Questionnaire & results...

Questionnaire:
What gender are you?

Male
Female

What age are you?
17-20
20-25
25+

What genre of music do you listen to the most?

Rock
Rap
Folk
Dance
Jazz
DnB

What is the most important element, in your opinion, of a music video?

An exciting storyline
Interesting locations
Visual reference to the lyrics of the song
A dance routine
Images of the musicians singing
Images of the musicians playing their instruments
Sex appeal: Attractive people
Use of special effects, cartoons etc

How often do you watch music videos?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
All the time

I will now email and distribute this questionnaire to the relevant age groups. I will ask 20 people in total to gain a good understanding of what my main target audience will enjoy best about watching music videos by asking the question: What is the most important element, in your opinion, of a music video? The results I receive will influence how I produce my music video; what type of storyline I should create, camera angles, shots, actors and even locations.

Questionnaire:
What gender are you?

Male //////////
Female //////////

What age are you?
17-20 ///////////
20-25 //////
25+ ///

What genre of music do you listen to the most?

Rock ////////
Rap ///////
Folk
Dance //
Jazz
DnB ///

What is the most important element, in your opinion, of a music video?

An exciting storyline /
Interesting locations ///
Visual reference to the lyrics of the song ///
A dance routine ///
Images of the musicians singing ////
Images of the musicians playing their instruments ////
Sex appeal: Attractive people /
Use of special effects, cartoons etc /

How often do you watch music videos?

Never ////
Rarely //////
Sometimes /////////
Often ///
All the time


The questionnaire results, which will help me in creating my music video, have been helpful by highlighting the main features in what people look for when watching a music video. It appears that they want to see the performer performing the track, weather its singing or playing an instrument. They also want references and links between imagery and the lyrics of the song.
After looking at my results, the majority of people said they would prefer to watch a music video to the song "Under the Bridge" by the RHCP so this is my chosen song. Also the age range of people questioned ranged from 17-30 and they all enjoyed the music of the RHCP. This is because the band have been producing music for over 20 years and are still appearing on music channels and at concerts with new and old songs. Therefore they have their old fan base and are still obtaining new fans as the times change because they have adapted slightly as the times change. I will continue further research into the band and their common features after I have analysed the lyrics of both Ray Lamontagne’s ‘Trouble’ and RHCP’s ‘Under The Bridge. Then I can choose which lyrics I can work with best, visually.

Audience Research.

Before I go any further I need to do plan who my target audience is and what they like.

I think the main audience that would be interested in watching the music video are obviously going to be people who like rock and hip hop music. Producing a music video is risky as it needs to reflect the music and musicians correctly and also needs to appeal to the correct audience. Like any other medium, music video’s follow conventions which allow the audience to identify what the genre is. For example in a dance music video you wouldn’t expect to see someone shredding a guitar, with long black hair and baggy trousers as it doesn’t suit the music and they would look out of place as this isn’t following the traditional convention for a dance music video. Though if a video was made to go against the traditional conventions of that genre it could be either loved or hated. Therefore it is easier and more certain to be a success if a video is made which follows the conventions of the particular genre.
To attain some secondary research to help me with initial ideas I have posted a questionnaire on my blog, emailed friends, and printed out the questions, covering a range of topics. After collecting the results of at least 20 people, this will help me to select a target audience and to get to know the audience, what their feelings are toward Folk/Rock music and give me a general idea of the types of things their into. I will begin looking at my results when at least 20 people have participated.

Musician Research.

The artist I have chosen to look into and choose one of their songs is Ray LaMontagne, born June 18 1974 in America, is a soft rock/folk musician. Starting out as a poor shoe maker, he was inspired to follow his dreams after hearing a Stephen Stills song, and since then he has never looked back.
He has since released three albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black and Gossip in the Grain. In the UK, Trouble was a top 5 hit, and the title track of the album was a top 25 hit. Ray is a known as a soft-spoken person who is known for his raspy voice, LaMontagne has won a number of awards for his music and has performed at several charity events.

LaMontagne began touring in the summer of 1999, he amassed 10 songs for a demo that he sent to various local music venues. Mike Miclon the owner of Buckfield Maine's Oddfellow Theater heard the demo and invited LaMontagne to open for folk acts. A friend and business executive heard LaMontagne's recordings and introduced him to Jamie Ceretta of Chrysalis Music Publishing. CMP recorded his first album, and sold it to RCA Records in the US and Echo Records in the UK.

There are many reasons why I chose this artist and his song Trouble for my music video. Firstly this is a favorite song of mine and I personally think folk music is under-rated. Secondly I knew noone else would be doing folk music as their genre as it isnt as popular as other genres such as rap and rock. Therefore i knew what i was going to make would be original and will stand out compared to other peoples in my class. Thirdly I wanted a song which meant somthing within the lyrics so i could interpretate them how i wish.

