Media Theories Applied to Music Videos Presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1u_N-9W9l7vClH8-xSBc6gI9Sgqq-Kb3i-DMWezys_3E/edit?usp=sharing

Feedback:
-talk about the music videos first and then apply the theories to them.
-analyse the lyrics of the Katy Perry song
-don't talk about the theories, apply them to the texts to show understanding more

Looking into the Digipak

A digipak is the packaging a cd comes in.

They are made out of card stock of another type of heavy paper or cardboard material and the part which holds the disk is usually a plastic case which is glued onto the paper background. The most common CD Digipaks is the 4 panel Digipak which opens like a book. However 6 panel CD Dipipaks are also very popular as they provide a larger canvas for CD artwork and text information about the CD.

These are examples templates for a 4 and 6 panel digipak:

The front and back panels are used to promote the cd and draw the audience in and the inside panels are used to give more information such as song lyrics, artist information and any personal messages. On the back of the pack will usually be the track list. 

History of Music Videos

A very early example of a music video was in 1929 where singer Bessie Smith appeared in a short film Saint Louis Blue's which included a dramatised performance of the song, another early example being in 1940 Walt Disney released Fantasia which was an animated film based around a classical piece of music.

In 1959 J.P 'The Big Bopper' Richardson was the first person to use the phrase "music video"in an interview with a music magazine.

In the 1964 The Beatles created a music video for A Hard Day's Night directed by Richard Lester. This film arguably set out the basic visuals of todays music videos.

In the 1970s Top of the Pops was important to promote the musicians music. The show had strict limits on the number of videos they showed meaning a good video would increase a songs sale as viewers wanted to see the video again next week.

In 1981 MTV was launched with the first video aired being Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles. Some see MTV as a good thing as it successful and as a new artform in popular culture however, some see it in a bad way as the success of a music video can depend on the appearances of the people featured in them. In 1984 Michael Jackson took the narrative music video to a new level through Thriller by using a short film to promote his music.

In 2009 Vevo was founded, it shows music videos across the web with videos from two of the "big three" major record labels, UMG and SME. People can view the music videos shown by Vevo across sites such as Youtube. The launch of Youtube in 2005 allowed amateur and professional artists to release their music online to a wide audience. Youtube is now dominated by music videos and is the No. 1 platform for watching music videos.

Music Video Analysis (10)

You Me At Six - Lived A Lie

This is a performance music video.

Camera:
-close ups on his face and playing instruments
-ECU on each band members eye
-varied close ups and long shots of the band members against the white screen
-long shots of the band surrounded by fire, then close ups on all their facial expressions

Mise en scene:
-looks like a warehouse with a white screen as their backdrop
-setting changes to a street scene
-setting doen't have much to do with the lyrics
-band all together at the end performing
-roman numerals of 6 in lights at the back of thei performance, links to their name

Editing:
-cuts between the different band members during the intro of them playing their instruments
-gradually builds up from long shot to close up on member singing
-between some cuts uses, like old videos, it flickers
-fast paced between shots of the band members during the upbeat chorus
-blurred at the end

Sound:
-starts straight away with guitar playing
-as the chorus starts the setting changes

Lyrics:                                                                                     Analysis:
Well somebody told me
That I would be a dreamer for life
Somebody told me I would never reach the other side    (he was told he would never achieve 
Well you say I'm old news, but cross your fingers            his dreams) 
I’m yours to lose.
What if I told you, that things will never improve

And if I lived a lie                                                  (if he was living a lie would someone 
Would someone meet me on the other side                 help him realise so he can fix it) 
So I can burn up bright,
(so I can burn, so I can burn)

The grass is always greener,                                  
Someone else's past is always cleaner,
But I'm a believer, that there's a fool in all of us        (nobodies perfect) 

And if I lived a lie
Would someone meet me on the other side
So I can burn up bright

Oh, I don't really know where our ghosts go            (no one knows whats going to happen
No, I don't really know where Our ghosts go             can't predict anyones future) 
So live a lie just tonight, tonight

We are believers, we are believers [7x]                 (in themselves) 
We are, we are.

