History of the music video.

Video killed the Radio Star

Bohemian Rapsedy- Too complicated to be performed live so was made into a music video. This was the first big music video and unlike the typical music video produced by people like David Bowie or the typical music video we see today, it was strictly performance based with no narrative to personal identity. Because visual affect were extremily limited at this time, the most basic technology was used to create the pentagon-like effect of the band singing.



1955- Phase, teenagers introduced. People went wild. This paved the way for a radical change into how the music industry was going to opertate.

1980- David Bowies music video upsets industry as musicians were making money off of a different art. However due to the fact that this new concept was young at the time it was accepted and the idea caught on wih other artists.

Free radio channel, no channels were on there so MTV was placed on there. This was a great opertunity for music artist to show their music videos on a music video exclusive channel.

Originally there were very little songs put on air. The Company made a gamble that if they made enough money then they would be able to afford more songs. This worked and as time went by more and more music videos and beenout on air.

Intitial Research

When looking at acoustic based music or Indi music I have come to the conclusion that the music videos illustrate something unconventional. There is always something going on which no other music video has done before. For example Cave music video uses a setting and a story board which is unique compared to any other music video out there.

Textual Analysis

Name of track-Cave
Artist Director- 2010 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.

Genre characteristics-Acoustic, freedom based? Like most acoustic based music videos i found that this one had an unconventional theme. The video concentrates on the band together, there is the sense of the bond between people and the way they ride together really expands on this . Motor cycles, the band does not actually perform the song, there is a secondary band of well dressed musicians who use their instruments and play for them. this adds to the unconventional theme of the video.

What is the relationship between lyrics and visuals?- The freedom of travel represented by country setting and mopeds. There is however no relevance to a cave. Example of "Live my life as its meant to be." The beach in the background may represent freedom.

What is the relationship between the music and visuals?-Querky acoustic country music relates to the country setting and beach setting.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image and star image motifs?- Many close ups on the lead singer of the main band, focued on the lead singer with short shots of rest of the band. the same applies for the secondary band on the beach where the lead singer hold most of the camera focus.

Is there referance to the notion of looking?-I did not find any reference to the notion of looking.

Are there intertextual references?-I did not find any textual references in this music video. I had a few ideas about the exchange of guitars and mopeds being related to the film once upon a time in Mexico however it is to vague to be called an intertextual reference.

Is it performance based narrative based or concept based?- The video seems to more performance based. the playing band on the beach is a key example of this and the driving on the mopeds on the country lane. However there is a great deal of singing by the lead singer of both bands and the close up shots clearly identify this.

Song choice

I have come to a decision over what song I will base my music video on. I have chosen "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons because of the energy which the song releases. I came to the conclusion that The Sound of Silence did not give me alot to work with visually due to the slow pace of the music. However the pace of "Little Lion Man" can allow me to use a variety of camera angles and shots which will help create a more energetic music video.

Action Plan

14.11.11-set up blog
14.11.11-action plan
14.11.11-discuss songs and decide songs
21.11.11-initial research
14.11.11-contact artists for permission
21.11.11-history of the music video
21.11.11-textual analysis
30.11.11-genre research
30.11.11-story board for music video
30.11.11-history of the music video
2.12.11-audience research
2.12.11-cast list, location

5.12.11-Create Story Board
Work on scene plannings
Shooting Schedule
Work on directors, Cris Cunningham and Jon Arkanand

12.12.11-Casting notes
Mise en scene

10.1.12- Choosing the cast

12.11.12- Post storyboard
post cast list and location.

I have recently over the past few days tried to get in contact with the manager of Mumford and Sons whos song "Cave" I would very much like to base my music video on. I have done this so that I can avoid any copyright issues concerning me using their music and posting it on the web. I am still awaiting a reply and hope that such permission may be granted. My email went as follows...

Dear sir

i am currently undertaking a media A2 course requiring me to create a music video. I am interested in the music that Mumford and Sons makes and would like to use the song "Cave" for my project. I am emailing you for permission to use this song due to copyright issues.

I hope you can get back to me and provide me with this permission and allow me to work with their great music.

Yours
        Freddie Sayer

genre, audience and narrative

The genre of my music video is going to be acoustic based/indi. I found this genre to be the most suitable for my video because I have a friend who plays solo and a group of friends who were recently in a band together. Both of these options are capable of playing an acoustic based song. I also feel that this kind of music makes more room for a narrative based music video, which is the kind of music video which I prefer.

I feel that making the music video narrative would allow me to use my imagination far more than if I just did a performance based one. The music video of Little Lion Man was performance based and I feel with a song like that you could do alot more.

Possible song choices

For this A level music project I am considering using an acoustic based song. this would simplify the amount of organisation that I would need to do and it also allows me to play around with the resources I already have. I could either do a solo performance or use a band, it is depending on which song I choose to use. my possible choices are Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez, Cave by Mumford and Sons or The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkal, the latter two require a band.