I have also chosen to look into the band the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as I am still undecided about which song to choose.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. The band's current line-up is Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), Chad Smith (drums) and Josh Klinghoffer (guitar). Their musical style has fused traditional funk with elements of other genres including hip hop, punk rock and psychedelic rock.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik was a significant record for the band; having sold over thirteen million copies, it provided the group's initial mainstream commercial success. Frusciante grew uncomfortable with this new found success and left abruptly in the middle of the tour for the album in 1992, descending into heroin addiction. After recruiting guitarist Arik Marshall to finish the tour, Kiedis, Flea, and Smith employed Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction for their subsequent album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although fairly successful, it did not match the critical acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik and sold less than half the copies of its predecessor. Shortly afterwards, Navarro departed the band due to creative differences. Frusciante, fresh out of drug rehabilitation, rejoined the band in 1998, at Flea's request. The reunited quartet returned to the studio to record Californication (1999), which went on to sell fifteen million units worldwide, becoming their most commercially successful album to date. It was followed three years later with By the Way (2002), which continued their success. In 2006, the group released the double album Stadium Arcadium, giving them their first American number one album.
From the information I have researched I get the idea that the band and band members where typical rockers, with the 'sex, drugs and rock n roll' attitude. This should definatley be reflected in their music videos and posters etc.

Ideas....

Here i have just simply bullet pointed some of my initial ideas for what genre and which musician i can use for my project:

1. Few of my favorite artists: Dan Le Sac, Evanescence, Flobots, Chemical Brothers, Ray LeMontagne, Santogold, Micheal Jackson, Kings of Leon, Theory of a Dead Man, Tenacious D, No Doubt, RHCP, Weird Al Yankovic, Bob Marley.
2. My 3 favorite artists: Dan Le Sac, Flobots, Ray LeMontagne
3. My number 1 favorite song by each of the 3 artists:

• Dan Le Sac - Thou Shall Always Kill
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Under The Bridge
• Ray LaMontagne - Trouble

Dan Le Sac - Thou Shall Always Kill -

The genre of this song is rap, and has a drum and bass background to it. If i where to make my music video to this song it would be easy as there are many lyrics which can be interpreted and i could easily make links between the lyrics, images and editing, as i could make the cuts to the beat.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Under The Bridge

The genre of the band is indie/rock therefore, the music video could include a musician Micky mousing as this in conventional to the genre. Also Hull has a Bridge which it could be videoed under, so it related to the title. It would also have to involve friendship and romance, as the lyrics refer to this.

Ray LaMontagne - Trouble -

I think this song would be perfect to make a music video to as currently there is no official music video for it so in no way can i copy whats already been done. Secondly there are visuals which can be linked to the lyrics, and also there could be a narrative structured added to make it more interesting.

Analysis of existing materials: Folk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdmFEZJZUPY

Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life

Earle is signed to Bloodshot Records and has three released albums from 2007–2009, The song The Good Life was released in 2008. He is described as a modern fusion of folk/ country/ rock musician.

As the beat begins there are 7 cuts to the beat showing different establishing shot locations. This sets the scene and the walking pace for the piece. As the lyrics say' well since you've left iv had no place to be, I'll spend most every day doing as I please' visually we are shown two long shots of a man smashing up his guitar and one of a man walking down a train track (which was one of the establishing shots shown at the beginning) and back to the artist Justin playing and Micky mousing the lyrics. So straight away we know that the there will be a strong relationship between the lyrics, visuals and music. Another example of this is the lyrics "Iv got pockets full of money" and we are shown a long shot again of Justin picking up some money, then a cut so a close up, showing his walking as the lyrics "here it jingle as i walk" are played.

Throughout the video there are references to the notion of looking. For example 1.53 we feel like we are one of his friends/ band members in his room as a hand held camera is used and he interacts directly with the camera and smiles into it. Again at 2.08 the camera is following Justin down the road, and he looks over his shoulder, smiles and welcomes the camera forward like we are his friend.

The performance itself is concept and performance based as there are lots of shots of his playing/ micky mousing and shots of him doing other random things, but they don't follow/ create a story they just follow the lyrics.

From looking into the video I have discovered the conventions of this genre's way of being presented. So when planning mine I need to include:

• Micky Mousing
• Live Performance
• Lyrical interpretation
• Relationship between the music and editing
• Relationship between lyrics and visuals

Analysis of existing materials: Rock.

