Music Genre Comparison / Analysis

Example 'Stay Awake'

Artists name: Eilliot Gleave (Initials E.G = Example, Well known, this song is currently 5th in the charts, fallen from 2nd position)

Music Genre: Rap, Hip Hop, R&B (the same as our music genre)

Example is signed by Data Records who are owned by The Ministry of Sound. he is quite a recent/modern artist and has worked with artists such as Wretch 32 and Tinchy Stryder.

Success: This video is successful overall because it keeps the interest of the viewer throughout and makes the viewer want to watch it again because of the fast shots and unusual content.

1) There is a use of colourisation which gradually comes apparent towards the end of the music video through the use of a colour powder fight.(use of slow motion). The start of the music video is a grey and washed out colour, with shots of the artist throughout being in black and white.

2) Use of some narrative (e.g on the line of ' Did we chase the rabbit into wonderland' (intertextual reference to Alice in Wonderland film) but mainly spectacle such as freestyle dancing or movement. Also slow motion is used to highlight the difficultly of the tricks, in time with the music.

3) Different framing and angles add interest e.g different shots of buildings/materials/speakers at the beginning.

4) Different settings and locations: disused farm buildings, city shots, woodland,etc.

5) Variety of different shots, lots of close-ups on artists face and mouth.

 6)The visuals on screen link to the lyrics closely.

 I will take aspects from this video and look at how our music video could be created.

Case Study :'Hurt' by Johnny Cash

'Hurt' By Johnny Cash'

The original song was by Nine Inch Nails. (NIN). NIN released an album called 'The Downward Spiral which featured the song on it in 1994. In 2002 Johnny Cash did a cover version of the song (above).


When analysising NIN music video compared to Johnny cash's version there are some major differences. NIN's version appears suicidal and has a depressed and unusual tone to it. The song talks about differences in society and suicide/self harm. NIN music video is a live performance with the visuals on the screen behind the artists linking to the theme of the song/lyrics. For example there are images of death, war, violence, etc).


Johnny Cash's music video has an altogether different meaning and theme. His music video was directed by Mark Romanek. He has won three Grammy Awards for best short form music video. Romanek has worked with both NIN and Johnny Cash during his career. Romanek decided to capture the memories of Cash's life from a young age to his older years through the music video (Johnny Cash was 71 when he filmed this video, he died 7 months after the filming of the music video). The theme of the music video was changed from NIN who focused on death and suicide to one of religion and faith. The music video made reference to Christ and Christianity, some of the lines were changed to also get this across, e.g a line changed into 'Crown of Thorns'. Cash's cover of the song was named the best video of the year by the 'Grammy Awards and CMA (Country music association awards)', and the best video of all time by NME (New musical Express) in July 2011.'


Johnny Cash has been called an influential figure in the country genre worldwide, the most influential singer of the 20th century and a pioneer of the rock and roll genre.
Johnny Cash's music video achieves its effects through it's simplicity. The use of photo montage inbetween shots of the artist highlight Cash's upbringing and rise to fame. The use also of visuals such as  the flowers that are wilting show decay as a reminder of what inevitably is to come in the future. There are visual reminders of his faith, such as the figure of Jesus, we also see the Johnny Cash Museum which again reminds people watching of his life and popularity.

Music Video Genre Task (Video 5 and 6)

Don't Mug Yourself - The Streets (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veAIHDGghP4)

Conventions:
Image appears to be important as the backdrop behind the artist constantly changes which adds variety but can distract and confuse from what the artist is saying.
Goodwins Rules:
The music video is almost taken over with close-ups of the artists and his friends,etc. This helps to see what the artist is singing clearly but the setting changes quickly and cannot be seen properly when the artist is in frame. There are references to the notion of looking right at the end of the music video when the artist looks directly at the camera, breaking the fourth wall, as the audience look at the artist he appears to look at us.
Textual Analysis:
The lyrics and visuals link well together as the artist does actions or has props which relate the two together, however the music and visuals togther seem unusual when watching the music video. This music video is partly performance based but mainly narrative based.

RUN DMC- 'Walk this way' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_UYYPb-Gk )

Conventions:
The image of both sides of 'music' in the video is important, the appearence to the artists matter. There appear to be hardly any close-ups of the artists face, only when the main artists breaks through the wall.
Goodwin's Rules:
This music video is performance based but could be partly narrative based because of the evident rivalry we see on screen between the two genres of music.
Textual Analysis: 
The lyrics and visuals work well togehter and the wall between clearly shows the differences between the two genres of music which mix at the end of the music video.
Note: This has music video has interestingly been described as ' Breaking down the wall (seen in music video!) of two styles'  Two genres mix together in this music video.

Music Video Genre Task (Video 4)

Mcfly 'Sorry's not good enough' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAB0He7qqqE

Conventions:
This is a narrative based music video focusing on the break down of relationships. This music video is also performance based aswell. There are frequent cutaways from performance-to-narrative and then back again. The image of the artists is important. The lead singer/s are involved the most in this music video with band supporting but appearing in the narrative sequences.
Goodwin's Rules:
There are a good range of different close-ups on the two mains artists and the girl which the music video is based on. The music video demonstrates the characteristics of the genre of pop/rock through some dancing, movement and action that takes place.
Textual Analysis:
The lyrics and visuals strongly link together as does the music and visuals. I feel the music video is half performance based and half narrative based when analysed.

