As part of my research into music videos, i looked at Andrew Goodwins 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory' to help me analyse music videos and see what makes a successful and unsuccessful music video.
One of the main reason for the production of music videos is to promote and increase the sales of the track itself, this means there is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, the visuals are either illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the relationship between the music and the visuals.
In Eminems 'Stan' when the line 'but your picture on my wall' the camera shows many newspaper cut outs and pictures of Eminem. This can be seen in the video from (2.00-2.05)
A particular music genre will have there own music video style and iconography, there is also a demand on the part of the record company for lots of close ups of the main artist vocalist, this is because the artist may develop their own style iconography in and out of there videos which in time becomes part of their star image. With the rock music genre, the videos will mainly be performance based this is the same as indie/math rock/metal all sub genres of rock itself. A band that will always have lots of close ups of their lead singer is the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters lead) has created such an icon of himself as soon as you see his face you will think Foo Fighters, there quirky performance based music videos also help iconise him.
Intertextual references of music videos, films or TV tend to help a general feeling/mood rather than offer a coherent meaning. Key lines may play a part in the visuals but very rarely will a music video simply illustrate the lyrics.
A music video tends to make use of the tempo, the tempo of the take drives the editing and may emphasise particular sounds from the track by for-grounding instruments such as a guitar, keyboard or drum solo, when there is a solo you expect to see the instrument. The tempo and BPM will also have an effect on the type of editing, if its a fast passed dance song with a high BPM and fast tempo there will be fast cut transitions used we can see this in Geri Halliwells 'Raining Men' but on the other hand if its a slow meaningful ballad with a low BPM and a slow tempo the the clips will be prolonged and there will be fewer cuts.
Genre
Some but not all music channels concentrate on particular music genres, within the music videos there are distinctive themes and performances. Music channels like MTV are split into different genres over 6 different channels, theres MTV Music, MTV Rocks, MTV Base, MTV Hits, MTV Dance and MTV Classic, all over which play different types over music 24 hours a day. Other not so successful music channels such as Viva, Smash Hits and The Box play chart music and mainly what is hot currently as they only have one channel.
As with any image moving text how the camera is used and how the images are sequenced has a significant impact on meaning.
Star image
Slipknot have created a great image of themselves that represents who they are and what their like, they always wear masks on stage and during interviews to create a star image for themselves, its also to keep their personal lives private as no one knows what they look like. Another person who has created the same sort of image is Lada Gaga, over the years she has had many ridiculous and outrageous outfits like the meat dress that she wore to the MTV VMA's in 2010.
Goodwin also makes reference to voyeurism in the book, voyeurism has been used in music videos to sell an artist to a wider audience, this is also another way of creating an artists new image through sexually temptations form the opposite sex. In the video, 'Antidote' by Swedish House Mafia vs Knife Party you see a lot of voyeuristic shots of women, the video is strongly connected to that of The Prodigy 'Smack my B*itch Up'
Camera Movement
Camera movement may accompany the movement of performers (walking, dancing etc) but it may also be used to create a move dynamic feel to stage performance e.g. circling the band before they perform.
The close up pre dominates mainly because of the desire to create a sense of intimacy for the viewer it also emphasizes half of the commodity on sale. A demand from the record company also plays a large part in the camera shots, they ask for lots of close ups, here are close ups form some of Kanye Wests videos.
Editing
Although the most common form of editing is fast cut montage rendering most of the images impossible to grasp on first viewing. Some videos use slow pace and gentler shot to help emphasise emotions and moods. This can be done for slower BPM songs to fit with the beat and the tempo of the song.
Eminem's music video to his hit hip-hop song stan featuring Dido directed by Phillip Atwell & Dr. Dre was released in 2000 under the labels Aftermath and Interscope.
The video starts with an establisihing shot of a window from an old wooden house with the window open and the curtains blowing along with heavy rain, thunder and lightning the camera then moves forward and up to look through the window to show a young female lying on bed. This creates a strong tension in the opening shot along with a depressive mood accompanying the video. It then cuts straight to an ariel shot of the woman on the bed whilst she rubs her what looks like pregnant self.
From there we are then shown a man in the bathroom of the glum run down house that looks somewhat grotesque in the video, he is dousing his head in a bleach, this is when we as viewers know that there is something very wrong in this video.
In the opening scene before the music starts, there is also a non diegetic sound that is being played in the background, this is somewhat rather eary and creates a lot of tension in the video, its very low key and contains music played in the minor key.
There is also another Ariel shot that tracks from room to room when Stanley is in the bathroom, it show dido on the other side of the door to the bath room while she is calling stanleys name who is not responding while in the bathroom. This is a great technique used and creates a good view of two characters actions from a different perspective.
There is a strong relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as we can see that the basement room in which 'Stan' is situated, the walls are covered in photos and picture of Eminem, this relates to the chorus 'but your picture on my wall - it reminds me, that its not so bad, its not so bad' another clear example of where the lyrics have been related to the song is when the line is sung 'There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin' to which we then see on the video the letter that he had sent got left behind on the floor of the post office, this signifies that enimen has not been replying to stan and it shows the escalation of stans anger.
