Dolby

Good work Ellie; just make sure you are using the labels correctly so your blog is easy to navigate(this is part of Research and planning marks)

Location

Mood Board: Location on Prezi

Music Promo RMA 3: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

Lets Go Surfing by The Drums is a performance based music video. The video consists of the band performing the song on a beach and running on the beach. The video is basic and does not use many camera angles or techniques. However this is why it's effective. Because the video is simple the focus is on the band and their music rather than a story. The genre is clear due the bands styling. Skinny jeans, messed up hair and vintage t-shirts are three examples of stereotypical clothes that create the indie/rock genre.

The connection between the music and the visuals is important as this technique makes up for the lack of camera shots. The connections are strong and therefore obvious. One example is when the line "Honey, take a run down to the beach" is played, the band run across the beach. Also the line "I'll never let you go" is repeated towards the end of song and as its sung each band member stops running one by one and fades into the background darkness. The other obvious connection is the location of the beach matching the the name of the song.

There are only 2 cuts in the video and minimal camera angles. However the band and the performance of there song is captured. are shots of the guitars and the drums, but no real close ups of one of the instruments. The unusual lack of cuts is strange but works with the location and lyrics. I feel that the long sequenced video and lack of cuts made the video unique and reveals a lot about the personalities of the band as they appear not to be glamorous and materialistic. This is shown through the basic location and lack of content as The music is more important than a story.

Overall I feel the unusual choice of no cuts was successful. The focus is the music not the story which shows the passion of the band and promotes their personalities as well as there music. Analysing this video will benefit the making of my promo as I've learnt about the diversity within music videos.

Digipak RMA 3: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

The front cover of this album is dominantly female. The text is big, bold and eye catching. The red text at the bottom contrasts with her white shirt therefore drawing attention to the name of the album. the red also matchs her red lipstick which emphasises her femininity and connotes love, lust and passion which are are feminine words. The white text at the top is big and in capitals. The thick white writing contrasts with the blue sky and the red writing. The photo of Lana Del Rey is dominant. Her head is placed infront of the text to show her importance and to show she is the artist. There is not much going on in the background which is done to ensure no attention is drawn away from the artist and her beauty. The genre indie/pop isnt yet revealed. However her hair, make up and clothes do slightly give her and indie looking style. The red white and blue colours on the cover also represent her country, America.

The CD is effectively basic. The white background contrasts with the red roses. Red is the colour of blood and therefore a connotation of death. The red in roses match the album name 'Born to die' because of their connotations. The colours on the disk conform to the house style of the digipak As roses and the colour red are feminine they reveal the artists gender.

The house colours are repeated on the back cover and the spine also. The dominant, eye catching red background draws attention to the track listing which is in white. The contrasting black text at the bottom shows a bonus track. Therefore it is written in black to stand out and make the audience think they are getting something extra as well as the album. The colours on the spine, red, white and black are used here and all over the digipak to conform to the house style and create a repetitive effect to ensure the album is recognisable.

Webpage RMA 1, 2 and 3

Webpage RMA Analysis 1, 2 and 3 on Prezi

Music Promo RMA 2: Florence and the Machine - Dog Days (2008 Original)

The colourful music promo Dog Days by Florence and the Machine is unusually a concept, narrative and performance based video, however the most dominant is performance. This effect reveals the artists quirky style and shows off her talents. The video was not professionally produced. Florence Welch, the vocalist, produced the (original) video and used her family and friends as characters in the quirky video. This also shows her talent.

The lyrics 'the dog days are over' suggest that good is to come and the bad times are over. This could reflect on the artists life which connects the audience to the artist. The song overall is uplifting and positive and the video extends this with the use of vibrant colours and bold styling. The visuals match the lyrics well. One example is when we see Florence running away from the people we hear "run fast for your mother, run fast for your father". Another example of this is when we see all of the characters hiding and revealing themselves from behind trees the lyrics say "hid around corners". This effect creates a storyline. The concept if the video is very fairy tale like which reveals the artists personality. The music starts when we first the Florence. This is significant as this is when the story starts.

