LIA KEEBLE MUSIC PROMOTION PACKAGE
MUSIC VIDEO RESEARCH
The purpose of a music video is to visually enhance and promote a song, by providing a visual representation of the music and lyrics. Music videos can help to increase the song's popularity, by creating a more immersive and engaging experience for the audience.
All music videos will be able to fit into these purposes:
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Promoting the song: Music videos are often used to promote a new song, by giving fans a visual representation of the music and lyrics.
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Building an artist's brand: Music videos can help to build an artist's brand, by providing a visual representation of their style and image.
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Providing entertainment: Music videos can be a form of entertainment in their own right, by providing visually striking and creative content.
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Telling a story: Music videos can tell a story that complements the lyrics of the song, by providing a visual narrative that enhances the emotional impact of the music.
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Creating a cultural impact: Music videos can have a significant cultural impact, by introducing new visual styles, dance moves, or fashion trends.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A MUSIC VIDEO ?
The conventions of music videos can vary depending on the genre, style, and purpose of the video. However, there are several common conventions that are often seen in music videos:
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Performance shots: Music videos often feature the artist or band performing the song, either in a studio, on stage, or in a location that is thematically related to the song.
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Narrative or thematic elements: Many music videos include a storyline or thematic elements that complement the song's lyrics or mood. This can include plot twists, dramatic settings, and visual metaphors.
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Editing techniques: Music videos often use fast cuts, camera angles, and special effects to create visual interest and add energy to the performance shots and narrative elements.
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Choreography: Dance and movement are often featured in music videos, particularly in genres like pop and hip-hop, where choreography is an important part of the performance.
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Product placement: Music videos are often used as a form of advertising, with brands paying for their products to be featured in the video.
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Celebrity cameos: Some music videos include appearances by other celebrities, either as a way of promoting collaboration or to add star power to the video.
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Visual style: Music videos often feature a distinctive visual style, which can be influenced by the genre, the artist's image, or the director's creative vision.
WHAT ARE THE CONVENTIONS OF A MUSIC VIDEO?
NARRATIVE
MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS
The music video for "Stressed Out" by Twenty-One Pilots, released in 2015, is a narrative-driven video that explores the theme of nostalgia and the pressures of growing up and is within the indie rock pop genre. The video begins with The members of Twenty-One Pilots riding a tricycle down a suburban American neighbourhood instantly indicating to the audience they 'wish they could turn back time' and go to a simple time. Throughout the video, the band members are shown engaging in various childhood activities, such as playing with toys and even participating in a game of "Simon Says." As the video progresses, the band members begin to transform, symbolizing the pressures of growing up and the loss of innocence. While the theme of the songs follows the trouble of growing up there is a parallel narrative that shows a long shot of the two band members on beds wearing red getting screamed at by family members to 'wake up' and 'make money', which arguably the indie rock target audience may relate to as they would be from the younger generation who are rapidly approaching adulthood.
PERFORMANCE
The music video for "Idioteque" (the official BBC version) an indie rock song by Radiohead, released in 2003, is a performance-driven video that features the band performing the song in a stark, minimalist setting. The video is known for its unsettling tone that makes the audience question the true meaning of the video when in reality there is no 'set' meaning as the video is meant to be up for interpretation. The cinematography in the "Idioteque" music video effectively captures the song's sense of dystopian themes while the abstract visuals enhance the song's sense of tension and anxiety. The footage has a distorted filter asif watching from a broken device. Similarly, the shots themselves are clearly hand-held cameras and are seen heavily zoomed in and rapidly panning from one band member to another, zooming till the extent that it is hard to identify what is occurring. This re-emphasises the feeling of discomfort and distortion for the audience, while also being paired with the minor toned song itself.
ORIGINAL IRIS MUSIC VIDEO
The music video for the song 'iris' by the 'Goo Goo Dolls' released in 1998 plays on a complex mix between a linear and non-linear narrative. While the lead singer John Rzeznik plays in the literal lyrics of 'i don't want the world to see me' by standing at the top of a tower looking down on the world with binoculars, followed by 'when everything feels like a movie' which was accompanied with an old film filter, again reinforcing a nostalgic sense throughout the narrative. The meaning of the lyrics highlights the lead singer is singing about unrequited love, someone who does not exist. As well as this, conventions of typical indie rock music videos were followed through the focus scenes on the band itself playing. Similarly to "Idioteque" the video has an aspect of visual distortion filters. the cinematography s skillfully executed, effectively capturing the song's themes and creating an emotional resonance with the viewer. The mix of performance footage and narrative scenes, along with creative camera angles and the use of slow motion, all contribute to the video's impact and enduring popularity.
INDIE ROCK GENRE ANALYSIS
Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the 1980s and is characterized by a DIY (do-it-yourself) aesthetic and an independent, non-mainstream approach to music production and distribution. Indie rock music often features distorted guitars, introspective lyrics, and unconventional song structures.
One of the defining features of indie rock is its emphasis on independence and individualism. Bands and artists associated with indie rock often take a DIY approach to recording, production, and promotion, eschewing traditional record labels and mainstream media outlets in favor of self-releasing their music or working with smaller, independent labels.
Another defining feature of indie rock is its diverse range of influences and styles. While indie rock often incorporates elements of punk, post-punk, and alternative rock, it also draws from a wide range of other genres, including folk, country, blues, and even classical music.
In terms of lyrics, indie rock often explores themes of personal and social identity, relationships, and the challenges of modern life. Many indie rock songs are characterized by introspective, confessional lyrics that reflect the personal experiences of the artists who write and perform them.
Some notable examples of indie rock bands and artists include The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Radiohead. However, there are countless other indie rock acts out there, each with their own unique sound and style.
The 'IRIS PRODUCTIONS' company logo originated from the idea of figuring out ways to brand and link my three components together to create a sense of identification for the audience. The song I chose by the 'Goo Goo Dolls' was named 'IRIS' i decided to incorporate a visual stimulus within the company logo. This is where the idea stemmed of having a bright blue eye placed as a vinyl on a deck to integrate the music industry within the design, hence when the logo is visible audiences can tell that this is a music production company without the literal justification.
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In color theory, red and blue are considered complementary colors, meaning they are opposite each other on the color wheel. When used together in media products, they can create a sense of contrast and vibrancy. For example, my music video has a lot of re appearing red undertones along with blue backgrounds. This contrast of vibrant colours is often seen in digipaks within the indie rock genre.
Red is often associated with passion, energy, and intensity, while blue is associated with calmness and serenity. Directors often use these colors to create a certain mood or emotional effect within their work.​
The combination of red and blue is also used to connote balance and harmony within a media product. For example, red and blue is used in equal amounts to create a balanced, symmetrical design. Alternatively, they might use one color more prominently than the other to create a sense of contrast and asymmetry.
lastly, the addition of a black and white logo is to reference the music video