If I lived a lie
Would someone meet me on the other side
So I can burn up bright

And if I lived a lie
Would someone meet me on the other side
So I can burn up bright

Oh, I don't really know where our ghosts go
No, I don't really know where our ghosts go,
So live a lie just tonight, tonight
And burn up bright.

Music Video Analysis (9)

Bastille - Pompeii

Camera:
-zooms from and extreme long shot to a mid shot of the back of the band member looking out onto the city, he looks vulnerable and small
-long shot to establish the setting, appears quite baron
-close ups of him in the dark singing
-a similar shot is used at the end of the video to the one at the beginning when he looks out onto the setting
-close up on his now black eyes, he couldn't escape

Mise en Scene:
-city
-main character in the narrative is wearing all black contrasting all other people he meets who are in ordinary clothes however they have black eyes, suggests they are linked somehow, he has the same fate
-takes place at night = ominous "darkness from above"

Editing:
-band name and song title written in bold white to establish the start of the song
-shakey and quite fast paced when he is running away

Sound:
-diegetic sound at the beginning of wind, setting the scene

Lyrics:                                                                             Analysis:

Eh-eh-o eh-o 

I was left to my own devices

Many days fell away with nothing to show           (has been doing nothing productive) 

And the walls kept tumbling down                     (city could be a metaphor for their love) 

In the city that we love

Great clouds roll over the hills                          (relationship is starting to fall apart) 

Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,                              (They can remember how good things used 

Does it almost feel like                                     to be, maybe trying to persuade her they 

Nothing changed at all?                                     can work through the harder times) 

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices    (they were arguing)

In your pose as the dust settled around us

And the walls kept tumbling down

In the city that we love

Great clouds roll over the hills

Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

Nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Eh-eh-o eh-o 

Oh where do we begin?                                 (where do they begin to start to fix things?) 

The rubble or our sins?

Oh oh where do we begin?

The rubble or our sins?

And the walls kept tumbling down (oh where do we begin?)

In the city that we love (the rubble or our sins?)

Great clouds roll over the hills (oh where do we begin?)

Bringing darkness from above (the rubble or our sins?)

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

Nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

If you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Eh-eh-o eh-o

Music Video Analysis (8)

Waves - Mr Probz

This is a narrative video.

Camera:
-establishing shot = long shot of an island from the sea
-areil shot of a beach, setting the scene
-various long shots of the island all setting the scene/narrative
-close ups of a man washed up on the island
-close ups and mid shots of the couple happy together
-deep focus to show us what the man is looking at (bar scene) seeing things from his perspective

Sound:
-music starts straight away

Mise en scene:
-tropical island, links in with the lyrics "sands on the horizon" and "wave after wave" accompanied by mulitple shots of the sea
-busy bar/holiday destinations when he is happy with her compared to loneliness of the island

Editing:
-fades when he is remembering back to being with his girlfriend/partner
-fast paced jump cuts when beat picks up between him on the island and them as a couple (1:20 to 1:28)

Lyrics:                                                            Analysis:

My face above the water

My feet can't touch the ground,

Touch the ground, and it feels like

I can see the sands on the horizon          (he feels free without her) 

Every time you are not around

[Chorus:]

I'm slowly drifting away (drifting away)      (leaving her)  

Wave after wave, wave after wave

I'm slowly drifting (drifting away)

And it feels like I'm drowning                   (he feels bad leaving her, she keeps pulling him  

Pulling against the stream                         back) 

Pulling against the stream 

I wish I could make it easy                       (he thinks she finds it hard to love him, his 

Easy to love me, love me                           reason to want to leave) 

But still I reach

To find a way

I'm stuck here in between                        (stuck between leaving and staying) 

I'm looking for the right words to say

[Chorus:]

I'm slowly drifting away (drifting away)

