History of Music Videos
A music video is by definition a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of the artists album.
Some of the earliest recordings of music videos as shown below show the development of music video making from the 20's to present.
Some of the earliest recordings of music videos as shown below show the development of music video making from the 20's to present.
Gus Visser- an example of one of the earliest music videos. (1925)
This performance clip is assumed to be the first ever evidence of a music video, showing early elements of film making. It is commonly argued that this piece is not in fact a music video as it shows no common elements of a promotional music video as there is no routine or series of events to accompany the lyrics of the musical piece, but rather a recording of a man singing in place.
Music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote and artist and their music recordings. This would have been quite useless due to the lack of access to TV screens and the followers of the artist were more likely to hear Gus Visser through the radio. |
Musicals- singing in the rain
(1952) Leading up to the 50's, musical pieces were a key link to the build up and influence on music videos. Musicals such as Singin' in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz had a great impact on the concept of using perceptible visual narrative and routine to accompany the lyrics of the song. In musicals at the time this generally included dancing as seen in the clip above.
Many conventions of musicals are still heavily used in music videos today. |
Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody
(1975) Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody is said to be the first ever evidence of a true music video (created for promotional purposes resulting in the song becoming a top hit all over the world) showing a range of codes and conventions of modern music videos. A few examples include their use of band performance clips, early visual effects, on stage clips etc..
Following the release of the alleged first real music video by Queen, MTV was launched in 1981 continuing to experiment with different visual effects in music videos (eg. first song on MTV Radio star) throughout the 80's. Therefore Bohemian Rhapsody was definitely a time-changing music video. |
Michael Jackson
(1987) Michael Jackson was a very important musical icon who created a unique image and style for himself as an artist through his music videos, soon becoming recognized as the 'king of pop.' Before Dec. 2, 1983, when "Thriller" was released, there were simply no other music videos like it. music videos were know for simple performance clips of the band or artist without a narrative. Most of his videos including Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller were highly produced music videos and one of the first featured on MTV since its launch in 1981.
Michael Jackson's iconic music videos changed the typical conventions of music videos significantly. |
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Puff Daddy- I'll Be Missing You (1997)
In the nineties, popularity around RnB music had risen significantly and helped develop some of the editing and cinematography techniques that we see in music videos today. As seen in the Puff Daddy music video above, the 90's brought about an increased use of transitions; making the concept/narrative play more seamlessly than videos from the previous years.
The use of continuity editing had also become more prominent, which increased the quality of the video as it illustrated the storyline within the music video. |
50 Cent- Candy Shop (2005)
Music videos of the noughties presented a rampant sexualisation of women, especially in rap music by male artists. In 50 Cent's video, the number of women outnumber the number of men as they are objectified with the lack clothes that they are wearing.
In contrast to the voyeurism in the 2000's, female rappers and hip hop artists of today's music are choosing to present themselves sexually in the media. For example, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna are seen showing their bodies as an achievement of Post-Feminism. |
How have music videos developed to what they are today?
The quality of the editing techniques has definitly improved greatly throughout the years, and is one of the aspects of a music video that attracts its intended audiences. Modern music videos have specific elements which help to identify and categorise the video into different genres, and artists tend to stick with them to achieve a higher demographic. For example, . Todays music videos also mostly link with Goodwin's theory in which a music video follows 6 elements:
Music Video Analysis
I will be analysing the music video 'Now' by Paramore directed by Daniel Campos, and discussing the techniques and elements that are presented in the video that are used to communicate meaning and promote the band.
This message contrasts the way that the song sounds angry and violent on the surface. However the true meaning is made clear in the last few moments of the music video where the protagonist makes as if she is going to lunge at the soldier, only to embrace him. This takes us back to the idea of "putting an end to the cycle".
The unexpected end to the video, after such a chaotic presentation of anger and struggle enhances the main message: that in the end, love conquers all. |
In this music video, filled with so much struggle, pain and bitterness, both within the song and the collective imagery of the video; a violent cycle is presented. Yet there are undertones of hope- bursts of colour that disturb the dull, clouded, and dark nature of the narrative.
Through the use of mise-en-scene, symbolism is heavily used by Campos, mainly surrounding colour symbolism and militaristic metaphores. For example the use of colour flairs and dust allude to the use and effect of weapons. This illustrates the beauty of what the singer goes through as it helps achieve a purpose to who she is and that her fight is to put an end to this cycle of violence. |
Music Video Analysis #2
The second music video I will be analysing is Houdini by Foster The People - directed by the directing duo DANIELS, consisting of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert - and the way in which the key elements within the music video are used to communicate meaning and promote the band.
