Friday, 3 October 2008
Target Audience
The target audience of my music video is teenage girls of the age 15-19. It is rock-pop and will appeal to girls who are interested in music. They like to go out with their friends and have fun. They like upbeat pop music.
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Questionnaire Results
From my questionnaire results I have chosen to produce a music video for a girl pop band that will consist of a narrative and a performance. I think it is important that I have these two aspects in my music video, as it is what my target audience wants. The channels I will air my music video will be on is TMF, MTV hits and MTV2, as I believe that my target audience will be able to watch it. I will keep the narrative simple so that my target audience will enjoy watching it and understand it.
Questionnaire
Questionnaire
Are you male or female?
How old are you?
What genres of music do you prefer? (Put in order of preference – 1 being the most 5 being the least)
Indie
Rock
Pop
R ‘N’ B
Grime
Country
Classical
Metal
Jazz/Blues
Other (please specify) __________________________________
Do you watch music channels?
Yes No
If so, what 3 music channels do you usually watch the most?
____________________________________________________________
How often do you watch music videos?
Every day
Once a week
Couple of times a week
Every fortnight
Once a month
Couple of times a month
Hardly ever
Do you think music videos are important in the release of a single?
Yes No
Does a music video affect whether you buy the artists CD?
Yes No
Do you think a narrative is important in a music video?
Yes No
Do you like the narrative to be easy to follow?
Yes No
Do you like the artist to be involved in the narrative?
Yes No
Do you like the artist to perform in a music video?
Yes No
What is one of your favourite music videos and why?
Thank you for taking part in the questionnaire
Are you male or female?
How old are you?
What genres of music do you prefer? (Put in order of preference – 1 being the most 5 being the least)
Indie
Rock
Pop
R ‘N’ B
Grime
Country
Classical
Metal
Jazz/Blues
Other (please specify) __________________________________
Do you watch music channels?
Yes No
If so, what 3 music channels do you usually watch the most?
____________________________________________________________
How often do you watch music videos?
Every day
Once a week
Couple of times a week
Every fortnight
Once a month
Couple of times a month
Hardly ever
Do you think music videos are important in the release of a single?
Yes No
Does a music video affect whether you buy the artists CD?
Yes No
Do you think a narrative is important in a music video?
Yes No
Do you like the narrative to be easy to follow?
Yes No
Do you like the artist to be involved in the narrative?
Yes No
Do you like the artist to perform in a music video?
Yes No
What is one of your favourite music videos and why?
Thank you for taking part in the questionnaire
The Kooks - Naive analysis
The Kooks – Naïve
The genre of this song is indie. The music video is predominantly narrative based with lip-synching during the narrative by the lead singer of the band. The music video tells a story of a girl that is cheating on her boyfriend but he is afraid to leave her because he believes that she can change therefore he is the one who is naïve. He does not want to ask if her cheating is true because he is afraid of the answer: ‘true or false it may be’. The music video conforms to Godwin’s theory in the way that it is iconographic of an indie genre in the way that is simple and the lead singer is usually present in the narrative.
This music video conforms to Godwin’s theory in the sense that there is a relationship between the visuals and the lyrics. This is done in many cases throughout the music video’s narrative. The video also illustrates the lyrics, which again means the music video conforms to Godwin’s theory. For example when the lyrics say ‘pretty face’, a pretty girl is presented to the audience. The blonde hair of the girl stereotypically represents her as an innocent when in reality she is doing ‘an ugly thing’ as stated in the lyrics. The girl steps over a person lying on the floor, which is a stereotype of ‘the night after the party’. There is bright lighting during these frames, suggesting it is the day after the party. Where as the lighting when the lead singer is looking for the girl at the party is darker, suggesting it is a flashback. The contrast of lighting also demonstrates to the audience the different periods of time. The frame of the couple sitting on the bed suggests that he knows about her cheating. We as an audience realise this because of the bright lighting. The fact that they are apart implies that they are distant and there is no connection between them. His body language towards her when she is sick suggests that he is accustomed to helping her and that she is always getting drunk, hence why he is disappointed in her. The lyrics illustrate this point in the way that when she is sick, it is at the point where the lyrics say ‘an ugly thing’.
