Band playing - A substitute band could perform the same song with the same instruments.
Dancing - Dancers could possibly be used to link in with the music.
Singing - Either a solo singer or multiple people could sing along to the music.
Plot/story - Actual events could take place either reflecting the lyrics or metaphorically representing them.
Montage - A montage of events/people/places could be used to link to the lyrics.
Animation - Digital or physical animation is a possibility, this would again be a sequence of events linking to the lyrics.
Thursday 21 July 2011
Music Video Conventions
A music video is a short film (usually same length as the song) that is produced for promotional and/or artistic purposes. Music videos use a very wide range of techniques and styles of film (such as live action filming, documentary style, abstract film, animation, etc). In some cases, music videos will use a combination of the styles and techniques such as live action filming and animation. It is far more common for music videos to not be very literal than they were expected to be prior to the likes of MTV. In the early 1980’s when MTV was first introduced to American televisions it used music videos as a marketing device that was intended to promote the sale of the music. MTV primarily showed this format; music videos.
The majority of music videos follow a set of rules or also known as codes and conventions. These codes and conventions are loose guidelines that’s the video has been made to so it is easily recognisable. The first and most obvious thing every music video will contain is a song by the artist. The content of a music video usually fits the lyrics which add a narrative/plot to the video that keeps the viewer watching as they want to see the conclusion of the story. Music videos then have a plot or narrative for that reason. The artist or band are normally in the music video either singing their music or just going along with the narrative, oblivious to the music. If the musician is very known and mainstream, being in their own music video would definitely look more appealing to their fans as they are what the fans what to see.
It is quite known that sex sells so sexuality is a big part of the music industry therefore it is in many music videos. For example, many of Beyonce’s music videos feature a lot of sexuality and use her sex symbol image to sell her music even further as they know it will sell. Single Ladies by Beyonce was very simple. It was her and two other dancers in black leotards doing an intricate dance routine in time with the song. The simplicity worked as her image sold it and the parodies/internet talk increased its popularity. Even if the music video isn’t seductive, the lyrics will most likely compensate for it.
To enhance the music there is normally a form of movement like dancing that goes to the beat or with the genre that the song is in. Another way to enhance it would be to edit the video so it is cut to the beats. This will have a similar effect that the dancing does. In A Hard Day’s Night, in the Can’t Buy Me Love sequence which is in itself a music video, the shots are cut to the beat of the song which definitely makes it work very well and look more like a music video.
Monday 11 July 2011
Prelim Music Video Evaluation
Runaround Sue - Dion & The Belmonts:
The task was to create a music video to a song that was given to us by our media teacher. There were a few rules; no more than 3 people per group (although we expanded to four because of another group having to split up and join others), no uniform could be worn and should be filmed on or not very far from the school premises.
To begin with, the group was myself, Lubna and Alex. The only idea we all agreed on was to have to video in black and white and have a girl and a boy in it with a 'vintage'/50's feel as the original song we had was "Little Ol' Wine Drinker". We finally decided that Alex would be the main female character in the video as she had the type of costume required for the task (late 50's style dress, etc) but the day after on the Friday lesson, Ellis joined our group while Lubna was away. We then compared song choices with him and found that his song 'Runaround Sue' by Dion not only suited the type of music video we had in mind better than the previous, but also we preferred it more.
After some brief planning we decided that Alex would remain the 'lead a character which in this song is "Runaround Sue". She would to walk through the golf course whilst being followed by someone who was supposed to be in love with me. In the end we had to have Kirsty as being my stalker as we didn't plan at all well. We basically had an idea in our heads but assumed it would fall into place, which it didn't.
The filming process was very long, it took a while for us to settle down and try and get some decent shots. One of Alex stamping on a rose that Kirsty had given to her so the camera was at a high angle pointing down at a close up so only her lower leg can be seen as my foot crushes the flower. Another is of Kirsty watching as I walk past. We got half an hour of film for our 3 and a half minute song.
On our last lesson to edit our music video, half of our group were not in (Ellis and Alex were off) we did the best that we could considering we had around 2 hours to finish all of the editing with footage that was freshly uploaded.
