Monday, 15 November 2010
Research into chosen band and genre
The band i have chosen to use for my music video is an indie rock band called Bombay Bicycle Club. They are a signed band, making it more difficult to use their songs, but suprisingly they emailed me back giving me the permission to use their music. The genre of indie rock is a branch off the more general genre, alternative rock. It emerged in the 1980's in both the US and UK and was used to describe music independantly recorded by independant record labels. As time has progressed, the term 'indie rock' has been used to desribe the sound and mood of the track, rather than the label behind it. Therefore many now associate 'indie rock music' with a couldnt care attitude towards the making their songs, asif they will not change their music to suit popular trends. Indie rock is also usually associated with less heavier music, as opposed to heavy metal, where guitars and drums do not have such a hard sound and fast tempo with much softer singing in contrast to screams showcased in most metal rock music.
Bombay Bicycle club are an indie rock band consisting of four members, Jack Steadman, Jamie Maccoll, Ed Nash and Suren de Saram. Although focusing mainly on the typical instruments in this type of band (Guitar, bass, Drums) they also incorporate a wide number of more obscure instruments into their songs, from the banjo to the xylophone. After numerous line-up changes, the current band formed in 2006 in london, playing a number of small gigs around the local area. Within less than a year the band went onto immediate success in winning channel 4's 'road to V' competition in which they competed against other bands to earn the right to play a set at the popular V festival. As time progressed, the success of the band followed suit, and they began releasing EP's on their own independent record label, 'Mmm... records', until they produced their first album 'I had the blues but i shook them loose'. Since then the success of the band only progressed further, meaning that in 2008 the band signed a deal with a large record label, 'island records' to which they released their second album 'Ivy & Gold'.
Target Audience
The audience to this sort of music, fitting with the indie genre, would be predominantly a younger one. The majority would be between around 14 - 30 years of age, due to the fact that younger fans may look up to musicians, wanting to play instruments. This slots in with the uses and gratification theory, that audiences seek out types of media in order to gratify a need. This may be so that they are up to date and knowledgeable in talking about new bands in conversation. Audiences may seek out Bombay bicycle club's songs and videos for identification, in order to try to identify with the band members and characters portrayed in the videos.
Permission from artist
Initially, i believed that we would be creating our videos as a project in pairs. Therefore another class member and i emailed the band Bombay Bicycle Club in hope of permission to use one of their songs. We Emailed both the band email and the management, asking for permission for two songs, so that we could choose later. Upon finding out that we must work indepentantly, i have chosen to use the song 'Magnet'.
Our Email
Dear Bombay Bicycle Club
We are two A level media students from North Hykeham Joint Sixth Form, and would like to ask for your permission to make a promotional music video for your songs Magnet or Cancel on Me as part of our year 13 media project, filming and editing a promotional music video.
Personally we both feel that your songs Magnet or Cancel on Me would be perfect for our task and ideas, and would be overjoyed to be given permission to use it.
Many thanks, we hope to hear back from you soon.
Kristian Barnard and Antony Hogg
Reply
Hi,
If this is only to be used privately for a school assignment and not used commercially or publicly then this is fine.
Jason
Our Email
Dear Bombay Bicycle Club
We are two A level media students from North Hykeham Joint Sixth Form, and would like to ask for your permission to make a promotional music video for your songs Magnet or Cancel on Me as part of our year 13 media project, filming and editing a promotional music video.
Personally we both feel that your songs Magnet or Cancel on Me would be perfect for our task and ideas, and would be overjoyed to be given permission to use it.
Many thanks, we hope to hear back from you soon.
Kristian Barnard and Antony Hogg
Reply
Hi,
If this is only to be used privately for a school assignment and not used commercially or publicly then this is fine.
Jason
Camera Shots
Here are some examples of common camera shots used in media.
Extreme close up - showing in detail a specific part of a face or object without background detail.
Mid shot - Frames the subject of the photo, waist up.
Long shot - full shot showing all of the subjects body, with background and surroundings visible.
Rule of thirds - subject takes up 1/3 of the image.
High angled shot - used to show the subject looking small, or powerless.
Close up - used to show emotion in the subjects face
Extreme close up - showing in detail a specific part of a face or object without background detail.
Mid shot - Frames the subject of the photo, waist up.
Long shot - full shot showing all of the subjects body, with background and surroundings visible.
Rule of thirds - subject takes up 1/3 of the image.
High angled shot - used to show the subject looking small, or powerless.
Close up - used to show emotion in the subjects face
A2 Media Progress Post
I have now looked at many videos for inspiration for my own video, and i have chosen to analyse three very different examples. The videos I have analysed have helped me to establish what kind of conventions are evident within different types of videos, as performance clips have different features as opposed to narrative ones. This therefore helps to give me an idea of how to film my performance parts, with close ups of the band members as they perform specific parts of the song.
Analysis of music videos 3 - 50 Cent - Just a lil' bit
Overview
This song was released and performed by 50 Cent, a successful rapper from America. The song was released on the artists second album titled 'The Massacre' in March 2005. 'Just a lil' bit' was the third single released from this album in may 2005, reaching number 3 in the billboard hot one hundred and number 10 in the UK singles chart.
Genre
Similarly to all of 50 cent's other singles, this song is from the 'Hip Hop' and 'Gangsta rap' genre. This genre is typically recognized in vocals by the way the artist says the lyrics, rapping for the majority of songs rather than singing like other genre's of music. The term 'Gangsta rap describes rap that lyrically describes violence and troubles that many artists may have been through at some point in life. Often a controversial genre due to the violent and provoking lyrics, 'Gangsta rap' has quickly become one of the most commercially popular sub-genre's of the genre. Sexual references are also conventionally used in this genre of music, with women often shown in as sexual objects, and shown in an attractive/sexual light in videos. We can see this displayed in this song and video, as sexual acts are frequently referenced in the lyrics, and women are shown in a sexually attractive way (fitting with Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory). Rappers are often shown in videos in a similar way fitting in with the conventions of the genre. For example they often wear hats/caps, baggy clothing and have some sort of bold jewelery. This convention has been followed in the video as 50 cent wears this sort of clothing, with a big bold shiny necklace around his neck.
