Planning: Mood Board

I have created the following mood board in order to put together our ideas for our music video, and work out what the particular feel/image for the song and video is.

Target Audience Research: Survey Update

Today when i looked on survey monkey, i was disappointed to find only 4 people had completed the survey.

So i sent a text to around 30 of my friends and family to ask them to complete our survey, in an attempt to get as many different people's opinions as possible.
Below is a picture of the text, reading "Hey guys, you okay? would it be possible for you to complete the survey on my fb profile about music videos, would be much appreciated! :)", hopefully this will help.

Target Audience Research: Analysis of our Focus Group

The three questions we asked were

- What were your first impressions of the song?

- What other artist/band does the song remind you of?

- How does the song make you feel?

1) What were your first impressions of the song?

Most suggestions given were positive first impressions, although one person (Connor) said the song was not something he'd usually listen to. We consider the result to be that the song appeals to most audiences, of varying age and gender, but we realise we can please everyone, as people have musical preferences. Some of the words used to describe the song are demonstrated below on a wordle

2) Bands were mainly what one person called 'fun bands', including such bands as the kooks and oasis. Our group strongly agrees with the comparison of the singer of the band to that of oasis. One individual listed bands that non of the group members had heard of, and we have therefore had to look them up on Youtube to see what sort of mood they provide, and the sorts of videos they have. This included Suade, Prematives and Jellyfish; Jellyfish was the one, if any, that was most comparable to our song. when looking at the bands that people suggested, we noticed that each video had lip synching and a performance from the band, which we want to do with ours.

The Kooks

3) Like the first impressions, the mood of the song was also commented on in a positive way. It was suggested that the song created a happy and relaxed mood. One person says that they believe the song could fit to lots of moods, depending on the listeniners perspective, which is good as we are provided with more choice on what to have in our video. We can maniulate the song quite easily to provide a particular mood.

Target Audience Research: Music Video Survey

After a group discussion in class, Daniel made a survey on surveymonkey.com, about people's music video preferences. We have published our survey onto, and are going to collect results on facebook over the next week or so.

Planning: Initial Ideas- Spider Diagram

Today, myself and Tom created a spider diagram together of all our initial ideas and thoughts, that we have come up with so far, from listening to the song and talking to various people. Below is a picture of the spider diagram;

Paint fight- We decided that the song is quite happy and upbeat, and this made us think that we want a fun and colourful video. An idea was to dress in white clothes, and get a white background, then have a paint fight with lots of colours, as this is both fun and energetic. 


Boy band- We must take into consideration that it is a boy band singing.


Various people lip synching- This was our first idea, and was inspired by such video's as 'Rockstar' by Nickleback, as shown below. The lyrics state in 'Oh Me Oh My' "You know that i got something to say". We like the idea of having lots of different people, who are 'interesting looking' of all ages and appearances to lip synch each line of the song. We would have to get lots of people to keep the audience interested through the whole song, so may have to just use this for [art of it. Also, if we do this, location is important too (see below).





Various Locations- This is again to do with the above idea, getting lots of different people in different recognisable places, at various landmarks singing. This will also help keep the audiences attention.


Live gig- Tom came up with the idea of using our school hall to do a set up 'live gig', using pretend band, specific lighting and costumes, and instruments for the band members to use.


Writing on boards- This idea came from the Bob Dylan video 'Subterranean Homesick Blues', where he takes particular words from the song, written on A3 boards, and throws them to the ground. I think this would be an effective thing to imitate with the words 'Oh' 'Me' 'Oh' and 'My.'

Chinese whispers, on a large scale- This is our most recent idea, but we realise it could be too time consuming, and cost too much money. We would like to set up a giant chinese whispers, going to famous landmarks around the country and 'passing the message on' by a piece of paper, referencing the "you know i got something to say" lyrics in the song. We like the idea of not seeing whats on the note, like in the video 'Just' by Radiohead.

Target Audience Research: Our Focus Group Video

Below is the finished video of our focus group, we will discuss our findings as a group and post them onto our blogs soon. We asked them;
1. What are your first impressions of the song?
2. What other artist or band does this remind you of?
3. How does the song make you feel?

Target Audience Research: Focus Group Editing

Today Tom and myself spent time editing the focus group we filmed yesterday, and have uploaded it to youtube. As well as making the focus group to withdraw information from, Tom also used this as a chance to experiment with different shot transitions, which was beneficial. Below are some pictures from the editing process.

Target Audience Research: Focus Group Filming

Today we spent the lesson filming our focus group, on what various people thought of our song 'Oh Me Oh My', by the 99s, to see who they relate it to, and what sort of song it is. Tomorrow we will edit the footage, and upload it to Youtube and our blogs. Below are some pictures of the process.

