PROOF READ
ALL ABOUT MUSIC VIDEOS...
During the course of this blog post, I will be informing you all about music videos, such as the different styles, purposes, conventions and techniques of music videos.
PURPOSE
The purpose of a music video can be looked at in many different ways, perhaps you think the purpose of one is to just put a video to some music, and that's it, a music video. Or perhaps, you see a music video as making a story to the music, which you can't read through the lyrics, and the artist may have a vision they want you, the audience, to be able to see while listening to their song.
A lot of music videos nowadays are very promotional, one very well known music video 'We Can't Stop' by Miley Cyrus
uses 'Beats' products by Dr.Dre. A lot of artists uses Beats, throughout their music videos such as Jessie J's 'Bang Bang'
or even Lady Gaga's 'Just Dance'.
Artists promote in their music videos, to get the people like you watching them, to buy the products because if you see your favourite singer using something which you know you're able to get your hands on, you would want it too. It can be a very devious selling strategy throughout the music industry. However, artists can promote their own concerts, through their music video by performing on stage in a really exciting manner and it makes you want to go watch them live. Another way of promotion is through Synergy, which is basically where two areas of media cross over. For example the song 'Beating Heart' by Ellie Goulding shows clips from a film 'Insurgent'.
The cross over here, is the film industry and the music industry. They do this to help promote the film but also the artist will feature during the film, perhaps throughout,the final closing credit song, or even throughout the trailer which a lot of people will see.
Now another purpose of music videos are the strategies that companies come up with to help the artist grow. VEVO is in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group.VEVO usually hosts music videos on youtube and use adverts at the start or even sometimes in the middle of a long video, to produce revenue. It allows music companies to distribute their online music videos and make money from it. Another thing is that VEVO has an app you can download on your phone or tablet, which allows more people to view the content. This can extend into music channels as, the channel has to have adverts during breaks, this could be perhaps, movie trailers or even CD adverts, which people will hear and watch and may be really interested and want to go out and watch the film, or buy the artists album. However a main concern throughout the music industry is downloading. Now downloading is used very widely, as this allows you to download the artists content for free, instead of paying £10 for an album, this is bad for independent artists who may not be signed to any record company, and are not getting money for the downloads people are making from their music as it is from online and not being payed for.
STYLES
The first and main thing to know before making a video, and that is knowing what type of style you or the client want to video to be. The main type of styles, are 'in concert' videos, which is basically just when you can capture the footage, from a live performance or perhaps staged performances performed in a studio. This type of style usually shows an emotion and personality of an artist when they perform. In some ways it can be used as a marketing tool for concerts and the announcement of tour dates. An example of this is Taylor Swifts 'Sparks Fly'
which shows you the process of setting up the arena in a time lapse and then continues to show her on stage while singing the song.
The next style is 'Surrealistic'. Usually in these type of music videos, the artist themselves are normally very artistic and creative and can perhaps sometimes be influenced by dreams or visions the artist may have cam across once in their life time and want to show the audience their creativity within them.
Another is 'Impressionist'. Now impressionist and surrealistic music videos can be pretty similar, in the way that the music videos can be very artsy and different in relation to the music. However the difference that stands out the most is that these type of videos don't usually contain un real imagery such as dreams or visions, but rather focuses on the creative experience to the music in which every single viewer can interpret differently.
A very cool and different style of music video is 'Animation', and are simply partially or the whole this is animated. This style is usually cheaper, as cameras, venues and other equipment, are not needed.
'Narrative' music videos just straight up, tells the meaning or message of the song through the video. In different cases it could be meant through a metaphorical sense, or perhaps just straight up the lyrics in the song. Sometimes the artist prefers just a unique story line for the audience to interpret the song as they please. An example of this is 'I'm Not The Only One' by Sam Smith
which tells a story which is pretty self explanatory when you listen to the song. A very well known actress from a TV show 'Glee' is the main star in this video which widens the audience and ends up with more views.
Finally 'Parody' music videos, are mostly fan made, and are funny versions of other well-known music videos. They can come in any style, perhaps animation, narrative or even as-live, etc. They basically are just taking the original music video and ripping it apart, by perhaps making fun of the artist, or the music video itself. Parodies can also change lyrics of the song but with the same backing track. A good example of this style of video is 'The Star Wars That I Used To Know'
which became insanely popular, due to the creators, bringing such a huge franchise and making it funny using a very well known song. It currently has 19 million views.
CONVENTIONS
Camera Shots
Music Videos tend to include many long shots, close ups and mid shots. This is to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions. Also, close ups are used not only to show emotions but to reflect the words of the song with the movement of the lips of the artist
Camera Movement
The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist or band. Camera movements include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots
Editing
Jump cuts is the predominant editing techniques used in music videos. This is because this allows a sudden change from one scene to another and of course, cutting to the beat. Similarly, transitions such as fade and dissolves are very common in music videos as they can start and end a music video in such a calming manner, or if the music video is very violent or rough, the video can just end with a harsh cut instead of fading it out.
Lighting
Some music videos are black and white which help emphasis a particular mood and some videos have artificial lighting which puts the artist in an more intense look. Kanye West's song 'Four Five Seconds'
is all in black and white, so it creates emphasis on the artists as the background is white, this type of music video just makes you focus on the artist rather than perhaps a story to it.
Sound
Sound is mainly the vocals or the song but in some cases the producers can make the video into a short film by putting pieces of monologue in at the start, throughout or the end.
Props
These are important in adding to the scene and creating significance on particular objects or people.