Wave after wave, wave after wave

I'm slowly drifting (drifting away)

And it feels like I'm drowning

Pulling against the stream

Pulling against the stream

Music Video Analysis (7)

Jasmine Thompson - Run

Camera:
-establishing shot = long shot of busy London street, this establishes the setting of the video
-close ups on her singing
-close ups on the piano keys when she is playing and her hands playing

Editing:
-fades between shots
-slow motion of Jasmine on the bridge
-blurry/hazed shots can represent innocence and youth
-old/vintage video filter is used at some points

Mise en scene:
-she is in both city and nature
-piano scene in a wood, nature = purity
-old piano in the woods neglected (leaves) in a place of peace/serenity - can link in with the lyrics

Sound:
-no non digetic sound, just the music track

Lyrics:                                                                               Analysis:

You are the wind in my sail                                 (love- she almost needs the partner

You are the spring in my step                               vital to her)  

You make me laugh you make me cry 

And you make me forget 

So tell me when you run, I want to run with you   (wants to be with him, will go with him 

Tell me where you hide, I want to come to you       anywhere) 

Tell me where you go, I want to go there too 

Even if you fall I will go down with you 

I will be the one who comes to rescue you 

Tell me where you go cause I want to be there too 

I hid my secrets in a box 

I did exactly what you said   

Now I’m feeling so much better 

Cause you make me forget                                  (forget pian, troubles, he is her comfort)

So tell me when you run, I want to run with you 

Tell me where you hide, I want to come to you 

Tell me where you go, I want to go there too 

Even if you fall I will go down with you 

I will be the one who comes to rescue you 

Tell me where you go cause I want to be there too 

With you, with you, with you, with you 

You set the world on fire 

but the flames are getting higher 

So I stand beneath the waterfall 

Yeah you set the world on fire                            (Even if he does something wrong she will 

and the flames are getting brighter                       look past it) 

but I don’t feel the heat at all 

So tell me when you run, I want to run with you 

Tell me where you hide, I want to come to you 

Tell me where you go, I want to go there too 

Even if you fall I will go down with you 

I will be the one who comes to rescue you 

Tell me where you go cause I want to be there too 

With you, with you, with you, with you

Music Video Analysis (6)

Train - Hey Soul Sister

This is a performance video with a short narrative that links with the lyrics showing a typical boy meets girl love story. 

Camera:
-establishing shot (long shot), tilt shows the setting and the band in that setting, urban area
-zooms in on the band and lead singer
-close ups on singer and instruments being played
-pans are used often around the band, to show all of them

Editing:
-the lyrics are written on walls etc
-the male and female characters are shown in a frame by frame way, the lyrics are based around them, this makes them seem detached from reality all of them however when they meet things become smoother
-quite fast paced between shots which compliments the upbeat song

Mise en scene:
-set in quite an urban area, out on the street corner
-women is put in a completely white setting which suggests her purity or innocence
-there are 2 characters in the narrative who meet at the end, man is black, woman is white

Sound:
-there is no diegetic sound for the narrative, just the band performing the song.

Lyrics:                                                                                          Analysis:
Heeey heeeey heeeeey

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you                                             (a girl he can't forget) 
And so I went and let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeam
The smell of you in every single dream I dream                 (she's always on his mind) 
I knew when we collided you're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo      (They belong together) 
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

Heeey heeeey heeeey

Just in time, I'm so glad you have a one track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection, we can't deny I I-I-I-I
I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest       (has intense feelings for her) 
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Hey soul sister, ain't that Mister Mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know                                 (he finds her attractive) 
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

The way you can't cut a rug
Watching you's the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of
You see I can be myself now finally                                  (he's comfortable around her,  
In fact there's nothing I can't be                                         loves her) 
I want the world to see you'll be with me

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight
Heeey heeeey heeeeey (tonight)
Heeey heeeey heeeeey (tonight)

Music Video Analysis (5)

Daughter - Youth

This a performance music video.