Codes and Conventions
The video is both a narrative and performance clip, as the artist 50 cent is frequently rapping the lyrics in sync with the song but there is also a storyline going on when he is not performing. The performance is quite conventional for a Hip Hop video, as the rapper 50 cent is singing directly to the camera at frequent points throughout the video. As well as this the storyline involves the use of sex and violence, of which are traits often associated with this genre of music. I would say that the location is also a conventional one regarding Hip Hop music, as it is set in a glamorous sunny resort, indicating that 50 cent has lots of money, being something many Rappers wish to showcase.
Audience
Until mainstream success rap music was usually mostly listened too by people similar to the artists themselves, being males from around 15 - 30. This was down to the fact that many of these listeners could relate to the lyrics in songs having gone through similar experiences and living similar lifestyles. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s however, the popularity of Hip Hop music increased dramatically meaning a more diverse audience. Now this genre of music is more mainstream and has entered national charts, so has been accessible and listened to by many more people. This song reached number 3 in the US and number 10 in the UK, meaning that pop music fans may find themselves listening to songs like this staying in touch with whats classed as chart music. 50 cent's lyrics however, have not changed to suit a young male and female pop audience, as they are still quite graphic with explicit lyrics to do with sex and violence.
Lyrics and Music
Yeah... Shady....Aftermath.. G-Unit
Damn baby all I need is a lil' bit...
A lil bit o' dis a lil bit o' dat...
Get crackin' in the club when you hear the shit..
Drop it like it's hot get to wokin that back....
Girl shake that thing yeah work that thing,
Let me see it go up and down...
Rotate that thing, I wanna touch that thing when you make it go round and round...
I step up in the club I'm like who you with
G-Unit in the house yeah that's my clique
Yeah I'm young but a nigga from the old school,
On a dance floor nigga doing old moves...
I don't give a f**k I do what I wanna do,
I hit your ass up boy I done warned you,
Better listen when I talk nigga don't trip,
Your heat in the club, mine's in this bitch,
I ain't tryin' to beef I'm tryin' to get my drink on.
I got my diamonds, my fitted, and my mink on..
I'm gonna kick it at the bar til it's time to go,
Then I'm gonna get shorty here and I'm gonna let her know...
[chorus]
All a nigga really need is a lil bit,
not a lot baby girl just a lil bit..
we can head to the crib in a lil bit..
I can show you how I live in a lil bit,
I wanna unbutton your pants just a lil bit,
take 'em off pull em down just a lil bit,
get to kissin' and touchin' a lil bit...
get to lickin' and f*****g a lil bit...
[verse 2]
This is 50 comin' out your stereo..
Hard to tell tho 'cause I switch the flow,
Eyes a little low 'cause I twist tha dro
Pockets on swoll 'cause I move the o's..
My neck, my wrist, my ears is froze
Come get your bitch she on me dawg,
She must a heard about the dough,
Now captain c'mon and save a hoe.
I get crunk in the club I'm off the chain
#1 on the chart all the time mayne
When the kid in the house I turn it out
Keep the dance floor packed that's without a doubt
Shorty shake that thing like a pro mayne
She back dat up on me I'm like oh man
I get close enough to her so I know she could hear it
System thumpin' party's jumpin I say it loud and clear.
[chorus]
All a nigga really need is a lil bit,
not a lot baby girl just a lil bit..
we can head to the crib in a lil bit..
I can show you how I live in a lil bit,
I wanna unbutton your pants just a lil bit,
take 'em off pull em down just a lil bit,
get to kissin' and touchin' a lil bit...
get to lickin' and f*****g a lil bit...
[bridge]
You really got me feelin' right.. (ya heard me)
My mama gone you can spend the night (ya heard me)
I ain't playin' I'm tryin' to f**k tonight (ya heard me)
Clothes off, face down, ass up, c'mon (haha).
[chorus 2x]
All a nigga really need is a lil bit,
not a lot baby girl just a lil bit..
we can head to the crib in a lil bit..
I can show you how I live in a lil bit,
I wanna unbutton your pants just a lil bit,
take 'em off pull em down just a lil bit,
get to kissin' and touchin' a lil bit...
get to lickin' and f*****g a lil bit...
Immediately, you can see that the lyrics are quiet explicit, which fits well with the song and genre, as attractive women appear on screen in the intro of the song. When the tune of the song kicks in, you can see some typical conventions of a Hip/hop video. The edit is quick, fitting well with the tempo of the song and on screen you can see a glamorous looking location with the artist, 5o cent in smart expensive looking clothes and in an expensive looking home. The fact that he is walking with 3 attractive and scantily clad women also fits in with the general Hip/hop ideology that women are sexual objects. The lyrics generally portray 50 cent as a powerful man, as he sings about expensive things like diamonds. This fits well with the visuals as he is wearing what looks like a flashy chain around his neck, showing his wealth. The power that comes from his wealth is shown throughout the clip as he seems to be using women as his tools to capture gangsters, making him seem like the more powerful character. The way in which the women capture the men in the clip also fits well with the video as the lyrics are very sexual and suggest that the downfall of the captured men is the fact that they succumb to wanting 'a lil bit' from the beautiful women shown on screen.
Representation
This video represents two main groups of people, both men and women associated with Hip/hop music. The men, such as the rapper 50 cent and the other gangster characters in the clip , are depicted as powerful and dangerous, with the main character 50 cent being shown as wealthy. This can be noticed from the expensive looking clothes and location to which the video is shot. towards the end of the video police find 50 dollar bills and diamonds near the scenes of the crime, helping to back up the representation of wealth in male rappers like 50 cent. Women are depicted differently however, as they seem to be hovering around the rapper frequently throughout the clip. This seems to put them in a lower position concerning power, as 50 is the main focus of the scene with several women surrounding him. They are also shown as objects of sexual desire throughout, as they are wearing minimal clothing to show off their bodies in a suggestive manner. This then follows through in the narrative as the women seem to use their looks to lure men into 50 cent's trap, showing that they are used as tools or objects to the hands of powerful men like the main character in the clip, 50 cent.
