Questionnaire Analysis
1. How old are you?
There are a diverse group of ages. Due to our group being in the band 12 – 18, it was likely that there would be more participants in this band as well as the fact that we had decided to do the questionnaire randomly. What may have been better to do in the future is to still choose random method, but each do 10 individuals of each band width, that way we could then make a valid response.
However, this works also, because we could connote that the other one gets the less they listen to music [according to our results].
2. What gender are you?
According to the results, there are more males that took part in the questionnaire, however, this does not mean that males listen to more music than females seeing as the questionnaire was done at random.
3. What ethnicity are you?
We decided to ask this questionnaire, we detect whether there would be a difference in ethnicity that would affect the genre of music that they listen to, plus any other variations such as importance of music videos due to cultural differences.
4. What is your preferred music genre?
Looking at the results, we can automatically assume that there is a lot of variation between what individuals listen to, so far we have come to the conclusion that pop and r n’ b are quite popular, amongst are participants. We have taken into account that they may also listen to other genres, so asked which is their preferred genre, also we realise that the amount may have been caused by gender as well as ethnicity.
6. Are music videos important to you?
Majority of the participants had voted for ‘Sometimes’ showing that music videos are at times aren’t as important was we thought, this could be due to the fact that many people use mainly ipods to listen to music, rather than any other devices [as featured in question 10] where assumingly, the participant would listen as opposed to watching the video. However we cannot make solid prediction as there are many other factors to take into account e.g. schedule/routine, unable to watch videos etc.
7. Where do you watch/listen to music?
We as a group thought this would be an appropriate question to ask as an individual’s daily routine may differ from their home life and other activities. According to the survey, the internet is the most popular choice of listening/watching music, this could be due to more selection on the internet compare to either itunes and tv due to less gatekeepers and the long tail theory. A theory that suggests that due to the internet, there is an endless amount of music and genres on the internet, that you may not find in big institutions such as HMV, although some may argue that there is an increase to illegal downloading due to the internet having no limit and lack of gatekeepers.
8. How often do you listen to music?
‘As often as I can’ being selected as the highest connotes that music in a big part of our lives, yet some had chosen ‘rarely’, which can count as an extreme variable which unfortunately cannot be easily explain through a questionnaire.
9. What do you find is the most successful advertisement for promoting music?
Surprisingly, ‘friends’ was chosen frequently above internet. This shows that although our life is more modern and many things are done via internet and technology, word-of-mouth is still better than virtual, a technique that many thought were extinct. Yet it can also connote the idea that the people that we hang out with can affect our choice in music.
11. How much money do you spend on money per week?
Statistics show that less and less people are spending music on money as compared to a decade ago, this is most likely due to the increase of illegal downloading and file sharing on the internet. People nowadays are less willingly to buy CDs and such when it can be attained for free and frankly doesn’t require much effort.
14. Does your taste in music influence the way you dress?
Nearly all participants had chosen ‘no’ to this question because society allows us to listen to more than one genre and not to be judged as well as the fact that there is a diversity in clothes choices where an individual can also dress as they wish.
16. Where do you think is the best place to listen to music?
Several contributors had voted for clubs, which gives the idea that clubbing would also be a very good way to promote music to a diverse group of people [most likely of different ages] effectively.
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Interview A - How do fans connect with the artist?
throughout the duration of this coursework I will interview a member of our target audience at different stages of production. This will enable us to analyse in depth the consumers wants helping us to deliver a media production more tailored to them. The first interview conducted is on the topic of 'connecting with the artist.' The interview was conducted with Mr. Lloyd Pink. He is 60 years old and lives within Greater London but was born in Jamaica.
Firstly I asked what music genres he listens to and he replied stating that he listens to mostly music of Caribbean origin. This included genres such as Soca, Reggae, Ska and Mento. With Mento and Ska they are not in production currently thus he accesses this from his collection of records and CD's however, with Soca and Reggae he is forced to use the internet if he wishes to be up to date. If he buys his Soca and Reggae on CD it has often been released within the Caribbean months before. Due to this he has become custom to using both legal video sharing websites such as Vimeo and YouTube as well as illegal websites such as stilltrinimix.blogspot.com. He never however mentioned services specifically desighned for delivering music such as spotifi and we7 i asked why, he replied that they dont generally cater to his favrioute genres of music. So i inquired about music videos and he said that he would watch dedicated channels such as MTV and 4Music but they don't cater to his musical tastes. He then stated that often only the most popular songs would get a music video.
