Genres of Interest

So in order to create a music video, I have to have a song, obviously. So to choose a song there are a few steps I need to take in order to make the decision of what song to use. 

First off, let's have a look at a few genres I enjoy:

Alternative

One music genre that I would like to explore doing a music video for is alternative.
These are usually narrative based, featuring the artist as the main focus of the narrative. The videos tackle the song lyrics in a subtle way, interpreting them somewhat differently to how the audience may have interpreted it before the video release. 

  

Pop

Another genre I would like to do is is pop, because I like being original and all that.
These videos tend to be performance or narrative based. Most focus on the artist and live up to the fact that many pop artists' fans idolise the artist and want to see them in their videos. 

 

R&B

Now by R&B I don't mean specifically contemporary R'n'B, I also mean Rhythm and Blues, the true, original R&B. These videos tend to be performance based as the whole point in R&B is that it is all in the performance and the music.

 

Music Video Analysis

 

Icona Pop's I Love It - I don't even care 

Directed by: Fredrik Etoall

Genre: Dance

  

Lyrics and Visuals

This music video is has a good link between lyrics and what is shown on screen. It is clear that everybody 'loves it' throughout the video (even if it is just because they are getting paid) and this concept is demonstrated throughout. The entire video is based around the lyric 'I don't care, I love it' as you can see the artists, along with the people in the video, all enjoying themselves throughout the video.

I hope they didn't use a Sharpie



Lyrics appear in time to the song 

Music and Visuals

There are also links between the music and the visuals. Sometimes the shots are cut in time to the music, others the music is shown through shots of instruments etc.



Close up of the DJ decks demonstrating the 'dancey' track

 

Some nice lip close ups showing the 'instrument' that is the voice

 

Star Image Motifs

Icona Pop have a very stylised way of filming, and is used in all of their videos. The techniques they use become identifiable as Icona Pop and so this forms an image.

Two very incona-ic (I'm sorry that was bad) themes are light leaks and black and white. How convenient that they use them both at the same time!
 

This font is Icona Pop's ident and it appears at the beginning of all of her videos - suits the dancey genre of her music

 Notion of Looking

There's a few aspects to this: the notion of looking at the artist in a sexual way, or the notion of looking through screens, cameras, etc.

The video starts with the two artists talking into a camera for reasons unknown



There are lots of close ups of the artists' mouths and lips - this sexualises them slightly, although, the basil eating (see below) is not very sexy...

 Mmmmm basil... (She clearly doesn't care, and sure loves it)

El Completo (or whatever)

Icona Pop's I don't Care all analysed and blogged!

Auf Wiedersehen Pet!



Her Morning Elegance

Ok so I just came across this video and had to share it! 

I love the idea of stop motion music videos; they require so much creativity and patience and every one I see just makes me so amazed! And then when you discover what went into the video, the amazement is increased tenfold!

 

For some reason it always seems to be the lesser known artists that do the best music videos. You'd think this would make them incredibly popular but it seems the masses love a bog standard love story narrative or mock-up gig performance. 

This is Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie, bask in its wonder:

 

 

An impressive watch right? But wait till you see the details of what went into this masterpiece:

 

 

Just incredible!

Nothing else to be said!

 

Music Videos Through the Ages

I say through the ages, of course the 'ages' are actually not very long - the first proper, recognisable music video was made in 1929

And so that is where we begin - in 1929 Bessie Smith created a video for her song St. Louis Blues. It was the first real 'performance' song with Bessie herself singing (NOT LIP SYNCING) while in a bar full of people singing or playing instruments. I find it incredible to watch...

Jump ahead to the 60's and music videos were largely coming from musical movies, which were a massive hit between the 30's and 60's. One of the most popular was West Side Story (personal favourite of mine) which influenced the video for Michael Jackson's Bad. Say the words 'dance fight' to someone and odds are the first thing they'll think of is West Side Story or Bad.

Warning: may contain frequent clicking in a daunting manner

 

1975 is the next stop and we are graced with the presence of the almighty Queen. They created a video for Bohemian Rhapsody and it was the first video made to truly promote a song. They made it to be shown on Top of the Pops (are we even allowed to say that anymore?) in their absence and it made the song a massive success!

Long live the Queen! (well, sort of...)

 



Then came the 80's! The shimmering, shining 80's and the introduction of MTV in 1981. Showing music videos all day long, it offered a platform for artists to promote their songs, but of course it meant that singers now couldn't just be that, they had to be lookers as well. And thus of course 'Video killed the radio star', ironically being the first song ever played on MTV.

 

 

 

 

And of course not forgetting the phenomena that was, and still is, MJ's Thriller in 1983. This smashed the records of being the first music video the break the million dollars, simply a drop in the ocean by todays standards.