Within the first few seconds of the music video, a staging mishap occurs, killing the members of the band Foster The People. Rather than mourning the deaths of the members, the crew worries about the concert that was meant to be performed the following day presented through cinematography. This shows that the artists feel as though they only matter when their image and popularity is threatened.
The simple concept of the video as a whole is a criticism on pop culture- or even the music business as a whole. This is presented through mise-en-scene such as the crew in black-suits/green-suits. For example, the crew begins to move the band's corpses around like puppets long enough to finish the concert. |
An example of editing is the use of special effects in the video to transform the corpses into full functioning robots in order for the vocalist to be able to lip sync along to the set list. These are all images and ideas that symbolise the artificiality of pop artists and how they are a product of major labels who exploit the artists in pursuit of profit.
Mise-en-Scene is also effectively used to show the artists feeling insignificant. For example, the many close-ups that are in the video are all of crew members which implies that the voices and feelings of the band members go unheard in the industry. |
The video also criticises peoples ignorance to the artists obviously affected behaviour. This is implied during the ironic synchronised dancing where the team in the black-suits are finally seen by the crowd, yet it is not questioned. This suggests that even when the artificiality of the artist is clear, their fan base continues to grow.
Finally, cinematography is used to show the crew as they celebrate at the afterparty and the camera closes in on the dead band members on the couch with confetti raining down on them. This may represent that while the crew and record label enjoy their profit, the members feel trapped as they cant be themselves in the industry. |
The elements and concept presented in this music video helps promote the band because it is demonstrating that the artists are genuine which many audiences tend to search for and appreciate.
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Genre research
Song Analysis: 'Hurt'
As a class, we were all given the lyrics to a song ('Hurt')
and a random genre. We were then told to base the lyrics to the provided genre, and apply the typical codes and conventions of said genre into a plan for a music video. The genre we were given was Pop/RnB, in which case we generated ideas from the lyrics that could be applied into a Pop/RnB music video.
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From the lyrics "I hurt myself today" and "my sweetest friend" my group and I linked this to a teenage speaker who may be going through depression. As the lyrics are dark and we decided a dark setting would best suit the mood of the song. Perhaps the speaker could be in their dark room.
We gathered ideas for mise-en-scene from lyrics such as "everyone I know goes away in the end" which could be shown through the character sifting through old photographs, reminiscing about the friends that had left them. |
Watching the cover of 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash was quite surprising as the style of singing and music video were both not how I had pictured the lyrics. In Cash's version, he follows the genre of country music, with the imagery surrounding the concept of family loss rather than drug abuse- as i had originally interpreted the lyrics. However, the theme of death and loneliness is still present, as the video also went back and forth between his current life and his memories of his loved ones whom have died. Overall, our predictions of it having a very emotional and depressing meaning were correct, as these emotions could be presented in multiple ways.
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The original song and music video by Nine Inch Nails was closer to our predictions yet still had some differences. Nine Inch Nails generally follow a genre of rock, and the lyrics that present ideas of drug abuse and depression definitely adhere to the codes and conventions of typical rock music. In the music video the artist is performing in front of a projection of a series of quite eerie and ominous images. This demonstrates the artist feeling small and vulnerable in the world. As for the images, they create a sense of danger as there is a lack of clear narrative, perhaps to illustrate the artists state of mind.
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This difference between Johnny Cash's cover and the original by Nine Inch Nails demonstrates just how important the genre is when it comes to a set of lyrics, as it can significantly change the message and meaning of the song. Each genre have their own specific themes that can help the audience achieve a greater understanding of the message behind the words or the emotions that the artist personally attach to the lyrics.
Director research: Michel Gondry
Michel Gondry's style in his music videos illustrate a kind of surrealism that can only be explained in dreams. He does this through the many unique elements he coordinates into his music videos: extreme colours, repetition, unusual/supernatural imagery- all combining to create a quite chaotic series of events.
As seen in one of his many directed music videos, Daft Punk's Around the World, Gondry introduces the idea of the distortion of the human body, forming together to create a bigger image. In this video, the director uses otherworldly characters such as mummies, robots, aliens and more. |
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Gondry's use of human bodies is also evident in the music video of Mad World in which children arrange themselves to form animated figures on the pavement below. However, he creates a division between the animations and the real world (where the camera shifts up to Gary Jules singing on the roof.)