From this interview i can concluded that in order to reach our target audiance outside the domestic market it is important to ensure our finished product is distrubuted via the internet. It also hints at a more connected-online society where the consumer can access everything via the internet this could be helpful with our promo pack as integrating social media within could give the fan a new level of intimacy with the artist further enhancing the user experience.
Firstly I asked what music genres he listens to and he replied stating that he listens to mostly music of Caribbean origin. This included genres such as Soca, Reggae, Ska and Mento. With Mento and Ska they are not in production currently thus he accesses this from his collection of records and CD's however, with Soca and Reggae he is forced to use the internet if he wishes to be up to date. If he buys his Soca and Reggae on CD it has often been released within the Caribbean months before. Due to this he has become custom to using both legal video sharing websites such as Vimeo and YouTube as well as illegal websites such as stilltrinimix.blogspot.com. He never however mentioned services specifically desighned for delivering music such as spotifi and we7 i asked why, he replied that they dont generally cater to his favrioute genres of music. So i inquired about music videos and he said that he would watch dedicated channels such as MTV and 4Music but they don't cater to his musical tastes. He then stated that often only the most popular songs would get a music video.
From this interview i can concluded that in order to reach our target audiance outside the domestic market it is important to ensure our finished product is distrubuted via the internet. It also hints at a more connected-online society where the consumer can access everything via the internet this could be helpful with our promo pack as integrating social media within could give the fan a new level of intimacy with the artist further enhancing the user experience.
Monday, 8 November 2010
First Interview
1. What would you like to see in a soca music video?
People dancing and having lots of fun because that is what soca music is meant to convey.
2. What aspects of modern music videos do you like?
I like dancing in music videos, because it makes the video more entertaining especially street dance, if the dancing is good and portrayed to look like everyone’s having a good time it makes me want to also dance and makes me happy.
I like acting in music video, narratives, sometimes I don’t understand the lyrics and what the songs talking about but explaining it through picture helps me to understand it. But sometimes the narrative in the video doesn’t link to the song and that makes it looks silly.
3. How do you feel about certain representations presented in modern music videos? (i.e. girls, boys, sexuality etc.)
I don’t like the way women are always parading around music videos half naked, I think that it looks nasty. I don’t like the way in modern music video’s to be seen as beautiful is to be skinny, or to wear designer clothes and to have their hair done in a certain way. Being beautiful isn’t about the material things a woman has, it’s much deeper than that and I wish music video’s portrayed that more often.
4. Do you think soca music videos are easier to create than mainstream music videos? Why?
Yeah, they are easier to make than mainstream music videos, because soca music is mainly about having fun and carnival whereas mainstream music videos may be about anything and have to portray many other things.
Taiyo, Female, 13, Soca Music Fan
People dancing and having lots of fun because that is what soca music is meant to convey.
2. What aspects of modern music videos do you like?
I like dancing in music videos, because it makes the video more entertaining especially street dance, if the dancing is good and portrayed to look like everyone’s having a good time it makes me want to also dance and makes me happy.
I like acting in music video, narratives, sometimes I don’t understand the lyrics and what the songs talking about but explaining it through picture helps me to understand it. But sometimes the narrative in the video doesn’t link to the song and that makes it looks silly.
3. How do you feel about certain representations presented in modern music videos? (i.e. girls, boys, sexuality etc.)
I don’t like the way women are always parading around music videos half naked, I think that it looks nasty. I don’t like the way in modern music video’s to be seen as beautiful is to be skinny, or to wear designer clothes and to have their hair done in a certain way. Being beautiful isn’t about the material things a woman has, it’s much deeper than that and I wish music video’s portrayed that more often.
4. Do you think soca music videos are easier to create than mainstream music videos? Why?
Yeah, they are easier to make than mainstream music videos, because soca music is mainly about having fun and carnival whereas mainstream music videos may be about anything and have to portray many other things.
Taiyo, Female, 13, Soca Music Fan
Music Video Proposal
My Music Video Proposal
Kes the Band- Right Dey
Starts with an establishing shot of a semi-busy road in black and white colouring. The music starts and the character appears. As he sings it is an extreme close-up of his lips singing the first line. On every cymbal clap a friend appears (only two friends), as he sings the line “what you do” he looks playfully over his shoulder at his friends and signals to move forward as the music starts. They begin to dance down the road, the shot occasionally changes to a long shot to reveal that as he walks the scenery changes from black and white to coloured and fun.
For the second half of the chorus it shows the singer and his friends doing a specific dance and various cutaways of people on the street enjoying this dance and green screen shots of dancers doing the same dance.