The camera angles are important as they create the suspense in the story. The most effective examples are the use of unusual angles and jumps cuts that create a faster pace matching the pace of the music. Also the use of slow motion is also used to match the pace of the music and this is effective to help emphasise the narrative so that the audience can clearly see what is going on. The location is set in a woodland area which adds to the fairy tale like story. The long shots reveal the setting well which helps the narrative. Close ups are used a lot and are focused on the artist to connect the audience to her. Another interesting camera angle is the panning of the characters. The camera pans left (backwards) while the lyrics are saying "no turning back".

At the beginning of the video clapping noises are mad the characters and hitting sticks together to make the same noise. This example of the music matching the visuals make the audience focus of the music as well as the lyrics and moving image. When the song gets to it climax and the artist sings louder, the visuals keep up by all of the characters frantically dancing. This creates an uplifting mood and the indie/pop genre is revealed.

Overall the video is a good mixture of concept performance and narrative as it has a storyline, the vocalist shows off her talent and the video is interesting and quirky to match the genre. The fairy tale like story line matches the instruments and creates a feminine atmosphere.

Questionnaire Analysis

1. The majority of the people I asked said they did think the band (The Drums) looked stereotypically indie therefore I will dress my character(s) similarly to them to ensure the genre of my music promo is obvious.

2. 3/5 people said that they could instantly tell what genre music the band were singing. However, although the majority said this 2/5 said they could only tell what genre the music was after a while therefore I should include stereotypical codes and conventions of indie music in my promo.

3. 70% of the people I asked said they did think the music promo 'Let's Go Surfing' is eye catching and interesting. It was interesting to see what people thought as in my opinion it is one of my favourite music videos but one of the people I asked listens to hip hop music and he was one of the 2 people that found the promo boring.

4.  ...The other 30% that said it isnt said the video should be "less repetitive" and "have more of a storyline" when they were asked "how could the video be made better". I asked this question as I can use the criticism to help ensure my music promo can be as interesting as possible

5. 80% of the people I questioned said yes, they did think the band members looked stereotypically 'indie'. By asking this question I know how to dress my characters when thinking about Mise en scene for th promo.

6. The majority of the people I questioned said that the album cover of 'Summertime' does reveal the genre of the bands music. Asking this question was beneficial to the making of my Digipak.

7. 100% of the people I asked did not say yes to the Digipak cover being eye catching or make them want to buy it. The most popular reasons for this were the text being boring and not enough information/text as all that is displayed is the band name and album name. However I believe there should be no/minimal text on the cover apart from the artists name and album name therefore this question will not benefit the production of my Digipak.

8. 4/5 people I asked said they would change the album cover. The most popular thing to change was to put the whole band on the cover as ony two of the band members appear on it and it is misleading. The other change would be to make the album name bigger/more visible.

Dolby

Ellie, Try to consider how the 4 panes of the CD digipak all link together to create a house style or consistent theme/mood.

Digipak RMA 2: The Kooks - Inside Out

The back cover of the album is typically rock and indie. The colours connote 'rock n roll' music and the red on the spine contrasts with the white and black text which states the bands name and the album title. The background consists of a black and white photo of the bands playing their guitars which also connotes the genre of the band. The track list is positioned at the top left of the cover. The font is plain, black and written is capitals. The text is clear but not very big. There is empty space which could be filled by enlarging the text. On the right is small print including the record label the band are on which advertises not just the band but Virgin Records. This is good for other artists that are on the same label as the audience might visit the labels website a find more artists. 

The red CD inside is effectively simple. The bands name is black and bold which contrasts with the red background and the name of the album written in white in the same font as the bands name. The font is plain bold and straight. The straight lines and boldness connote masculinity which links to the rock indie genre as rock is stereotypically male. The small print at the top is black so it blends in with the large do so no attention is drawn away from the important information. 

