Music Tasks

Task 1:

Compare the two:

Video A:

Video B:

In video A, the location is located around the place such as, in an ally way, in the streets of a neighbour hood, petrol station, middle of a city, on a bridge ect... Whereas in Video B, it is located at the beach. Both also show a massive difference when it comes to the equipment they use. For example, in Video A, they used high quality equipment that was used to make the video and music but for Video B, they only used sounds that they would make by finding random objects that are located around the beach in order to create music.

In video A, they haven't used any video effects or anything just a simple next clip throughout the video. However, in video B they actually used some editing skills for the clips where it would show multiple different shots in one part of the music. For example here is a screen shot of one part they manged to successfully use it:

This is an effective way to make the viewer more interested to see different point of views at the same time for a few seconds and it also shows what they're capable of.

In video A, Pharrell Williams changes his outfit quite a few times throughout  the video to show the different type of atmosphere he is in in that specific location. These examples are only a few of the other many outfits he changes:

This was done this way because, it is to show the different type of mood and person he is in that location.

Whereas, in Video B, Kina Grannis and Fresh Big Mouf do not change the outfit they're wearning throughout the whole video.

They both also successfully produce a happy up beat music with the lyrics to go with it as well as even getting other people to dance and vibe with the music which shows the positiveness. 

Task 2:

Find 5 examples of music videos with animated elements:

Example 1:

The video begins with a black background and simple visuals of white sound waves that vibrate and synchronise, first with the percussion and lead guitar, then with the lead singer. As the band enters with the chorus, coloured sound waves illustrate new voices. Simple sound waves then give way to fast-moving, line-drawing animations that morph between a variety of female, race car, race car engine, and road racing images. The line drawings are interrupted several times with flashes of full-colour animation.

Example 2:

The music video is a Lego animation directed by Michel Gondry. Gondry's son was featured at the beginning of the video, building Lego blocks. It was shot frame by frame with each frame having the Lego bricks rebuilt and then formed together to give the illusion of motion.The video mostly consists of red, white, and black colour. The White Stripes couldn't strike a deal with Lego, so they had to buy a large amount of Lego boxes for the video.

Example 3:

In the video, 2-D yearns for the freedom to join Noodle on her floating island. The characters lying on the floor represent those who have already been "dumbed down", while the band members are the ones who have awakened. 2-D is trying to wake all the people from their half-dead state by yelling at them through his megaphone, in the style of a political activist.  The floating island is chased by ominous helicopters. Back in the tower, De La Soul appears as larger-than life with images on surrounding television screens and laughing at the Gorillaz band members. But thats not all by tackling social and political issues, Feel good Inc offered us visual stimulation and made us think.

Example 4:

This video's main theme is about romantic fantasy narrative and was done with pencil sketch animation and rotoscoping technique which perfectly fits the mood of the songs lyrics. It begins with a montage of pencil drawings in a comic-book style representing motorcycle sidecar racing.  It then cuts to a scene in a cafe, in which a young woman reading the comic book. As the woman reads, the waitress brings her coffee and the bill. The comic's hero, after winning the race, seemingly winks at the woman from the page. His pencil-drawn hand suddenly reaches out of the comic book, inviting the woman into it. Once inside, she too appears in the pencil-drawn form, as he sings to her and introduces her to his black-and-white world which features a sort of looking-glass portal where people and objects look real on one side and pencil-drawn on the other.

Example 5:

The animated music video for "Heartless" pays tribute to Ralph Bakshi's 1981 film American Pop. It features use of rotoscoped animation, in which actual people were filmed and had their every move drawn over, and references various scenes and backgrounds from the film. The video portrays West wandering through a city alone at night, with scenes of various women shown throughout the video.

Task 3:

Lip sync to Happy by Pharrell Williams:

Task 4-Bruno Mars effect:

What were you asked to do:

We were asked to create our selves lip syncing to Happy as well as doing a little bit of a preforming on top of it. After we combined the two together we were then asked to create a "Bruno Mars" effect where lines appear wherever we decided to put it on our edited video.