Our Song/Artist: The lyrics to our song

Tom managed to find the lyrics online to our song 'Oh me oh my', and so i have put them onto my blog, and plan to analyse them, however a first impression is that they present quite abstract ideas.

LYRICS

Everyday I seem to turn around
Im on my back again
Coz I know theres something
better than the tomb I am living in

Looking outside and the sky is black
I know a better place, coz if
these four walls keep closing in
im wasting time and space

Oh me
Oh my
You know that I've got something to say

Oh me
Oh my
I think about it everyday

Oh me
Oh my
You know I've been changing my ways
Coz I dream of better days

Dirty old towns ringing in my ears
And don't I know just why
Coz theres nothing changing in this town
Some gray northern sky
Gotta get away, I gotta start again
Gotta turn my life around
Coz if these four walls keep closing in
this ground im digging around

Oh me
Oh my
You know that I've got something to say

Oh me
Oh my
I think about it everyday

Oh me
Oh my
You know I've been changing my ways
Coz I dream of better days with you now

(GUITAR SOLO)

Oh me
Oh my
You know I've got something to say

Oh me
Oh my
I think about it everyday

Oh me
Oh my
You know I've got something to say

Oh me
Oh my
I think about it everyday

Oh me
Oh my
You know I'll be changing my ways
Coz I dream of better days with you now

Digipak & Advert: Analysis of of a CD album cover

16

Digipak & Advert: What to include on the digipak

On a digipak, we muct include;

• Six panels
• A spine with the artist nd album name
• Barcode/ Price
• Tracklist
• Disk impression

All of this is demonstrated in the digipak i discovered and annotated below.

We could also include;

• A mebership postcard/flier
• Band information booklet
• Free Image/Poster

Digipak & Advert: Previous Students Work- Digipak and Magazine Article

Today in lesson, we spent time looking at various digipaks, both fro professional artists and band, and from past students. We looked into the forms of research and planning we can use. I am going to deconstruct and analyse in detail a number of digipaks and magazine adverts, and display them using various visual methods. I may also create an video commentary of  particular digipak or advert, which i feel will be benficial. 
Below are two different past students work, both of which recieved good marks, and produce different effective images that represent the artist/band, and song.

The above work shows a really bright, fun upbeat image. It uses pictures of the group, as well as a simple but effective drawn image in the top left hand panel. Furthermore, the panel with the songs on the album on it (bottom left) uses a split screen image from the video, directly connecting it with the song. The video itself is fun and captivating; the girls are not camera shy. The quick editing keeps the audience interested in whats going on.

The above digipak and advert go really well together, using the same colours, fonts, and images. It is really simle and effective, and provides a mellow, relaxing image, with the colours and pictures. It also uses images on the digipak from the music video, again immediatly assosiating it with the song.

Our Song/Artist: Pictures from the website

Below is a montage of he pictures that i previously mentioned being on www.the99smusic.com - the official website for our band.

Our Song/Artist: The 99's on Hollyoaks

Last night, i was watching my favourite programme- 'Hollyoaks', and discovered that our band 'The 99's' were featuring in the episode, singing 'Oh me, Oh my' at the S U Bar for the freshers week party. From this, I have been able to draw some conclusions; The fact that it features in a teenage soap shows it is a popular, well liked song, and is aimed at my own age group. This information can be taken into consideration when we plan our music video.

Our Song/Aritst: www.the99smusic.com

As part of research into our band and artist, we have looked at the 99s website, to gain more knowledge about them, and the type of music they play. It's layout also gives an idea of the 'feel' that the 99s try to create through their music.

The general vibe is bright, colourful and abstract, making it eye catching and unique. The language used is very informal and inviting.

Below is the front page of the website, with links to videos, photos, and about the band.

About the band;

The two print-screens below show the videos featured on the website, including various live performances on MUTV, in Manchester, and their first ever sold out London gig.

They also have a page of pictures on the site, which i will make a montage of on another post.

Top 100 Greatest Music Videos- 10-1

1. Michael Jackson: Thriller: 1983: This was more of a mini movie than a music video. It was popular worldwide, selling over 50 million copies.


2. Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer: 1986: Creative and clever video, won 9 MTV music awards.


3. A-ha: Take on Me: 1985: This song was previously released but was not a success. It's popularity when released with the video demonstrates the power of a good video when paired with an average song. the re-release allowed the song to go to number one in America.


4. Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody: 1975: This music video was the beginning of the popular music video. The video was created due to the fact that Queen were at number one in the charts for 9 weeks, and did not want to keep having to perform on 'Top of the Pops' every week, so they made this video to be played instead. The song itself has completely meaningless lyrics.


