bjork - bachelorette
Björk is represented as a very unique, eccentric and original artist, with her gentle singing voice and pixie-like hair. Bachelorette opens with Björk narrating what she is doing and in this case, finds. There are still images used which make the video appear more of a book with images (when she is looking at book and sits opening it). This creates relationships between the lyrics and visuals. The soundtrack begins when she says “One day…” which creates a relationship with the music and visuals.
The video changes from a smooth, story-telling pace to a more frantic state. As it is very hectic and chaotic it could correspond to how she feels when she becomes (quite literally) the face and apparent author of her book. The way the theatre set works around her and visually shows her way to fame increases this, as everything moves very fast. As the book continues to fill it's pages with her life, she seems naive and innocent against the world of business and fame.
An interesting change from black and white to colour is used, from the past- when Björk first finds the book and begins her adventure. Colour is then used when she is in the theatre, performing as herself whilst her husband (the publisher) is in the audience. This focuses the attention on her and makes her new found fame seem colourful and bright. However, the black and white film returns when things start to go wrong, starting with her relationship with the husband and the disappearance of the books' words.
The editing in the music video is continuously fast-paced, with still images and the books words appearing as though they are being typed- all creating pace. Even more, the theatres audience transform into shrubby plants that could link to how the book was originally buried in a wood. The book is then buried once again whilst Björk is wrapped by the leafy branches (or roots) in the producers office. Thus creating feelings of claustrophia as she is unable to escape from her new world.
Further issues tackled in Bachelorette could be how fame can be damaging and doesn’t always last. There are issues with how Björk just found the book and made it her path to fame (copyright issues?) as it wasn‘t necessarily hers to begin with. Further more, her publisher and consequent husband seemed to only be interested in the money she made from the book, as he made the deal with the producer (shown through him shaking the producers hand, whilst Björk sat looking anxious) and when a newspaper headline says “It’s over”.
The music video ends in a strange dreamy atmosphere, once again in the woods, whilst she sings a powerful note. It's as if the woods is her place to escape and her place of safety. The video draws to an end with a gentle (black) fading transition as she sings softly.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity
'Virtual Insanity' was directed by Jonathan Grazer.
Jamiroquai’s video seems to sum up his style and character as he is portrayed as an unusual, kooky, unique individual. In particular, his casual dress sense with the black top hat suggests how he is quirky and is presenting himself as less of a music artist. He regularly wears various hats which has become one of his trade marks- another being his great dancing.
In the main room, the floor and furniture moves beneath his feet allowing him to dance smoothly across the room.
Jamiroquai is represented as a fun and lively man, yet the video does have some disturbing and intense imagery. For instance, the environment (in which the singer creates a relationship with the visuals and lyrics) is a very clinical and enclosed space. Issues that may be raised in this music video are perhaps focused on mental disorders. For example, some disorders cause people to hallucinate which would be shown through the pieces of furniture and floor moving.
The setting could well be a mental institute because when Jamiroquai walks through a small corridor, there are four males grabbing the walls, which could symbolise scientists. This idea is reinforced by their white clothes and goggle/glasses.
The editing is very limited when it comes to this music video, which increases its intensity and darkness. The prolonging of the shots seem continuous as we watch Jamiroquai move across the room, the only change of subject being the crawling cockroaches and the flying crow. Further more, everything is extremely smooth- Jamiroquai's dancing, the camera work, the floor and furniture movement, the way the cockroaches crawl and the slow crow.
