For my audience research i conducted a series of questionnaires which i thought would help me get more of an understanding of how i should make my music video and to give me more of an understanding of how to create it. I asked 10 different people 3 questions each, some inside and some outside of the class.
Do you think a music video is more dependant on the lyrics or just the music itself?
I asked this question with the intention of helping me pick my song or at least narrow down my options. 7 out of 10 people thought that a music video is dependant on the lyrics. I think the reason behind this is that people that enjoy music like to listen to the lyrics and try and understand what the artist is trying to say. Once they have heard the song and understood the lyrics they turn to the music video to see in more detail what the musician is trying to say. The other 3 people which said they thought the music video was dependant on the music itself are people who are not particularly interested in the music and just listen to it for social or convenience purposes.
Do you think that the music video can alter the popularity of the song?
The reason i asked this question was to try and understand how effective music videos are at advertising and promoting the artists music. 10 out of 10 people said no. I asked one of them why they though this and the answer was simple. If the song isn't good, a video is not going to change peoples opinion. This has helped me decide on how to make my music video. I should make it more towards the intention of creating the narrative in video form rather then trying to promote the music within the music video imagery.
Why do you watch music videos?
For this question i had a range of answers but have put them together and come up with an average answer. The most common answer was to do with watching it for pleasure and also to try and understand the song more. This question has helped me understand what i need to make my video like and understand why i would be making it.
Overall Outcome
I think that the Audience research that i have conducted above has helped me make a few simple decisions that will affect my final outcome of my music video. I may conduct more Audience research as i get deeper in to making my video.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Music Video Analysis
'The Cure' - are an English rock/indie band formed in Crawly West Sussex in 1976. The Cure are often identified with the Gothic rock sub genre of alternative rock, and are viewed as one of the form's definitive bands. Because of the genre of the music that the Cure produce, there lyrics will be suitable to fit the genre. the Cures idea of Gothic soft rock/Indie gives the lyrics much stronger meanings and they are enforced with much more force. Most of the Cures songs lyrics are often about some sort of loss or depression. There music is made to suit the depressive Gothic like genre in which the lyrics are representing.
The Cure have often been questioned about there music videos. These questions and judgements have been based on both Quality and relevance. When Tim Pope came along, that changed for the better. There videos became more popular and more viewed the ever. This promoted there band massively and eventually lead them to be the first Gothic rock/indie band to go mainstream. This particular video is very simple in terms of complexity and graphic display but there is a wide range of meaningful animation which could represent several different things, meanings or personality, lifestyle traits.
Mise-en-Scene
The music video is set in the same place throughout the full video. The representation of the band is instantly gathered when the band is represented as young teenage boys. This possibly represents there lifestyle and there rebellious attitude which is refusing to grow up. The idea of the title been 'Boys don't cry' instead of 'Men don't cry' is the idea of maybe been represented as children because they don't want to grow up and have to deal with the typical stressful life of an adult. This can also be seen as just a simple representation of stereotypical male, that doesn't cry. The animation in the background shows a silhouette of themselves but as an older version. This may be indicating that there still are boys inside no matter how large there adult personality's tower over them.
Editing
The editing of this particular music video is rather new to the era that it was produced in. The animation is fairly well presented in a way that is understandable. The animation in the background helps to create a visual lyrical form of dialog which plays along in sequence with the lyrics and music.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Conventions of a mordern Music Video
A music video can be broken up in to four different terms or key individual aspects which the music video will most probably have.
Performance – How the video is acted out and how the characters act.
Lyrical Representation - How the words are put together to help form the narrative and also represent certain characters within the diagesis.
Narrative – Key to a lot of music videos, the narrative is often formed by the lyrical representation.
Lyrical Interpretation – How the words are put together for the viewer to make sense of and understand what the musician was trying to say.
During my year studying Media Studies I have learnt about the several different conventions to different forms of media. Magazines, Film and now Music Videos. Conventions of the video is dependant on the genre of the music but are generally similar. Here are some common Conventions of a modern day music video;
- Music videos usually cut to the beat.
- Abstract which is visual imagery which represents the mood, tone or feel. For example the colour red to indicate love and romance or opposed to anger and blood.
- Graphic matches which means that the movement, shape or colour is continued through to the next shot for example in the first shot their may be the colour blue used then in the second shot there would be an image of the sea to link the two colours together.
- Continuity editing or montage editing- the use of shot reverse or eye line match. Or the use of a variety of imagery shots to create a montage.
- Imagery which means the artist interoperate the lyrics with the action performed.
Specific Features
- There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)
- There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
- Music Videos demonstrate genre characteristics (eg stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band)
- There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting.)
- The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style.)
- There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
- There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)
Different Genre Conventions
Indie
Basic conventions of Indie music videos,
-Usually shows the band performing at a gig or concert.
-Cuts between shots of the band and other shots.
-Has a separate plotline which unfolds separately from the band performing.
-Close-ups of the band members performing. Also close-ups of their guitars and drums.
-Dark lighting and colours, sometimes completely black and white with no vibrant colours.
Hip Hop/Rap
-Basic conventions of hip hop/rap music videos.
Usually features and focuses on the main artist.
-A party or night club atmosphere.
-Lots of dancing.
-Usually features women who accompany the main artist of the song.
Bright vibrant colours.
-Close-up shots focusing on artist.
-Use of brand names and expensive houses/cars.
-Expensive jewellery and clothing
Performance – How the video is acted out and how the characters act.
Lyrical Representation - How the words are put together to help form the narrative and also represent certain characters within the diagesis.
Narrative – Key to a lot of music videos, the narrative is often formed by the lyrical representation.