At the verse of the song it goes back to the singer on the street singing the song again, but also goes to cutaways of performance shots by the singer. At the line “it’s a way of life” the singer is going to pull out a picture of a girl mid-shot, then an over-the-shoulder shot and close-up of the picture. Throughout the second chorus there will be shots of him still bringing colour and life to the area, and cutaways to dancers, his performance shots and also shots of him being loved up with the girl in the picture (this is a flashback so an effect on the colour of the shots will be added).
For the next verse the singer is starting to invite civilians to join him in his little ‘party’ and finds his girlfriend (the girl from the photo) sitting at a cafe table and starts to sing to her “we’re gonna feel so right” etc, hugging her in relief that he has found her. They both go back to dancing with the crowd of civilians for the chorus. Until the end of the chorus where they all pause suddenly with their hands in the air as the camera begins to pan out and up, a bright light beams from them until noting is seen.
It then cuts to a close-up of hands jumping, people dancing, carnival costumes moving, all in black and white. Cutaway of the singers performance, in a low angle shot singing, “what to do, what to do, feel de riddim jumpin’ in you” and this takes you back to the scene of the carnival with the costumes and people dancing on the street, with cutaways to dancers on the green screen. As the crowd turn their back and leave the music fades to hear them all singing the outro “Ooh whoa whoa, Ee-yeah yeah” until the sun shines so bright there is nothing to be seen.
Kes the Band- Right Dey
Starts with an establishing shot of a semi-busy road in black and white colouring. The music starts and the character appears. As he sings it is an extreme close-up of his lips singing the first line. On every cymbal clap a friend appears (only two friends), as he sings the line “what you do” he looks playfully over his shoulder at his friends and signals to move forward as the music starts. They begin to dance down the road, the shot occasionally changes to a long shot to reveal that as he walks the scenery changes from black and white to coloured and fun.
For the second half of the chorus it shows the singer and his friends doing a specific dance and various cutaways of people on the street enjoying this dance and green screen shots of dancers doing the same dance.
At the verse of the song it goes back to the singer on the street singing the song again, but also goes to cutaways of performance shots by the singer. At the line “it’s a way of life” the singer is going to pull out a picture of a girl mid-shot, then an over-the-shoulder shot and close-up of the picture. Throughout the second chorus there will be shots of him still bringing colour and life to the area, and cutaways to dancers, his performance shots and also shots of him being loved up with the girl in the picture (this is a flashback so an effect on the colour of the shots will be added).
For the next verse the singer is starting to invite civilians to join him in his little ‘party’ and finds his girlfriend (the girl from the photo) sitting at a cafe table and starts to sing to her “we’re gonna feel so right” etc, hugging her in relief that he has found her. They both go back to dancing with the crowd of civilians for the chorus. Until the end of the chorus where they all pause suddenly with their hands in the air as the camera begins to pan out and up, a bright light beams from them until noting is seen.
It then cuts to a close-up of hands jumping, people dancing, carnival costumes moving, all in black and white. Cutaway of the singers performance, in a low angle shot singing, “what to do, what to do, feel de riddim jumpin’ in you” and this takes you back to the scene of the carnival with the costumes and people dancing on the street, with cutaways to dancers on the green screen. As the crowd turn their back and leave the music fades to hear them all singing the outro “Ooh whoa whoa, Ee-yeah yeah” until the sun shines so bright there is nothing to be seen.
Artist Research
Kes the Band is a band formed in 1998 in Trinidad by brothers Kees (lead vocalist), Jon (Guitar), and Hand Dieffenthaller (Drums), close friend Riad Boochoon (Bass Guitar) and Keithson Cruikshank (Keyboards). They are all alumni of Presentation College in San Fernando, Trinidad where fellow soca artist Machel Montano also attended.
Before becoming famous as Kes the band, the boys formed their first band called Limestone, in order to perform for a local competition in which they disappointedly got placed 11th, but came back the following year stronger and got placed 1st. Because of their determination to win they’d decided that they’re music career was what they wanted to focus on and got noticed by Joey NgWai and joined the band Imij & Co, which meant that they had to focus on the genre soca, which wasn’t their musical focal point. From 2001 till 2005 in which broke from Imij & Co and became Kes the Band where they decided to be known for their music that they liked to play.
They’ve become one of the most well known soca bands to come out of the Caribbean, accomplishing things such as being one of the only featured live acts on the MTV show “The Gauntlett 2” and at the launch of MTV’s network TEMPO. Also they worked with World renowned producer Derek Bramble creating songs such as “The Calling” which has been selected by Electronic Arts Sports (EA Sports) to be on the soundtrack for the highly anticipated football game, FIFA 2006 – World Cup Edition.