Even more, the video looks futuristic due to the mechanical metal interior. In the lyrics, he mentions “our new technology“, which is ever-changing. However, a cockroach is used to remind us that odd things like that are still around. They are known to survive through many different conditions. There is also a crow which symbolises death and suffering, creating a link between the fact that mental patients do suffer. Virtual insanity is the perfect name for this video as it could be tackling the issues of mental disorders and insanity. Other issues represented could be claustrophobia and death.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Audience Research Questionnaire
G324: Primary research
Questions
1) Male / female
2) Age: __________
3) Occupation? ________________________
4) How do you listen to music? _____________________________
5) Do you buy music, if yes- HOW? Yes / No __________________________
6) How often do you purchase music? ______________________________
7) Favourite band/artist ______________________________ WHY? __________________________
8) Favourite genre ____________________________ WHY? __________________________
9) Have you/do you download illegally? Yes / No
10) Favourite outfit you like to wear___________________________________
11) How do you hear about new bands/gigs ____________________________________
12) How often do you go to music festivals/gigs? (AlsoWHERE AND WHY?) __________________________________________________
13) Do you think more female artists should perform at music festivals? (WHY?) _________________________
14) How do you think music influences your attitudes? ____________________________
15) What is your favourite TV programme? __________________________________
16) Your favourite retail store? ___________________________________
17) What is your opinion on music played in stores? (e.g. Topshop, HMV, Disney…) _________________________________
18) What music channel do you watch and why? _____________________________________________
19) What kind of magazines do you get? (e.g. fashion, music, cars…) __________________________________
Questions
1) Male / female
2) Age: __________
3) Occupation? ________________________
4) How do you listen to music? _____________________________
5) Do you buy music, if yes- HOW? Yes / No __________________________
6) How often do you purchase music? ______________________________
7) Favourite band/artist ______________________________ WHY? __________________________
8) Favourite genre ____________________________ WHY? __________________________
9) Have you/do you download illegally? Yes / No
10) Favourite outfit you like to wear___________________________________
11) How do you hear about new bands/gigs ____________________________________
12) How often do you go to music festivals/gigs? (AlsoWHERE AND WHY?) __________________________________________________
13) Do you think more female artists should perform at music festivals? (WHY?) _________________________
14) How do you think music influences your attitudes? ____________________________
15) What is your favourite TV programme? __________________________________
16) Your favourite retail store? ___________________________________
17) What is your opinion on music played in stores? (e.g. Topshop, HMV, Disney…) _________________________________
18) What music channel do you watch and why? _____________________________________________
19) What kind of magazines do you get? (e.g. fashion, music, cars…) __________________________________
Friday, 19 June 2009
Unconventional music video
The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance
Warriors Dance seems to be a reasonably unconventional video, firstly because how it does not "demonstrate genre characteristics". There are many animated music videos which are innovative and unusual, giving no sense of one specific genre. For instance, Prodigy produces electronic- punk music, whilst Supermen lovers produced a more electronic- dance song.
The moving figures are made from various cigarette packets which are able to walk, climb and carry small objects- the plug. The three main menacing figures enter what looks like a bar due to the bar counter, the juke box, the open nut packet and the glass ash tray. The figures are shown in numerous shots, including a close up when transforming from a normal cigarette box to a moving figure. The breaking of the glass ash tray wakes the shelves stacked with more cigarette packets, which also become figures.
A shot I personally like, is when the cigarettes fall, like rain from the shelves, in which the viewer see the three original figures on the opposite side.
However, one of the conventions is shown is how the figures do dance, illustrating part of the lyrics: "Come with me to the dance floor". Further more, the song begins simultaneously with the cigarette packets changing, which could mean there is a relationship between music and visuals. A convention that may be used to market the band is the coincidence of there being three main characters, as in the band there are three band members. So, it does seem to have both conventional and unconventional aspects.
Warriors Dance seems to be a reasonably unconventional video, firstly because how it does not "demonstrate genre characteristics". There are many animated music videos which are innovative and unusual, giving no sense of one specific genre. For instance, Prodigy produces electronic- punk music, whilst Supermen lovers produced a more electronic- dance song.
The moving figures are made from various cigarette packets which are able to walk, climb and carry small objects- the plug. The three main menacing figures enter what looks like a bar due to the bar counter, the juke box, the open nut packet and the glass ash tray. The figures are shown in numerous shots, including a close up when transforming from a normal cigarette box to a moving figure. The breaking of the glass ash tray wakes the shelves stacked with more cigarette packets, which also become figures.
A shot I personally like, is when the cigarettes fall, like rain from the shelves, in which the viewer see the three original figures on the opposite side.
However, one of the conventions is shown is how the figures do dance, illustrating part of the lyrics: "Come with me to the dance floor". Further more, the song begins simultaneously with the cigarette packets changing, which could mean there is a relationship between music and visuals. A convention that may be used to market the band is the coincidence of there being three main characters, as in the band there are three band members. So, it does seem to have both conventional and unconventional aspects.
Conventional music video
Eminem - We Made You- Official Video
Eminem's "We Made You" music video mocks other people including artists' throughout the song. Jessica Simpson is one of the woman in the line, who is represented by a larger look-a-like, possibly suggesting how she has recently gained weight. There is intertextual reference to her own music video as she is shown wearing skimpy clothes, in a similar environment- cleaning a car. The other women that are represented in his video are for instance, Amy Winehouse, mocked for her past with her ex boyfriend and visits to rehab. Her look-a-like is in quite a state shown through her appearance is scruffy and perhaps, ugly.
Eminem’s song seems to be concerned therefore on exaggerating other people’s problems, faults or mistakes. Lindsay Lohan and her lesbian relationship with Samantha Ronson is also frowned upon by Eminem as he says “please come back to seeing men”. By showing a strong relationship between his lyrics and visuals, Eminem creates humour as well possibly reminding people who he is rapping about.