Camera:
-long shots to show the band
-high angle
-close ups on playing instruments
-close ups to show singers facial expressions, emotions over what she is singing about

Mise en scene:
-its in black and white, quite sad similar/can relate to the lyrics of the song
-instruments
-minimilist/simple
-spotlights, the only focus are the band members and what they are playing
-casual clothes

Editing:
-zooms in and out of close ups and mid shots at the beginning
-when the drum beats a jump cut is used to show a different shot between 1:12 and 1:27

Sound:
-the only sound is the track adds to the simplicity, all focus is on whats being sung

Lyrics:                                                                                Analysis:
Shadows settle on the place, that you left.          (Starting to forget?) 
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness.
Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time.
From the perfect start to the finish line.

And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones.          (Ruining themselves, to forget? to  
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.     ease pain?) 
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong            (They are trying to get over a 
The lovers that went wrong.                                       relationship)

We are the reckless,
We are the wild youth                                         (Thinking about their futures but not getting
Chasing visions of our futures                                there, unachievable dreams) 
One day we'll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there.

And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones.
'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.    (Numb)
We're setting fire to our insides for fun.
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home,     
It was a flood that wrecked this home.

And you caused it,                                       (Blaming old partner for ruining her life) 
And you caused it,
And you caused it

Well I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette,              (Theres nothing left of her, no hope) 
I'm a lifeless face that you'll soon forget,
And my eyes are damp from the words you left,     (Relationship breakup she's upset about)
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.

And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one,
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone.            (She feels bitter)
Setting fire to our insides for fun,
To distract our hearts from ever missing them.       (Try's to forget him but can't)
But I'm forever missing him.

And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it

Music Video Analysis (4)

Rather Be - Clean Bandit
















A mixture music video as the artists appear in the video and perform as part of the narrative. They include their logo constantly throughout the video in different formats.





Camera:
-close up on facial expressions
-long shot on performance in order to see everything and crowd to emphasise the setting
-high angles making the girl in the video seem young and innocent
-establishing shots of a koi pond to set the scene (japan)

Mise en scene:
-the band logo is used to show the characters obsession with the band and how they have worked theri way into her everyday life as they are all she seems to be thinking about
-the girl lip sings the lyrics, she is listening to the song

Editing:
-fades from the opening scene to the start of the narrative which is a long shot of the girl in bed
-small montage of her trying to runaway

Sound:
-The lyrics don't appear to have much relation to whats happening in the video
-there is diegetic sound at the beginning of the pond to help set the scene

Lyrics:                                                                                                               Analysis:

[Verse 1:]

We're a thousand miles from comfort, we have traveled land and sea   (distance doesn't 

But as long as you are with me, there's no place I'd rather be               effect their love)

I would wait forever, exalted in the scene

As long as I am with you, my heart continues to beat

[Pre-Chorus:]

With every step we take, Kyoto to The Bay                                   (they're an in sync 

Strolling so casually                                                                    couple)

We're different and the same, get you another name

Switch up the batteries

[Chorus:]

If you gave me a chance I would take it                       (Do anything for them)

It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it

Know with all of your heart, you can't shake me            (Lasting love for them)

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be

N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be [3x]                 (Only place they want to be is with                        

                                                                                                  them)

[Verse 2:]

We staked out on a mission to find our inner peace

Make it everlasting so nothing's incomplete                  (Happy with each other, want it to be

It's easy being with you, sacred simplicity                     like that forever)

As long as we're together, there's no place I'd rather be

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be

[Bridge:]

Hmmmmmmmmmm, hoooooooooo

Be [9x]

Yeah-e-yeah-e-yeah-e-yeah-e-yeah, yeah, yeah

[Chorus]

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be

Music Video Analysis (3)

Gabrielle Aplin - Panic Chord 

This is a narrative video. 

