Music Video Effects

Although this song does not fit my chosen genre, the video displays several of the elements I want to capture in my own work (over-saturated colours, white noise images, rewinding of recording tape etc.)

Music Video Analysis Theory

Andrew Goodwin identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form. Before you understand his theory, you need to understand some key terminology. If you click on the key terms you will be taken to videos which best illustrate these terms.

Illustrate: Images used to represent the meanings of the lyrics and genre (this is the most common feature of a music video and is often very literal).

Disjuncture: When the meaning of the song is completely ignored.

Amplify: Meanings and effects are manipulated and constantly shown throughout the video and shown to the audience (basically repetition).

- There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the lyrics.

- There is a relationship between the music and visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contrasting the music.

- Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography.

- Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist.

- Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens, cameras, mirrors, etc.

- There are likely to be intertextual references, either to other music videos, or to films and TV texts. These provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewer/ fans.



blink-182 / All The Small Things (features the trio doing parodies of other popular boy-bands such as Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, and 'N Sync. The video also features parodies of Britney Spears' "Sometimes", and Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" video.)




Shihad / Pacifier (influenced by Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange".)



Beastie Boys / Sabotage (a parody of 1970s crime drama television series such as Hawaii Five-O, The Streets of San Francisco, S. W. A. T., Baretta, and Starsky and Hutch.)

Adapted from http://mrsmitha2musicvideo.blogspot.co.uk/

Shot Styles/Camera Movement

The Smashing Pumpkins / 1979

360 degree panning shot:



Evangelion shot (zoom out):



The Lemonheads / My Drug Buddy

I like the way these three shots fade into one another, and also the distinction between the black-and-white performance and the use of colour to separate the two.



Blind Melon / No Rain

Over saturated colours, quick edits:



Beck / E-pro

Shaky camera, panning shots:



Beck / Where It's At

Mise-en-scene, over saturated colours in the background:

The Wedding Present / Brassneck

Panning shot, performance:

The Cure / The Lovecats

Shaky camera, flashes of over saturated colours:



Tracking shot:



I like the setup of the band and the frame of this shot. The camera stays in place as the vocalist moves around, staying within the shot and keeping the band in focus.

A Field In England (film)

Alternative Rock Videos

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like the way 'I Am A Scientist' by Guided By Voices combines black and white filming with very colourful, abstract found footage. Rather than filming and leaving it unedited, I plan to shoot in black and white but add or enhance existing colours to certain aspects of my video, as shown in 'I Am A Scientist' and also 'Basket Case'.

Name of track:
I Am A Scientist

Artist:
Guided By Voices



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative/Indie Rock, black and white, performance, guitars, shaky cam, dark/abstract colours, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The lyrics "I am a scientist, I seek to understand me" are expressed through the use of found footage, which in the simplest terms illustrate a number of different scientific happenings, such as the use of the satellite etc. Other than that, the video is simple and bears no relevance to the lyrics in the song.

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As with other videos, the editing and the performance element of 'I Am A Scientist' reflect the pace of the music used to accompany the video, and there are also shots of the vocalist as he is dancing to illustrate this further.

Are there any close-ups and star image motifs?
As before, no star image motifs.
Close-ups:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
Generally, the band members, including the vocalist, are glancing away from the camera; either to convey a naturalistic style, for example as the band are playing their instruments, or to illustrate a sense of "losing sight", as the lyrics suggest.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a close-up of a guitar, and focuses on the band as they play/hang out in different locations. However, the video is not solely a performance piece. The meaning of the song is conveyed through found footage; shots of nuclear explosions etc., and there are also a few shots that are completely irrelevant to the song and video, for example as the band play a game of basketball. There is no set concept or narrative element.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like 'Bright Yellow Gun' by Throwing Muses because of the editing. The shaky camera style and different angles/shots, such as tilt shot, dutch angle and whip pan, as well as the psychedelic colour palette, make the video interesting to watch. The camera zooms in and out and spins around, often cutting out the subject it's focusing in on, for example filming half of someone's face or the vocalist's mouth in the corner of the screen.

Name of track:
Bright Yellow Gun

Artist:
Throwing Muses



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative rock, psychedelia, guitars, dark colour palette, grunge, disorientation, shaky cam etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The shakiness of the camera and the way it pans round in different directions creates a sense of disorientation, which is reflected in the lyrics, for example "And I think I need a little poison to keep me tame, keep me awake; I have nothing to offer but confusion, and the circus in my head..."

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As before, the editing matches the pace of the song, and instruments are included in the video to illustrate the performance of the song.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
Once again, there are no star image motifs. I have found that smaller rock artists do not tend to use these, as those who are not aware of the band would not recognize the references. There are many close-ups of the band throughout the video, however, as this is a general convention of a music video.