The task was to create a music video to a song that was given to us by our media teacher. There were a few rules; no more than 3 people per group (although we expanded to four because of another group having to split up and join others), no uniform could be worn and should be filmed on or not very far from the school premises.
To begin with, the group was myself, Lubna and Alex. The only idea we all agreed on was to have to video in black and white and have a girl and a boy in it with a 'vintage'/50's feel as the original song we had was "Little Ol' Wine Drinker". We finally decided that Alex would be the main female character in the video as she had the type of costume required for the task (late 50's style dress, etc) but the day after on the Friday lesson, Ellis joined our group while Lubna was away. We then compared song choices with him and found that his song 'Runaround Sue' by Dion not only suited the type of music video we had in mind better than the previous, but also we preferred it more.
After some brief planning we decided that Alex would remain the 'lead a character which in this song is "Runaround Sue". She would to walk through the golf course whilst being followed by someone who was supposed to be in love with me. In the end we had to have Kirsty as being my stalker as we didn't plan at all well. We basically had an idea in our heads but assumed it would fall into place, which it didn't.
The filming process was very long, it took a while for us to settle down and try and get some decent shots. One of Alex stamping on a rose that Kirsty had given to her so the camera was at a high angle pointing down at a close up so only her lower leg can be seen as my foot crushes the flower. Another is of Kirsty watching as I walk past. We got half an hour of film for our 3 and a half minute song.
On our last lesson to edit our music video, half of our group were not in (Ellis and Alex were off) we did the best that we could considering we had around 2 hours to finish all of the editing with footage that was freshly uploaded.
Sunday 3 July 2011
Music Videos Analysed
Music Videos:
Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
The Black Keys - Tighten Up
The narrative for the music video for Tighten Up by The Black Keys is that the band members (Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney) bring their 'children' to the park where they watch them fight over girls which they also do with the girl's mother later on in the video. There is also an element of humour to this music video. The children start fighting over girls and trying to impress them and the band reenact this in the last part of the video. It's funny because its so childish and silly. The artists are in the video and part of the narrative but they do not lip sync. The children lip sync to the song as they are 'mini-versions' of the band. Although the artists do play their instruments to the song to impress the girl. The video isn't exactly original but quite cliche as two men are fighting over a girl but with the humour and children doing it as well it becomes a bit more unique.
Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Beyonce's Single Ladies video is very iconic and definitely one of the biggest videos of 2009. It involves Beyonce and two other dancers wearing black leotards and heels in a white room. It is also in black and white which adds to the simplicity of the video which really works well. Even though the idea is very simple and has no narrative it is an intricate dance routine. This routine would take skill to perfect and Beyonce and her dancer do exactly that. The dance goes to the beat of the song which adds to the overall affect of it. The artist of the song is featured in the video as the main focus. The video proves how Beyonce is such a big star in society and in the music industry that just her alone can sell it, especially with her sexuality which is in full form in the video. The content of the video does link in with the lyrics of the song. The song is about a if a man wants a woman he should 'put a ring on it'. Therefore she points at her hand a lot during the video. For a music video to be seen as 'good' and successful it is quite important for it to be unique. Single Ladies might not be the most original or creative music video but it is definitely unique and stands out from the others out at the time and after. Also many parodies of the video have increased its popularity in society and on the internet as its branched out the audience.
The Black Keys - Tighten Up
The narrative for the music video for Tighten Up by The Black Keys is that the band members (Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney) bring their 'children' to the park where they watch them fight over girls which they also do with the girl's mother later on in the video. There is also an element of humour to this music video. The children start fighting over girls and trying to impress them and the band reenact this in the last part of the video. It's funny because its so childish and silly. The artists are in the video and part of the narrative but they do not lip sync. The children lip sync to the song as they are 'mini-versions' of the band. Although the artists do play their instruments to the song to impress the girl. The video isn't exactly original but quite cliche as two men are fighting over a girl but with the humour and children doing it as well it becomes a bit more unique.
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