During the video he is in all the different scenarios, acting various roles. Amongst these roles, he plays a typical American “rock star”, “Spock” from Star Trek and Elvis. This is to meet “the demands of the record label” in which there must be many shots of the artist.
Overall, this is a conventional music video, ultimately because the video demonstrates genre characteristics as many other artists do in fact mention other artists and singers. The examples of other artists’ lyrics (below) suggest how it is a common approach to song writing...
“I was sick about awards, couldn't nobody cure me
Only player that got robbed and kept all his jewelry
Alicia Keys tried talk some sense in him”
Diamonds Kanye West
“ Cause we had it we was magic, I was flyin’, now I’m crashin’,
This is bad, real bad Michael Jackson”
Knock you down - Keri Hilson
“Used to date Kanye now she want me”
Elevator- Flo Rida
Eminem's "We Made You" music video mocks other people including artists' throughout the song. Jessica Simpson is one of the woman in the line, who is represented by a larger look-a-like, possibly suggesting how she has recently gained weight. There is intertextual reference to her own music video as she is shown wearing skimpy clothes, in a similar environment- cleaning a car. The other women that are represented in his video are for instance, Amy Winehouse, mocked for her past with her ex boyfriend and visits to rehab. Her look-a-like is in quite a state shown through her appearance is scruffy and perhaps, ugly.
Eminem’s song seems to be concerned therefore on exaggerating other people’s problems, faults or mistakes. Lindsay Lohan and her lesbian relationship with Samantha Ronson is also frowned upon by Eminem as he says “please come back to seeing men”. By showing a strong relationship between his lyrics and visuals, Eminem creates humour as well possibly reminding people who he is rapping about.
During the video he is in all the different scenarios, acting various roles. Amongst these roles, he plays a typical American “rock star”, “Spock” from Star Trek and Elvis. This is to meet “the demands of the record label” in which there must be many shots of the artist.
Overall, this is a conventional music video, ultimately because the video demonstrates genre characteristics as many other artists do in fact mention other artists and singers. The examples of other artists’ lyrics (below) suggest how it is a common approach to song writing...
“I was sick about awards, couldn't nobody cure me
Only player that got robbed and kept all his jewelry
Alicia Keys tried talk some sense in him”
Diamonds Kanye West
“ Cause we had it we was magic, I was flyin’, now I’m crashin’,
This is bad, real bad Michael Jackson”
Knock you down - Keri Hilson
“Used to date Kanye now she want me”
Elevator- Flo Rida
A music video I like...
Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy
"Skeleton Boy" by Friendly Fires is one my favourite songs by the band, because it firstly has a really catchy beat and rhythm and secondly, the band seems enthusiastic in what they do.
In the music video, this is shown by the way the band move to the song, especially the singer who has more freedom to dance. Possibly creating a relationship between the music and visuals. Even more, the white confetti generates more movement as it flies in different directions and into the band members.
The colours of the music video are based on the contrast of black and white. The band members' faces are very pale against the pitch-black background, which could imply how they want the audience to focus more on their musical talent, rather than just themselves.
The lyrics and visuals are linked once the white confetti falls onto the strips which form first stick men outlines then a skeleton, "You Skeleton Boy". This is a clever and creative way to create a relationship with the lyrics and visuals.
The band are shown in many close, mid and long shots which would meet the demands of the record label. As the music begins, the band are shown from a birds eye view. Then they are rotating in the same spot, where the camera focuses on their faces. Again suggesting how the record label wants the band to be recognizable. The band appear like other boy rock/indie bands in their genre so it lacks in originality and therefore fits into Andrew Goodwin's first convention.
"Skeleton Boy" by Friendly Fires is one my favourite songs by the band, because it firstly has a really catchy beat and rhythm and secondly, the band seems enthusiastic in what they do.
In the music video, this is shown by the way the band move to the song, especially the singer who has more freedom to dance. Possibly creating a relationship between the music and visuals. Even more, the white confetti generates more movement as it flies in different directions and into the band members.
The colours of the music video are based on the contrast of black and white. The band members' faces are very pale against the pitch-black background, which could imply how they want the audience to focus more on their musical talent, rather than just themselves.
The lyrics and visuals are linked once the white confetti falls onto the strips which form first stick men outlines then a skeleton, "You Skeleton Boy". This is a clever and creative way to create a relationship with the lyrics and visuals.
The band are shown in many close, mid and long shots which would meet the demands of the record label. As the music begins, the band are shown from a birds eye view. Then they are rotating in the same spot, where the camera focuses on their faces. Again suggesting how the record label wants the band to be recognizable. The band appear like other boy rock/indie bands in their genre so it lacks in originality and therefore fits into Andrew Goodwin's first convention.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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