Institution - Record Label
After a number of successful underground and early singles 5o cent was first signed to interscope records in 2002, a label of which had many other successful artists signed such as 2pac, Eminem and the Black eyed peas. The album 'Get rich or die tryin' ' was released under interscope, reaching number 1 in the US billboard chart and featuring numerous number one singles. As 50 hit rapid success, he set up his own label in 2003 titled G-Unit of which specialized in the Hip/hop genre, with the permission of interscope who would distribute G-unit records. With this record 50 cent signed a number of artists in the rap genre of whom were specifically classed as members of G-unit. Intercope itself would be mostly associated with the Hip/Hop genre, gaining great commercial success originally with successful Hip/hop acts such as Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg. More recently, the label has begun to broaden its horizons, signing artists from other genres of music so as to maximize sales for the business. They have since been involved with artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit and Blink-182.
Camera Shot, Edit and Lighting
Throughout the Video there are numerous examples of different camera shots, types of edit and lighting. First of all it can be noticed that the edit is quite slow with a slow zoom and slow pan. This fits well with the slow tempo of the song of which is usually seen in many hip hop songs. The lighting throughout the clip is bright and natural, to capture the luxurious tropical lifestyle of which the rapper and main character are located. At points where the tempo of the song pick up, the edit follows suit, cutting from shot to shot quickly to match the music.
This song was released and performed by 50 Cent, a successful rapper from America. The song was released on the artists second album titled 'The Massacre' in March 2005. 'Just a lil' bit' was the third single released from this album in may 2005, reaching number 3 in the billboard hot one hundred and number 10 in the UK singles chart.
Genre
Similarly to all of 50 cent's other singles, this song is from the 'Hip Hop' and 'Gangsta rap' genre. This genre is typically recognized in vocals by the way the artist says the lyrics, rapping for the majority of songs rather than singing like other genre's of music. The term 'Gangsta rap describes rap that lyrically describes violence and troubles that many artists may have been through at some point in life. Often a controversial genre due to the violent and provoking lyrics, 'Gangsta rap' has quickly become one of the most commercially popular sub-genre's of the genre. Sexual references are also conventionally used in this genre of music, with women often shown in as sexual objects, and shown in an attractive/sexual light in videos. We can see this displayed in this song and video, as sexual acts are frequently referenced in the lyrics, and women are shown in a sexually attractive way (fitting with Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory). Rappers are often shown in videos in a similar way fitting in with the conventions of the genre. For example they often wear hats/caps, baggy clothing and have some sort of bold jewelery. This convention has been followed in the video as 50 cent wears this sort of clothing, with a big bold shiny necklace around his neck.
Codes and Conventions
The video is both a narrative and performance clip, as the artist 50 cent is frequently rapping the lyrics in sync with the song but there is also a storyline going on when he is not performing. The performance is quite conventional for a Hip Hop video, as the rapper 50 cent is singing directly to the camera at frequent points throughout the video. As well as this the storyline involves the use of sex and violence, of which are traits often associated with this genre of music. I would say that the location is also a conventional one regarding Hip Hop music, as it is set in a glamorous sunny resort, indicating that 50 cent has lots of money, being something many Rappers wish to showcase.
Audience
Until mainstream success rap music was usually mostly listened too by people similar to the artists themselves, being males from around 15 - 30. This was down to the fact that many of these listeners could relate to the lyrics in songs having gone through similar experiences and living similar lifestyles. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s however, the popularity of Hip Hop music increased dramatically meaning a more diverse audience. Now this genre of music is more mainstream and has entered national charts, so has been accessible and listened to by many more people. This song reached number 3 in the US and number 10 in the UK, meaning that pop music fans may find themselves listening to songs like this staying in touch with whats classed as chart music. 50 cent's lyrics however, have not changed to suit a young male and female pop audience, as they are still quite graphic with explicit lyrics to do with sex and violence.
Lyrics and Music
Yeah... Shady....Aftermath.. G-Unit
Damn baby all I need is a lil' bit...
A lil bit o' dis a lil bit o' dat...
Get crackin' in the club when you hear the shit..
Drop it like it's hot get to wokin that back....
Girl shake that thing yeah work that thing,
Let me see it go up and down...
Rotate that thing, I wanna touch that thing when you make it go round and round...
I step up in the club I'm like who you with
G-Unit in the house yeah that's my clique
Yeah I'm young but a nigga from the old school,
On a dance floor nigga doing old moves...
I don't give a f**k I do what I wanna do,
I hit your ass up boy I done warned you,
Better listen when I talk nigga don't trip,
Your heat in the club, mine's in this bitch,
I ain't tryin' to beef I'm tryin' to get my drink on.
I got my diamonds, my fitted, and my mink on..
I'm gonna kick it at the bar til it's time to go,
Then I'm gonna get shorty here and I'm gonna let her know...
[chorus]
All a nigga really need is a lil bit,
not a lot baby girl just a lil bit..
we can head to the crib in a lil bit..
I can show you how I live in a lil bit,
I wanna unbutton your pants just a lil bit,
take 'em off pull em down just a lil bit,
get to kissin' and touchin' a lil bit...
get to lickin' and f*****g a lil bit...
[verse 2]
This is 50 comin' out your stereo..
Hard to tell tho 'cause I switch the flow,
Eyes a little low 'cause I twist tha dro
Pockets on swoll 'cause I move the o's..
My neck, my wrist, my ears is froze
Come get your bitch she on me dawg,
She must a heard about the dough,
Now captain c'mon and save a hoe.
I get crunk in the club I'm off the chain
#1 on the chart all the time mayne
When the kid in the house I turn it out
Keep the dance floor packed that's without a doubt
Shorty shake that thing like a pro mayne
She back dat up on me I'm like oh man
I get close enough to her so I know she could hear it
System thumpin' party's jumpin I say it loud and clear.
[chorus]
All a nigga really need is a lil bit,
not a lot baby girl just a lil bit..
we can head to the crib in a lil bit..
I can show you how I live in a lil bit,
I wanna unbutton your pants just a lil bit,
take 'em off pull em down just a lil bit,
get to kissin' and touchin' a lil bit...
get to lickin' and f*****g a lil bit...