Music Video Genre Task (Video 3)

Lady Gaga 'Just Dance' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Abk1jAONjw)

Conventions
This music video is strongly image based and links to romanticism and sex. The artists body and appearance is made the focus of attention through out the music video. There is some performance sections of dance relating the genre of Pop.
Goodwins Rules:
There is reference to the notion of looking as glitter balls feature frequently in the video. The artist clothing also changes frequently which shows how she uses her body and appearance in the music video.
Textual Analysis
The lyrics link to the visuals on screen and the music and visuals work alongside each other well. There are  a variety of different close-ups on the artist, although another artist features briefly towards the end of the song and there are other people featuring as it is made to look like a party, the main artist remains the focus of the music video. 

Music Video Genre Task (Video 2)

Lily Allen 22 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWjNFC-FinU)

Conventions:
There is an element of performance where the artist dances with a man but this dream becomes a reality and the man suddenly disappears. Apart from this the music video is strongly narrative based around the artists relationships,etc.
Goodwins Rules:
This music video revolves around the looking notion, using mirrors. The setting is a usual place to see mirrors in and they are used throughout the music video to highlight the mood/state of the artist and the women surrounding her. This music video is also focused mainly on the artists image, and her appearance constantly changes, her hair and make-up go from tidy to messy. 
Textual Analysis:
The lyrics and visuals link together well in this music video and the music fits the visuals as the music and genre are quite serious. There is a constant notion of looking into the mirrors which show the artists appearance through out the music video. There are lots of close-ups of the artist looking at herself in the mirror, which feels like see is looking through the mirror and into the camera, making her appear to be looking through two screens.

Music Video Genre Task (Notes and Video 1)

I have chosen to analyse six music video's, I will do this through using Goodwins Rules and giving my own textual analysis.


Notes on Conventions,etc
1. Spectacle or concept
2. Narrative
3. Intertextuality 
4. Image
5. Romanticism/sex
6. Performance

Goodwins Rules:

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics

(e.g. stage performance in rock video, dance routine in hip hop etc).
2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (the words are interpreted visually either through a narrative, or figuratively through signs and symbols)

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals (the editing of the visuals is closely linked to the rhythms of the music)

4. 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).

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, mirrors etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).

Mika: 'We are Golden' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhutIEUq8k)

There is a definite sense of a large scale performance which can seem chaotic at times, and non-stop. There are a variety of different effects used in this music video such as slow motion, and flashing lights/background colours in some shots. These colours contrast against what the artist is wearing also adding a unique performance.

There doesn't appear to be a strong narrative, apart from at the start and end of the music video where the artist starts and stops his own song.
The artists image is strong and quirky and the artist creates his own character within the music video. His behaviour appears to be wild and the focus is his body throughout the music video because of his constant change of clothes/appearance.


Goodwins Rules:
This music video demonstrates genre chartacteristics of pop as the artist is the main point of attention throughout the music video and the only person we see throughout it. There are quite a large amount of close-ups on the artist so that he keeps the attention of the viewer for the duration of the music video. The notion of looking can be seen through the use of Mirrors in which the artist looks at himself and his performance/appearance throughout the music video.


Textual Analysis:
A link between the lyrics and the visuals can be seen in this music video as the lyrics are unique and unusual which matches his on screen movements and actions.  The music is very upbeat in this music video and the visuals closely relate to this genre of music. There are close-ups of the artist through out the music video. This music video is definitely performance based.

A2 Preliminary Task: Class Project

She and Him In the Sun (2010)

Lyrics:

It's hard to be ignored
When I look at you, you look so bored
My baby, my darling
I've been taking a beating

CHORUS
Well alright
(Well alright)
It's okay
(It's okay)

We all get the slip sometimes everyday
I'll just keep it to myself in the sun, in the sun

It's hard to take the blame
When I look at you, you're so ashamed
My baby, my darling
I've been thinking of leaving

CHORUS
Well alright
(Well alright)
It's okay
(It's okay)

We all get the slip sometimes everyday
I'll just keep it to myself in the sun, in the sun

Woah-oh-oh
(Well alright)
It's okay
(It's okay)

We all feel ashamed sometimes everyday
I'll just keep it to myself in the sun, in the sun

{instrumental}

Music Video Research.

I have chosen this music video by Olly Murs: 'Thinking of Me' (Official Music Video)

Producer: Futurecut, Steve Robson

Why I chose this Music Video:

This video is very effective I felt overall as the lyrics relate closely to the visuals and the use of special effects in the form of wirework set this music video apart from others. There are a wide range of different camera shots with close-ups of the artist singing as well as different angle shots and and a range of wide sweeping pan shots following the artists movement.  This video is narrative based and the music links closely to the visuals on screen. The genre of this music video is pop but does link to romance. Throughout the video the artist sees his girlfriend's face when looking at normal passers-by which suggests memory and the past. The video begins with the artists looking at pictures of this girl in his ice-cream van whilst it is raining outside. However when he steps outside the rain has dramatically stopped and the sun is shining. The rain relates to the artists mood and feelings which gradually change over the duration of the video. The artist features throughout the music video with cutaways to his movements and actions.

Use of wirework

Close-up of Artist

Pan shot of Artist from high angle

Prop personalised to feature Artists name

Prop to show artist reminiscing on past memories 

Use of Wirework

Start of A2 work