There is a contrast between these lyrics as it says ‘In such an ugly way something so beautiful’, suggesting she is beautiful but does something that is regarded as negative. At first the lyrics say ‘I’m not saying it’s your fault’ but at the end when he learns of what she has done, he says it is her fault showing how the lyrics move on as the narrative does. The lyrics are illustrated in the way that she is supposed to be someone sweet and naïve yet does bad things: Oh you're so naive yet so. How could this be done’. When he learns of the girls cheating, she comes after him but he pushes her away. His body language shows that he is fed up and disinterested, again signifying that it has happened before. This is also demonstrated by the lyrics ‘she’s still out to get me’. The lyrics are again illustrated in the way that it says ‘let me down’ when she comes out of the room and he sees that she has cheated.
The camerawork starts with the camera tracking the lead singer as he walks to the party. This makes the audience feel like they are moving with him and make them feel part of it. The camera tracking is slow like the pace of the song. Godwin’s theory is applied in this music video in the sense that voyeurism is used to create ‘fandom’, allowing the audience to connect with the star. This is done through the use of close ups. There are a lot of close ups throughout the video, again, allowing the audience to connect with the lead singer. There is a sense of ambiguity in the video as when the girl is cheating on her boyfriend, there are close ups of him having fun and laughing with his friends, unaware of what she is doing, even though the lyrics suggest it is a common thing with her. The use of a point of view shot when he sees her coming out of the toilet after she cheated on him, allows the audience to feel part of it, as though they are there too, experiencing what he is experiencing. There is a use of green lighting when there is the frame of the girl cheating. The setting is also dirty and dingy when she is in the toilet. These two factors illustrate the negative tone of what she is doing.
The editing of the music video is slow paced, mirroring the slow pace of the song. The editing is slightly faster paced when the chorus is playing and when there is action happening. When the lead singer is looking for the girl, it is almost as if it is slow motion, suggesting he has been looking for her for ages and is getting tired of it. The editing is also done in the way that when there is high pitch in the song, there is a flash of light, reflecting the flashing lights at the club/party. There is a use of editing when he bangs on the toilet door, the drums begin to play and he bangs to the drumbeat.
The representation of the lead singer is that he and the band are down to earth. The clothes they are wearing particularly show this. The clothes are simple and are not glamorous. The band is represented as having more interest in their music than in their fame. They are also represented as unique in the way their image is unusual – curly, big hair and the clothes they wear.
Overall the music video conforms to Godwin’s theory in the sense of voyeurism, illustrating the lyrics and the music video style. The mood of the music video has inspired me to use a similar mood in my music video in the way the star I am using is fed up, annoyed and disappointed.
The genre of this song is indie. The music video is predominantly narrative based with lip-synching during the narrative by the lead singer of the band. The music video tells a story of a girl that is cheating on her boyfriend but he is afraid to leave her because he believes that she can change therefore he is the one who is naïve. He does not want to ask if her cheating is true because he is afraid of the answer: ‘true or false it may be’. The music video conforms to Godwin’s theory in the way that it is iconographic of an indie genre in the way that is simple and the lead singer is usually present in the narrative.
This music video conforms to Godwin’s theory in the sense that there is a relationship between the visuals and the lyrics. This is done in many cases throughout the music video’s narrative. The video also illustrates the lyrics, which again means the music video conforms to Godwin’s theory. For example when the lyrics say ‘pretty face’, a pretty girl is presented to the audience. The blonde hair of the girl stereotypically represents her as an innocent when in reality she is doing ‘an ugly thing’ as stated in the lyrics. The girl steps over a person lying on the floor, which is a stereotype of ‘the night after the party’. There is bright lighting during these frames, suggesting it is the day after the party. Where as the lighting when the lead singer is looking for the girl at the party is darker, suggesting it is a flashback. The contrast of lighting also demonstrates to the audience the different periods of time. The frame of the couple sitting on the bed suggests that he knows about her cheating. We as an audience realise this because of the bright lighting. The fact that they are apart implies that they are distant and there is no connection between them. His body language towards her when she is sick suggests that he is accustomed to helping her and that she is always getting drunk, hence why he is disappointed in her. The lyrics illustrate this point in the way that when she is sick, it is at the point where the lyrics say ‘an ugly thing’.
There is a contrast between these lyrics as it says ‘In such an ugly way something so beautiful’, suggesting she is beautiful but does something that is regarded as negative. At first the lyrics say ‘I’m not saying it’s your fault’ but at the end when he learns of what she has done, he says it is her fault showing how the lyrics move on as the narrative does. The lyrics are illustrated in the way that she is supposed to be someone sweet and naïve yet does bad things: Oh you're so naive yet so. How could this be done’. When he learns of the girls cheating, she comes after him but he pushes her away. His body language shows that he is fed up and disinterested, again signifying that it has happened before. This is also demonstrated by the lyrics ‘she’s still out to get me’. The lyrics are again illustrated in the way that it says ‘let me down’ when she comes out of the room and he sees that she has cheated.
