Initial Ideas for Music Video Tracks

To start of the project, I need to find 3 initial non-copyrighted tracks to use as the basis of a music video that will be created aspart of a promotional campaign. The point of this is to promote the music and create something that will en-capture the viewers interest to the video.

one.'Lights' - Kriss:
This particular song was chosen because my group partner and I believed we could create a fairly suitable and artistic video with the song material.
The style of the song is quite ambient and has a dubstep twist to it - so the video can be made around the style of the music fairly well.
The lyrics to the song reflect the emotion and theme to how the video can be portrayed; Passion, love but feeling alone.
We invision this video to have a passionate but strong feel with the music. For this to happen, we would need a female actor to lip-sync the lyrics and act passionatly with the lyrics of the song to create a strong and convincing connection with the song. We want to make sure this video looks professional, so to do this we want to ensure that lighting of the 'singer' was a key part of the song because we want to make sure that we highlight the 'singers' appearance and lip-syncing.
For the settings of the song, we intend to involve pituresque scenes of London, preferably in the night time so that the music video can be visually interesting and not loose the viewers attention.
Something which stand out in the video is the use of close-ups/extreme close-ups of the the 'singers' eyes and lips so it has a more of a personal feel to the viewer.
The video would include many creative shots of out of focused/blurred lights keep in theme with the twinkly/light music and the fit the title & lyrics of the song. By involving effects such as 'faded montages' to the films captured will create a better image to the song and will make it look visually interesting.
The lights would also be paced in time with the music so the video has a better connection and flow with the song.
We decided that a performance and visual styled video would be best suited to this song because we believed this was probably the best way to present it.
Since our lesson on Hyperreality, We decided to maybe incorporate an aspect of Hyperreal content to the music video to make it more interesting to the viewer and to give the video more structure and concept. For example, in relation to the title and the lyrics of the song, we had an idea of having the singer in the video to be portrayed as perhaps half human but also an artificial human (half and half). We thought this could be a good idea seeing that the title 'Lights' may have a good connection to electrics and power.
The key theme for our video is to portray the genre of sensitivity, uniqueness and artistic expression/uniqueness.
SENSITIVITY, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, UNIQUENESS

Inspirations:

two.'Drifting' - The Frequency:
This particular song we have chosen has a strong feel and sound. For this particular track, we decided on a performance and narrative. We believed this style of video is best suited for the track because it is heavily instrumental which is perfect for performance and the lyrics of the song tell a story, so narrative would also be perfect for this.
Because the song has a very relaxing sound at the start of the song, we believe its a great way to build up and open the song with a good introduction, such as soft shots of the guitarist and other band members, but also blur in some shots of the actors of the video. To ensure that the video is successful, the visuals of the video should relate to the music. So in this case, as the lyrics sound as if it's to do with strength, perhaps through a relationship or life?
Chorus: "You're falling down the deepest hole, falling through the floor and everything below, and your drifting through to that world unknown.. so heavenly yet so scary too its me"
As a first idea, we decided that perhaps the bands singer could be talking about his own experience and talking as if he's talking to his partner. In this case, we would try to put together a storyline involving the singer and another female actor (his girlfriend or ex-girlfriend) and his love going through turmoile.
At the more softer parts of the song we believe its more suitable to use more relaxed visuals, calm shots and soft editing, but for the more faster paced music we want to involve more quick-cuts and shots of the band as they are playing the music.

three.'Kamikaze' - TenPenny Joke
This particular idea will be mainly focused around a 'performance' based music video. The reason for this is because I believe the main focus of the song is based heavily on instruments, such as the guitars, drums and bass. I imagine alot of the video to be based on close ups of the band members and their instruments, as well as having a wide/master shots of the entire band performing. I also want to ensure that quick cut editing is used to keep in pace with the song, as well as making it visually appealing. As it is a performance based music video, it would need to include lip and instrument synch, effective lighting, as well as coverage (angles & close ups) and beat editing.
As the start of the song has the sudden introduction of the guitar, I imagine it to be introduced with a close up of the guitar strings being strummed and then turning into a blured wide shot of the band as other instruments are introduced. This video would include lots of quick cuts and close ups of the band members, focusing on the music being played and the vocalist.