As i have already stated the main conventions of music videos, i am now going to define what the conventions of the different genres of music videos are. I am going to analyse a: Rock and Folk video to define their conventions so when i choose a band/ musician I can decide weather to follow the conventions or to challenge them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhWZ7bpfQag

U2 -Vertigo
'Released by Universal Island Records on November 8th 2004. The first single to be taken from the band’s as yet untitled 11th studio album, which will be released on November 22nd, Vertigo is an epic U2 track laced with big guitars and soaring vocals. It was recorded at the band’s Hanover Quay Studio in Dublin and produced by Steve Lilly white.'
The genere of us's music is rock and from this video i will establish the conventions of rock music videos.

The video starts with a Long shot of the band in position out in a desert somewhere and a series of cut are made to the beat of the music showing each member of the band. This is a common relationship between the music and the visuals and creates an upbeat tone for the piece.

There is also relationship between the lyrics and the visuals for example when Bono sings the lyrics Unos, dos, tres, catorce [1,2,3,14] he visually shows us by lifting his fingers up, one two three. Another example (around 1min17) the lyrics "Jesus round the neck" and Bono again pulls down his shirt to reveal a crucifix on a chain around his neck. Another lyrical interpretation is of the title Vertigo. Vertigo is a medical form of dizziness and they create this in their video. Firstly from the spinning circles around them, spinning and confusion lead to dizziness.

Quick paced editing of different shots of the musicians performing so the image becomes confusing, meaning the video is mostly concept based as there is no narrative structure in the piece. And as the song musically begins to reach a climax with the solo guitar section, the visual imagery also does as the spirals begin spinning frantically spinning. (around 2minutes into the video)

Throughout the piece there is Micky mousing, from Bono and the back up singer. This reinforces to the audience that the band are actually singing the music.


(FINISH THIS) CHECK ALL SECTIONS.

Conventions & History of Music Videos.

Definition: A music video is a short film or video which accompanies a complete song/ piece of music. They are recorded using a wide range of styles of filming techniques which are usually structured with a narrative, abstract or a blend of the two. They are made to promote through entertainment and offer voyeuristic pleasure.

5 main conventions of every music video:

1. Performance
2. Narrative
3. Lyrical representation (editorial, cuts to the beat of the song etc)
4. Lyrical interpritation
5. Abstract - visual imagery, moods, tone, feel.

Editing:Continuity editing is generally not used in music videos, and montage is.

Forms of early music videos created in 1940's could be found in the form of e-song films called promotional clips, made for the Panoram visual jukebox. These shot films where of the musicians, usually filmed on a movie set made for playing. The jukeboxes would be placed in pubs and bars for members of the public to watch, as it helped increase moral after the war and provided great entertainment. But the main reason was to promote their music to as wide audience as possible.

The real start of the term music videos wasn't until 1964, when The Beatles starred in a feature film, A Hard Days Night, directed by Richard Lestor. The film was a low budget, black and white mock documentary which featured the band fooling around in various areas and these scenes where strung together with different soundtracks. The Beatles where the first band to write and perform their own songs and this made them famous worldwide. By producing music promo videos this enabled The Beatles to distribute their music world wide, making millions of pounds from a low budget film.

In 1965 The Beatles produced their second film promo, Help!. This was totally different in style as a lot more money was spent. Locations such as The Alps, Switzerland and the Bahamas where used as filming bases, and this gave a higher quality. Help was also more advanced as parts where filmed in colour and special effects where used for example, the piano notes appear on screen when they are going down the ski slope.

Another main difference in this promo was the use of Micky Mousing. All these techniques are ones which where developed and still used today. But the main reason bands like The Beatles made promo videos was again to distribute and promote their music so they didnt have to make personal appearances.

Throughout late 1960's to 1970's promotional videos grew dramatically in importance of distribution of music worldwide.

On August 1st 1981, acces to music videos was changed forever as the channel known as MTV was born. The channel was devoted 24/7 to distributing music videos from various rock and roll artists including Rod Stuart. Originally available to only 2.5 million subscribers, MTV cost Warner a modest $30 million to launch. By 1983 it was the highest-rated cable channel to date, reaching 13 million households. But now MTV now reaches 248 million homes in 58 countries though there is lots of competetion from other channels now.

Distribution of music videos changed again because of the creation of VHS in the late 1980's/ early 1990's because ordinary people could buy an artisist music video and watch it in their own homes. For example January10th 1989 Micheal Jackson released Moonwalker and it was a hit worldwide.

Nowadays it is as easy as ever to indulge in music videos, firstly because of the internet and secondly becauese of TV. Sky currently has 32 channels in the Music section 6 of which are MTV channels. Also now websites such as Youtube allow artists of all calibers to upload videos and distribute them worldwide to thousands of veiwers for free.