The camerawork starts with the camera tracking the lead singer as he walks to the party. This makes the audience feel like they are moving with him and make them feel part of it. The camera tracking is slow like the pace of the song. Godwin’s theory is applied in this music video in the sense that voyeurism is used to create ‘fandom’, allowing the audience to connect with the star. This is done through the use of close ups. There are a lot of close ups throughout the video, again, allowing the audience to connect with the lead singer. There is a sense of ambiguity in the video as when the girl is cheating on her boyfriend, there are close ups of him having fun and laughing with his friends, unaware of what she is doing, even though the lyrics suggest it is a common thing with her. The use of a point of view shot when he sees her coming out of the toilet after she cheated on him, allows the audience to feel part of it, as though they are there too, experiencing what he is experiencing. There is a use of green lighting when there is the frame of the girl cheating. The setting is also dirty and dingy when she is in the toilet. These two factors illustrate the negative tone of what she is doing.
The editing of the music video is slow paced, mirroring the slow pace of the song. The editing is slightly faster paced when the chorus is playing and when there is action happening. When the lead singer is looking for the girl, it is almost as if it is slow motion, suggesting he has been looking for her for ages and is getting tired of it. The editing is also done in the way that when there is high pitch in the song, there is a flash of light, reflecting the flashing lights at the club/party. There is a use of editing when he bangs on the toilet door, the drums begin to play and he bangs to the drumbeat.
The representation of the lead singer is that he and the band are down to earth. The clothes they are wearing particularly show this. The clothes are simple and are not glamorous. The band is represented as having more interest in their music than in their fame. They are also represented as unique in the way their image is unusual – curly, big hair and the clothes they wear.
Overall the music video conforms to Godwin’s theory in the sense of voyeurism, illustrating the lyrics and the music video style. The mood of the music video has inspired me to use a similar mood in my music video in the way the star I am using is fed up, annoyed and disappointed.
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Monday, 15 September 2008
Summary of Essay by Sven E Carlsson
Clips in music videos can be broken up into two categories, performance and conceptual. Performance when the artist sings or plays an instrument and conceptual which are other clips normally the narrative. The artist is representing themselves in their music video. When they perform they aren't an artist anymore, they are advertising themselves. They are selling their voice, lifestyle, records etc. They want to create fandom so that the audience stays loyal to them. Televised bard is another type of performance in music videos. They use images and footage to illustrate the lyrics and help tell the story they are trying to tell. Another type of performer is the electronic shaman this promises meaning to everything, only their voice can and rhythm anchor the visuals and connects images and sound. There is the promises a magical, mythical reality. Animation and special effects can be used. - animates dead objects, shows alteregos and shifts through times.
Music video is a form of audio-visual communication where the meaning is created by the lyrics, music and moving images. Images of the music videos can be bound together through the beat of the music. The images, lighting and body movements can be synchronized to the music to create meaning and effect. The lyrics and the images create meaning of the music video through amplifying and illustrating. New meaning is created through metaphorical langauge and visuals. The use of images can help audiences identify the concept of the music video. Manipulations of colour, clothing, footage and settings creates different ideas and themes that are often repeated and varied.
Music videos can be seen as merging three traditions of moving images: singing performance, narrative and non-narration modern art. Modern art in a music video can include collages, paraphrases, animated computer graphics and abstract combinations of pictures. A standard clip in a music video contains all the three traditions. It can have different variations - the vocalist may be involved in the narrative or be outside allowing self reflection. They may have an alter ego through a cartoon, or change clothes between clips or shift through time, fly or float.
There are three forms in the visual traditions of a music video - the performance clips, narrative clip and art clip. The performance clip is usually lip synching of the vocalist. There are three times of performance clips - song, dance and instrumental performance. Some videos combine two of the performance clips such as song and dance or song and instrumental. There is also a concert clips which is when the artists performs on a stage with an audience. The narrative clip is normally percieved a short, silent movie to the background music. It usually contains a visual story that is easy to follow. The art clip has no performance or narrative, it can help define the genre of the music. The art clip can relate to the theme of the music video or can be very abstract.