Analysing a music video with framing and box techniques - 'CountDown - Beyoncé'

I decided to write up and analyse this particular music video because I found that the framing and editing of this particular was an inspiration to me, and I believe it will help me in the future with my music video project.

As this particular video is a performance based music video, it involves alot of lip-synching and choreography from the artist which makes it visually interesting.
The video involves alot of editing and effects applied to the shots, such as adding colour effects to the clothing, mirror effects and duplicating to enhance the choreography and lip synching.
The use of these framing techniques and editing effects being applied to the video content makes it more visually appealing to the viewer and enables a more interesting approach to the song.
Beyoncé is a widely known female recording artist who is an inspiration to many. In her music video she is still displayed as a role model to many and can be viewed as sex appeal, effectively portayed within this particular music video with the use of her acting,dancing/choreography and fashion styling within the video.
The video also demonstrates a conceptual styling, as the sounds and beats to the song are portrayed as being created by Beyoncé's body movements and dance moves.
This particular music video seems to reflect 1970's styling - in context with the clothing, colours, settings and layouts used for the video. This particular application of the stylings of the 1970's gives the video a sense of class and originality, as well as bringing fashion into the music video.

Quality fashion/clothing and hair adds to the visuals of the music video - as well as having Beyoncé viewed as stylish and an effective role model.

Composing the frame to consist more than one piece of video content makes it more visually appealing
Use of loose and little 70's clothing creates sex appeal to male and female audiences

Use of black and white colour schemes and vertical background styling creates a more retro fashion to the video. The use of Beyoncé immitating the hands on a clock reflects the sound in the song.

Using the black-boardered framing technique makes the music video more interesting, as it can display more than one piece of footage. The input of solid colours in the block creates a pop-art style.

Again, the use of duplicates of video footage and boardering creates a staggered montage effect and creating more of a visual impact.

Mixing three different choreographed dances into one frame demonstrating the different beats that can be picked out of the song.

Duplicates of the same video content/movement adds effect to the beat of the song

 
Plain layout and framing of the shot displaying choreography adds a simplistic style, focusing on the performance

Hyperreality and Intertextuality

Hyperrealism:
Hyper - “hyper” refers to over, above, or beyond.
Reality - “reality” is “the quality of being real or having an actual existence”
'A reconstruction of reality'
"Hyperreality occurs when one blends reality and fiction, and fiction wins out."

Example of hyperreal music video:




Intertextuality:
"shaping of texts' meanings by other texts."
the complex interrelationship between a text and other texts taken as basic to the creation or interpretation of the text.

Example of Intertextual Music Video:

The first part of Queen's 'I wan't to break free' was a spoof of the northern British soap opera Coronation Street, as proposed by Roger Taylor.
The video depicts Mercury as a housewife, loosely based on Bet Lynch, who wants to "break free" from his life. Although Lynch was a blonde in the soap opera, Mercury thought he would look too silly as a blonde and chose a dark wig. May plays another, more relaxed housewife based on Hilda Ogden. Deacon appears as a conservative 'grandma', while Taylor plays a schoolgirl, who like Mercury wants a different life.


"Express Yourself" music video was inspired by the Fritz Lang classic film Metropolis (1927), and featured an epigraph at the end of the video from the film: "Without the Heart, there can be no understanding between the hand and the mind"

Madonna has done many music videos involving intertextuality, such as 'Vogue' (Taken from the look of films and photography from The Golden Age of Hollywood with the use of artwork by the Art Deco artist Tamara de Lempicka and an Art Deco set design. Many of the scenes are recreations of photographs taken by noted photographer Horst P. Horst, including his famous "Mainbocher Corset", "Lisa with Turban" (1940), and "Carmen Face Massage" (1946).) 'Material Girl' - A reference to Marilyn Monroe in the film 'Gentlemen prefer blondes' (1953)

Here is an example of another intertextual reference - Michael Jacksons 'Thriller' and LMFAO 'Sexy and I Know It.'

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californiacation is an intertextual music video as it features a game styled music video

Green Screen

Example:


The Foo Fighters in their 'Times Like These Video' used green screen.