In 2006 they released their first album, three Baldheads and a Dread, which featured the song “Stay With Me” which dominated the Toronto website charts remaining at the number 1 spot for 9 weeks, and “Heads High”.
In 2007 they released their second album Lion.
And finally their most recent album On In 5 which came out in 2009 featuring songs such as “Till The Morning” and “Stalker” in which the music video for “Stalker” features a reference to the great music video of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Conventions of Music Videos
Conventions of Music Videos
Although our group is basing our videos on Soca music, we had decided to research conventions on all genres, that way, in our video we can add certain aspects of others to get a wider audience, as well as the fact that all video are similar in more than one way.
Mise-en-scene generally sets a representation via lighting, costumes, make up and location, this tends to create stereotypes and false accusations such as ‘Is the video connoting or encouraging sexy women?’ or ‘Is this how the media/producer/singer view gender?’ An example of this would be in KES the band – My girl, is this his outlook on women, or perhaps the director, or it is only in a dream?
Depending on the theme, the mise-en-scene for the music video will differ. For example, in music videos such as Breaking Benjamin – Diary of Jane, the video tends to have particularly dark lighting to fit the mood of the song along with dark colours of the singer and band. In opposition, the ‘Jane’ in which he sings about is surrounded in white, white clothes, white room and furniture etc, this could connote emotions as well as personality. Yet at the same time, both are rather clean looking, which tends to be used to attract the audience to the singer and band.
On the other hand Bigbang’s video, Lollipop, has an extreme use of bright colours, this also includes their costume, make up and location. The lighting is also bright, giving off a happy and hyper mood to the audience, which matches the song and genre. Similarly Eminem’s video ‘Just lose it’ has the same type of mise-en-scene as Bigbang, yet with some songs there are different aspects that contrast.E.g. : ‘when I’m gone’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e
Some argue that there are some typical conventions of genres such as HipHop videos are usually situated in a club or street with expensive cars, branded clothes and such, yet you also find that although rock videos are at the other end of the spectrum, they too use the same type of camera shots, semi-naked women, and important things to their stereotype eg guitars and animals.
With most music videos, there are usage of more than one shot, varying from close up’s of the singer’s face or other factors that relate to the song theme or lyrics much like in films. However there are some videos which use only one shot, like “”
The camera shots are used to create emphasis, such as establishing the location, the singer/band and also to match the beat or tempo of the song. This also refers to the camera movements, as they tend to follow the singer/band, even if there is no narrative.
The use of editing produces the music video in various ways, e.g. the video would be distasteful if it was all of the singer/band singing [however, there has been performance videos], so jump cuts are normally used to change of scene, perhaps the narrative of the video, or concept if there is no narrative. Some performances like choreographed dancing may be added to aid visualisation and to avoid repetition.
Effects may is used such as slow motion of the women or even men, this can also accentuate the lyrics or the song e.g. bridge, or even with the bass line like in JLS – Club is alive at the very beginning, effects like fading was used to equal the beat, slow motion of each members faces and slides to go to the next scene.
JLS – Club is alive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6cYoEu_P4&ob=av2n
Breaking Benjamin – Diary of Jane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWaB4PXCwFU
Eminem – Just lose it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dcVOmEQzKA&ob=av3e
Although our group is basing our videos on Soca music, we had decided to research conventions on all genres, that way, in our video we can add certain aspects of others to get a wider audience, as well as the fact that all video are similar in more than one way.
Mise-en-scene generally sets a representation via lighting, costumes, make up and location, this tends to create stereotypes and false accusations such as ‘Is the video connoting or encouraging sexy women?’ or ‘Is this how the media/producer/singer view gender?’ An example of this would be in KES the band – My girl, is this his outlook on women, or perhaps the director, or it is only in a dream?
Depending on the theme, the mise-en-scene for the music video will differ. For example, in music videos such as Breaking Benjamin – Diary of Jane, the video tends to have particularly dark lighting to fit the mood of the song along with dark colours of the singer and band. In opposition, the ‘Jane’ in which he sings about is surrounded in white, white clothes, white room and furniture etc, this could connote emotions as well as personality. Yet at the same time, both are rather clean looking, which tends to be used to attract the audience to the singer and band.
On the other hand Bigbang’s video, Lollipop, has an extreme use of bright colours, this also includes their costume, make up and location. The lighting is also bright, giving off a happy and hyper mood to the audience, which matches the song and genre. Similarly Eminem’s video ‘Just lose it’ has the same type of mise-en-scene as Bigbang, yet with some songs there are different aspects that contrast.E.g. : ‘when I’m gone’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYNFfgrXTI&ob=av2e
Some argue that there are some typical conventions of genres such as HipHop videos are usually situated in a club or street with expensive cars, branded clothes and such, yet you also find that although rock videos are at the other end of the spectrum, they too use the same type of camera shots, semi-naked women, and important things to their stereotype eg guitars and animals.