Music video is a form of audio-visual communication where the meaning is created by the lyrics, music and moving images. Images of the music videos can be bound together through the beat of the music. The images, lighting and body movements can be synchronized to the music to create meaning and effect. The lyrics and the images create meaning of the music video through amplifying and illustrating. New meaning is created through metaphorical langauge and visuals. The use of images can help audiences identify the concept of the music video. Manipulations of colour, clothing, footage and settings creates different ideas and themes that are often repeated and varied.
Music videos can be seen as merging three traditions of moving images: singing performance, narrative and non-narration modern art. Modern art in a music video can include collages, paraphrases, animated computer graphics and abstract combinations of pictures. A standard clip in a music video contains all the three traditions. It can have different variations - the vocalist may be involved in the narrative or be outside allowing self reflection. They may have an alter ego through a cartoon, or change clothes between clips or shift through time, fly or float.
There are three forms in the visual traditions of a music video - the performance clips, narrative clip and art clip. The performance clip is usually lip synching of the vocalist. There are three times of performance clips - song, dance and instrumental performance. Some videos combine two of the performance clips such as song and dance or song and instrumental. There is also a concert clips which is when the artists performs on a stage with an audience. The narrative clip is normally percieved a short, silent movie to the background music. It usually contains a visual story that is easy to follow. The art clip has no performance or narrative, it can help define the genre of the music. The art clip can relate to the theme of the music video or can be very abstract.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Analysis of Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson – Since u been gone
The music video depicts the revenge the artist takes on her boyfriend after he has broken up with her. The music video takes the form of a narrative and a performance and conforms to the codes and conventions of a pop-rock video: upbeat music, normal clothes, bright lighting, close ups and performance with a narrative. The performance is iconographic of a pop-rock video as it is dark (dark clothing and lighting) and has a live stage performance with an audience. The video starts with the camera panning across the room, which sets the scene in which the music video will primarily takes place. The lighting is dark, which suggests a negative tone to the song as the song is about revenge.
The media forms in the music video are standard camera angles and shots, which conform to Goodwin’s theory, amplifying and illustrating the lyrics of the song as there is a relationship between the visuals and the meaning of the song. There is mid shot of the artist sitting on a chair with furniture surrounding her. This camera shot conveys the idea that she is alone after her boyfriend has broken up with her, amplifying the lyrics. The voyeurism of the music video also conforms to Goodwin’s theory as there are many close ups allowing fandom to take place. The record label wants to inspire loyal fans and the close ups allow ‘contact’ with the star. Close ups of the heart necklace she has in her hand suggests to the audience that she has broken up with her boyfriend, allowing the audience to sympathise with her. By using the mirror in the bathroom voyeurism is used, again allowing contact with the artist from the audience.
The facial expressions of the artists through the close ups show how she is confident and smug about her revenge. However, when the bridge and chorus plays, her facial expressions are more hurt and angered, illustrating the lyrics that she is ‘moving on’. The camera shot of the artist jumping on the bed suggests how is enjoying her revenge. This idea is also conveyed through the close up of her smiling. The artists triumph is shown through her smug smile as she puts on the hat and walks past the couple, only the audience and the artist knows what she has done in the apartment. The closing shot of the music video is a close up of the artist looking pleased and relieved. The panning of the apartment reinforces the destruction the artist has inflicted on her ex-boyfriend and closes the scene.
The editing of the music video is fast cut montage, which indicates the fast pace of the music. The straight cuts give a smooth transition from the different scenes, e.g. from the bathroom to the bedroom or to the performance, allowing the audience to easily follow the narrative. There is also editing of the music and the visuals. For example the scene changes from a room in the apartment to the performance when there is a significant guitar beat in the bridge of the song. Also when the artist sings the lyrics ‘Since u been gone’ the audience jump up on the beat. The editing of the camera shots of the instruments are also carefully constructed as when there is a dominant sound in the song, e.g. the drum, there is a shot of the drum player and the same for the guitar and the shots quickly change to the pace of the music. Slow motion is used when the artist smashes photo of her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. This reinforces her anger and upset and the revenge she is taking. It also makes the audience pay attention, as when the artist walks outside, the couple the audience sees is the couple in the photo that the artist smashed. There is intertextuality of the music as the chords of the songs sound like The Strokes especially of their song ‘Barely Legal’.