The front cover of the Digipak is effectively simple. The dominant white background creates a good contrast with bright bold text at the top which draws attention to the bands name and album name. The photo of the band conforms to their genre (rock/indie) as they are playing guitars and singing which is also appealing to the audience. The bold text is masculine as it consists of straight lines and its no fancy which would appeal to females therefore the cover reveals their target market. Red and black and the stereotypical colours of rock and roll music so the genre is clear. 

The inside cover consists of small photos of the band making music. The house colours, red and black, are repeated here as well as in the rest of the Digipak this helps to create a mood and emphasise the genre. The teared white paper effect on the left add to the rock and roll effect also as the genre is known as edgy. The white contrasts with the black and grey photos which draws attention to the band members promoting them even more.

Digipak RMA Analysis 1: Florence and the Machine - Lungs

The front over of the album shows all essential information. The artists/bands name is written in a swirly font at the top in white, contrasting with the black border which connotes the indie/pop theme. The name of the album "Lungs" is presented at the bottom of the cover in front of a pair of fake lungs which are positioned on the artists chest. This connects the album name to the artist and the artist to the audience as they can see what the artist looks like. The album name is positioned here to ensure the audience remember the name of the CD by using a visual as well as writing. 'Florence' is wearing a laced top and is surrounded by flowers that are in the background the colours contrast with the black and white and her girly, frilly top matches the swirled writing at the top and victorian style front at the bottom as both fonts have connotations of femininity.

The CD within the Digipak is effectively simple. It consists of a graphic photo of two hands grasping a pair  of lungs which links to the title of the album. The only text on the CD is the album name repeated. The effect of this is too again remind the audience of the name. The font is also the same as the font on the cover which adds to the repetition factor.

The back cover is another clear connection of a visual to text due to the white outline of a pair of lungs with arrows and numbers around it. The background is black and the text and visual are white which shows contrast which reveals the contrast of the genre's, indie and pop. The track list is positioned at the bottom, below the image. The tracks are listed in 4 rows which makes it easy to find a song and doesn't makes the cover cluttered. The spine repeats the artists/bands name and album name in the same fonts as the front cover. Bellow the track listing is the bands website which helps promote them as a band because when fans buy the album they can visit the website and find out all they need to know about their favourite band. Like your dates, upcoming albums/singles etc.

Mrs D

Ellie - there is some good detail here. Well done. Your research is coming together nicely. Why don't you make a mood board with prezzie for your mes ideas? This would tick the box for ICT on your blog. Your music promo analysis is good - try and link in branding and promotion of the artist to improve. Keep up the good work.

Questionnaire References

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6OsTUnkqSi4

Down By The Water: Review

"The Drums – Down By The Water

One thing that can certainly be said about The Drums is that they are not a band that defy comparison and whose influences are hard to pin down. The Brooklyn band’s sound is so reminiscent of 80s pop pioneers such as The Smiths, The Cure, and New Order that it borders on plain mimicry. While this might lead some to view the band as a novelty act to a certain degree, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t sound great, and that they don’t absolutely nail the simple style that made their predecessors’ music so catchy. Following up their successful EP Summertime!, the band released their self-titled full-length debut in 2010, which is fresh, effusively poppy, and undeniably and unabashedly indebted to 80s new wave, post-punk, whatever you want to call it, right down to the lilting synths, simple guitar lines, and depressing lyrics.

In today’s Song of the Day, “Down By The Water”, front man Jonathan Pierce’s vocals and lyrics take center stage, as the bouncy guitar is cut and the tempo is slowed to a methodical plod. Though this makes the song seem even more downtrodden and depressing, the lyrics are actually some of The Drums most optimistic, as Pierce assures a lover that even though “it’s hard” he will make sure everything is alright: “If you fall asleep down by the water / Baby I’ll carry you all the way home.” The confidence in Pierce’s lyrics mixes with traces of vulnerability in his wailing vocals to make “Down By The Water” particularly affecting. This is just one example of the fact that even though The Drums carry heavy similarities to their influences, they are certainly legitimate songwriters in their own right, and just might be starting a new-new wave of their own."

http://blog.kexp.org/2010/10/18/song-of-the-day-the-drums-down-by-the-water/

Promo and Album Cover Questionairre and Answers

Questionnaire

The Drums – 'Lets Go Surfing' and album cover 'Summertime'

1.

