Friday 11 September 2015

Music video analysis/research


Kendrick Lamar - Alright 

Genre - Hip-Hop

In this video Tilley is trying to express what has been represented in the song of which the main theme is racial divide within society, most notably the black community within America. Tilley represents the tension within the community by using very obscure shots in the beginning of the video. This immediately tells the audience the struggle of what is going on in terms of violence. Tilley also uses wide establishing shots to represent where the events are taking place. What I really like about the video is that it is filtered to black and white throughout and this depicts the racial theme within the song because it suggests that complexion of the skin should not be a problem within society so on one hand this also tells us the message of the song. The structure of the music video is also in the form of a narrative of some sort and for a about two minutes of the video the main song is not played which could mean points are trying to be emphasised at these moments.






Foo Fighters - Everlong

Genre - Rock/Indie Rock

Shots - Establishing shot of the house that the protagonists are sleeping in, zooms in a after a couple seconds. Tracking shot of the protagonist walking for the first time in the dream which helps us enter it the same way he does. Close ups of faces, medium shots to show distance between characters.

Editing - Cuts between two different scenarios. Cuts between scenes by having water pour down through the scene. When they are sleeping a black and white filter is placed on screen to impose the idea that this is a different world to the one they are dreaming in. Bodies evaporate and disappear. Editing of people coming out of each others mouths. When the band are finally recognised the black and white and filter and colour are blended together.

Sound - Rock music fits in with the harsh tone of what is happening. The chorus plays when the antagonists are in full force, this puts emphasise on what is happening on screen and so creates an aggressive atmosphere. Music finally becomes parallel when the band starts to play along with it.

Mise en scene - Dancing takes place within the colour scene, this creates a fun factor for this scene however this is juxtaposed by the protagonists facial expressions. Low-key lighting to connote that it is night time. Red lighting connotes the love between the protagonist and the 'girl'. Protagonist is in black clothes.


                                          

The paper Kites - Bloom

Genre - Folk

Shots - Close up of guitar being played identifies with the audience the genre of the music. Close up of women tells us she is important. Tracking shot of male protagonist helps us understand the long journey that they are taking. A long shot is used for the first time they are both seen in the same shot together which is used effectively as it shows the key similarities between the two individuals.

Editing - It uses a fade to black cut when cutting between the male and female protagonists to represent that they are divided. Fades to black again emphasizing the divide. Straight cuts are always used when cutting to the band playing to give the impression that they are the ones trying to put these people together. Straight cuts are finally used when cutting between the two protagonists which tells us that they now have a stronger bond together.

Sound - The music is shown to be being played in the video and so is parallel to what is in the video.

Mise en Scene - Both high and low key lighting is used on the guitar to set up the themes in the song for sorrow and the different sides of love. The whole video is shot within a field/forest connoting the themes of natural beauty within the world. High key lighting of the sun behind the man connoting that there is hope. The sun is put in the middle of them the first time they see each other presenting the idea that if they are together they will be happy.



Drake - Hotline Bling

Genre - R&B

Shots - Starts with a long shot of the artist while having the titles come while zooming in. Long shot of the artist on the stairs sitting down but zooms in to a medium shot of the empty space next to him inferring that he needs someone by his side. Cuts back to the same shot however zooms out meaning that despite his efforts he is still without someone. High angle of the artist dancing connotes that he is still dominant and is fighting through it. Medium shot shows Drake to be stuck in a box that he cannot escape. Low angle of the girls now sitting down on the stairs connotes that they are now lonely just like Drake.

Editing - Titles are placed in the middle of the screen for 5 seconds including information on the artist, song title and director. Straight cuts are used very often between the artist and the woman to connote that he can't stop thinking about them even though they do not care for him anymore. Video starts to cut very quickly between scenes to connote that Drakes life is now picking up again, offering resolution.

Sound - Male gaze is used by showing woman before the music actually starts playing. The video presents the artist sining along with the music for the majority of the video letting the audience connect with what is happening on screen. there are no lyrics for the last 30 seconds and only dancing which suggests that Drake is now ready to dance instead of being sorry for himself.

Mise en Scene - Colour of the whole keeps changing with bright vivid colours to create a sensitive mood for the video. Woman are shown as silhouettes to connote the idea that the artist has lost them and he does not know who they are anymore. Woman proceed to be presented on different levels of a staircase connoting that the artist says they are on different levels. Woman start to be shown in the same place as the artist which gives interpretation to the idea that they are in fact similar. Drake and a girl are finally shown in the same shot which depicts the idea that he is finally over his woes and can move on.


                                            

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Genre - Pop

Shots - Close up shot of MJ's shoes lighting up the panels on the floor to connote that everything he touches gets better. Close up of Mjs face and then the criminals face to show that they are related in the story. Close up of a newspaper which has a headline which is the title of the song. This  connotes that the story that is being told is so big that it should be a headline on a newspaper. Long shot of the shops on the street which makes MJ look small in scale. Medium shot of Mj on one side of the lamppost and the antagonist on the other connotes how they are on different sides. The closing shot is the same establishing shot of the street that was in the beginning of the video.

Editing - Straight cut between the two main characters so the audience identifies that they are important to the story. Homeless person evaporates and he reappears in rich clothes to present the ida that MJ can make people believe in themselves. When MJ starts to dance a split screen effect is use to show all of his different dances at the same time. This signifies the different complicated emotions that he is going through. Or it could just be MJ showing of his awesome dancing.

Sound -The opening drumbeat to the song is the only section with no lyrics and so the video displays this with a  black and white filter just for this section. MJ sings all of the lyrics with the music at the same time so that the audience can connect with the video more easily. The music is even more parallel when he starts to dance with the beat and continuing to sing. This further connects the audience with the video.