5. Madonna: Like a Prayer: 1989: A strongly controversial video. A black Jesus comes to life in a church, and makes love to madonna. This caused much controversy and debate, and was deemed inappropriate. Because of this video, Madonna's sponsership deal with 'Pepsi' was cancelled.


6. Robbie Williams: Rock DJ: 2000

7. Michael Jackson: Billie Jean: 1983: This video signifies the zenith of Michael Jackson musical career. For this video, he was widely credited for getting more black artists on MTV.

8. The Verve: Bittersweet Symphony: 1997

9. Madonna: Vogue: 1990: The dance style known as 'voguing' was found on the New York gay clubbing scene, and was a type of move used in dance battle's. By using it in her song, Madonna made the trend mainstream.

10. Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit: 1991

Top 100 Greatest Music Videos- 20-11

11. Coldplay: The Scientist: 2002: This is a very clever video, and rather confussing, as the video seems to run backwards, whereas Coldplays lead singer, Chris Martin sang the lyrics forward.


12. Michael & Janet Jackson: Scream: 1995: Video is significant for the fact that it cost around $7 million to make. It was almost seen as a desperate attempt to be remembered.

13.Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall: 1979

14. Christina Aguilera: Dirrty: 2002: This video was the start of a change in image for Christina, who was previously a young, innocent looking girl who was part of the Mickey Mouse Club. In this, she became a sexualised woman.

15. REM: Everybody Hurts:1993

16. OutKast: Hey Ya: 2003: Postmodern video of old 1960's television band performance. Cleverly uses the main member, André 3000, as every character in the video.

17. Blur: Coffee & TV: 1999: Noteable for it's use of a milk cartoon that goes on a journey to find a missing Blur band member.

18. Beyonce: Crazy in Love: 2003

19. Madonna: Material Girl: 1985: Video focusses on the conspicuous consumption of the time. It is a postmodern video, mimicing a the performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" by Marilyn Monroe, from the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

20. Gorillaz: Clint Eastwood: 2001

Top 100 Greatest Music Videos- 30-21

21. Queen: I Want to Break Free: 1984: Queens video to this song created uproar in America. It changed their image, as the band member dressed as household women, causing the to loose many of their fans in America.

22. Justin Timberlake: Cry Me a River: 2003

23.Britney Spears: ...Baby One More Time: 1999: There is controversy surrounding this video, and whether the song and the video are perverted- having Britney in a skimpy school girl outfit, singing "hit me baby one more time".

24. Radiohead: No Surprises: 1998: This video demonstrated the physical and mental pain that artists are willing to go, to create the art that is their music video. Radiohead's lead singer Thomas York spent the duration of the video with his head in a tank which slowly filled with water. He had to hold his breath in the water motionless for over a minute, which was a struggle that he wanted to overcome to create the intended intensity of the video, which he did, very successfully.

25. Madness: Baggy Trousers: 1980: Madness enjoyed making crazy accentric video's- the video in question includes the sax player flying above the band on a wire during his solo, for no apparent reason.
26. TLC: Waterfalls: 1995: Was the fisrt vide to use 3D digital technology.

27. David Bowie: Ashes to Ashes: 1980: Made of abstract ideas, with no assosiation or meaning.

28. Foo Fighters: Learn to Fly: 1999

29. Electric Six: Gay Bar: 2003: This video makes a very strong suggestion that President Lincoln was gay, which caused obvious controvery in America.

30. Weezer: Buddy Holly: 1995: Postmodern video, mergin scenes of the band with scenec from the program 'Happy Days', making it look as though the band featured in the program.

Top 100 Greatest Music Videos- 40-31

31. Eminem: Stan: 2000: Tells a story, also introduces Dido to mainstream music, featuring her, and part of her own song 'Thankyou'.


32. Chris Isaak: Wicked Game: 1990

33. U2: The Sweetest Thing: 1998: Although this looks like one take, this video is three takes cleverly merged together. The video is about Bono attempting to say sorry to his wife, enlisting various performers along the way in an effort to apologise to her.

34. The White Stripes: Fell in Love with a Girl: 2002

35. Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2U: 1990: This video is renound for the raw emotion displayed by Sinead O'Connor. She shows unfakeable emotion as she remembers her mothers death and even begins to cry. Although footage was shot in Paris, the main feature was extreme close ups of O'Connors face due to the intensity of her emotional display.


36. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Give It Away: 2001

37. Guns N Roses: November Rain: 1992

38. Fatboy Slim: Weapon of Choice: 2001: The video used actor Christopher Walken , dancing and flying around an empty hotel.


39. Pulp: Common People: 1995

40. Missy Elliot: Get Ur Freak On: 2001