Analysing a 'conceptual' music video

band examples:

So much love for the Foo's... :)

Foo Fighter: Monkey Wrench


Foo Fighters: Rope


Foo Fighters: Best of you

TO FINISH! - Music Video Remake - Britney Spears 'Hit Me Baby One More Time'

 (EDIT AND INSERT VIDEO)
The purpose of the recreation of this music video is for us to have a better idea of the types of considerations are needed to make a music video. Below are some of the things I have thought about which will be needed when trying to create the video.

Equipment needed for music video:
Tripod
Video Camera
Extra battery/Charger for the camera
Lighting
Clock
Bell?
School tables/chairs
Lockers
Makeup: slightly dark eye makeup and red lipstick

Clothes:
Grey cardigan
White shirt
Pink/fluffy hairbands
Black Skirt
Black knee high socks
Black Shoes

Other considerations:
Setting: In school, class room and hallway
Actors:
Yvonne-Britney Spears
Alice-Teacher
May need some extra for the teacher, backing dancers and school students
Choreography
Lyrics of the song to be learnt and lip-synced

Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Oh baby baby
How was I supposed to know
That something wasn't right here
Oh baby baby
I shouldn't have let you go
And now you're out of sight yeah
Show me how you want it to be
Tell me baby cause I need to know now oh because

[Chorus]
My loneliness is killing me(And I)
I must confess I still believe
When I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time

StoryBoards:
In order for the group to be able to work together smoothly, the storyboard that we produced was able to give us an idea of what to include in our own remake, such as settings, costume, props, actors and timings.

Evaluation:
Before filming, each of us in our group analysed the music video 'Hit me baby one more time' so that we can have a better idea on what to do when shooting the remake.
Each of us in the group found a job to do before the day of shooting, for example 'Britney' (Yvonne) who had to act, prepared the costume for herself to wear that day and I went home and set up the story board and became fimiliar with the shots that had to be taken and what they included.
Our planning was extremely useful throughout this remake, such as making a list of possible locations to use, equipment needed, costume and actor rehearsing lyrics/choreography. This was a benefit as it saved time and enabled us to make it more professional looking than if we didn't plan.
At the beguinning of our filming, we found that it took a while to set up, such as setting up the camera settings and having the tripod set up. We found that what took up alot of time was trying to match up the angles, how close and what height the camera should be when shooting. Our shot list / images helped us alot with the process of how to position the camera and where we should film. However, we did find that alot of time was taken up by the group trying to decide how the camera should be positioned. The first scene we shot involved using artifical lighting equipment to highlight to actor (Yvonne) alot beter and to make the shot look more crisp and clear. We only used the lighting when we really needed to because we found it difficult carrying around the equipment to different locations and we didn't have very much time to take long on preparing the light set-up.
We found it difficult to have similar settings/layouts that are in the actual music video because our school didn't have hallways to successfully frame the actors dancing and we don't have the same We had to settle for what was available to us, as this was only a practice. Luckily, within the school, we were able to find some lockers to use as the background for 'Britney' lip synching and for the extra actors (where they look our from behind the lockers). We were pleased we were able to find some before shooting, because they looked effective and similar to whats in the video.


Talk about -
Problems occured
Lighting
Setting
Time
Acting
Lip synching
Shots/angles
Editing
Talk about alot of quick cuts involved

How it has helped to think about what to consider for the final promotional campagin/video?
By carrying out this practise, it has definitely helped to think about the types of considerations need to be when making the final promotional music video, such as using lighting, charging the camera battery, what equipment is needed, preparing and planning.

What might be taken from this practise/video to be used for the final?
From this particular practise, I have learnt that lighting can make a huge difference on what looks professional and what doesn't. I have also noticed what can make a video look effective and convincing, such as costume, setting, good actors, choreography and lip-synching. What I found was key to making a successful video, is having enough time and planning effectively.

Analysing a music video – Relevance of music/lyrics to the video content: Maroon 5's 'She Will Be Loved'

As a start to my media work towards creating my own music video, I decided to analyse a film clip and look at how the music video has been made to match or relate to the music and lyrics.
I have analysed the music video of Maroon 5’s – ‘She Will Be Loved’ because I believe it is the perfect example of how the music video has been made to fit the song/lyrics and create a story.
This particular would be a 'Narrative' and 'Performance' video, as it involves a storyline as well as including the band performance within the story.