Mise en Scene - Black and white filter used before MJ comes into the scene and before the music starts to connote that he is essential to the video. He is also wearing very vibrant clothes to present a uniqueness about him. Low key lighting for the first minute of the video until MJ comes along and starts to light up the place which connotes that he is the innocent hero of the story. MJ lights up everythin ng he touches which suggests that he is very visible to the media. However the man in the coat does not light up anything and is very discreet on trying to get pictures of media. This presents the idea that MJ is having a tough job trying to avoid the media in real life.



Duke Dumont - I Got U

Genre - Electronic

Shots - Uses point of view shot to help the audience feel like that is them and so they can relate to and enjoy the video. Long shot of the island gives an indicator as to how big this world is. Lots of different angles are used when everyone is dancing to represent how much of a crazy time everyone is having and further makes the audience feel like they are a part of this place.

Editing - Straight Cut between the fictional character and the real person doing the same action to help the audience understand that it is a simulation. Visual effects are used when the protagonist is projected into the fictional world to further tell the audience that it is just technology doing this. The night time scene is first shown by the audience looking through a hole and then a shot of the city at night is edited into the hole. This smooth editing fits in with the soft chords of the song and so makes the audience feel at ease. Towards the end of the video lots more straight cuts are used between the two worlds to give you a final reminder that it is all fake until finally the machine breaks, therefore paradise is broken.

Sound - First 25 seconds has natural sounds as there is no music playing during this opening. The upbeat music comes in when the paradise world is first scene which connotes that this is a joyful place. When the music gets to the bridge everything in the video slows down in pace so that the audience can also slow down and take in what is happening. Music cuts out when the machine breaks to put forward the idea that the song is the sound of paradise. This also creates a clear divide between the two different worlds.

Mise en Scene - High key lighting immediately after he is transported to this imaginative world which signifies the idea that this is a really nice world to be in and instantly communicates this to the audience. The imagery used of things such as nice swimming pools and the sun high in the sky all bring a sense of freedom and comfort which works well with the nice chords of the song that the video is for. Male Gaze is used throughout the video to entice the audience.


                                         

Gregory Porter - Be Good (Lions song)

Genre - Jazz/Soul

Shots - Opens with a medium shot of porter singing with the music so that the audience can identify with the video. Camera pans away with just the lady to show that she is moving on without him because before they were both in the same medium shot. Low angle of the man and the little girl together connotes that they have control of there actions and are bigger than other people. Close up shot of porter singing to himself in a broken mirror indicates that he is trying to fix something that is broken. Long shot of little girl holding different coloured balloons infers that happiness can be found anywhere because of the empty field.

Editing - When the chorus comes in the timing between each shot is sped up a lot so that it can keep up with the harsher rhythm of the music whereas before had the straight cuts were shortened to go with the slow pace. Straight cut low angle of the man and woman infers that they are now one of the same and connect with each other. Straight cuts between porter singing and the linear story indicates that he is representing what is happening within the story. Fades to black at the end to connote that the story is complete.

Sound - For a majority of the video the music is diagetic as it presents the artists playing the music at the same time so that the audience can feel familiar with what it happening. Women dancing well with the music gives more energy to the music and also indicates that the music relates to the story taking place. Shots start to prolong as the music begins to die down to give the audience a feelign of completion and a sort of story arc.

Mise en Scene - Porter is wearing a bright orange blazer with a bright shirt which immediately brings this idea that he is trying to represent the fun of the video with his singing. Porter is left out of focus in the background while the lady dances so that she is at the forefront of the scene. Man is hiding behind a board with many faces to indicate that he is not being his true self and is putting something else on in front of the lady. Little girl is wearing bright colours to represent the fun of being young and the wild excitement of youth. Porter is now in focus in the same shot as the women to connote that they are now closer together. All of the couples are then seen together inferring that everyone can be happy together.


Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

Genre - Indie Pop

Shots - Opening shot is a pan up to the singers face from there feet which helps us understand that this fully involves him. Close up of his face reveals deep and strong emotions that helps us connect with him. Close ups of Gotye's body being covered in the same paint indicates that he is now feeling a lot of emotion which also goes well with the chorus of the song. First medium shot is used when the women comes into the video which indicates that she can change him. Close up used when she seems to be shouting at him which puts emphasise on this.

Editing - Stop motion animation is used to create the painted wall. This is very effective because it allows it to be a slow build throughout the course of the video. Straight cut between Gotye and the painted wall infers that there is a seperation with his different emotions. Cuts between different close ups are used much more rapidly within the chorus to reflect on his very emotional mood. With the second chorus there are a lot more staight cuts between medium and close up shots to connote that there is debate and conflcit going on between the two.

Sound - The lyrics are parallel with the singer however the instrumentation is non-diagetic as no instruments are presented throughout the entire video. This puts the main focus on the lyrics of the song which is what the artist wants you to focus on. The chorus of the song creates a very emotional mood within the video to create a very wild amotsphere.

Mise en Scene - Plane white background keeps it very simple at the beginning of the video. This helps the audience focus on the singer for the time being and also heightens the effects of the bright paint colours that appear later on in the video. The wall being coloured in is seperate from the artist until later on where the colour starts to even go on the artist. This infers that the artist is feeling the emotions hat he is portraying through the lyrics. Zooms out to a medium shot of Gotye now blended into the wall which infers that he is now no longer unique and is ironically colourless. The women then goes away and gets her colour taken away leaving Gotye still coloured to connote that he is still stuck in his emotional phase and no longer with her.


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