Did you need any help - if so did you get it from peer/teacher/google/figure it out by trial and error?:

No I didn't get any help as it was a pretty straight forward task and I didn't have any errors in the making.

Did you play with the setting, eg change the effect at all to see what else could be done?:

I changed the whole Hue effect where when I was performing, it would gradually change the colour of the video throughout the video.

How does the scribbly line effect suit the Bruno Mars song?

The whole scribble effect suits the song well because, it gives it that whole happy vibe when listening and watching the video at the same time whilst having scribble effects around him.

What sort of effect(s) might suit a dance/techno artist?

What sort of effect(s) might suit a heavy metal band?

Briefly, how did you make the effect?

Are there transferable skills you learned that you could use to do any other effects?

What effects did you learn how to do yourself?

Briefly outline how you did them?

Was this something you might want to do more of?

Task 5-Pompeii Music video:

Here is the other version with shapes:

Task 6-Multiple shots of the same person in the same place:

Task 7-Andrew Godwin Theory:

Lil Uzi Vert - Shuffle 2020

Andrew Goodwin was born on 28th November 1956 and he was a writer who created his very own theory for music videos. In his theory, there are six different convections to a music video according to Andrews theory. First theory is that Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. Stage performance is metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip-hop. Second theory is that there is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images (either illustrative, amplifying or contradictive). Third theory is that there is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (Either illustrative, amplifying or contradictive). Fourth theory is that the demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which reoccur across their work (a visual style).

Fifth theory is that there is frequent reference to the notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

1. There is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals, with the visuals illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics:

There is a link between visuals as Lil Uzi introduced the moves to the world in the early December 2019 and it quickly became a popular challenge across social media. The lyrics itself has nothing to do with dancing. Rather, it finds Lil Uzi Vert delivering lines about how other people are copying his fashion sense. Example from a lyric:

"That girl, she got with my clone

I told that lil' girl that she gotta just do better"

The music does however, fit in the theme of the lyrics as he is talking about his fashion sense at most parts throughout the music and you can see him wearing the type of fashion he wears. The music also gives it a up beat tone as well as a grooving type beat which people can vibe with it and you can see the people dancing are also vibing with the music and even Lil Uzi Vert which signifies happiness as everyone is enjoying it. This also links to how this music fits with the theme as there are allot of soft focus/ lingering shots, dark filters, camera movement and fast editing throughout the whole video. This does however, link well with the dance as it can be very quick or even slow.

Lyrics:

Yo, sing this shit, are y'all fuckin' dumb?
Eternal Atake
Gotta shoot two at her (yeah)
Gotta shoot two at her (whoa)
Blue cheddar

That girl, she got with my clone
I told that lil' girl that she gotta just do better (whoa)

Are you serious?
I swear my money is serious
Okay, all my checks, I just be clearing it
She sucked my dick 'til she get delirious (wow)
Okay, jump on the jet so I'm clearing it (woo)
Okay port, but I'm not talking New' (let's go)
Okay, smoke that boy just like a cigarette
If that boy try to make a false move, uh (damn)

I'm on some whole other shit
I got a whole 'nother rich, I'm on a new level
I was fuckin' on your bitch
She was ridin' on my dick, she ain't be two pedals
I swear these ni..., they bitches
I swear they all gonna snitch when my ni.... gon' shoot at 'em
Ni..., they mad about this
Ni..., they mad about that, but it's only if you let 'em
She saved my name in her phone
Only thing she saved me under is probably that "U" letter (hello?)
No, I don't got provolone
Only thing in my pocket is probably, um, some blue cheddar
She tried to leave me alone
Then she got right with my clone, man, I hope that she do better
I know it's blue cheese on me
But when I got 50s on me, I call that shit loose cheddar (ha)
Jeremy Scott's all on my feet
I had a cougar with me so I call that girl Coretta
I am the richest ni... in my city
I can make it rain like no matter what's the weather (facts)
I know that girl, she got swag
But when it come to putting it together, she could do better
I sent that girl a DM
She ain't answer me, so you know that I gotta shoot two at her (yeah)