This division adds to the feeling of alienation that is implied within the lyrics of the song. This particular video is weirdly stripped down from the directors usual colourful, retro visuals in his videos. This sense of minimalism perfectly matches the hurt that can be felt throughout the song. |
In the Foo Fighters' Everlong, Michel Gondry's fascinations with sleep is very clear. As the director of The Science of Sleep, Gondry had stated that "in a dream you can make drama out of anything." Again there is that same use of a vibrant, unusual dream world and the dull, black and white of the real world. Everything that is visualized in the dream world is surreal, with exaggerated sizes of objects and spaces such as the room in which the characters are in. |
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Director Research: Elliot Sellers
Elliot Sellers is the director and cinematographer of some very interesting and somewhat unusual music videos of today, though there is a lack of information on him online. Sellers' style of music illustrates futuristic/other-wordly themes that are very entrancing and artistic through the directors choice of editing and cinematography. This director has inspired some of the ideas and elements that I want to coordinate into my music video such as: using an unsmooth narrative, related quotes, overlapping and chaotic imagery, ect.
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As seen in one of his directed videos, 'Crystallized' by Young the Giant, Sellers' use of heavy editing and cinematography is used to create a very entrancing video that is really calming in a way. The smooth combination of the space clips and the performers is realy well coordinated which gives the music video a better quality and enhances its entrancing effect on the audience.
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This video for First Aid Kit is also heavily edited, to create yet again an entrancing effect. For example, the use of fades is very significantly used, in combination with the bright lighting which gives the video a dream like and other-worldy feeling. Many of the shots are distorted, creating illusions, perhaps demonstrating the artists emotions.
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Goodwin's Theory
A prezi
discussing Goodwin's theory and the six main features of music videos with examples from music videos and genres. |
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ARTIST RESEARCH:
Nothing But Thieves
Nothing But Thieves is an English five-piece alternative rock band formed in 2012, consisting of Conor Mayson (vocals), Joe Langridge-Brown (guitars), Dominic Craik (keyboards), James Price (drums), and Philip Blake (bass guitar) who all attended the same sixth form at the time. They were signed to RCA records in 2014- an American record label that has released multiple genres of music ranging from pop, rock, RnB,blues, hiphop, jazz, and even country.
Promotion:
The band's single Itch picked up Hottest Record and Track of the Day on Radio 1 which broadcasts internationally. They were then picked up by Gerard Way to support My Chemical Romance's European tour dates and later on they performed alongside Twenty One pilots in London, which are both alternative bands with a fairly similar following and musical style. As newcomers to the alternative rock scene, Nothing But Thieves significantly benefited from these tour events and record awards as they were able to gain greater exposure which aided them in expanding their following immensely.
Their release of 9 singles from their debut self-titled album, all followed by music videos, has gained them a significant amount of exposure, especially through the used of multiple social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and twitter. Following their slow rise to fame, they announced their own 'Ban All The Music' tour of the UK on October 2015 which was sold out.
Promotion:
The band's single Itch picked up Hottest Record and Track of the Day on Radio 1 which broadcasts internationally. They were then picked up by Gerard Way to support My Chemical Romance's European tour dates and later on they performed alongside Twenty One pilots in London, which are both alternative bands with a fairly similar following and musical style. As newcomers to the alternative rock scene, Nothing But Thieves significantly benefited from these tour events and record awards as they were able to gain greater exposure which aided them in expanding their following immensely.
Their release of 9 singles from their debut self-titled album, all followed by music videos, has gained them a significant amount of exposure, especially through the used of multiple social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and twitter. Following their slow rise to fame, they announced their own 'Ban All The Music' tour of the UK on October 2015 which was sold out.
Style:
Nothing But Thieves have spent years mastering and developing their music into a style that is completely their own, something that divides them from any other alternative artists in the scene. It's clear that the band has a great passion for music and all that they do, therefore their fashion style is subtle to say the least. The band members do not present themselves in extravagant or designer clothing, usually opting for blacks and neutral coloured clothing. This is to ensure that nothing deflects from the importance they place on their music as it's what they want to be praised and remembered for, rather than being known for being fashion icons.
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Unlike other alternative rock bands and artists, NBT do not have the attributes and style that are typical of rock bands. These include dyed hair, dark makeup, specific hairstyles, edgy outfits and so on.
Within their music videos, they tend to display more controversial and meaningful topics such as issues that they themselves have dealt with, or the problems of people in general. For instance, the left image above demonstrates the characters drug abuse, and the right image is about the heavy/taboo topic of suicide. This is very typical of indie/alternative rock artists as they stand for self expression.
The lyrics of the song which we are using (Itch) surrounds ideas of individualism in society, how important it is to not be discouraged by having to follow society's expectations. It is a subtle criticism of society. The lyrics demonstrate feelings of rebellion. For example the lyrics "there's an itch under my skin" "I just want to feel something real." suggest that the artist wants to be themselves rather than feel controlled by society. This is further evidence of the controversial style of music that the band produces.