[bridge]
You really got me feelin' right.. (ya heard me)
My mama gone you can spend the night (ya heard me)
I ain't playin' I'm tryin' to f**k tonight (ya heard me)
Clothes off, face down, ass up, c'mon (haha).
[chorus 2x]
All a nigga really need is a lil bit,
not a lot baby girl just a lil bit..
we can head to the crib in a lil bit..
I can show you how I live in a lil bit,
I wanna unbutton your pants just a lil bit,
take 'em off pull em down just a lil bit,
get to kissin' and touchin' a lil bit...
get to lickin' and f*****g a lil bit...
Immediately, you can see that the lyrics are quiet explicit, which fits well with the song and genre, as attractive women appear on screen in the intro of the song. When the tune of the song kicks in, you can see some typical conventions of a Hip/hop video. The edit is quick, fitting well with the tempo of the song and on screen you can see a glamorous looking location with the artist, 5o cent in smart expensive looking clothes and in an expensive looking home. The fact that he is walking with 3 attractive and scantily clad women also fits in with the general Hip/hop ideology that women are sexual objects. The lyrics generally portray 50 cent as a powerful man, as he sings about expensive things like diamonds. This fits well with the visuals as he is wearing what looks like a flashy chain around his neck, showing his wealth. The power that comes from his wealth is shown throughout the clip as he seems to be using women as his tools to capture gangsters, making him seem like the more powerful character. The way in which the women capture the men in the clip also fits well with the video as the lyrics are very sexual and suggest that the downfall of the captured men is the fact that they succumb to wanting 'a lil bit' from the beautiful women shown on screen.
Representation
This video represents two main groups of people, both men and women associated with Hip/hop music. The men, such as the rapper 50 cent and the other gangster characters in the clip , are depicted as powerful and dangerous, with the main character 50 cent being shown as wealthy. This can be noticed from the expensive looking clothes and location to which the video is shot. towards the end of the video police find 50 dollar bills and diamonds near the scenes of the crime, helping to back up the representation of wealth in male rappers like 50 cent. Women are depicted differently however, as they seem to be hovering around the rapper frequently throughout the clip. This seems to put them in a lower position concerning power, as 50 is the main focus of the scene with several women surrounding him. They are also shown as objects of sexual desire throughout, as they are wearing minimal clothing to show off their bodies in a suggestive manner. This then follows through in the narrative as the women seem to use their looks to lure men into 50 cent's trap, showing that they are used as tools or objects to the hands of powerful men like the main character in the clip, 50 cent.
Institution - Record Label
After a number of successful underground and early singles 5o cent was first signed to interscope records in 2002, a label of which had many other successful artists signed such as 2pac, Eminem and the Black eyed peas. The album 'Get rich or die tryin' ' was released under interscope, reaching number 1 in the US billboard chart and featuring numerous number one singles. As 50 hit rapid success, he set up his own label in 2003 titled G-Unit of which specialized in the Hip/hop genre, with the permission of interscope who would distribute G-unit records. With this record 50 cent signed a number of artists in the rap genre of whom were specifically classed as members of G-unit. Intercope itself would be mostly associated with the Hip/Hop genre, gaining great commercial success originally with successful Hip/hop acts such as Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg. More recently, the label has begun to broaden its horizons, signing artists from other genres of music so as to maximize sales for the business. They have since been involved with artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit and Blink-182.
Camera Shot, Edit and Lighting
Throughout the Video there are numerous examples of different camera shots, types of edit and lighting. First of all it can be noticed that the edit is quite slow with a slow zoom and slow pan. This fits well with the slow tempo of the song of which is usually seen in many hip hop songs. The lighting throughout the clip is bright and natural, to capture the luxurious tropical lifestyle of which the rapper and main character are located. At points where the tempo of the song pick up, the edit follows suit, cutting from shot to shot quickly to match the music.
Analysis of Music videos 2: Slipknot - Psychosocial
Overview
The song Psychosocial is by Slipknot, an successful American heavy metal band. The song is taken from the band's fourth album, All hope is gone. The band hail from Des Moines in Texas, and have made several line-up changes throughout the early years before settling for 9 members, which recently turned to eight following the death of bassist, Paul Gray. Since the inception of the band in 1995, they have gone on to great success being nominated for and winning numerous awards and going on to sell over 14,000,000 records worldwide. Some would say the success of the band has come from there genre defining music, with aggressive and energetic songs coupled with chaotic live shows. Their success could also of been helped by the unusual costumes the band wear, as they make them very identifiable from other bands. They wear jumpsuits, and each member has a different unique mask to which they wear at most band events (concerts, music video's). The masks all look quite frightening from the audiences point of view, similar to that seen at Halloween, which all fits in with the genre of music the band make, heavy metal.
Genre
The band are renowned for their heavy sound and frightening image, both characteristics that would be associated with the heavy metal genre. The music tends to focus on loud and fast drumming, with down tuned pacey guitar riffs and a range of vocal styles from screaming to singing. The topic of the lyrics also tend to be angry and aggressive with dark meanings. Heavy metal itself is a branch of rock music, in which is generally loud with guitar solo's and aggressive and masculine themes. When the genre first came to surface in the late sixties to early seventies, the music seemed to take great influence from blues music but as time progressed these roots have been forgotten and emphasis has been placed on speed and tempo, attracting a certain type of audience, of whom enjoy somewhat chaotic and energetic concerts. The video for Psychosocial is very in keeping with this genre as the edit keeps up with the music, cutting quickly from shot to shot in place with the fast tempo of the music. The mise en scene also fits with the genre, with lots of shots of fire, a feature associated with metal music, and a theme of destruction throughout, which is also associated with this genre
The song Psychosocial is by Slipknot, an successful American heavy metal band. The song is taken from the band's fourth album, All hope is gone. The band hail from Des Moines in Texas, and have made several line-up changes throughout the early years before settling for 9 members, which recently turned to eight following the death of bassist, Paul Gray. Since the inception of the band in 1995, they have gone on to great success being nominated for and winning numerous awards and going on to sell over 14,000,000 records worldwide. Some would say the success of the band has come from there genre defining music, with aggressive and energetic songs coupled with chaotic live shows. Their success could also of been helped by the unusual costumes the band wear, as they make them very identifiable from other bands. They wear jumpsuits, and each member has a different unique mask to which they wear at most band events (concerts, music video's). The masks all look quite frightening from the audiences point of view, similar to that seen at Halloween, which all fits in with the genre of music the band make, heavy metal.