In the second verse, we see a small montage of clips being shown of when stan saw/met eminem, the first is at his concert, then outside in the snow and lastly at what looks like a book signing, throught out all of the this there are quick jump cuts to a television playing a black and white video of enimem
'Remember when we met in denver, you said if i'd write you, you would write back' here we can see when stan and eminem met and shook hands. 'I even got a tattoo of your name across my chest' when these lyrics are sung we see Stan in a tattoo parlour where he is getting a tattoo that says 'Slim Shady' on his chest, Slim Shady is Eminem's alternative stage name.
There is no clear point in the video where the it cuts to the beat, i found that it cuts more to the lines in the verse as you can see in the scene where he is in the car (4:58-6:14) as the scene opens the car drives past the camera and then it will cut to him in the car, as this happens he immediately starts the verse this continues with jump cuts in side the car of him singing, the lines in the verse correspond to the cuts in the video.
In the end verse where Eminem is writing back to Stan, we see him on the tour bus writing the letter, the lyrics are what Eminem is writing on the letter. As the verse continues we see flash of lightning and we notice the face of Stan in the tour bus window when a flash of lightning occurs, this is an example of the notion of looking, this has been done to create tension between the audience and the video it may have also been done to in a way scare the audience, the facial of expression on Stan's face is an angered one, we see him staring straight at Eminem and looking like he is going to hurt him, creating an uneasy tension.
The music video is narrative based as it is a story of the lyrics, there is no performance shown in the video other than when Eminem is on stage in one of the clips and it isnt concept based either.
The video does a very good job of selling the track to the audience, around this time there was a lot of controversy over Marshal Mathers and this video helped defend him, because we see in the video a devoted, slightly psychotic fan that is trying to get in contact with Eminem via letters, we see his anger escalate as he doesn't get any replies but us as the audience find out that its not Eminem's fault. When Eminem eventually gets a letter from his fan Stan, he replies straight away showing his dedication to his fans but by this time Stan has already killed himself, the end verse shows Eminem replying to him and the deep thought and intent behind his writing he even advises him on his issues which shows he is a caring person.
My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why
I
Got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all
And even if I could it'll all be gray,
But your picture on my wall
It reminds me,
that it's not so bad,
It's not so bad
Dear Slim, I wrote you but still ain't callin'
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not-a got 'em
There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin'
Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em
But anyways, **** it, what's been up? Man how's your daughter?
My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm bout to be a father
If I have a daughter, guess what I'm a call her?
I'm a name her Bonnie
I read about your Uncle Ronnie too I'm sorry
I had a friend kill himself over some ***** who didn't want him
I know you probably hear this everyday, but I'm your biggest fan
I even got the underground **** that you did with Skam
I got a room full of your posters and your pictures man
I like the **** you did with Rawkus too, that **** was fat
Anyways,I hope you get this man, hit me back,
Just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan
This is Stan
[Chorus]
Dear Slim, you still ain't called or wrote,
I hope you have a chance
I ain't mad,
I just think it's ****ed up you don't answer fans
If you didn't wanna talk to me outside your concert
You didn't have to, but you coulda signed an autograph for Matthew
That's my little brother man, he's only six years old
We waited in the blistering cold for you,
For four hours and you just said, "No."
That's pretty shitty man, you're like his ****in' idol
He wants to be just like you man, he likes you more than I do
I ain't that mad though, I just don't like bein' lied to
Remember when we met in Denver, you said if I'd write you
You would write back, see I'm just like you in a way
I never knew my father neither,
He used to always cheat on my mom and beat her
I can relate to what you're saying in your songs
So when I have a shitty day, I drift away and put 'em on
Cause I don't really got **** else so that **** helps when I'm depressed
I even got a tattoo of your name across the chest
Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds
It's like adrenaline, the pain is such a sudden rush for me
See everything you say is real, and I respect you cause you tell it
My girlfriend's jealous cause I talk about you 24/7
But she don't know you like I know you Slim, no one does
She don't know what it was like for people like us growin' up
You gotta call me man, I'll be the biggest fan you'll ever lose
Sincerely yours, Stan, P.S.
We should be together too
Dear Mister "I'm Too Good To Call Or Write My Fans",
This will be the last package I ever send your ***
It's been six months and still no word, I don't deserve it?
I know you got my last two letters;
I wrote the addresses on 'em perfect
So this is my cassette I'm sending you,
I hope you hear it
I'm in the car right now, I'm doing 90 on the freeway
Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive?
You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night"
About that guy who could a saved that other guy from drowning
But didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a a show he found him?
