerment as they dance and gate-crash a posh hotel. It is quirky and fun, which directly correlates to the song and pop genre.
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals ( either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)
Canadian indie rock band "Metric" have a music video which involves a combination of performance and concept-based footage.The video for their song "Stadium Love" involves the band performing in a cage, which is combined with footage of animals attacking each other. This relates to the lyrics "every living thing pushed into a ring, fight it out to wow the crowd". The use of animal conflict in the music video could be a metaphor to represent conflict in everyday life, whether it is between humans or war. The different species of animals attacking each other may represent the power struggle between people of different personalities.
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)
Two-piece band, MGMT are very famous for their abstract, concept-based music videos. Their music video for their hit song "Time To Pretend" is very strange and conceptual. Their music has a very 70's hippie element to it, and this is combined with weird shots like tribal dancing, neon flashing backgrounds, Aztec printed animal silhouettes, and the musicians themselves riding on giant cats. The entire music video helps emphasize the "stoned" element of the song, and the music video would almost make the audience feel as if they have been taken back in time. The editing is purposefully low-standard, again adding to the "time warp" feel of the song.
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of closeups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style)
Popular music artist Lady Gaga is very famous for her outrageous outfits, controversial themes and long story-based music videos. Most of her music videos contain ambiguous symbolism which can be up for interpretation or simply there for entertainment purposes. She tends to have lengthy music video introductions, which may include her speaking a monologue or a short film clip setting up a story. Her music videos also tend to include ambitious dance moves, which have been inspiring for other dancers and re-enacted by others and spread all over YouTube. Here are a few of her music videos, where you can evidently see these connections, despite having various different themes in each music video.
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
P!nk is famous for her message of female empowerment in her music videos. However, in her music video for "Stupid Girls" she mocks rich and stupid girls. She also continues this by parodying Jessica Simpson's music video of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" in which she is seductively washing her car. In P!nk's music video, a young girl is watching TV, and P!nk warns and demonstrates through the TV screen not to be a "stupid girl."
6. There is often inter-textual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc.)
Intertextual reference means that in the song or music video, there is reference to other existing forms of pop culture. In American pop/rock band "All Time Low", in the music video for their song "I Feel Like Dancin'" they talk about things current in pop culture like product placement in music videos, Jersey Shore and reference to other musicians' music videos such as Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance", Katy Perry's "California Gurls" and Justin Bieber's "Baby." The purpose of the music video is to mock mainstream musicians and themes and assure their fans that they have not "sold out" as musicians and they have decided to mock the mainstream music industry instead of joining them.
A music video that I think represents particular genre characteristics similar to a typical girly pop song would be the Spice Girls' music video for "Wannabe". The music video is typically 90's, which is reflected in the clothing, and the atmosphere of the video reflects the upbeat mood of the song. Their crop tops, high heels, short dresses and hair reflect "girl power" or female empowerment as they dance and gate-crash a posh hotel. It is quirky and fun, which directly correlates to the song and pop genre.
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals ( either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)
Canadian indie rock band "Metric" have a music video which involves a combination of performance and concept-based footage.The video for their song "Stadium Love" involves the band performing in a cage, which is combined with footage of animals attacking each other. This relates to the lyrics "every living thing pushed into a ring, fight it out to wow the crowd". The use of animal conflict in the music video could be a metaphor to represent conflict in everyday life, whether it is between humans or war. The different species of animals attacking each other may represent the power struggle between people of different personalities.
3. There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting)
Two-piece band, MGMT are very famous for their abstract, concept-based music videos. Their music video for their hit song "Time To Pretend" is very strange and conceptual. Their music has a very 70's hippie element to it, and this is combined with weird shots like tribal dancing, neon flashing backgrounds, Aztec printed animal silhouettes, and the musicians themselves riding on giant cats. The entire music video helps emphasize the "stoned" element of the song, and the music video would almost make the audience feel as if they have been taken back in time. The editing is purposefully low-standard, again adding to the "time warp" feel of the song.
4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of closeups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style)
Popular music artist Lady Gaga is very famous for her outrageous outfits, controversial themes and long story-based music videos. Most of her music videos contain ambiguous symbolism which can be up for interpretation or simply there for entertainment purposes. She tends to have lengthy music video introductions, which may include her speaking a monologue or a short film clip setting up a story. Her music videos also tend to include ambitious dance moves, which have been inspiring for other dancers and re-enacted by others and spread all over YouTube. Here are a few of her music videos, where you can evidently see these connections, despite having various different themes in each music video.
5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
P!nk is famous for her message of female empowerment in her music videos. However, in her music video for "Stupid Girls" she mocks rich and stupid girls. She also continues this by parodying Jessica Simpson's music video of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" in which she is seductively washing her car. In P!nk's music video, a young girl is watching TV, and P!nk warns and demonstrates through the TV screen not to be a "stupid girl."
6. There is often inter-textual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc.)
Intertextual reference means that in the song or music video, there is reference to other existing forms of pop culture. In American pop/rock band "All Time Low", in the music video for their song "I Feel Like Dancin'" they talk about things current in pop culture like product placement in music videos, Jersey Shore and reference to other musicians' music videos such as Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance", Katy Perry's "California Gurls" and Justin Bieber's "Baby." The purpose of the music video is to mock mainstream musicians and themes and assure their fans that they have not "sold out" as musicians and they have decided to mock the mainstream music industry instead of joining them.