Genre
The band are renowned for their heavy sound and frightening image, both characteristics that would be associated with the heavy metal genre. The music tends to focus on loud and fast drumming, with down tuned pacey guitar riffs and a range of vocal styles from screaming to singing. The topic of the lyrics also tend to be angry and aggressive with dark meanings. Heavy metal itself is a branch of rock music, in which is generally loud with guitar solo's and aggressive and masculine themes. When the genre first came to surface in the late sixties to early seventies, the music seemed to take great influence from blues music but as time progressed these roots have been forgotten and emphasis has been placed on speed and tempo, attracting a certain type of audience, of whom enjoy somewhat chaotic and energetic concerts. The video for Psychosocial is very in keeping with this genre as the edit keeps up with the music, cutting quickly from shot to shot in place with the fast tempo of the music. The mise en scene also fits with the genre, with lots of shots of fire, a feature associated with metal music, and a theme of destruction throughout, which is also associated with this genre
Codes and Conventions
This video is a performance clip, although it also has a very vague narrative of which is cut to quite infrequently throughout the clip. You can see that it is a performance clip as the band are playing their instruments together in the synch with the song. We can also see how the performance shown fits in with the genre of the song as the band members are shown in an energetic way, head banging like typical fans of heavy metal music. As opposed to the clear performance scenes in the clip, the narrative within the clip is much more vague as we see a theme of destruction throughout. At the start we can see the band members lining up large masks of which they then burn later on in the video. There is also a quick cut to a shot of a dead animal on a road. Then towards the end we see more destruction as a tv screen is smashed and finally a window is smashed. This form of narrative fits very well with the genre, as destruction and chaos are features often associated with heavy metal music.
Audience
A heavy metal audience is known for being a mostly masculine one, with a large male fan base although many females do also show an interest in this kind of music. Due to the rough and loud sound the music has been associated with a male fan base, and this type of music has introduced the 'mosh pit', in which crowds open up and throw themselves into each other in time to the music. Many fans of different music may see this as pointless and ridiculous but many metal fans see this as a way to enjoy the music. This tells us something about the audience in that they are prepared to get bruised and bashed in watching their favourite music. This type of fanbase may therefore want to see a chaotic video with lots of action, such as flames and destruction (as seen in this SlipKnot video).
Lyrics and Music
I did mytime, and i want out, so abusive
Fate, it doesn't cut, the soul is not so vibrant
The reckoning, the sickening
Back at you, subversion, pseudo-sacred, psycho virgin
Go tell your classes, go dig your graves
Then fill your mouth will all the money you will save
Sinking in, getting smaller again
Undone, it has begun, i'm not the only one
And the rain will kill us all
If we throw ourselves againsnt the wall
But noone else can see
The persevation of the martyr in me
Psychosocial, psychosocial, psychosocial
Psychosocial, psychosocial, psychococial
Oh, there are cracks in the road we lay
From when the devil fell, the secrets have gone mad
This is nothing new but would we kill it all
Fate was all we had
Who needs another mess, we could start over
Just look me in the eyes and say i'm wrong
Now there's only emptiness but i'm missing something
I think we're done, I'm not the only one
And the rain will kill us all
If we throw ourselves against the wall
But noone else can see
The perservation of the martyr in me
Psychosocial, psychosocial, psychosocial
Psychosocial, psychosocial, psychosocial
The limits of the dead!
The limits of the dead!
The limits of the dead!
The limits of the dead!
Fake and defenseless lie
(Psychosocial)
I tried to tell you first
(Psychosocial)
Your hurtful lies are giving out
(Psychosocial)
Can't stop the killing
(Psychosocial)
I can't help if it's hunting season
(Psychosocial)
Is this what you want
(Psychosocial)
I'm not the only one
And the rain will kill us all
If we throw ourselves against the wall
But noone else can see
The perservation of the martyr in me
And the rain will kill us all
If we throw ourselves against the wall
But noone else can see
The perservation of the martyr in me
The limits of the dead!
The limits of the dead!
When watching the video, you cannot see a clear link between these lyrics and the visuals being shown on screen, as there is only a vague narrative to go by with a mostly performance clip. You can however see a link between the theme of the lyrics and the visuals in the song with angry shouted lyrics, of which match up well with the dark and fast paced visuals, with destructive acts taking place on screen.
As well as this, it is clear from the start that the edit and camera shots match well with the genre of music, as the fast paced metal performance is well linked with a quick edit from each shot with a jerky camera. As the lead singer says 'Go dig your graves', the visual cuts to a dead animal on the road, linking to the image of death created from the phrase 'dig your graves'.
Representation
In the video I can only see one group represented, being the typical males of which listen to and perform this type of music. The group is depicted in this video as a frightening one, as there masks alienate them from society and present them as a scary group from the view of other social groups. It gives off the impression that they are not human and something to be feared, further pushing them away from fitting in with the conventions of everyday society. This is due to the masks and also the angry mood given from the music itself, the costumes and the mise en scene in the clip (e.g. flames and dead animals)
Institution - Record label
Since starting in 1995, it took the band just 3 years of hype to get signed by a successful record label. In 1998 they released a demo with 5 tracks specifically for record labels, and gained lots of interest off the back of these, which lead to the band signing a £500,000 record deal with Roadrunner Records. Their first album, self-titled 'Slipknot' went platinum, becoming a first for Roadrunner Records, and indicating a sign of things to come, with a band who went on to change the face of metal music. The band have since gone on to release 4 successful albums through Roadrunner. The label itself was founded in 1980, in which it began with the intent to import American metal music into the UK and Europe. This soon developed and the business began setting up offices in numerous countries across the world. They are now associated with many successful metal and similar genre bands, including Megadeth, Nickelback, Killswitch Engage and Slash. This list shows how the label seem to stick to a certain genre of music, being mostly heavy metal and thrash metal with other types of rock bands as well. This therefore shows an influence towards why the video is rather stereotypical for a metal video, with a frightening chaotic theme throughout.