Does the music video look stereotypically indie?

Yes - | | | |

No - |

2.

Could you tell what genre the video was and how soon?

Yes – instantly - | | |

Yes - after a while - | |

No - not at all -

3.

Did you find the video eye catching and interesting?

Yes - | | |

No - | |

4. How could the video be made better?

-          More of a storyline

-          It should be less repetitive
-          More of a storyline

-          More of a storyline
-          More of a storyline

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

5.

Did the band members look stereotypically indie/pop?

Yes - | | | |

No - |

6.

Does the album cover reveal the genre?

Yes - | | |

No - |

Slightly - |

Not at all

7.

 Is it eye catching and make you want to buy it?

Yes -

Slightly - | | |

No  - | |

And why?

-          Its too plain and boring

-         The font should be more interesting

-          It should have a few of the tracks written on the front

-          The band’s name should be bigger

-          Have a few of the tracks written on the front

8.

Would you change anything about the album cover?

Yes - | | | |

No - |

And why?

-          Put the whole band on the cover and have the album name bigger

-          Put the whole band on the cover and have the album name bigger

-          Have all band members on the cover

-          Have all band members on the cover

-          Have all band members on the cover

Photo Shoot

Before film rehearsals I will take a series of photos in my chosen location with the two characters that will be in my video in different clothing and in different places to ensure I create the right image and atmosphere I need for the indie/pop genre.

I will need:
Camera
Tripod
Clothes
Make up

I will take my photos in the places I am planning to film my video in. By doing this photo shoot I can perfect the look of my characters so they look stereotypically 'indie' and if my photos are good I can use them for my digi pack.

Music Promo RMA Analysis 1: Kate Nash - Foundations

The indie/pop genre music video to Kate Nash's Foundations is a narrative response to a story of a relationship gone bad. The video is colourful and bold which are connotations of the indie/pop genre. The video also conforms to some codes and conventions of concept based videos due to the metaphors and symbolism illustrated through household objects.

The start of the video starts with three jump cuts that match three separate beats before the music starts. In each cut you see household objects that represent the relationship of the singer, for example and pink and blue toothbrush in a glass to symbolise them as a couple. These objects are seen in close up do the metaphor is clear. The significant close ups are of Kate Nash when she is singing and of representations of the couple to show how their relationship is falling apart. The effect if this is to illustrate the song through visuals as well as the lyrics. Jump cuts are used on certain beats to create a fast pace and when she talks about another person other than herself. For example "You" and "Our friends". 

Most of the lyrics in this video have obvious visuals that match them "my fingertips" match with the to hands that are shown, "you said I must eat so many lemons cause' I am so bitter" matches the lemons Kate Nash eats, this. It is also sped up to show she is eating lots of them and also when she says "have another beer then" she opens the fridge to reveal a fridge full of beer bottles to symbolise he drinks a lot which annoys her. The effect of this Is to reveal the artists witty humour within her music which matches the indie/pop genre. The reason for the many obvious visuals is because pop music is usually listened by a young audience therefore they make it easier for them to see what the storyline is by illustrating the lyrics.

The stereotypical pop music video is bright colourful expensive looking and glamourous. This video challenges that stereotype by having the setting as an average sized flat full of everyday stuff which helps illustrate what Kate Nash is trying to say through her music. However the video is bright and colourful which conforms to some of the ways of pop but in a less materialistic way which is the indie side to her music. The video also conforms to the pop genre as she lip syncs to the music through most of the video. Most of the videos characteristics conform to pop genre but the singer quirky lyrics with the visuals to match show characteristics of indie music/videos. The clothes the two characters are wearing are again not glamorous like in most pop videos which reveals the quirky indie style to Kate Nash. Their clothing is outgoing and stereotypically 'indie' to match the lyrics.

Overall I feel that the video is a good representation of the specific genre and emphasises Kate Nash's talents. Her music is well illustrated with matching quirky visuals.