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The vocalist looks directly into the camera and follows it around, although the other band members tend to avoid eye contact. This, once again, is common in most videos, as the vocalist has to connect with the audience through the lyrics of the song.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video is set in a dark room with red walls, and tracks the band as they play. It is without a set concept, although the camera styles and the colour palette of the video reflect the song and its meaning.

Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

As I have chosen which song I want to use, I have decided to analyse other videos of the same genre to gather inspiration and become aware of the typical characteristics of an alternative rock video.
I like 'Shocker In Gloomtown' by The Breeders (cover of Guided By Voices track) because of its performance style. The simplicity of the video allows the audience to get a feel for the band's style and strips right back to just the music, as if you were watching the band play live.

Name of Track:
Shocker In Gloomtown

Artist:
The Breeders



Genre characteristics:
Alternative rock, instruments, performance, unkempt, scruffy style, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and the visuals:
As the video is solely performance and is without a set concept, the lyrics of the song are not expressed through visuals at all.

Relationship between the music and the visuals:
Editing is quick to match the pace of the song. Instruments such as guitars, drums etc. are included within the video to illustrate the music which is being played.

Are there any close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
No star image motifs. However, close-ups of the band are frequently included:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The lead singer, Kim Deal, often looks directly into the camera as she sings, although the other band members gaze in other directions throughout so as to convey a naturalistic style of video.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a group of people walking down the street. Hearing the band begin to play, they stop outside the garage and watch the band practice through the windows.

Pixies Videos

Indie Cindy



I like the way this video uses a white noise image to resemble a tape recording. The video seems to chronicle a love triangle that ends badly, and is reflected in the lyrics; "We offed ourselves in a lovers pact, we threw ourselves into the sea... Indie Cindy, be in love with me, I beg for you to carry me."
It begins telling the story in reverse, indicated by the 'rewind' symbol which appears, then recaps it in forward motion, as if someone is watching the recording back to analyse the relationship.

Bagboy



The concept of the song is expressed through the video as the "Bagboy" raids a supermarket, rides home on his bike with some groceries, bathes in a tub full of Froot Loops and then destroys someone's house with menace. Other than the word "Bagboy", the meaning of the song is unclear to me, but I like the way the visuals illustrate the music, for example when the song kicks in as the word "Bagboy" is smashed.

Monkey Gone To Heaven



This video is solely performance based, but is interesting to watch because of the varying camera shots/angles, such as tilt shot. I also like that it is filmed in black and white.

Here Comes Your Man



Once again, this video is performance based, but is shot in colour and includes more outrageous camera styles.

Debaser



I really like the editing used in this video. The transition of shots is very quick to match the pace of the song, and both colour and black-and-white shots are included. The lyrics are based on a surrealist film by Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali called Un Chien Andalou. The title "Debaser" references the fact that Un Chien Andalou debases morality and standards of art, according to Black Francis. This is reflected in the video through the use of abstract camera effects and styles.

Dig For Fire / Allison



I like the colours used in this video and the range of different shot types and angles.

Videos/Songs I Like

Textual Analysis of Music Videos

Name of track: 
Sugar, We're Goin' Down

Artist:
Fall Out Boy



Genre Charactistics:
Pop punk, alternative rock, instruments, rebellion (going behind her father's back), etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
Due to the video being concept-based, the visuals do not reflect the lyrics in the song. Although a relationship is constructed throughout the video and described within the song, the on-screen relationship and the lyrics do not match. For example, the pair in the video are forbidden to see each other because the girl's father disapproves, however in the song it seems as if the girl is already with someone else, "Oh don't mind me, I'm watching you two from the closet, wishing to be the friction in your jeans."

Relationship between the music and visuals:
There are shots of the band playing throughout, and the editing matches the quick pace of the song.

Are there any close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
Close-ups of the band members:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
The vocalist, Patrick Stump, looks directly into the camera as he is singing, as if directly talking to the audience.

Are there intertextual references?
No that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance and concept-based. The video establishes the life of a socially outcast boy with antlers and his feelings for a neighborhood girl. It is made clear that the girl's father disapproves. Distraught, the boy tries to cut his antlers off, but is stopped by the girl. Later on, the father attempts to shoot the boy with an arrow, but is hit by a car. When he rushes to the man's aid, the boy finds that the father has hooves. They connect and the father accepts him, allowing him to date his daughter. Shots of the band performing in a VFW hall are featured.

Textual Analysis of Music Videos

Name of track: 
Bad Romance

Artist: 
Lady Gaga



Genre Characteristics:
Pop, electronic, bright lights, vibrant, lively, dance routines, girls, etc.

Relationship between lyrics and visuals:
"I'm a free bitch, baby" is expressed in visuals as Gaga burns the man who is trying to "purchase" her.

Relationship between music and visuals:
A dance is choreographed to coincide with the beat of the song.