Camera shot/edit/lighting
Right from the start of the video, we get a sense of the chaotic nature to follow through out the clip, as we see a visual of an abandoned door way. The camera is immediately very jerky and the edit cuts quickly to another part of this apparent abandoned house. When the music kicks in at around 0.05 seconds we see this jerky style of shooting increase to help represent the chaotic and reckless feeling the the music gives off. When the band are performing, the lighting is very low and the location is very dark, with only flames around the band illuminating what is happening. This fits well with the conventional image associated with heavy metal band's, as flames are very often linked with destruction and chaos. The edit also cuts to a bright day lit area for very short periods throughout the clip. I think this helps to promote the title of the album 'All hope is gone' as the majority of the visual is shown in the dark fiery location, indicating the the light of day is gone, as light is often associated with hope. As Corey Taylor is singing and the band and playing, we see how the camera shot frequently cuts from a mid shot to a close up, indicating the he is the focus point of the band. The camera cuts to an establishing shot of a Baha'i symbol which is a star in flames. This is a religious symbol of which represents the human body, and in being in flames further expresses the destructive theme in the video. As the tempo of the song changes towards the end of the video, and the edit of the video mirrors this as the transition between each shot is less frequent and slow motion is used.
Intertextuality
At around 2.20 in the clip, we see flames light up a star like symbol on the ground. This shows reference to a Bahai'i ennegram, of which is often used as the symbol for the Bahai'i faith. It is said that the 5 pointed star shows the human body as a head, two hands and two feet, and in burning this symbol on the ground it portrays the image of death and destruction once more, fitting with the conventions of a metal band and the frightening chaotic sense that this video expresses.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Analysis of music videos 1: Arctic Monkeys - When the Sun Goes Down
Overview
The song is by Arctic Monkeys, at the time consisting of four young friends from the suburbs of Sheffield writing about the things they see and do in their city. They formed in 2002 and steadily recorded and released some of their songs until releasing their first album, in 2006. The album 'whatever people say i am, that's what i'm not' became the fastest selling album in the uk charts for many years. The song i am analysing from this album is called 'When the sun goes down' and seems to tell the tale of a woman in the rougher areas of the city, a woman of which is implied to be a prosititute. The lyrics go onto describe a male as a 'Scummy Man', implying that he is in control of this woman by being either a client or her 'pimp'. Originally, a short film was produced based around the chosen song, with the same implications yet more of a plot, and this was released onto DVD. The same actors were used as in the music video, but the music video became a cut down and shortened version.
The term used in the lyrics 'girls of the night' backs up the implications that the woman is a prostitute as this is a common slang term for it. Throughout the whole first 50 seconds of the song, the mood and tempo fit very well with the edit and what is on screen, as it is rather slow. Only guitars and vocals can be heard to a slow tempo, and the video mirrors this as each scene takes a while to cut to a next one, and the camera doesn't move jerkily to indicate any kind of fast action.
The song is by Arctic Monkeys, at the time consisting of four young friends from the suburbs of Sheffield writing about the things they see and do in their city. They formed in 2002 and steadily recorded and released some of their songs until releasing their first album, in 2006. The album 'whatever people say i am, that's what i'm not' became the fastest selling album in the uk charts for many years. The song i am analysing from this album is called 'When the sun goes down' and seems to tell the tale of a woman in the rougher areas of the city, a woman of which is implied to be a prosititute. The lyrics go onto describe a male as a 'Scummy Man', implying that he is in control of this woman by being either a client or her 'pimp'. Originally, a short film was produced based around the chosen song, with the same implications yet more of a plot, and this was released onto DVD. The same actors were used as in the music video, but the music video became a cut down and shortened version.
Genre
The music genre is Indie/Alternative rock, which can be picked up by listening to the music the band make. Most of the songs contain catchy guitar riffs and prominant drumming, to give a good beat to the song. This is topped with expressive vocals of which are also catchy, making the song more widely enjoyable to the majority of consumers. From the video, you do not get a great sense of the genre, apart from the fact that the video shows quite a serious issue in society, as it is common for indie/alt rock bands to sing about serious and important issues. Within the clip, we see a short period where the band 'Arctic Monkeys' are putting there instruments into a car. This gives us a sense of the genre due to the fact that we see the instruments so are aware that they are a band, and also by their dress sense, as they are wearing long jackets and slim fitted jeans, commonly associated clothing for this genre of music.
The music genre is Indie/Alternative rock, which can be picked up by listening to the music the band make. Most of the songs contain catchy guitar riffs and prominant drumming, to give a good beat to the song. This is topped with expressive vocals of which are also catchy, making the song more widely enjoyable to the majority of consumers. From the video, you do not get a great sense of the genre, apart from the fact that the video shows quite a serious issue in society, as it is common for indie/alt rock bands to sing about serious and important issues. Within the clip, we see a short period where the band 'Arctic Monkeys' are putting there instruments into a car. This gives us a sense of the genre due to the fact that we see the instruments so are aware that they are a band, and also by their dress sense, as they are wearing long jackets and slim fitted jeans, commonly associated clothing for this genre of music.
Codes and conventions
The Video is a narrative clip, as there is no lip synced or instrumental visuals. As a supplement to the song, the video was originally released as a 16 minute short film, so the video seems to be a shortened version of this to fit the 3.20 minute track. It is therefore a narrative and tells the story of the young girl in the clip.
Audience
I believe that this song and video would be targeted at the younger members of society due to the provoking film and use of slang in the lyrics. The genre tends to be favoured by the younger audiences, teenagers and young adults because the lyrics seem to relate to the lives and activities that this age group are into. Younger teenagers, and also many teenage girls may not be as interested in the song as they tend to be more attracted to pop music in which is in the charts rather than music of the indie genre. Also, people who live in Sheffield or similar cities may relate to these sorts of goings on (prostitution, drug use) as they may have seen similar situations in places around their city. Older viewers however, may not relate to the way in which the lyrics are said, as they won't be as familiar with the use of slang in some phrases. As well as this, they will not have as wide an idea of the lower class youths in society, as obviously they aren't of a young age. The fact that the band itself are all young males would help in gaining a similar audience of young males, as they may have similar opinions to what sort of music they like, and may find the song or video cool or in trend.