 



 

 

Finally we jump forward to the Noughties and 2005 brought the beginning of a new game changing platform - YouTube! I think its safe to say YouTube has taken over the world (just another step towards Google's plans for world domination) but that means it is an excellent way for artists to promote their music. The YouTube channel VEVO is the largest music video channel on the interwebs and it a great source of music videos (as you can tell by most of my video links here). YouTube means that artists can reach every corner of the globe and keep their audience growing!

 

 

And so here we are, 2013, where music videos are massively popular and amazing tools for artists to promote their material! And its all thanks to Bessie Smith - thanks Bessie, you're a doll.

 

That's it for another post! Au Revoir Mes Amis!











Types of Music Video

So we've established why music videos exist, but now let's have a little looky-do at the different kinds of music video.

First up we have Performance based:

Probably one of the most iconic music videos of this decade, Beyoncé's Single Ladies really shows off her assets (in more ways than one...)

 

When it comes to an artist such as Bruno Mars, sometimes all you need is your performance to make for a successful music video. If you got it, flaunt it!

Here's Michael Bublé with his usual charm, but this time with added sass. Up the Bubble!

 

Next up it's Narrative Based:

Katy Perry's Part of Me here - her boyfriend cheats, so she cuts her hair and

joins the marines, standard.

 

Green Day at their best, true story tellers (yes, its another army based narrative,

I swear I'm not doing this on purpose)

 

Oh look ol' Swifty's with a break up song! What a surprise!

 

And the final type is Concept (these aren't as common as the others, but still used a lot):

Gnarls Barkley's Crazy. The concept? Ink blots... Yep, that makes you crazy

 

In Your Arms by Kina Grannis (no, I'd never heard of her either) - I'm not even going to try to make a joke about this video, it is simply incredible! It's a stop motion video, make using jelly beans!

 

 Ok Go are best known for their incredibly creative music videos, but this one takes it to a whole new level! I think I get why they call themselves Ok Go now, as I'm sure that phrase is used many, many times by them.

 

 

So there you have it! Three main types of music video all wrapped into one post, wonderful! I have got to say, through searching for videos for this post, concept based videos are by far my favourite! They are simply mind blowing! However the practicalities of creating one of my own seem low unfortunately (sad face).

 

Until next time! Ciao!

 

 

The Functions of a Music Video

It is clear that the main function of a music video is to PROMOTE the song/artist, but what does that include exactly:

Produces more awareness or even hype about the song. For example the YouTube sensation Gangnam Style by PSY was a music video that beat the Bieb in terms of views (Sadly not much of a better song however)
Reach a wider audience and create more of a fan base for the artist. Music videos are a powerful tool in building up an artist's exposure, as people may come across the video whilst trawling YouTube in the early hours of the morning (definitely not something I divulge in doing) and like what they see.
Offers an insight into the artist's life. Whether it be a genuine insight or a indeed more a glorified version of their life (with more scantily clad women, suspiciously empty beaches and more slow motion walking than you can shake a stick at), music videos attempt to show the audience how the artist lives their life.
Make more Wonga! Yes that's right, the shocking revelation that music videos are made to keep filling up the bank's of the artists!
Opportunity to show off the artist's versatile skill set. Music videos are a way to not only show that they can sing (or indeed utilise auto-tune) but also that they can act, dance and look pretty all at the same time. If that's not talent I don't know what is!
Takes the artist to another level of stardom! The music video for a song can expand the artist's media platform, making it easier for people to come across their material and become a fan, or alternatively find a way to hate on them and create some form of social network page as a way to vent their irrational hatred.
Engages the audience with the artist. The video allows the artist to create a connection with their fans on a more personal level, making their music videos in a way that appeals to the fans the most. So boys, get your kit off, the Directioners are waiting.

 Sorry Jessie, it seems it is all about the money, money money

 

So there you have it, the functions of a music video! 

Adios Amigos!                                                                        

Introduction to My Blog!

Josh Boden, 17 Years Old, A2 Media Student

So this is my first blog post! Exciting! Or not so, depending on what kind of person you are. I have set up this blog for my A2 Media Studies coursework, which is music promotion! We have to create a music video, as well as two digipaks for the artist/song. This is an exciting piece of work for me, and I am looking forward to delving into the whole promotional world of the music industry, as music is a strong passion of mine, and to actually make my own music video will be fantastic!

Over the course of the course (if you'll excuse the repeat) I will be researching and analysing all sorts of music videos/promotions from various artists of various genres to help me create my own, for a song of my choice. Looking at existing music videos will help pump inspiration into my work and aid my creative flair to, hopefully, create a successful video!

And so it begins! This blog has officially begun!