With most music videos, there are usage of more than one shot, varying from close up’s of the singer’s face or other factors that relate to the song theme or lyrics much like in films. However there are some videos which use only one shot, like “”
The camera shots are used to create emphasis, such as establishing the location, the singer/band and also to match the beat or tempo of the song. This also refers to the camera movements, as they tend to follow the singer/band, even if there is no narrative.
The use of editing produces the music video in various ways, e.g. the video would be distasteful if it was all of the singer/band singing [however, there has been performance videos], so jump cuts are normally used to change of scene, perhaps the narrative of the video, or concept if there is no narrative. Some performances like choreographed dancing may be added to aid visualisation and to avoid repetition.
Effects may is used such as slow motion of the women or even men, this can also accentuate the lyrics or the song e.g. bridge, or even with the bass line like in JLS – Club is alive at the very beginning, effects like fading was used to equal the beat, slow motion of each members faces and slides to go to the next scene.
JLS – Club is alive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6cYoEu_P4&ob=av2n
Breaking Benjamin – Diary of Jane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWaB4PXCwFU
Eminem – Just lose it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dcVOmEQzKA&ob=av3e
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Music Video Proposal
Right Dey – KES the band
I took into account that the weather is getting colder and it would be hard to get a visual that would match the happy and bright mood of soca music, so I thought to do something that almost clashes with each other, but still have the same type of hype and energy.
There could be a linear narrative, beginning with a cold and miserable place/area e.g. a room when the song comes on the singer’s ipod, to which he begins to sing and dance, a few reactions shots, then slowly, everyone in the place beguns to perk up, maybe get a little warmer, and it moves out on to the street or another room. And at the end still have the singer, dancing and singing to himself, whilst the world around him go about their own business, much like in KES the band – My girl, where he wakes up from his dream. By having him dancing by himself at the end, it connects with the lyrics ‘Don’t care what nobody say’ or imagining to himself.
“I can take you there, to another place” we could have a strong correlation between the lyrics and the videos and have the main singer, sing and dance, maybe even tapping someone, as if passing on all the rhythm and need to dance to someone.
Like many other videos, we could also have a montage by the instrumental/ bridge to accentuate it, and other parts to give the video more flavour such as:
o Lighting changing from dark silhouettes to bright lights, or even bright colours to stick with the soca theme
o Varying from close ups, to establishing, long shots, to imitate the tempo and rhythm of video and the dancing
o Body/dance movements, that can cut to the beat as well and having the shots cut to the beat as well. E.g hips movement from ‘sexy’ girls, close ups or slow motions of dancers, could even add different types of dancing
o Close ups of girls and singer or band, to give to the target audience
o Also steady cam, and use of hand held camera shots that would track the singer, especially the girls, like most videos we can copy the male representation on girls, and jump shots, making the visual slightly distorted
I took into account that the weather is getting colder and it would be hard to get a visual that would match the happy and bright mood of soca music, so I thought to do something that almost clashes with each other, but still have the same type of hype and energy.
There could be a linear narrative, beginning with a cold and miserable place/area e.g. a room when the song comes on the singer’s ipod, to which he begins to sing and dance, a few reactions shots, then slowly, everyone in the place beguns to perk up, maybe get a little warmer, and it moves out on to the street or another room. And at the end still have the singer, dancing and singing to himself, whilst the world around him go about their own business, much like in KES the band – My girl, where he wakes up from his dream. By having him dancing by himself at the end, it connects with the lyrics ‘Don’t care what nobody say’ or imagining to himself.
“I can take you there, to another place” we could have a strong correlation between the lyrics and the videos and have the main singer, sing and dance, maybe even tapping someone, as if passing on all the rhythm and need to dance to someone.
Like many other videos, we could also have a montage by the instrumental/ bridge to accentuate it, and other parts to give the video more flavour such as:
o Lighting changing from dark silhouettes to bright lights, or even bright colours to stick with the soca theme
o Varying from close ups, to establishing, long shots, to imitate the tempo and rhythm of video and the dancing
o Body/dance movements, that can cut to the beat as well and having the shots cut to the beat as well. E.g hips movement from ‘sexy’ girls, close ups or slow motions of dancers, could even add different types of dancing
o Close ups of girls and singer or band, to give to the target audience
o Also steady cam, and use of hand held camera shots that would track the singer, especially the girls, like most videos we can copy the male representation on girls, and jump shots, making the visual slightly distorted
Friday, 22 October 2010
Interview Questions
These are the questions we came up with for the interviews. Because we are doing such an independant/small music genre there weren't many people that actually watched soca music videos. Even those who listen to soca don't necessarily watch the music videos. Also England doesn't get soca music channels and the only mainstream soca radio shows are twice a week. So we had to search deep to find those people who do. We found some teens and elders and thought to compare the results.