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Other Music Videos by Nothing But Thieves:
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Artist Research:
Twenty One Pilots
Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo. The band was formed in 2009 by the vocalist, Tyler Joseph alongside two former members who departed from the group in 2011.The band today consists of Tyler Joseph as the lead vocalist and keyboardist, and Josh Dun as the drummer. The band went through years of independent releases and touring in a minivan before rising to fame in 2012, when they were signed by the record label Fuelled by Ramen.
Musical style:
Though they are labelled as 'alternative rock' artists, people typically find it difficult to affiliate the band to a specific genre as the duo never settle for one genre. They have dabbled in pop, rock, rap, electro, hiphop, instrumental- to put it simply they have done anything but country. Fans even describe some of their work using the term "ukulele screamo."
Many of their work contain allusions to Christianity as both members are active Christians. The band combines their emotional lyrics that generally address topics such as mental illnesses and doubt of faith, with an ironically upbeat and joyful track.
Musical style:
Though they are labelled as 'alternative rock' artists, people typically find it difficult to affiliate the band to a specific genre as the duo never settle for one genre. They have dabbled in pop, rock, rap, electro, hiphop, instrumental- to put it simply they have done anything but country. Fans even describe some of their work using the term "ukulele screamo."
Many of their work contain allusions to Christianity as both members are active Christians. The band combines their emotional lyrics that generally address topics such as mental illnesses and doubt of faith, with an ironically upbeat and joyful track.
During performances, it's not completely unusual for fans to see the duo behind a mask. The basic Mythology of the masks or the general concept of covering their identity in this project was to create music that is relatable for their audience. Tyler Joseph had explained that they intend on "trying to create something that's a bit more faceless, that can represent a group of people or have people relate to it."
Fashion Style:Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun's on-stage presence is definitely an interesting one. They are seen with features that typically apply to a rock/alternative genre; dyed hair, dark make-up, dark clothing, skeleton suits and so on.
The black paint covering the frontman's hands and neck in their last album represent his insecurities and "a feeling of suffocation" that he causes himself. |
Some Music Videos by Twenty One Pilots:
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Framing and the Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a composition tool that helps frame the media by aligning it to a three-by-three grid that can be used to place the prominent elements of the clip. The use of the rule of thirds allows the product to have a smoother flow between each section which attracts the audience. characters in a frame are generally placed to the right of the frame as this is what is seen as more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, while the eyeline falls roughly on the top horizontal line. A strong example of this is the campaign 'No to Racism'.
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We attempted to frame a scene where the character walks into a room, looks down at his phone, and shoots himself. We tried to apply the rule of thirds by placing the subject to the right side of the frame and aligning the eyes along the top line. This is best presented in the close up of the characters face as he holds the gun to his head (bottom left frame). We thought that this way the presentation and framing would be more aesthetically pleasing the correct way.
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Influential music videos:
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From the music video of 'Blame' by Bastille, I really liked the idea of using colour symbolism such as the use of the colour red in several different points of the music video which represent pain, hell, and danger. I thought for my video, as it is a dytopian theme, I could use the colour yellow through the props to represent ideas of freedom, happiness and warning.
I was also inspired by the use of both dull and saturated scenes and shots in 'Blame'. This would fit the dystopian theme of my video really well as I could use the dull colour scheme during the first half of the sequence, and more saturated tones when the protagonist is rebelling to suggest to a sense of freedom. |
Another video that is influential is 'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster The People. In this video the live performance is very suited to the indie-rock genre as it's really lowkey and real. For example the shaky camera work and the inconsistent control of the focus are typical of the genre. Furthermore, I also like the use of the coloured stage lights during the performance scenes. I could use the lights and projector in the schools assembly hall to recreate a similar setting for the bands 'live' preformance. |
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I was also inspired by the idea and location of the music video 'Function/Void' as the idea of a mindless and unquestioning population is found in indie and dystopian videos. there is also a sense of surveillance culture in this video which I think would be very effective for my narrative. The locations and skyline shots also play a part in this dystopian representation of society, which is typical of this particular style of indie music videos. |
One element that inspires me from Adam Lambert's video for 'Never Close Our Eyes' is the use of CCTV and surveillance cameras as a form of controlling people and instilling a feeling of paranoia in them. This adds to the surveillance culture of a dystopian narrative.
another thing that i like about this music video is the close up shots of the characters facial expressions. this is commonly used in the indie genre to completely show the emotions being felt to the audience. |
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Although the genre of this video isn't even close to the genre I will be using, I think that the first few shots of the spray painting would be a great idea for the second half of my narrative in which the protagonist starts to rebel or rise against society. |