Lyrical Interpretation – How the words are put together for the viewer to make sense of and understand what the musician was trying to say.
During my year studying Media Studies I have learnt about the several different conventions to different forms of media. Magazines, Film and now Music Videos. Conventions of the video is dependant on the genre of the music but are generally similar. Here are some common Conventions of a modern day music video;
- Music videos usually cut to the beat.
- Abstract which is visual imagery which represents the mood, tone or feel. For example the colour red to indicate love and romance or opposed to anger and blood.
- Graphic matches which means that the movement, shape or colour is continued through to the next shot for example in the first shot their may be the colour blue used then in the second shot there would be an image of the sea to link the two colours together.
- Continuity editing or montage editing- the use of shot reverse or eye line match. Or the use of a variety of imagery shots to create a montage.
- Imagery which means the artist interoperate the lyrics with the action performed.
Specific Features
- There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)
- There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
- Music Videos demonstrate genre characteristics (eg stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band)
- There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting.)
- The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style.)
- There is frequently reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
- There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc)
Different Genre Conventions
Indie
Basic conventions of Indie music videos,
-Usually shows the band performing at a gig or concert.
-Cuts between shots of the band and other shots.
-Has a separate plotline which unfolds separately from the band performing.
-Close-ups of the band members performing. Also close-ups of their guitars and drums.
-Dark lighting and colours, sometimes completely black and white with no vibrant colours.
Hip Hop/Rap
-Basic conventions of hip hop/rap music videos.
Usually features and focuses on the main artist.
-A party or night club atmosphere.
-Lots of dancing.
-Usually features women who accompany the main artist of the song.
Bright vibrant colours.
-Close-up shots focusing on artist.
-Use of brand names and expensive houses/cars.
-Expensive jewellery and clothing
The History of Music Videos
Music Video – a music video is a video that plays along side of a piece of music or song. These videos can take different forms, some having narratives which follow and coordinate to the lyrics of the music and some having to relevance to the lyrics or song at all.
‘’ In 1894 when sheet music publishers still ran the music business, Edward B. Marks and Joe Stern hired electrician George Thomas and various performers to promote sales of their song The Little Lost Child. Thomas projected a series of still images on a screen simultaneously with live performances in what became a popular form of entertainment known as the illustrated song. ‘’
- this is an extract from an article I found from the internet. It explains just how music videos began and where everything first started. Once the potential was seen within the music video, a small band called ‘talkies’ came along in 1926 and produced a small range of ‘video shorts’. These can be considered some of the earliest music videos.
In 1964, ‘the Beatles’ were rising to fame at an incredible rate and gathered huge audiences. Once they had become aware of there success, they released there first feature film which was considered as a mock documentary which gave the fans a chance to understand there lifestyle whilst at the same time, promoting and marketing there record. If fans didn’t get a chance to see them live, they would get the next closest thing to it, been shown how life was like for them and them fame.
Modern day music has changed extremely erratically. Any music today, has essentially already got a music video. This is because of the recent change in conventions of music videos and what is expected of it now.
Throughout my research I have learnt how music videos firstly started and why they began to produce them. I have also learnt how the Beatles uniquely marketed there music video so that audiences and fans would feel enticed within there lifestyle.
‘’ In 1894 when sheet music publishers still ran the music business, Edward B. Marks and Joe Stern hired electrician George Thomas and various performers to promote sales of their song The Little Lost Child. Thomas projected a series of still images on a screen simultaneously with live performances in what became a popular form of entertainment known as the illustrated song. ‘’
- this is an extract from an article I found from the internet. It explains just how music videos began and where everything first started. Once the potential was seen within the music video, a small band called ‘talkies’ came along in 1926 and produced a small range of ‘video shorts’. These can be considered some of the earliest music videos.
In 1964, ‘the Beatles’ were rising to fame at an incredible rate and gathered huge audiences. Once they had become aware of there success, they released there first feature film which was considered as a mock documentary which gave the fans a chance to understand there lifestyle whilst at the same time, promoting and marketing there record. If fans didn’t get a chance to see them live, they would get the next closest thing to it, been shown how life was like for them and them fame.
Modern day music has changed extremely erratically. Any music today, has essentially already got a music video. This is because of the recent change in conventions of music videos and what is expected of it now.
Throughout my research I have learnt how music videos firstly started and why they began to produce them. I have also learnt how the Beatles uniquely marketed there music video so that audiences and fans would feel enticed within there lifestyle.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Possible music video to do
Corner
Words & Music by Allie Moss
When your world trembles and quakes
And your footing suddenly shifts and shakes
Take my hand
Well hide in the corner, hide in the corner
Take my hand
Well hide til its over, til its all over
We have choices to make
We have promises that we cant break
There is nothing left to lose
So hold on to me,
Possible music video songs
I think it might have taken
too long
for me to feel oh
whats that you said about it the right time
to discover everything, everything
that I can recognize
oh
before the thoughts break off
whats that you said?
I find an easy way out
collapsed at attention at the sight of your mouth
and its a shame to keep on
oh
when its not on the right time to discover
everything, anything
I see in your eyes
oh
before the lights break on
whats that you said?
theres only, theres only
there can only be you
theres only, theres only
there can only be you
this is all taking so long
I cant recall what
I used to say about it
and all thats left to discover
and these thoughts that I meditate
for a long lines
oh
to make the thoughts break off
what was it I said?
there is only, there is only
there can only be you
there is only, there is only
there can only be you
Chosen Question for my Advanced Portfolio
1. A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options;
- a website homepage for the band
- a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DCD package)
- a magazine advertisment for the digipak ( CD/DVD package)
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