1. What would you like to see in a music video (soca)?
2. What aspects of modern music videos do you like?
3. What aspects of modern music videos don’t you like?
4. How do you feel about certain representations presented in modern music videos? (i.e. girls, boys, sexuality etc.)
5. Do you think soca music videos are easier to create than mainstream music videos? Why?
6. Do you prefer it when lyrics match the occurrences in the video?
1. What would you like to see in a music video (soca)?
2. What aspects of modern music videos do you like?
3. What aspects of modern music videos don’t you like?
4. How do you feel about certain representations presented in modern music videos? (i.e. girls, boys, sexuality etc.)
5. Do you think soca music videos are easier to create than mainstream music videos? Why?
6. Do you prefer it when lyrics match the occurrences in the video?
Questionnaire
1. What Is Your Age?
12 – 18 19 – 25
26 – 32 33 – 39
40+
2. What Is Your Gender?
Male Female
3. What Is Your Ethnicity?
White Black
Asian Oriental
Middle Eastern Mixed – White and Black
Mixed – Other [Please Specify] ...................................................................................................
Other [Please Specify]...................................................................................................................
4. What Is Your Preferred Music Genre?
R n’ B Hip Hop
Rock Jazz
Grime Rap
Dance House
Garage Indie
Pop
Other [Please Specify] .......................................................................................................................
5. Explain Briefly Why You Like This Genre
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
6. Are Music Videos Important To You?
No Sometimes
Usually Yes
7. Where Do You Watch / Listen To Music?
T.V. Internet
Radio Adverts
Itunes
8. How Often Do You Listen To Music?
Rarely Moderately
Quite A Lot As Often As I Can
9. What Do You Find Is The Most Successful Advertisement For Promoting Music?
T.V. Adverts Friends
Youtube Adverts Posters
Radio Adverts Internet
Newspaper/Magazines Movies
10. What Device Do You Use To Watch/Listen To Music?
MP3/4 Player Internet
Ipod CD Player
Minidisk
Other [Please Specify] ......................................................................................................................
11. How Much Money Do You Spend On Music Per Week?
Under £5 £6 - £10
£10+
12. Do You Attend Music Festivals Or Concerts?
Yes No
13. Can You Access Music On Your Phone?
Yes No
14. Does Your Taste In Music Influence The Way You Dress?
Yes No
15. What Do You Like To Do In Your Spare Time?
Watching Movies Dancing
Playing Games Reading
Other [Please Specify] ......................................................................................................................
16. Where Do You Believe Is The Best Place To Listen To Music?
Club House
Pub Gigs
Bars Other
Thank You For Your Time!
Music Video Analysis
Boom Boom Boom by Tabia and Nathy
As a group we looked at various different genres of music in order to gather up enough information and ideas to help make our decision on what type of music video we were going to create as a group. After gathering all the initial information we need and researching various different music videos, collectively we all came to a final decision to use a Soca song for are music video called right there by an artist called Kes the band. Soca is a form of dance music which originates from the Caribbean. When the decision was made we thought it would be a good idea that each member in the group done a video analysis of a particular music video relating to that genre (Soca). I was given the task to analysis I Soca music video called Boom Boom Boom by an artist called, Tabia featuring Nathy.
The media allows people to manipulate the opinions of the consumers as it can change peoples perspective on subjects especially culture. The video starts with a long shot of a woman opening a door, with the whole shot shadowed in darkness. The shot then cuts to a close up shot of male (Nathy) the artist, with the whole shot with him in the sun the shot being filled with brightness. By doing this it gives the sense of joy and happiness as soon as we see the male it depicts that the women has opened the door and seen the light as the male is seen as the key to all her happiness for the future. This is shown throughout the whole video as there are number of shots were the woman is by herself, and the level of lighting used is low. On the other hand when the female is in the shot with the male character the shots uses high level lighting with the shot being bright. Throughout the video we are told the female depends on the male especially in the Caribbean culture as it is seen as the males are the workers and the providers in the household.