The storyline is easy to understand as it has been created very well around the song its belf. The video is based on the male character, the lead singer of the band in real life, who has a love affair on his current girlfriend with her own un-loved and neglected mother.
The video has a strong connection with the lyrics (below) as the films shot have been put together well to put across the story in a comprehendable way.
The 'faded montage' of the three main characters in this music video (the lead singer, his girfriend and the girlfriends mum) gives the viewer an idea of what the video may be about and what to focus on when watching the video. The opening line/lyric of the song 'Beauty queen of only 18 she had some trouble with herself' relates to the clips of the man with his young girlfriend and creates the idea to the viewer that the lyrics have a definite relation to the content. He then turns his attention to his girlfiends mum who is neglected and ignored by her husband/partner and tries to get attention from the other men by the poolside. The shot reverse shots used make this clear to the viewer that theres some sort of connection or understanding between the male character and the mum.
Various 'quick cuts' of the male finding the mum on the floor and footage of the mum having an arguement with her partner makes it clear to whats happening in the story - but then it soon get complicated when the male and the girfriends mother kiss!
The shots of the mum sitting in her car at night watching the couple through the window relates to the later lyric 'I know where you hide, alone in your car' and shows her slight obsession to the male. Its obvious theres a vicious love triangle going on.
Typical performance shots of the band in the bar, such as wide shots of the whole band playing, close ups of each individual band member and their instruments, makes the video more interesting and has a good link with them being a band in real life but also connecting to the storyline.
The shots of the lead singer gazing at his current girlfriend watching him perform in the bar, to suddenly being viewed as her mother by the male, shows that he's still thinking about her. The lyric mentioned at this moment being 'look for the girl with the broken smile' highlights the point that he cares for the mother and her needs. The same effect is made when hes dancing with his girlfriend - to then him being seen dancing with the mother.
Towards the end of the music video, it's easy to see that the mum get frustrated seeing her secret love enjoying himself with his girlfriend bothers and see's herself in a unhappy situation. The lyric 'I want to make you feel beautiful’ shows his care towards the neglected mother in the story and that he wants to make her feel loved and deserved. Quick-cuts of the footage previously shown throughout the video gathers up all of the thoughts going through eachothers minds as they look eachother. As the wide shot shows her running down the path towards a fountain, the male runs after her and his girfriend follows to see them both. A shallow focus of the couple looking at eachother and showing the girl inbetween them shows the complexity of the situation and the alienation she must be feeling. The extreme close-ups of each of the characters eyes shows the intensity between them.

I have analysd and looked at the different shots, angles and effects have been used in this music video and has helped me to think about the types of things I will have to consider when finally making my own promotional video for a song.
I believe this particular music video has a very good connection with the lyrics because it puts across an easily understood storyline, and it is a very effective way of promoting the song.

She Will Be Loved:

"Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved

Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore

It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along, yeah
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved

I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls

Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved

[in the background]
Please don't try so hard to say goodbye
Please don't try so hard to say goodbye

Yeah
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Try so hard to say goodbye"

Nearly finished...- Our own take on a 'Conceptual' video - Chemical Brothers "Star Guitar"

As part of our development towards making our own music video in the future, we decided to work on our own conceptual take on 'The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar'.
The reason for this practise was to try out different and effective ways to represent the video by having the different sounds of the song with individual things/movements.



We did the first 40 seconds of the song to experiment of the types of ways to represent the individual .... of the song.

For the clap sounds from the start of the song, we filmed a couple of our group members creating a typical playground hand-clapping rythm to connect with the sound. We believed this was an effective connection with the sound, because when we listened to it as a group, we all believed that relating the sound with two people hand clapping would be effective.

The fast 'Twinkle' sound, we decided to use a group members hand, where they would move there fingers on a surface quickly to keep with the pace of the sound.
We believed this was also an effective representation of the sound because we believed it would be visually interesting.

We had an idea of using two pieces of colourful fabric to represent the low 'whirring' sound of the song (Can be heard clearly in the background from 0:23). The reason we decided to use this is because we wanted it to be different and visually interesting, aswell as having a good connection with the sound.