Lyrics and Music
Who's that girl there?
I wonder what went wrong
So that she had to roam the streets
She dunt do major credit cards
I wonder what went wrong
So that she had to roam the streets
She dunt do major credit cards
I doubt she does receipts
It's all not quite legitimate
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes,
Yeah, that he's got a driving ban
Amongst some other offences
And I've seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
They're all infected but he'll be alright
Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know
I said he's a scumbag, don't you know!
Although you're trying not to listen
Overt your eyes and staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
"I'm sorry love I'll have to turn you down"
He must be up to something
What are the chances sure it's more than likely
I've got a feeling in my stomach
I start to wonder what his story might be
They said it changes when the sun goes down x3
Around here
Look here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?
And he don't even have to say 'owt
She's in the stance ready to get picked up
Bet she's delighted when she sees him
Pulling in and giving her the eye
Because she must be fucking freezing
Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky
it doesn't stop in the winter, no
Around here
They said it changes when the sun goes down
Over the river going out of town
What a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan
I hope you're not involved at all
It's all not quite legitimate
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes,
Yeah, that he's got a driving ban
Amongst some other offences
And I've seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
They're all infected but he'll be alright
Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know
I said he's a scumbag, don't you know!
Although you're trying not to listen
Overt your eyes and staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
"I'm sorry love I'll have to turn you down"
He must be up to something
What are the chances sure it's more than likely
I've got a feeling in my stomach
I start to wonder what his story might be
They said it changes when the sun goes down x3
Around here
Look here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?
And he don't even have to say 'owt
She's in the stance ready to get picked up
Bet she's delighted when she sees him
Pulling in and giving her the eye
Because she must be fucking freezing
Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky
it doesn't stop in the winter, no
Around here
They said it changes when the sun goes down
Over the river going out of town
What a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan
I hope you're not involved at all
When these lyrics are matched to the video, you can see some clear similarities linking what is said to whats being said on screen, as the lyrics seem to fit the video to tell a vague story. The song starts with the words, 'Who's that girl there' and a woman with an unhappy facial expression appears on screen.
This immediately shows that this is the 'girl' mentioned in the song, of whom will become the main character in the clip. The lyrics then go on to say 'She dunt do major credit cards I doubt she does receipts, its all not quite legitimate'. Hearing the song alone may not show the meaning behind this sentence, but on screen you can see the woman approaching older males in cars, implying that this woman is a prostitute. When the lyrics say 'And what a scummy man', we see a man sat next to this woman, who takes a piece of food from her plate as it says 'I bet he'll rob you if he can'. This links well because it seems as though he
is 'robbing' a piece of food from her plate, and leaves viewers to believe that this man is a bad character and could do worse things as the narrative develops. The term used in the lyrics 'girls of the night' backs up the implications that the woman is a prostitute as this is a common slang term for it. Throughout the whole first 50 seconds of the song, the mood and tempo fit very well with the edit and what is on screen, as it is rather slow. Only guitars and vocals can be heard to a slow tempo, and the video mirrors this as each scene takes a while to cut to a next one, and the camera doesn't move jerkily to indicate any kind of fast action.The mood then changes in the song and we see this is mirrored in the way the video is edited. The camera becomes jerky and the edit cuts from scene to scene quickly. The footage itself is fast-forwarded, showing the change in mood as the drums and bass kick in, and as the guitar playing builds tempo and gets quicker. After this point the lyrics and video do not match as well as before, as a number of different things are happening in the visuals, as the edit cuts from each shot at a fast pace, yet the title of the song is repeated to emphasise the change 'when the sun goes down' to be a bad one, a point in which is backed up by looking at the general narrative of the video. Towards the end, the tempo begins to slow down again. The video links to the lyrics as whilst the apparent 'scummy man' character is being sung about, he is the character focused upon in the video. The lyrics say 'I can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan' and there is a close up of the characters face, in which his expression isn't very warming or friendly and therefore fits with the label that he is a 'scummy man' and with the idea that he has a 'nasty plan'.
Representation
One of the main features of this video is that it shows some very strong representations throughout. The main group represented is young teenage girls from Britain's lower class locations. By watching the video and listening to the lyrics it gives audiences a very negative impression on this group of people, painting them to be opting for one of society's worst professions, a prostitute. As well as this, the woman in the video is seen picking up drugs from a young boy on a bike, once again putting this group in a bad light in the eyes of people who may watch the video. This paints a picture that many youths of today have to turn to prostitution in order to feed their drug addiction. Despite this negative image, its obvious from looking at the characters face that she isn't happy with the way her life as and must wish that it were different. Many people may find this representation shocking to see because they could be unaware of situations some young girls are in, and may start to feel sorry for young women out there who have made mistakes and been dragged into the dark worlds of drugs and prostitution. Another social group of which is represented is older males of whom illegally use prostitution services off these young and vulnerable girls. The other main character in the clip, of whom is implied to be the 'scummy man' in the lyrics, is shown in even more negative light, abusing the girl and sung about in a negative way. This will reinforce already built up negative ideas of this sort of person.
Institution - Record Label
Since forming in 2002, the band (Arctic Monkeys) went quite a while unsigned until Domino records signed them in 2005. Before this, Arctic Monkeys performed a number of small gigs and as their popularity grew over time, they released their first single 'Five minutes with Arctic Monkeys'. Due to the growing popularity and increased hype about the band, a number of record labels approached the band with record deals, yet the band decided to turn these down with the ideology that they would not change their songs to fit these labels demands. After a while, the band ended up signing with Domino records, due to the 'do it yourself' ethic this label promoted, as the owner ran the label from his flat and only signed bands to which he liked personally. The 'DIY' ethic is popular amongst similar bands, being a trait assigned to the 'indie' genre. Since signing this deal, the band have released all of their following albums and singles from this label. Some other artists signed to this label are Franz Ferdinand and Lightspeed Champion, both artists creating a vaguely similar style of music, also generalised under the 'indie' genre.
The fact that these bands are similar shows that this record label promotes this kind of music, and therefore may influence how Arctic Monkeys dress and the genre of music they create, although not to a massive extent due to the 'DIY' ethic of the label. I think that therefore the video was not greatly influenced by the record label as they seem to be the sort of label who let the bands make their own decisions in terms of which direction they will take there music and videos, so long as it isn't too extreme a change.
In terms of the music released from this label (indie rock, indie pop), Domino is a big company, being one of the longest running and most successful independent record labels in the UK, with many different artists signed up. They successfully helped Arctic Monkeys in releasing 'I Bet you Look Good on the Dancefloor', which reached number 1 in the UK charts.
Camera Shot, Edit and Lighting
At the start of the video the edit is slow, cutting from shot to shot at quite a slow pace. This fits will with the music which begins at a similar slow pace and tempo. We see the use of lots of close ups, to portray the different emotions the character's may be feeling, for example the woman looks lost and vulnerable yet the man looks as if he has a menacing motive for something. The lighting in the video is mostly natural as it is mostly set out side, but as an audience you can see a clear contrast as it changes from the light of the day to the dark of the night. The female character is often shown with a close up or mid-shot, with a light sky as the background. This connotates her vulnerability in her night time activities and shows the audience that she has some sense of innocence despite her contrasting job. The male character however is often showed in night time with mild lighting on his face. This gives a completely different feeling about the character when compared to the female character. It gives the audience the impression that he has cruel or vicious intentions and leaves a dark feeling about him as a character.
Intertextuality
This video shows some form of intertextuality as the actor playing the male character in the video, Stephen Graham, is in a number of different films and programmes. He is seen below playing 'Combo', from 'This is England'. Use of intertextuality in this way can help in attracting viewers to the video, as they may enjoy his other characters and films, making them want to watch more of his work.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
AS media progress post
So far since the start of the course i have made some progress towards reaching my goal of finishing the course with a successful video of my own. I have started this with thorough research into key aspects of music video production. I have looked back and written about the history of the music video as we know it, exploring different conventional features and the theories applied in the production of the modern video.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Laura Mulvey's Gaze Theory
Laura Mulvey, a successful media and cinema professor identified a theory in cinema and film of which can be related to all types of visual media, music videos included. She put forward the ideology that females were made to watch the form of media from the perspective of a man, as visuals were produced and filmed with the intentions to show women in a sexually appealing light. She called this the Male Gaze Theory, meaning that women are forced to look at videos or films in the same way in which men look at women.
Features of this Gaze in media would be shown in how the camera lingers over the attractive females in the video, paying close attention to body parts of which may evoke sexual desire in men, such as the breasts and curves. Mulvey Believed that women in media are shown as objects of desire rather than people, to the criteria of what the stereotypical male in society wants to view. we can see examples of the male gaze in a number of videos, and here is a clear example:
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Andrew Goodwin's music video theory
The conventions of a music video can be identified by a number of key features, and Andrew Goodwin devised a theory that each music video contains these key features.
- Lyrics - These are used to create a general feeling with the viewer, and could evoke an emotion, mood or sense of subject rather than a meaning.
- Music - The speed and tempo will establish the editing, with fast beats driving quick and jerky editing or camera shots. .
- Genre - Can be reflected in the types of mise-en-scene, themes, performance, camera and editing styles.
- Camerawork - Different types of camerawork can give a different meaning behind the video, with different movement, angles and shots, to convey a different message, e.g. a low angle shot can give a sense of power being the subject of the image.
- Editing - the most common form being fast cut montage rendering many images together, to make for quick viewing of which may be difficult to understand at first, leading to multiple viewing to gain more grasp on the clip.
- Intertextuality - Use of a reference within the video, referring to another form of media. Not all viewers may notice the reference in the lyrics/visuals, but those who spot a reference may gain some enjoyment from this.
- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating what is being sung, or even contradicting it. For example, a sad song about a break up may show a woman crying to illustrate sadness in the lyrics.
- There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating what is being played, or even contradicting it. For example a fast tempo in a song with a quick pace may be reflected in the video with a fast paced car chase.
- Genres are diverse in terms of music video style and shape the way in which the video is made, for example a pop singer may include dancing whilst singing in appealing clothing, and a heavy metal video may be dark with often frightening visuals such as flames or masks.
- If the band is signed to a record company, then the demands of the label may mean that the video must include lots of closer of the singer or lead singer or the band. This main artist may also partake in the narrative aspect of the video being the main character of a story.
- Voyeurism is used in some music videos, with the use of females dancing or moving in a suggestive way to provoke sexual appeal with some of the audience, helping to increase the number of views from people looking to see what attractive women in the video. This is also used in the systems of looking (examples are screens within screens or mirrors) or to show something which may not be real to the narrative yet the actors are watching on a tv.
- There are also often a number of intertextual references, to known aspects of TV, film, or other music videos, providing pleasure or satisfaction in anyone in the audience who spots it.
Conventions of Music Videos
A convention is a set of unwritten rules and standards related to the creation of something, of which fit a certain norm or criteria. In music videos, conventions tend to apply to the vast majority of videos, as producers stick to these standards when developing, filming and editing their video. Despite this, many producers may choose to break conventions, in order to add affect and leave a lasting or challenging impression within the mind of the audience.
Typically, the standard convention of a music video would mean it would contain 3 key visual elements:
Typically, the standard convention of a music video would mean it would contain 3 key visual elements:
- A filmed band or singer playing to the track.
- Inserted images blended in, e.g. showing the narrative behind the lyrics.
- Experimental arty techniques.
- A performance clip - showing the singer or band playing their track in one or more settings. This could be classed as a song performance, a dance performance or an instrumental one. This is an example of a performance clip :
- A narrative clip - shows a short movie with the band's song played over. A pure narrative will contain no lip-synced singing or playing. This video by Queens of the Stone Age is a clear example of a narrative, which also uses voyeurism in displaying attractive women throughout the video
- An Art clip - This will contain no clear visual narrative or lip syncing, with visuals which may even seem irrelevant to the song. This video is an example of an art clip, in which the visuals aren't directly related to the song, yet still leave for pleasurable viewing
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