That's kinda how this is, you could a rescued me from drowning
Now it's too late, I'm on a thousand downers now, I'm drowsy
And all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call
I hope you know I ripped all of your pictures off the wall
I love you Slim, we coulda been together, think about it
You ruined it now, I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it
And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it
I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe without me
See Slim, Shut up *****! I'm tryin' to talk!
Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screamin' in the trunk
But I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain't like you
Cause if she suffocates she'll suffer more, and then she'll die too Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now
Oh ****, I forgot, how am I supposed to send this **** out? [Chorus] Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner but I just been busy You said your girlfriend's pregnant now, how far along is she? Look, I'm really flattered you would call your daughter that And here's an autograph for your brother,
I wrote it on the Starter cap I'm sorry I didn't see you at the show, I must of missed you Don't think I did that **** intentionally just to diss you But what's this **** you said about you like to cut your wrists too? I say that **** just clownin' dog,
Come on, how ****ed up is you? You got some issues Stan, I think you need some counseling To help your *** from bouncing off the walls when you get down some And what's this **** about us meant to be together? That type of **** will make me not want us to meet each other I really think you and your girlfriend need each other Or maybe you just need to treat her better I hope you get to read this letter, I just hope it reaches you in time Before you hurt yourself, I think that you'll be doin' just fine
If you relax a little, I'm glad I inspire you but Stan Why are you so mad? Try to understand, that I do want you as a fan I just don't want you to do some crazy **** I seen this one **** on the news a couple weeks ago that made me sick Some dude was drunk and drove his car over a bridge And had his girlfriend in the trunk, and she was pregnant with his kid And in the car they found a tape, but they didn't say who it was to Come to think about, his name was, it was you Damn!
The first step towards the creation of the music video was in 1894 when Edward Marks and Joe Stern hired and various performers to promote the sale of their song "The Little Lost Child". One of the performers George Thomas, took a series of still images and projected them onto a screen in parralel with the live performance, this became a popular form of entertainment known as the illustrated song, the first step towards music videos.
The Phonoscene was the next step in the history of music videos, it combined a chronophone sound recording with chronograph film shot with actors lip-syncing to the sound recording.
Warner Bros. were the first company to produce a musical short film as such, vitaphone shorts featured many bands, dancer and vocalists. "Spoony Melodys"was the first musical video series in 1930. Shorts were typcally six minutes in duration and featured art deco style animations and backgrounds combined with the film of the performer sining. Shortly after animation artist Max Fleischer introduced a series of sing along short cartoons called 'Screen Songs' which invited viewers to sing along to popular songs, this concept is still going today with films like 'High School Musical'.
Early animated films by Walt Disney such as the 'Silly Symphonies' short and especially 'Fantasia', which featured several interpretations of classical music, were built around music. The Warner Bro's early cartoons such as 'Looney Tunes' and 'Merrie Melodys' were initially fashioned around specific songs from upcoming Warner Brothers musical films.
The 60's were the time of visual innovation, In 1964 the Beatles starred in their very first feature film "A Hard Days Night" originally shot in black and white and presented as a mock documentary, it was a loosely structured musical fantasia. The film consisted of comedy, drama and light musical sequences, the musical sequence created basic templates on which countless subsiquent music videos were created. A year later in 1965 the Beatles released their second feature called 'Help' it had a different take on things, for a start it was filmed in colour and it was set in london and on international locations, the film put all the important musical sequences into a fantasy adventure with the group. The title track sequence to the film 'Help' was filmed in black and white and is most probably one of the most influential videos on modern performance style videos, it uses rhythmic cross-cutting, contrasting long shots, close ups and unusual shots and camera angles, such as the shot near the end of the song, in which George Harrison's left hand and the neck of his guitar are seen in sharp focus in the foreground while the completely out of focus figure of John Lennon sings in the background.
1974 saw the dawn of music television, Australia launched the first music video show which screened on sydney ATN-7 on saturday mornings, it was aimed at the teenage audience and it promoted both new acts and already established acts. In the late 70's the well renound "Top of the Pops" a live music show broadcasted through the BBC, started to play music videos, therefore a good music video would increase record sales as viewers hopes to see it again the following week, because of marketing ideas like this one people such as David Bowie managed to get his first UK number one in almost a decade thanks to the director David Mallet and his eye catching promo for 'Ashes to Ashes'.
1981 saw the launch of MTV, a 24 hour channel that streamed music videos non-stop.
2 years later the most inconic video of all time was released, Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
Other Iconic music videos are;
Johnny Cash with Hurt
It consists of a montage of shots of Cash that juxtaposes images of him, he died 7 months after the release of the song which makes it slightly more touching and iconic.
Fatboy Slim with Weapon of Choice
This music video stars the famous actor Christopher Walken, he dances and flys around a deserted Marriot hotel in L.A.
Jamiroquai with Virtual Insanity
The famous video shows the lead singer JK in a room accompanied by furniture while the floor seems to move and rotate around
Camera movement may accompany the movement of performers (walking, dancing etc) but it may also be used to create a move dynamic feel to stage performance e.g. circling the band before they perform.