The artist is represented as a ‘normal’ person as she is wearing everyday clothes: converse, plain t-shirt and cropped trousers. By wearing these clothes she is represented as being down to earth. She is also represented as a strong independent woman as she is taking revenge on her boyfriend and her body language suggests her confidence: she leans back with her arms resting on the back of the sofa and her facial expressions. During her performance she is wearing black suggesting sophistication and defining the rock-pop genre as black is commonly associated with the rock genre. The music dictates the genre rather than the music video. This is because the music has more presence and there is an emphasis on the music as the music video has a lot of lip-syncing and performance. Throughout the narrative there is lip-syncing suggesting the artists wants the audience to listen to the lyrics. The theme throughout the music video is revenge and how the artist is trashing her ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend’s flat: ripping up clothes, trashing the bathroom reinforcing the theme and narrative of the music video.
The music video depicts the revenge the artist takes on her boyfriend after he has broken up with her. The music video takes the form of a narrative and a performance and conforms to the codes and conventions of a pop-rock video: upbeat music, normal clothes, bright lighting, close ups and performance with a narrative. The performance is iconographic of a pop-rock video as it is dark (dark clothing and lighting) and has a live stage performance with an audience. The video starts with the camera panning across the room, which sets the scene in which the music video will primarily takes place. The lighting is dark, which suggests a negative tone to the song as the song is about revenge.
The media forms in the music video are standard camera angles and shots, which conform to Goodwin’s theory, amplifying and illustrating the lyrics of the song as there is a relationship between the visuals and the meaning of the song. There is mid shot of the artist sitting on a chair with furniture surrounding her. This camera shot conveys the idea that she is alone after her boyfriend has broken up with her, amplifying the lyrics. The voyeurism of the music video also conforms to Goodwin’s theory as there are many close ups allowing fandom to take place. The record label wants to inspire loyal fans and the close ups allow ‘contact’ with the star. Close ups of the heart necklace she has in her hand suggests to the audience that she has broken up with her boyfriend, allowing the audience to sympathise with her. By using the mirror in the bathroom voyeurism is used, again allowing contact with the artist from the audience.
The facial expressions of the artists through the close ups show how she is confident and smug about her revenge. However, when the bridge and chorus plays, her facial expressions are more hurt and angered, illustrating the lyrics that she is ‘moving on’. The camera shot of the artist jumping on the bed suggests how is enjoying her revenge. This idea is also conveyed through the close up of her smiling. The artists triumph is shown through her smug smile as she puts on the hat and walks past the couple, only the audience and the artist knows what she has done in the apartment. The closing shot of the music video is a close up of the artist looking pleased and relieved. The panning of the apartment reinforces the destruction the artist has inflicted on her ex-boyfriend and closes the scene.
The editing of the music video is fast cut montage, which indicates the fast pace of the music. The straight cuts give a smooth transition from the different scenes, e.g. from the bathroom to the bedroom or to the performance, allowing the audience to easily follow the narrative. There is also editing of the music and the visuals. For example the scene changes from a room in the apartment to the performance when there is a significant guitar beat in the bridge of the song. Also when the artist sings the lyrics ‘Since u been gone’ the audience jump up on the beat. The editing of the camera shots of the instruments are also carefully constructed as when there is a dominant sound in the song, e.g. the drum, there is a shot of the drum player and the same for the guitar and the shots quickly change to the pace of the music. Slow motion is used when the artist smashes photo of her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. This reinforces her anger and upset and the revenge she is taking. It also makes the audience pay attention, as when the artist walks outside, the couple the audience sees is the couple in the photo that the artist smashed. There is intertextuality of the music as the chords of the songs sound like The Strokes especially of their song ‘Barely Legal’.
The artist is represented as a ‘normal’ person as she is wearing everyday clothes: converse, plain t-shirt and cropped trousers. By wearing these clothes she is represented as being down to earth. She is also represented as a strong independent woman as she is taking revenge on her boyfriend and her body language suggests her confidence: she leans back with her arms resting on the back of the sofa and her facial expressions. During her performance she is wearing black suggesting sophistication and defining the rock-pop genre as black is commonly associated with the rock genre. The music dictates the genre rather than the music video. This is because the music has more presence and there is an emphasis on the music as the music video has a lot of lip-syncing and performance. Throughout the narrative there is lip-syncing suggesting the artists wants the audience to listen to the lyrics. The theme throughout the music video is revenge and how the artist is trashing her ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend’s flat: ripping up clothes, trashing the bathroom reinforcing the theme and narrative of the music video.
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