Camera:

-establishing shot = long shot of her on the bed with her guitar which sets the scene 

-close ups on her hands etc playing the guitar and of her singing

-pull focus shows the reactions of both people at the same time

Editing:

-looking bak on memories, cuts from her looking at objects to the memories attached to them

-cuts between her playing the guitar and the narrative 

Sound:

-there only sound is the music track, its cuts to her on her own playing it away from the narrative

Mise en scene:

-all around her home-comfortable, light colours which adds to the sense that they are memories

-guitar to add emphasis on her performing the song

-looking through "a box of souvenirs" which is a metaphor for what their relationship has become. 

Lyrics:                                                                          Analysis:

Ahhhhhhhh

Ahhhhhhhh

You kept all the things I threw away

A leaf I picked, a birthday card I made            (Only memories are left of their relationship)

Holding on to memories of you and me

We didn't last a year, oh

We're just a box of souvenirs

'Cause

Maybe I pulled the panic cord

And maybe you were happy, I was bored       (They weren't working out, he was happy but

Maybe I wanted you to change                       she wasn't)

Maybe I'm the one to blame

This meant more to you than it did to me

I was full of doubt and you believed

The more that you keep coming over           (Contrasts between how they both felt about the

The more I know it's over, dear                    relationship)

We're just a box of souvenirs

And

Maybe I pulled the panic cord

Maybe you were happy, I was bored

Maybe I wanted you to change

Maybe I'm the one to blame

Maybe you were just too nice to me

Maybe it took me way too long to leave     (Questioning why she wasn't happy, lots of 

Maybe once we felt the same                     possible reasons)

Maybe I'm the one to blame

Maybe I'm the one to blame

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do

That's the way the story goes, oh

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do

That's the way the story goes, oh

Maybe I pulled the panic cord

And maybe you were happy, I was bored

Maybe I wanted you to change

Maybe I'm the one to blame

Maybe you were just too nice to me

Maybe it took me way too long to leave

Maybe once we felt the same

Maybe I'm the one to blame                 (Realisation the end of the relationship was down to 

Maybe I'm the one to blame                   her)

Maybe I'm the one to blame

Music Video Analysis (2)

Nickelback - How you Remind Me

This is a mixture music video

Camera:

-close ups to show facial expressions

-long shots of the band performing

-pan shots are used when the man looks for the girl, it shows the change in lighting and shows the girl disappearing from sight 

-they look directly down the camera when performing

-pan to show his confusion 

Mise en scene:

-dark clothes represent the rock band and connotes sadness as they are singing about missing a former lover.

-low key lighting until the women appears then everything lights up as he's glad to see her. The lighting changes at the end when the man is in high key lighting showing he doesn't need the girl anymore.

-props (band equiptment) used to emphasise the performance 

-theres a crowd which also adds to the atmosphere of the performance

Editing:

-cuts beenween the performance and the narrative

-shot reverse shot between the man and women showing his realisation she isn't really there

-fades between shots to reinforce its not reality 

Sound:

-the music track is the only sound used in the video, he uses the performance as a way to address the girl and forget about her 

Lyrics:                                                                    Analysis:

Never made it as a wise man         
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing            (he doesn't like his life)
Tired of living like a blind man                  
I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling

And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me                         (she makes him feel bad about himself, reminds
Of what I really am                                    him of his imperfections)
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story                (he knows she won't make him feel better, doesn't
This time I'm mistaken                                expect anything from her anymore) 
For handing you a heart worth breaking
And I've been wrong, I've been down,
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream "are we having fun yet?"

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

It's not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do                        (His love for her is destructive)
And it must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have damn near killed you

And this is how, you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how, you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking                    (Repeats, like a cycle) 
And I've been wrong, I've been down,
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream "are we having fun yet?"

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing

And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me

This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breaking
And I've been wrong, I've been down,
Been to the bottom of every bottle
These five words in my head
Scream "are we having fun yet?"

[3x]
Yeah, yeah, are we having fun yet?

Yeah, yeah, no, no.