Are there any close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?
Some close-ups:

As the first hook of the song begins, a group of female dancers crawl out of white, coffin-like pods. The centre pod has "Monster" written on it, referring to the "Fame Monster" track, Gaga's "Mother Monster" status and the name given to her fanbase, "Little Monsters." As Gaga emerges, a sign reading "Bath Haus of Gaga" appears, illustrating her creative production team "Haus of Gaga", modelled on Andy Warhol's Factory, and the setting of the video, the bathhouse.

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
Gaga is scantily-clad throughout the video as she has to effectively "sell herself" to the men, and therefore has to dress as an object of their desire.

Are there intertextual references?
Gaga's choreography from "Bad Romance" drew comparisons to the choreography to Michael Jackson's Thriller. The white latex suits in the video were inspired by the wolf costume from the film "Where The Wild Things Are", and Gaga also wore designer Alexander McQueen's famous "Alien" shoes.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Gaga lip-syncs throughout the video, therefore there are elements of performance, but the video is mainly concept-based. The main idea behind the video is that of Gaga getting kidnapped by a group of supermodels who drug her and then sell her off to the Russian mafia. When the chorus of the song begins, two women pull Gaga out of the bathtub, rip her clothes off and force her to drink a glass of vodka. As the second verse begins, Gaga seductively dances for a group of men bidding for her. After performing a lap dance for one of the men, he raises his bid and becomes the highest bidder for her. When the chorus is played for the third time, Gaga walks towards the man who is sitting on a bed and unbuttoning his shirt. Suddenly, the bed spontaneously combusts with the man still sitting on it and Gaga sinisterly sings in front of the flames. The video ends with her lying beside a smouldering skeleton, on top of the destroyed bed, covered in ashes.

Textual Analysis of Music Videos

Name of track: 
Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?

Artist: 
Arctic Monkeys



Genre Characteristics: 
Alternative/Indie rock, drug abuse, relationships issues, grunge, pubs, leather jackets, etc.

Relationship between lyrics and visuals:
The video focuses on the vocalist of the band, Alex Turner, who embarks on a night-out in which he gets wasted and decides to hook up with a girl he knows, "Now it's 3 in the morning and I'm trying to change your mind." He begins to hallucinate and imagines a number of different sexual situations are happening around him, illustrating his intentions. This is shown through the shakiness of the camera and blurring of shots (the sinking of the ground as he lays down).  During the song, the pair communicate via mobile phone, "Left you multiple missed calls and to my message you replied: Why'd you only call me when you're high?", and so Alex is seen messaging 'Stephanie' throughout the video.

Relationship between music and visuals:
The relatively slow tempo of the song is mirrored by the slow pace of the editing.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs? 
There are several close-ups of the band's vocalist throughout the video.

Is there reference to the notion of looking? 
'Stephanie' is used in all of the sexual situations and once appears naked on the back of a motorcycle. Alex is shown trying to embark on a one night stand with her.

Are there intertextual references? 
Not that I am aware of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based? 
Narrative. The video shows the band in the 'Howl at the Moon' pub in East London, having a drink. Wasted, Alex (the vocalist) sends multiple text messages to a girl called Stephanie to get a booty call, without any answer. When he leaves the pub, he walks through the city and hallucinates. Eventually he gets to the wrong house, across the street from Stephanie's, and stands outside the door. The camera shows the girl at her home, picking up the phone and deciding to ignore his texts.

How To Analyse Music Videos

How to analyse … Music videos

(Taken from http://mrsmitha2musicvideo.blogspot.co.uk/)

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

A simple but fun video; something similar would be possible to recreate.
A lack of different camera shots/transitions/special effects etc. does not make the video less interesting to watch than if it had been heavily edited, due to the well-performed and humorous choreography.

Radiohead Music Videos

Both 'No Surprises' and 'Lotus Flower' focus solely on the vocalist of the band. 'No Surprises' is unchanging in terms of shot type, but is engaging because of the added special effects and the changing conditions surrounding the subject. 'Lotus Flower' on the other hand features several different shot types and transitions, though still only focusing on the singer, this time adding more movement into the film and shot in black and white.

'Karma Police' is interesting in the way that the camera pans back and forth, from the road to the vocalist, in order to create a transition of shots. I also like how the car starts moving as the song builds up and the drums kick in, along with the vocals.

Music Video Ideas

I like the idea of having the band/vocalist plainly just walking around lip-synching, and then cutting to different scenes and building up a slight narrative in contrast.

The Damned - New Rose

I really like this song, and I think it would be more than possible to create a video of a similar style. I like the use of close-ups and the shakiness of the camera which matches the speed of the song.

The Who - I Can't Explain

I like that the video is in black and white, and I like the simplicity of it. I also really like the song.

Lana Del Rey - Found Footage

Carmen:

Video Games:

Million Dollar Man:

The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go / We Walk

I like the way the hand gestures create transitions from scene to scene, and the way the door closes to end the video.

I think the use of duplicates and freeze frames within the video is interesting.