Also an array of bright colours is used throughout the video, down to both the male and female costumes, establishing the Caribbean culture. We also see shots of a man taking photos of a woman on a phone as she posses. This shows women are seen as objects to pleasure men and their there for men’s needs in a subtle sort of way. A close up a mobile phone with a message on it which states in it which the male sent (Nathy) “I miss you lets meet up” then the female says “ok babes”. We can evaluate from this that the woman’s there at the males needs showing a stereotypical gender position format. The video then cuts to a medium shot of a woman walking along beach, which then cuts to a extreme close up of a man’s which leads to an eye line match as the video then cuts to the woman again showing the man was gazing at the woman as she walks past. Again emphasizing the female body is seen as visual sexual object by men.
A panning shot of a segment of the Caribbean island is shown to establish the location as it looks like an exotic holiday destination. This connotes having fun in life and enjoying yourself the type of message which the music is conveying. Throughout the whole video the women don’t have many clothes on, showing off a lot of body. Again this is very conventional method when it comes to music videos across a vast majority of genres of music. Especially in the Soca genre as it focuses a lot on the female body and them dancing. In most of the shots there’s always more women than men to make the male seem as though he’s important connote a sort of king Alfa male status as their always surrounded by so many girls. This video represents males (gender) as being very heterosexual as we see various different shots of both females and males dancing with each other in an almost sexual nature.
As a group we looked at various different genres of music in order to gather up enough information and ideas to help make our decision on what type of music video we were going to create as a group. After gathering all the initial information we need and researching various different music videos, collectively we all came to a final decision to use a Soca song for are music video called right there by an artist called Kes the band. Soca is a form of dance music which originates from the Caribbean. When the decision was made we thought it would be a good idea that each member in the group done a video analysis of a particular music video relating to that genre (Soca). I was given the task to analysis I Soca music video called Boom Boom Boom by an artist called, Tabia featuring Nathy.
The media allows people to manipulate the opinions of the consumers as it can change peoples perspective on subjects especially culture. The video starts with a long shot of a woman opening a door, with the whole shot shadowed in darkness. The shot then cuts to a close up shot of male (Nathy) the artist, with the whole shot with him in the sun the shot being filled with brightness. By doing this it gives the sense of joy and happiness as soon as we see the male it depicts that the women has opened the door and seen the light as the male is seen as the key to all her happiness for the future. This is shown throughout the whole video as there are number of shots were the woman is by herself, and the level of lighting used is low. On the other hand when the female is in the shot with the male character the shots uses high level lighting with the shot being bright. Throughout the video we are told the female depends on the male especially in the Caribbean culture as it is seen as the males are the workers and the providers in the household.
Also an array of bright colours is used throughout the video, down to both the male and female costumes, establishing the Caribbean culture. We also see shots of a man taking photos of a woman on a phone as she posses. This shows women are seen as objects to pleasure men and their there for men’s needs in a subtle sort of way. A close up a mobile phone with a message on it which states in it which the male sent (Nathy) “I miss you lets meet up” then the female says “ok babes”. We can evaluate from this that the woman’s there at the males needs showing a stereotypical gender position format. The video then cuts to a medium shot of a woman walking along beach, which then cuts to a extreme close up of a man’s which leads to an eye line match as the video then cuts to the woman again showing the man was gazing at the woman as she walks past. Again emphasizing the female body is seen as visual sexual object by men.
A panning shot of a segment of the Caribbean island is shown to establish the location as it looks like an exotic holiday destination. This connotes having fun in life and enjoying yourself the type of message which the music is conveying. Throughout the whole video the women don’t have many clothes on, showing off a lot of body. Again this is very conventional method when it comes to music videos across a vast majority of genres of music. Especially in the Soca genre as it focuses a lot on the female body and them dancing. In most of the shots there’s always more women than men to make the male seem as though he’s important connote a sort of king Alfa male status as their always surrounded by so many girls. This video represents males (gender) as being very heterosexual as we see various different shots of both females and males dancing with each other in an almost sexual nature.
Monday, 18 October 2010
Music Video Analysis
Media Music Video Analysis
I have decided to do an analysis on the video ‘My Girl’ by KES the Band, it is a soca song taken from the album ‘ON IN 5’ released in 2009, directed by Sheldon Felix. Soca is defined as popular dance music, a blend between calypso and soul, originating from Trinidad.
In the video there is a linear narrative taking place, indicating a ‘typical day in life of Kes the band ’ beginning with the singer, Kes, waking up next to what is represented to be his ‘girl’ [although the girl is changed frequently] then moving on to choosing what clothes to wear and so forth. The narrative takes place in imitation of a to-do list, as in, with every job done, a text appears at the bottom of the screen, with a tick next to it, indicating that the job has been done, however, at the end, we learn it is all a dream.
Elliptical editing helps the video move quickly, almost like a link between the tempo of the song and visuals, the quick jump shots adds emphasis to the video which matches the speed of the song and lyrics, however, there is no signs where the video cuts to the beat, so the relationship with the visuals could be seen as weak. Yet the Instrumental part is signified through all the characters on screen not saying a word, although it is not noticeable, there is a non diegetic sound at the beginning of the video, accompanied by a blank screen, which indicates that the whole video is a dream, even if you don’t realise till the end, plus whenever there is a text on screen for example at 2:26, there is a non diegetic sound of a cashier to match with it.
The lyrics also seem to have a weak correlation with the song, as the lyrics is about the girl, how amazing she is, how she’s wanted by other guys and how much she means to the singer or narrator, yet the video shows shots of various different girls, and even more than one girl at the same time [3:47] whilst she is doing all the jobs for him. Some relation of the lyrics and the visual has been made such as ‘she knows what she wants and more’ [1:49] where Kes is singing to the audience and at the same time, he is sitting next to a sexy woman, dressed in formal wear and specs, a typical male gaze representation of a working, independent lady.
The video consist of various sexy and multiracial girls, with bright colours that connotes loudness, fun and confidence, also if fits well with the up beat music. The lighting is bright, as it follows the time line of a typical day in Trinidad, we assume this due to the mother figure waking up Kes at 4:49 who has a strong accent. The singer looks clean and fresh, probably since the females do everything for him, even put his toothpaste on his brush, plus it could be seen as clean men, get sexy girls as opposed to scruffy men with breads and casual clothes. Kes in this video happens to be wearing clothes that cover up the body, where as the girls are completely the opposite, wearing short and tight clothes, complete with make up, jewelry and neat hair.
Voyeurism is being exploited throughout this video, founded by Sigmund Freud, his theory is based on the notion that ‘erotic pleasure may be gained by looking at a sexual object (preferably when the object is unaware of being watched)’ this is shown at numerous occasions in the video e.g. 0:44, where the singer looks into the lens of the camera, like he’s looking at the audience whom the girl cannot see. However this could of also been used by Sheldon Felix in order to sell the product, by the singer looking into the camera, it creates a relationship between the audience and himself, making them feel like they are there with him, yet at the same time, it’s almost mocking ‘this could be you’ [1:26]
Furthermore, the video represents what a male’s view on a woman for example, there is only one man, and many women, which apparently is acceptable, as a man is allowed more than one woman, yet he sings of only one. All the ladies in the video, aside from his mother, is dressed in sexy clothes, or lack of, this is also emphasized by the use of slowing down the video on the women illustrating seductive poses or facial expressions. Although the video portrays change in history such as the feminist’s view of women being able to work and get paid higher than men compared to women only ever doing the house work, it can also connote that men see women as sexual objects rather and a sexual fantasy rather than respectable human beings, or that women portray themselves that way. Goodwin (1992) argues that with performers, male or female, females are regularly objectified through camera work and editing to emphasize a ‘sexualised treatment of the star’. On the other hand, it could also be mistaken as either Kes’ view on women, the narrator’s view on women, or even just what innocently happened in his dream.
Representation of sexuality has also been displayed here, at 0:34 there is sexual activity, distorted by jump shots and blurring, those of a young age would not likely understand. There are no signs of other sexualities however, only that of heterosexual, this is done my Sheldon Felix to engross the target audience, who are majority black male.
By targeting a certain audience, the director was able to play on the conventions of music videos that would engulf consumers, resulting in buying the products. These conventions include sexy women, bright colours, feel-good music and even the use of editing and camera work, such as slow motion pictures of women, close up of the singer [for fans, especially fans who are female]. The use of stedicam , canted framing and tracking of singer, gives the impression that you’re with him, the use of free hand, however, gives the video more dynamics, as well as acting as a POV shot [3:00 – 3:06]. But like most videos, the singer or band have a range of shots of them either playing the instrument or singing along to the song, this is usually done as if to assure the audience that the band/singer can really do it, even if we know that it has all been pre-recorded and unfortunately there is no visuals on the other band members. Humour is also used to help sell the merchandise, this is conveyed though the text at the beginning of video, conversing with the text ‘Yeh right!!’ at the end, followed by the sequence of the mother figure waking Kes from his dream.
From this we have learnt that with use of typical music video conventions i.e. sexy girls, and lip syncing, it is simple once you know how what type of structure you want your video to have, whether or not the lyrics, visuals and beat want to match and also the types of editing you’d like to use. The hardest bit would most likely be how to represent gender, age, ethnicity and such without offending too many people.
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