Finally, We used a spot light (photography light)gradually increasing in intensity to represent to fade in sound/choir sound at the beguinning of the song. We believed that the image of the intensity of light would be a good connection to the gradual increase in volume of the sound.

We had a lot of fun and a laugh trying to come up with different representations to the sounds and creating our first try at a conceptual take on a song! :)

Analysing a music video - The Avalanches 'Frontier Psychiatrist'

In groups, we were given a music video to analyse. We were split into 3 groups so each group can analyse either a Conceptual, Narrative or performance video.
In my group, we were given 'The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist' video to analyseand take notes on.
We watched this particular video more that three times in order to write down as many notes as we could to write up about. First of all, we agreed that the video was 'Conceptual because there was a relationship between the concept of the film and the music. However, there were some aspects of lip-synching and performing which can be related to a Performance video.
First of all, we realised that there was a link between the title of the song 'Frontier Psychiatrist' to the video, as if we are looking into the patients mind. The music video is opened up as if it's a play as the curtains reveal a stage of the various people on stage. The sound of clapping as the curtains are pulled open make it more convincing that it's like a play or performance.
There are many examples in this music video of a link between the characters to the parts of the song:
- The drumming Grandma - Very abnormal and obscure, which is probably the reason why such a character would be used in the video.
- German Horn Players - Playing the wind instruments in the song
- 'Ghosts' - connecting to the sound of the choir 'ooooo' sounds
- The wrapping Grandads - Same principle as the drumming grandma, very different and obscure. 'That boy needs therapy''psychosomatic'
- Therapist and Client 'Lie on the couch'
- Old Turtle Man - 'What does that mean!?' (Very humorous and very weird!! - goes well with the strange imagery theme within the video. Hyper-reality)
- Coconut puppet 'Your crazy in the coconut'
- Cowboys 'Im gonna kill you' 'Grab a kazoo let's have a duel. Now when I count three'
- Ghost granny 'he was white as a sheet' (Relating to the ghosts / people under a sheet)
- Dentures 'and he also made false teeth'
- Avalanche image - Artist: The Avalaches - 'Avalanches is above, business continues below'
- Native American Indian 'Cowboys'
- Cowboy 'Indians'
- Patient dribbling 'I felt strangely hypnotised'
- Baby 'Milk'
- Woman holding rectangles 'Rectangles'
- Skull with golden eyeball 'the man with the golden eyeball'
- Gymnast 'Tighten your buttocks'
- Drinks saleswoman 'Pour juice on your chin'
- Violinists - playing the 'Violin'
- Old teacher and little girl 'Can you think of anything else that talks, other than a person? a bird? Yeah! Sometimes a parrot talks.' (Person dressed up as a parrot comes into the shot)
- Little girl 'Record' - Giant record rolls onto the stage
- Mexican musicians - play music when guitar/instrumental music comes in

Many of the images seen in the video have a definite relationship with the lyrics and most are very surreal, which is what make the video so different and interesting to watch!

The Promotional Campaign: Music video, Website and Ancillary Products and Types of Music Videos

I went online and did some research into what a music video actually is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_video

'The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.'

'A sound perceived as pleasingly harmonious'

What is the point of a promotional campaign:
A promotional campaign is a series of advertisements using various marketing tools that share the same message and ideas to promote a business or event to a target audience. The typical campaign uses different media resources including internet, newspapers, television, radio, and print advertising.

Why is an artists 'image' so important?:
Being a successful music artist is not just about the music, but having a public image and brand to the music/band. How is the artist associated with their own music? An music artist image is extremely important as the artist will want to be recognised and remembered.

For our project, we must create a promotional campaign for the release of an album. In this case, we will be producing a music video and ancillary products (digi-pack and website)

In our lessons, we have been taught various stylings of music videos that there are in the idustry, for example:

Performance: A performance music video would involve lip and instrument synch, lighting, choreography, as well as coverage (angles & close ups) and beat editing and would heaviliy involve the bands image.


Narrative: A narrative music video would involve a storyline with a concept based on the themes or mood of the song that are associated with the artists (Image)


Conceptual: A conceptual music video involves creativity with only the relationship between the concept and the music. Conceptual can involve animated, surreal, and contain lots of opportunities e.g. Goodwins theory (voyeurism, intertextuality, hyper-reality, self references).