Colour
Colours tend to to set the mood of the song through creating an atmosphere. For example, dark colours are used more in rock songs and bright colours are usually seen to be used more in hip hop and pop videos. An example of this is 'Live While We're Young' by One Direction.
This is a pop video, and it uses a lot of bright colours which creates the mood of happiness and excitement. However, the video of 'The A Team' by Ed Sheeran
which is in black and white which sets the mood of sadness which matches the song and story.
Techniques in Music Videos
ALL ABOUT MUSIC VIDEOS...
During the course of this blog post, I will be informing you all about music videos, such as the different styles, purposes, conventions and techniques of music videos.
PURPOSE
The purpose of a music video can be looked at in many different ways, perhaps you think the purpose of one is to just put a video to some music, and that's it, a music video. Or perhaps, you see a music video as making a story to the music, which you can't read through the lyrics, and the artist may have a vision they want you, the audience, to be able to see while listening to their song.
A lot of music videos nowadays are very promotional, one very well known music video 'We Can't Stop' by Miley Cyrus
Now another purpose of music videos are the strategies that companies come up with to help the artist grow. VEVO is in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group.VEVO usually hosts music videos on youtube and use adverts at the start or even sometimes in the middle of a long video, to produce revenue. It allows music companies to distribute their online music videos and make money from it. Another thing is that VEVO has an app you can download on your phone or tablet, which allows more people to view the content. This can extend into music channels as, the channel has to have adverts during breaks, this could be perhaps, movie trailers or even CD adverts, which people will hear and watch and may be really interested and want to go out and watch the film, or buy the artists album. However a main concern throughout the music industry is downloading. Now downloading is used very widely, as this allows you to download the artists content for free, instead of paying £10 for an album, this is bad for independent artists who may not be signed to any record company, and are not getting money for the downloads people are making from their music as it is from online and not being payed for.
STYLES
The first and main thing to know before making a video, and that is knowing what type of style you or the client want to video to be. The main type of styles, are 'in concert' videos, which is basically just when you can capture the footage, from a live performance or perhaps staged performances performed in a studio. This type of style usually shows an emotion and personality of an artist when they perform. In some ways it can be used as a marketing tool for concerts and the announcement of tour dates. An example of this is Taylor Swifts 'Sparks Fly'
The next style is 'Surrealistic'. Usually in these type of music videos, the artist themselves are normally very artistic and creative and can perhaps sometimes be influenced by dreams or visions the artist may have cam across once in their life time and want to show the audience their creativity within them.
Another is 'Impressionist'. Now impressionist and surrealistic music videos can be pretty similar, in the way that the music videos can be very artsy and different in relation to the music. However the difference that stands out the most is that these type of videos don't usually contain un real imagery such as dreams or visions, but rather focuses on the creative experience to the music in which every single viewer can interpret differently.
A very cool and different style of music video is 'Animation', and are simply partially or the whole this is animated. This style is usually cheaper, as cameras, venues and other equipment, are not needed.
'Narrative' music videos just straight up, tells the meaning or message of the song through the video. In different cases it could be meant through a metaphorical sense, or perhaps just straight up the lyrics in the song. Sometimes the artist prefers just a unique story line for the audience to interpret the song as they please. An example of this is 'I'm Not The Only One' by Sam Smith
Finally 'Parody' music videos, are mostly fan made, and are funny versions of other well-known music videos. They can come in any style, perhaps animation, narrative or even as-live, etc. They basically are just taking the original music video and ripping it apart, by perhaps making fun of the artist, or the music video itself. Parodies can also change lyrics of the song but with the same backing track. A good example of this style of video is 'The Star Wars That I Used To Know'
CONVENTIONS
Camera Shots
Music Videos tend to include many long shots, close ups and mid shots. This is to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions. Also, close ups are used not only to show emotions but to reflect the words of the song with the movement of the lips of the artist
Camera Movement
The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist or band. Camera movements include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots
Editing
Jump cuts is the predominant editing techniques used in music videos. This is because this allows a sudden change from one scene to another and of course, cutting to the beat. Similarly, transitions such as fade and dissolves are very common in music videos as they can start and end a music video in such a calming manner, or if the music video is very violent or rough, the video can just end with a harsh cut instead of fading it out.
Lighting
Some music videos are black and white which help emphasis a particular mood and some videos have artificial lighting which puts the artist in an more intense look. Kanye West's song 'Four Five Seconds'
Sound
Sound is mainly the vocals or the song but in some cases the producers can make the video into a short film by putting pieces of monologue in at the start, throughout or the end.
Props
These are important in adding to the scene and creating significance on particular objects or people.
Colour
Colours tend to to set the mood of the song through creating an atmosphere. For example, dark colours are used more in rock songs and bright colours are usually seen to be used more in hip hop and pop videos. An example of this is 'Live While We're Young' by One Direction.
This is a pop video, and it uses a lot of bright colours which creates the mood of happiness and excitement. However, the video of 'The A Team' by Ed Sheeran
which is in black and white which sets the mood of sadness which matches the song and story.
Techniques in Music Videos
- Cutting to the beat, most music videos now, use cutting to the beat, not necessarily in 4 beat, but always in a different type of way.
- Miming and lip syncing, you find that every single music video will use this nowadays
- Camera movements can also be used in various ways.
- Time Lapse, Now Fall Out Boy has a hyperlapse edition of their lyric video for their song 'Centuries' which you find a lot of popular artist don't actually seem to use time lapse as a technique in their music video but it can look really professional if you're able to do it right.
- Use of green screen. This type of technique can be found in the music video 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' by Michael Jackson , which was one of the first music videos to use a green screen throughout.
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