Friday, 16 September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Unsigned Artists & Tracks
I have looked at many different unsigned musicians in order to attain a track for the music video. I have mostly been looking around the rock/acoustic/indie genre area. Here are some of the ones I found:
"Sierra The Serial Killer" by Austin Gibbs
This is a musician who is already considerably popular among fans of the rock genre;- such as fans of The Maine, Ryan Adams and Wilco. I liked this song because there was a good vibe to it, and the lyrics were telling a very clear story. I felt that I could use this song for the music video, but have no one lip-syncing to the song; all you can see is the storm going on. Or, as an alternative, only hints of the musician can be seen, like strumming the guitar or the back of their head, to show a sense of "anonymity" in the music video due to the fact that the song is not about himself at all, but about a girl he hypothetically met.
Another musician I found was named Amanda Baker, who has a very soulful voice, who could equally fit the genre of my choice. None of her songs can be found on YouTube, but on her Myspace, her videos can be viewed.
In the end, I decided to use a song by Brooklyn unsigned artist; Amber Rubarth, who is currently becoming increasingly popular in the acoustic music scene in the US. She also does not have any tracks available on YouTube, but her song "Pilot" which I have asked permission to use, can be listened to on www.myspace.com/amberrubarth. I, myself, really enjoy the track and it fits exactly with the genre I was aiming to use. In the next few days, I plan to start brainstorming and start annotating the lyrics in order to get a concept/plot to use for the music video.
Genres
I am quite excited to go down the acoustic/indie/folk route in terms of genre for my music video. I think I could incorporate some interesting concept based shots by using a rather chilled out song, with shots of perhaps nature to reiterate the "coolness" of the song.
This kind of atmosphere has commonly been associate in songs such as "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae:
This kind of atmosphere has commonly been associate in songs such as "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae:
Luckily, there are some similar rural areas in places such as Potters Bar and St. Albans, where these shots could sufficiently be provided for.
I know that genres such as "experimental" and "progressive rock" would be challenging, but I feel that if I use a genre that is simplistic in verse, I can embody more experimental shots and concepts into the music videos; keeping it neat yet creative.
Monday, 12 September 2011
Memorable Music Videos
I feel that in order to create a successful music video, they must be unique and interesting. I have been paying extra attention to the music channels and scouring through YouTube to find music videos that I think are interesting.
This song is by a band called The Maine, who are from Arizona, USA. Their song "Into Your Arms" has an interesting concept to it, as the lyrics are "I'm falling in love, but it's falling apart. I need to find my way back to the start" as the protagonist of the music video (the girl) and her surroundings are moving in reverse. However, the band that is performing is moving forward in time, almost as if the message is that he wants to move backwards and start fresh in order to continue on with his life. I really like the concept, and I think it would be challenging yet refreshing to incorporate a similar concept into my own music video that I will be making.
I have always found the music video for "1234" by Feist really memorable because the video was all shot in one take. Unfortunately, I believe it would be incredibly difficult to incorporate a one-take video in such a large way into my own music video, but I still feel that the abstract qualities of the video make it extremely appealing; the bright colours, the sweet and simplistic dancing and the shapes. The atmosphere of the music definitely is very parallel to the music, despite there being no narrative or specific performance with a band.
Going back to a slightly more older time in music, I have always been entranced by the story shown in A-ha's music video for "Take On Me." I love the way in which cartoon strips and real life are combined, and I have always been interested in the way in which the story progresses. I think a narrative-based music videos have the advantage of hooking the audience in with a story that could be associated with any film or drama that is watched on the television.
This song is by a band called The Maine, who are from Arizona, USA. Their song "Into Your Arms" has an interesting concept to it, as the lyrics are "I'm falling in love, but it's falling apart. I need to find my way back to the start" as the protagonist of the music video (the girl) and her surroundings are moving in reverse. However, the band that is performing is moving forward in time, almost as if the message is that he wants to move backwards and start fresh in order to continue on with his life. I really like the concept, and I think it would be challenging yet refreshing to incorporate a similar concept into my own music video that I will be making.
I have always found the music video for "1234" by Feist really memorable because the video was all shot in one take. Unfortunately, I believe it would be incredibly difficult to incorporate a one-take video in such a large way into my own music video, but I still feel that the abstract qualities of the video make it extremely appealing; the bright colours, the sweet and simplistic dancing and the shapes. The atmosphere of the music definitely is very parallel to the music, despite there being no narrative or specific performance with a band.
Going back to a slightly more older time in music, I have always been entranced by the story shown in A-ha's music video for "Take On Me." I love the way in which cartoon strips and real life are combined, and I have always been interested in the way in which the story progresses. I think a narrative-based music videos have the advantage of hooking the audience in with a story that could be associated with any film or drama that is watched on the television.
Memorable Music Videos
I feel that in order to create a successful music video, they must be unique and interesting. I have been paying extra attention to the music channels and scouring through YouTube to find music videos that I think are interesting.
This song is by a band called The Maine, who are from Arizona, USA. Their song "Into Your Arms" has an interesting concept to it, as the lyrics are "I'm falling in love, but it's falling apart. I need to find my way back to the start" as the protagonist of the music video (the girl) and her surroundings are moving in reverse. However, the band that is performing is moving forward in time, almost as if the message is that he wants to move backwards and start fresh in order to continue on with his life. I really like the concept, and I think it would be challenging yet refreshing to incorporate a similar concept into my own music video that I will be making.
This song is by a band called The Maine, who are from Arizona, USA. Their song "Into Your Arms" has an interesting concept to it, as the lyrics are "I'm falling in love, but it's falling apart. I need to find my way back to the start" as the protagonist of the music video (the girl) and her surroundings are moving in reverse. However, the band that is performing is moving forward in time, almost as if the message is that he wants to move backwards and start fresh in order to continue on with his life. I really like the concept, and I think it would be challenging yet refreshing to incorporate a similar concept into my own music video that I will be making.
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