Gotta shoot two at her (yeah)
Ayy, gotta shoot two at her (and you are Lil Uzi? Vert, let's go)
Ayy, stay with the blue cheddar (whoa)
That girl, she got with my clone
I told that lil' girl that she gotta just do better, whoa (one, two, three, let's go)

Are you serious?
I swear my money is serious
Okay, all my checks, I just be clearing it
She sucked my dick 'til she get delirious
Okay, jump on the jet so I'm clearing it
Okay port, but I'm not talking New' (woo)
Okay, smoke that boy just like a cigarette
If that boy try to make a false move (whoa)

They try to cut me down
When they say I'm too low (turn me up)
I said turn me up, I cannot hear my flow (whoa)
I ain't never been no fool
Do what I want, I'ma bend your rules (whoa)
I'ma take the dub, I'ma win
I ain't ever been no type that lose, yeah
Born like this, I ain't did no study
Everything I got, man, I got it in a hurry
If I love you, better say that you love me
And if I trust you, better say that you trust me
Talk 'bout the bag, the mula, the guap
I'm at the bank, only time that I'm running
I said I'm on the road, no, I cannot stop
I'm running through obstacles, I'm in a hurry
Whoa, stop that
Told a fuck ni... just drop that (yeah)
If you shoot first, we gon' pop back
Margiela on me, lil' ni..., that's not that
What you got on? Prada sweatsuit made of nylon
See my righteous girl, yeah, she says, "Right on"
When I hit that girl right with the light on
When I hit that girl, oh

Gotta shoot two at her
Ayy, gotta shoot two at her (whoa)
Ayy, stay with the blue cheddar (whoa)
That girl, she got with my clone
I told that lil' girl that she gotta just do better, whoa (one, two, three, let's go)

Are you serious?
I swear my money is serious
Okay, all my checks, I just be clearing it
She sucked my dick 'til she get delirious (whao)
Okay, jump on the jet so I'm clearing it
Okay port, but I'm not talking New' (mhm)
Okay, smoke that boy just like a cigarette
If that boy try to make a false move (whoa)

(Lil Uzi Vert
Doot-doola-doot-doo
Doot-doo
Thank you, Lil Uzi Vert leaves
You 'posed to be standing still right now
Ready, set, go)

2. There is a relationship between the music and visuals, with the visual illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics:

There is also a link between music and visuals, in particular the atmosphere of the video which gives it that powerful tone of the music. The uplifting beat of the music is represented by bright colours of joy and fun, energetic dancing which Lil Uzi Vert does. There is also an element of inclusivism and that anyone can join in and dance which showcased pretty much constantly throughout the music video and a mixture of men and women from different backgrounds. Lastly it is perfectly in time and the tempo of the editing is on time with the track without any delays.

3. Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography:

Futsal Shuffle 2020 is a Hip-hop/ Rap song written and sung by Lil Uzi Vert. The genre of music is typical to the style that Lil Uzi Vert sings and the video meets many of the Hip-hop/ Rap genre. Lil Uzi uses a variety of different dance styles in his video, sending the message that people should dance as its fun and is great when vibing to the beat of the music. The music video included scenes of Lil Uzi in many different dance moves such as the 2020 Shuffle he created/ windmill, toe spin ect...There is a whole range of different dance number promoting an inclusive tone that anyone can enjoy. Dance can be a typical feature of Hip-hop/ rap music as the artists often want the music to portray a feel good atmosphere that their audience can dance/ sing along to.

4. Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of their star/performers:

Lil Uzi Vert also meets the 4th feature of Goodwin's features of music video's as he is the solo artist and is at the centre of the video at all times whilst showing off his fashion and wealth of what he is wearing. The camera is always focused on him, promoting him as the artist with close up shots of his face and long shots of his face at the centre of the shot with backing dancers around him to empathise his importance in the video. He also stands out more because, he is the main person who invented the Futsal shuffle dance which blew up back in December however, it isn't an easy dance to do. He uses these dances to just vibe with the music and also attempt the main move he created which is the futsal shuffle and that he is enjoying his life regardless what other people think. He uses this motif throughout the video and purposely jokes around with the dances is to attract attention for each dance style. Yet alone all this dancing doesn't link to his lyrics but a reference to what this music fits with.   

5.  Voyeurism:

Due to Lil Uzi being the centre of the video, there is a lot of focus on him. Lil Uzi is dancing in front of the other choreographed dancers and in front of a dance studio so that the focus is on Lil Uzi and so that it fits the music. Voyeurism is used in some of the camera angles/ shots and some of the outfits which Lil Uzi wears. For example when Lil Uzi is dancing with multiple people in the studio in 1:32, the people are all dressed up in a wealthy way by wearing expensive clothing which can also be stereotypical as it shows that if someone owns an expensive clothing, they would be classed as wealthy. Another example of this is when the anime girl shows up on the screen dancing whilst wearing a small dress to show more of its skin whilst she is dancing. There is a focus on the anime girl whilst in a mid shot to mainly focus on her dance moves and her skin. The way she is dressed is intended to show off the female body in a sexualised way due to the glimpse of her cheeks in most parts. The dress is very small which allows it to expose sexual parts of a girl. However, although there is some voyeurism, Lil Uzi is very much in control and uses it in his own way to portray his own messages.

6. There are likely to be intertextual references to other music videos, TV shows, books, movies, games etc:

Finally the last feature is the use of intertextual references. The main key intertextual reference throughout the video is the references to different dance styles. In those certain dance styles there are some intertextual references to street dancing sequences. The video influences the effect and impacts it in a way that it makes the video feel alive as you see people dancing whilst vibing to the music and so can we as the viewer. This makes us feel like we belong there also which makes the video feel more real. Lastly the text has that retro feel as if its in a game when there is a women speaking in a robotic voice in the background whilst the text shows by getting typed.

Task 8-Create your own 1min music video by using any music:

Finished product:

Task 9-Timeline For Kayne West and Jay Z Music video:

Task 10-Music video structure timeline:

Setup locations:

Empty white room

Hotel corridor 

Hotel room.

Empty black room

Party room

Room filled with flowers in pots.

Music choice: Conor Maynard - R U Crazy

In Conor's music video it consists of only 6 setup locations throughout the whole music video. Starting with the intro, it only shows one location for the whole intro for 30 seconds which is an empty white room consisting only Conor singing whilst 4 other people playing instruments in the background. The music vibe gives it a more classic feel for the opening music video as they also dressed up in fancy suits and the music makes it sound as if he just doesn't care about her anymore and is taking the piss out of his ex. After that, the whole mood of the music completely changes once the new setup location is shown  which is in a hotel corridor as the beat becomes more aggressive. Reasoning to why the beat is more aggressive is to potentially show hatred towards his ex to what she has done and to why she thought this was the right thing to do and that them two going back together will never happen again. Next setup location is set in a room this time of Conor and his ex. Conor is there telling her that he will not go back with her anymore and her ex is trying to get back with him and the camera is only mainly focusing on the protagonist rather than his ex. The next location is a black empty room where the whole mood of the music changes to a slow and high pitched beat with his vocals also in a higher pitch. This could resemble sadness and heart broken as he goes and says "Look what you did" which links very well to the setup location heavily and the music. After that the next set up location was in a party room where there are more bright colours and the music changes to a more happier mood. As a result Conor is hanging around with his ex and getting really close again due to the whole music vibe changing for that location only. In the final setup location which is in a room filled with flowers in a pot, the whole music also changes back to the more aggressive and hatred beat to show that it wasn't his fault in fact it was the ex's fault and that he doesn't want to ever go back with her and never will as she wasted that opportunity. The flower pots do also explode which could resemble to show that he has no loving feeling for her anymore.

Timeline: