Escape The Fate - This War Is Ours
Youmeatsix - Hold Me Down
Asking Alexandria - Stand Up and Scream
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Research and Planning - 2.2 - Disaster Struck!!
Disaster
As we arranged our filming with the whole band, we were soon informed that in fact the band had recently split from the lead singer.
After finding this out we rang the remaining 4 band members to see if there was a way in which we could still film our video with our existing planning. They all agreed that they would be happy to help us and let us film with one of them filling in for the missing member.
On the new arranged day of filming, we arrived at the set and no band was there.
After several phone calls with the band, we discovered that they were having trouble with their promotion company allowing them to claim the rights back from the lead singer, as, when he left he took all the rights to each song he sung in. This therefore meaning we cannot use the band performing in our video and they can no longer perform any songs that the lead singer’s vocals feature in.
After finding this out we then had to re-plan a new idea for a video with 2 weeks until our deadline.
As we arranged our filming with the whole band, we were soon informed that in fact the band had recently split from the lead singer.
After finding this out we rang the remaining 4 band members to see if there was a way in which we could still film our video with our existing planning. They all agreed that they would be happy to help us and let us film with one of them filling in for the missing member.
On the new arranged day of filming, we arrived at the set and no band was there.
After several phone calls with the band, we discovered that they were having trouble with their promotion company allowing them to claim the rights back from the lead singer, as, when he left he took all the rights to each song he sung in. This therefore meaning we cannot use the band performing in our video and they can no longer perform any songs that the lead singer’s vocals feature in.
After finding this out we then had to re-plan a new idea for a video with 2 weeks until our deadline.
Research and Planning - 2.1 - Permission to use Song
From: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
To: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:35:05
No thank you for considering us, we're really looking forward to it and dont be silly about payment! we wouldn't expect to be paid for doing a good friend a favour!We'll bring all our own equipment to use, and we'll bring mics and PA system for vocals.Also, just an idea for your performance part of the story board. Have you considered the room at the college that we did that gig in that time? the old tradex building now called knights building is it?- it has dark, solid colors.- a great lighting rig - good open, black floor space.- And there are some great ledges and spaces for great camera angles and shots.Perhaps playing in the centre of that room with audience surround us would be a good idea? its your call.Also, for audience we could probably send messages to our friends privately and get 100 or so people to come and be the audience. would this work for you?Let me know closer to the time about location, time and duration then.Also, i don't know if this matters but technically we're not unsigned as we have record deals. This shouldn't affect anything at all because we're not PRS registered or VAT registered so it shouldn't be a problem at all.
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTSEMAIL: TLDMUSIC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK WEB: WWW.THELIVINGDAYLIGHTS.CO.UK WEB: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THELIVINGDAYLIGHTSUKTEL: +447792341829 (MATT)
From: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
To: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:58:37
Thankyou for your reply, we're greatful, for your permission.the information we can currently give you is a little bit limited.-time, date location, and duration is yet to be set, but should be known within the coming weeks(we're in planning stages at the moment storyboards are to be drawn up etc)-Equipment needed, will most likely be basics, there may or may not be a need for Cabs etc it may just be guitars, drums could be supplied by myself if that makes transport easier for danny etc, mics would be handy to give it a realistic look.(once agin can be confirmed closer to date)-what you need to do i simple really, we need you guys to play Maps repeatedly while we take a range of different camera shots etc, there is one thing we ask, if we choose one of our ideas were gunna need to get some fans involved, as we may need to film them singing along, getting involved etc.-as for other info, im sure we can cater to your needs as we cant pay you as we dont actually have a budget but im sure i can fork out the money to sort you guys out with a crate for you hardwork
Thanks very much
Kye
From: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
To: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:50:21
Hi Kye.
Hope you're well.this sounds awesome, can you let us know more specifics like...- time, date, location and duration (we're busy writing album so our time is limited)- what equipment we'll need etc.- what we'll need to do for you and how we'll do it- any other ideas or info you think will be neccessary for us to know.thanks again for the interested and offer, looking forward to seeing what we do and hope we can help.
Matt
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTSEMAIL: TLDMUSIC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK WEB: WWW.THELIVINGDAYLIGHTS.CO.UK WEB: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THELIVINGDAYLIGHTSUKTEL: +447792341829 (MATT)
From: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
To: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:45:26
Hey Guys.It's Kye here, just wondering if i could get permission to use you guys and the song Maps. for my A2 media coursework, were making a music video as part of the project, and need a local or unsigned act, as we cant use major artists due to copyright issues, anyway, it would be great if you could give us permisson to use you guys, and also we thought it would be a brilliant idea if you guys could actually be in the video, that would be great, if you could send me a email back, with clearly written permisson that would be great.cheers guys.
Kye
To: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:35:05
No thank you for considering us, we're really looking forward to it and dont be silly about payment! we wouldn't expect to be paid for doing a good friend a favour!We'll bring all our own equipment to use, and we'll bring mics and PA system for vocals.Also, just an idea for your performance part of the story board. Have you considered the room at the college that we did that gig in that time? the old tradex building now called knights building is it?- it has dark, solid colors.- a great lighting rig - good open, black floor space.- And there are some great ledges and spaces for great camera angles and shots.Perhaps playing in the centre of that room with audience surround us would be a good idea? its your call.Also, for audience we could probably send messages to our friends privately and get 100 or so people to come and be the audience. would this work for you?Let me know closer to the time about location, time and duration then.Also, i don't know if this matters but technically we're not unsigned as we have record deals. This shouldn't affect anything at all because we're not PRS registered or VAT registered so it shouldn't be a problem at all.
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTSEMAIL: TLDMUSIC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK WEB: WWW.THELIVINGDAYLIGHTS.CO.UK WEB: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THELIVINGDAYLIGHTSUKTEL: +447792341829 (MATT)
From: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
To: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:58:37
Thankyou for your reply, we're greatful, for your permission.the information we can currently give you is a little bit limited.-time, date location, and duration is yet to be set, but should be known within the coming weeks(we're in planning stages at the moment storyboards are to be drawn up etc)-Equipment needed, will most likely be basics, there may or may not be a need for Cabs etc it may just be guitars, drums could be supplied by myself if that makes transport easier for danny etc, mics would be handy to give it a realistic look.(once agin can be confirmed closer to date)-what you need to do i simple really, we need you guys to play Maps repeatedly while we take a range of different camera shots etc, there is one thing we ask, if we choose one of our ideas were gunna need to get some fans involved, as we may need to film them singing along, getting involved etc.-as for other info, im sure we can cater to your needs as we cant pay you as we dont actually have a budget but im sure i can fork out the money to sort you guys out with a crate for you hardwork
Thanks very much
Kye
From: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
To: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: RE: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:50:21
Hi Kye.
Hope you're well.this sounds awesome, can you let us know more specifics like...- time, date, location and duration (we're busy writing album so our time is limited)- what equipment we'll need etc.- what we'll need to do for you and how we'll do it- any other ideas or info you think will be neccessary for us to know.thanks again for the interested and offer, looking forward to seeing what we do and hope we can help.
Matt
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTSEMAIL: TLDMUSIC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK WEB: WWW.THELIVINGDAYLIGHTS.CO.UK WEB: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THELIVINGDAYLIGHTSUKTEL: +447792341829 (MATT)
From: kyemason@hotmail.co.uk
To: tldmusic@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: Permission for use of band and song A2 media coursework
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:45:26
Hey Guys.It's Kye here, just wondering if i could get permission to use you guys and the song Maps. for my A2 media coursework, were making a music video as part of the project, and need a local or unsigned act, as we cant use major artists due to copyright issues, anyway, it would be great if you could give us permisson to use you guys, and also we thought it would be a brilliant idea if you guys could actually be in the video, that would be great, if you could send me a email back, with clearly written permisson that would be great.cheers guys.
Kye
Research and Planning - 1.9 - Maps Treatment
Maps Treatment
Intro. Short shots of band tuning instruments, spot light/direct light on instruments, background black.
See a stage door open, hear music playing, slowly closes, music fades out as door shuts, then shot of gig poster on door.
1.Goes straight into music, fast cut shots of band playing.
2.Fast cut shots of band, lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums. Close-ups of instruments being played. Bass Pedal being played.
3.More shots of band playing, shots of crowd singing along, shots within the crowd to get a feel of perspective and inclusion.
4.Cuts back to band, shots of drums being played (close up) long or mid shots of the band playing, close-ups of lead vocals.
5.Close up of lead vocals.
6.Continue close up of lead vocals.
7.Cuts from lead vocals to other members singing into mics (close ups)
8.Cut to shot of girl crying in corner (long shot) possibly black and white
9.Cut back to whole band playing, fast close-up shots of instruments being played and crowd dancing/singing – mid shots.
10.Profile close up of lead vocals singing into mic.
11.Girl trouble breathing.
12.Fast cut shots of band, wake up screaming, lead vocals mid shot for please just take control.
13.Slow tracking shots of whole band, long/mid shot
14.‘Hope to god your story wont get old’ sung by band, mid shot of the whole band playing, camera spins round to crowd for the recall of ‘It wont get old’.
15.Same shot as line 8, but no girl only clothes on floor – long shot (maybe black and white).
16.Same as line 9.
17.Same shot as 8, no girl, no clothes, possibly in colour if others are black and white.
18.Same as 9, except, the end of the music fades out and cuts to close up of lead vocals hand with mic, and drops mic to floor. Camera pans to floor, fades to black.
Intro. Short shots of band tuning instruments, spot light/direct light on instruments, background black.
See a stage door open, hear music playing, slowly closes, music fades out as door shuts, then shot of gig poster on door.
1.Goes straight into music, fast cut shots of band playing.
2.Fast cut shots of band, lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums. Close-ups of instruments being played. Bass Pedal being played.
3.More shots of band playing, shots of crowd singing along, shots within the crowd to get a feel of perspective and inclusion.
4.Cuts back to band, shots of drums being played (close up) long or mid shots of the band playing, close-ups of lead vocals.
5.Close up of lead vocals.
6.Continue close up of lead vocals.
7.Cuts from lead vocals to other members singing into mics (close ups)
8.Cut to shot of girl crying in corner (long shot) possibly black and white
9.Cut back to whole band playing, fast close-up shots of instruments being played and crowd dancing/singing – mid shots.
10.Profile close up of lead vocals singing into mic.
11.Girl trouble breathing.
12.Fast cut shots of band, wake up screaming, lead vocals mid shot for please just take control.
13.Slow tracking shots of whole band, long/mid shot
14.‘Hope to god your story wont get old’ sung by band, mid shot of the whole band playing, camera spins round to crowd for the recall of ‘It wont get old’.
15.Same shot as line 8, but no girl only clothes on floor – long shot (maybe black and white).
16.Same as line 9.
17.Same shot as 8, no girl, no clothes, possibly in colour if others are black and white.
18.Same as 9, except, the end of the music fades out and cuts to close up of lead vocals hand with mic, and drops mic to floor. Camera pans to floor, fades to black.
Research and Planning - 1.8 - Maps Lyrics
Maps Lyrics
1. We've cut these maps into the ground,
2. I’ll never stop these raining ashes,
3. There's songs that help me stand up through it all.
4. Do you forget about the sound?
5. Is this down to someone else?
6. Or can you find a way to separate yourself?
7. Separate yourself. Separate yourself.
8. Forget about the place that we’re crying in.
9. Do what you can, you don't understand where it begins.
10. Do you accept the place you've found?
11. The air you’re breathing, the path you’re leaving.
12. Wake up screaming "please just take control".
13. Or is it words that clear your soul, you read the book your father sold,
14. And hope to god your story won’t get old. [IT WON’T GET OLD.]
15. Forget about the place that we’re crying in.
16. Do what you can, I don't understand where it begins.
17. Forget about the place that we’re crying in.
18. Do what you can, I don't understand where it begins.
1. We've cut these maps into the ground,
2. I’ll never stop these raining ashes,
3. There's songs that help me stand up through it all.
4. Do you forget about the sound?
5. Is this down to someone else?
6. Or can you find a way to separate yourself?
7. Separate yourself. Separate yourself.
8. Forget about the place that we’re crying in.
9. Do what you can, you don't understand where it begins.
10. Do you accept the place you've found?
11. The air you’re breathing, the path you’re leaving.
12. Wake up screaming "please just take control".
13. Or is it words that clear your soul, you read the book your father sold,
14. And hope to god your story won’t get old. [IT WON’T GET OLD.]
15. Forget about the place that we’re crying in.
16. Do what you can, I don't understand where it begins.
17. Forget about the place that we’re crying in.
18. Do what you can, I don't understand where it begins.
Resarch and Planning - 1.7 - The Editing Process Part 2
The Editing Process Part 2.
•ONLY PUT ON EFFECTS IF THEY ENHANCE THE VIDEO!
•Use the triangle to mark.
•Press play until the end of the clip.
•Pause.
•Then drag onto the video.
•Dub out the sound.
•Then drag the shots onto the correct time on the timeline.
•V1 – main audio track synced
•Audio 1 + 2 – CD track
•V2 – Other shots on here
•Green screen also on V2 – effect
•To make slow motion, click on the clip and go to modify then duration or speed. Constant or variable.
•Key – blue and green screen drag and then double click
•Change to green and then drag to see through
•Anything red needs rendering, click out, sequence, then render all.
•ONLY PUT ON EFFECTS IF THEY ENHANCE THE VIDEO!
•Use the triangle to mark.
•Press play until the end of the clip.
•Pause.
•Then drag onto the video.
•Dub out the sound.
•Then drag the shots onto the correct time on the timeline.
•V1 – main audio track synced
•Audio 1 + 2 – CD track
•V2 – Other shots on here
•Green screen also on V2 – effect
•To make slow motion, click on the clip and go to modify then duration or speed. Constant or variable.
•Key – blue and green screen drag and then double click
•Change to green and then drag to see through
•Anything red needs rendering, click out, sequence, then render all.
Research and Planning - 1.6 - The Editing Process
The Editing Process.
•Open up the final cut pro programme on the computer.
•Go to file save project as.
•Write your full name and save it into folder: Media, Yr 13, A2, then your self named folder.
•Go to final cut pro and quit final cut pro.
•Then open from your documents not the programme itself.
•Get the lead off of Mr Fletcher/Mr Smith and plug the camera in to the mac. The file, and log in capture.
•Open in window then press play, then press capture.
•Once captured press the escape key and turn off camera, then press the red box – x – never press it again.
•From now on go to file save project NOT save project as.
•Use the music off of a CD, it is a lot easier than an mp3 file, it will open itunes but you do not need it.
•Open applications and go to bridge, the computer, open CD, then the track, then edit, copy, go to documents, media, Yr 13, find your own folder and paste it there.
•You can then eject the cd and quit everything but final cut pro.
•Go to file, input files, find audio track, choose it and it will go onto the screen. Double click audio track then drag it onto the timeline and then you need to lock the track.
•Go to file, input files, find audio track, choose it and it will go onto the screen. Double click audio track then drag it onto the timeline and then you need to lock the track.
•You need to sync the lead singer to the video, double click on singer.
•Find the exact place, then press mark in, then skip to end and press mark out and drag to V1 then slightly move until in sync.
•Then turn off audio on video and lock it in.
•Open up the final cut pro programme on the computer.
•Go to file save project as.
•Write your full name and save it into folder: Media, Yr 13, A2, then your self named folder.
•Go to final cut pro and quit final cut pro.
•Then open from your documents not the programme itself.
•Get the lead off of Mr Fletcher/Mr Smith and plug the camera in to the mac. The file, and log in capture.
•Open in window then press play, then press capture.
•Once captured press the escape key and turn off camera, then press the red box – x – never press it again.
•From now on go to file save project NOT save project as.
•Use the music off of a CD, it is a lot easier than an mp3 file, it will open itunes but you do not need it.
•Open applications and go to bridge, the computer, open CD, then the track, then edit, copy, go to documents, media, Yr 13, find your own folder and paste it there.
•You can then eject the cd and quit everything but final cut pro.
•Go to file, input files, find audio track, choose it and it will go onto the screen. Double click audio track then drag it onto the timeline and then you need to lock the track.
•Go to file, input files, find audio track, choose it and it will go onto the screen. Double click audio track then drag it onto the timeline and then you need to lock the track.
•You need to sync the lead singer to the video, double click on singer.
•Find the exact place, then press mark in, then skip to end and press mark out and drag to V1 then slightly move until in sync.
•Then turn off audio on video and lock it in.
Research and Planning - 1.5 - Using a Video Camera
Using a video camera.
•Need to book a camera with Mr Fletcher/Mr Smith with at least 24 hours notice.
•Get a video, this becomes our own responsibility and we have to keep it until the video is done and edited. If lost costs £5.
•To put the tape in the camera, press the eject button mechanism to open. It will only shut if the tape is in the right way if it is wrong it will not. Be gentle. Push it gently to close, once in then close lid/case.
•It is our responsibility to fully charge the camera before use.
•To switch on, push the green button to camera. Open the lens cap cover.
•Make sure that the tape is rewound, switch onto play mode because it could be an old tape.
•To record push the white button. The screen should read record. Also there will be a red dot in the top right hand corner. Remember to stop.
•After you have filmed a scene DO NOT REWIND THE TAPE.
•When starting to record, do a countdown of 10 seconds out loud until 4, then 3,2 and 1 shown on hands silently.
•You can cut out the spoken numbers in the editing process.
•After finishing filming each scene wait a few seconds to stop filming.
•It is a good idea to use a varied range of camera shots.
•Do not zoom.
•Return the camera and other equipment by date agreed.
•Need to book a camera with Mr Fletcher/Mr Smith with at least 24 hours notice.
•Get a video, this becomes our own responsibility and we have to keep it until the video is done and edited. If lost costs £5.
•To put the tape in the camera, press the eject button mechanism to open. It will only shut if the tape is in the right way if it is wrong it will not. Be gentle. Push it gently to close, once in then close lid/case.
•It is our responsibility to fully charge the camera before use.
•To switch on, push the green button to camera. Open the lens cap cover.
•Make sure that the tape is rewound, switch onto play mode because it could be an old tape.
•To record push the white button. The screen should read record. Also there will be a red dot in the top right hand corner. Remember to stop.
•After you have filmed a scene DO NOT REWIND THE TAPE.
•When starting to record, do a countdown of 10 seconds out loud until 4, then 3,2 and 1 shown on hands silently.
•You can cut out the spoken numbers in the editing process.
•After finishing filming each scene wait a few seconds to stop filming.
•It is a good idea to use a varied range of camera shots.
•Do not zoom.
•Return the camera and other equipment by date agreed.
Research and Planning - 1.4 - The History of the Music Video
The History Of The Music Video
In this essay l will be discussing the history of the music video, starting with what is claimed to be the first ever music video, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Bohemian Rhapsody was claimed to be the first music video ever made because it was the first to be shot on video instead of film. However when this video was first shown, the full version was never aired on television. Queen made a separate video of Bohemian Rhapsody to be shown on Top Of The Pops because the original song was too long and complex to be performed live. This then started all musical artists to join the new found trend of making videos to replace live performances. When MTV started in 1981 most of their videos came from British artists for purely this reason.
The video for Bohemian Rhapsody was very much concentrated on the aesthetic side of it as it was also the first video where the main focus was on the visual images and the song took more of a background role. The idea for it came from their album cover where the 4 members are all in
shadows looking up, this was shot in 3 hours costing $3,500. The way that the effects were produced was from the cameras feedback and also using prism lenses.
I think that Bohemian Rhapsody was written for the purpose of the band themselves as, when
looking closely at the lyrics, Freddie has incorporated a lot of jewish words to link to his religious
beliefs to make the song a lot more personal. Many of these words appear in the Qu'ran for
example; 'Bismillah' which when translated means 'In the name of Allah'. Another is 'Beezlebub'
which is one of the many names that is given to describe the devil, and 'Scaramouch' which means 'A stock character that appears as a boastful character'.
Freddie Mercury also tried to incorporate some of Brian May's interest's, by using the reference to 'Galileo' (a famous astronomer who was known for being the first to use a refracting telescopes) as Brian May had a strong passion for astronomy.
The purpose of a music video is to inform the audience of any meanings in the songs and add an
extra depth to the song. Also, it's there to be used as a promotion tool to sell more of the band's
songs. They can also be seen as showing your status in the music industry amongst other competing artists. However music videos can just be more like a necessary thing to do like a chore rather than wanting to do it for the pure pleasure. Although, the music videos in the eyes of record labels are still used to show some sort of potential exposure to the public and, possibly having the opportunity of becoming a 'Youtube Hit'. 1
As mentioned earlier TV shows such as Top Of The Pops were some of the first to broadcast the new rage of music videos, beginning in 1964.
It was the longest running popular music show in the history of television. It was first broadcast from a Manchester church hall on a Wednesday evening at 6.36 pm and was introduced by DJ
1 'From the first frame to the last, music videos serve as a blank canvas to your mind's
eye. ' Quoted from http://www.videomaker.com/article/13049/
Jimmy Saville. It featured artists such as Dusty Springfield, The Hollies, The Dave Clark Five andThe Rolling Stones. It was only intended to broadcast for six editions, but there have been
more like over 2000.
This show eventually began to make managers and record labels realise that being on
Top Of The Pops made the difference between being number 10 in the charts instead of
number 1. It was the red carpet of TV shows, everyone wanted to be seen on it.
Eventually in the late 1960's European artists began to arrive on the scene of Top Of The
Pops as well, including people such as Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.
MTV became the next generation in music video broadcasting emerging into our lives in
1981.
MTV is music is a television network which was originally only to show music videos, especially
popular rock music. It later became used for a variety of different material all to be aimed at
teenagers and broadcasted this across the world 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The first video to be played was Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggies, however when it first started out the channel was streaming hardly any music videos at all which is why the MTV business expanded to then form MTV2 which was purely for music. Also VHl was added but was to be aimed at a more adult audience although this became very quickly TV shows and music as well. On August 1st 1987 MTV franchised to Europe bringing stations like MTV Asia and MTV Latin America.
It took another decade for MTV Europe to split into channels to channel to different countries, and in 1997 MTV UK and Ireland finally began broadcasting and went digital in 2001. The 'main, original' MTV channel was used for showing the bigger programmes made in the U.K. or brought in from America, but the music videos themselves were/are aired on the other MTV channels, like MTV Hits and MTV Base. 2
Music Videos have turned into an art form and have progressed very far from the likes of Bohemian Rhapsody to the more new videos of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. The videos have evolved to satisfy the worlds population's growing yearn for exciting aesthetically pleasing videos with mysterious storylines.
2 'Wherever you go, MTV is now an established part of the entertainment landscape. ' quoted from http://www.ministryofrock.co.uk/the-beginning-of-mtv.html
Bibliography/Webliography
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=685
http://idolator.com/395561/what-purpose-do-music-videos-serve-in-2008
http://www.videomaker.com/article/13049/
http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/totp.htm
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/mtv/history.html
http://www.ministryofrock.co.uk/the-beginning-of-mtv.html
In this essay l will be discussing the history of the music video, starting with what is claimed to be the first ever music video, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Bohemian Rhapsody was claimed to be the first music video ever made because it was the first to be shot on video instead of film. However when this video was first shown, the full version was never aired on television. Queen made a separate video of Bohemian Rhapsody to be shown on Top Of The Pops because the original song was too long and complex to be performed live. This then started all musical artists to join the new found trend of making videos to replace live performances. When MTV started in 1981 most of their videos came from British artists for purely this reason.
The video for Bohemian Rhapsody was very much concentrated on the aesthetic side of it as it was also the first video where the main focus was on the visual images and the song took more of a background role. The idea for it came from their album cover where the 4 members are all in
shadows looking up, this was shot in 3 hours costing $3,500. The way that the effects were produced was from the cameras feedback and also using prism lenses.
I think that Bohemian Rhapsody was written for the purpose of the band themselves as, when
looking closely at the lyrics, Freddie has incorporated a lot of jewish words to link to his religious
beliefs to make the song a lot more personal. Many of these words appear in the Qu'ran for
example; 'Bismillah' which when translated means 'In the name of Allah'. Another is 'Beezlebub'
which is one of the many names that is given to describe the devil, and 'Scaramouch' which means 'A stock character that appears as a boastful character'.
Freddie Mercury also tried to incorporate some of Brian May's interest's, by using the reference to 'Galileo' (a famous astronomer who was known for being the first to use a refracting telescopes) as Brian May had a strong passion for astronomy.
The purpose of a music video is to inform the audience of any meanings in the songs and add an
extra depth to the song. Also, it's there to be used as a promotion tool to sell more of the band's
songs. They can also be seen as showing your status in the music industry amongst other competing artists. However music videos can just be more like a necessary thing to do like a chore rather than wanting to do it for the pure pleasure. Although, the music videos in the eyes of record labels are still used to show some sort of potential exposure to the public and, possibly having the opportunity of becoming a 'Youtube Hit'. 1
As mentioned earlier TV shows such as Top Of The Pops were some of the first to broadcast the new rage of music videos, beginning in 1964.
It was the longest running popular music show in the history of television. It was first broadcast from a Manchester church hall on a Wednesday evening at 6.36 pm and was introduced by DJ
1 'From the first frame to the last, music videos serve as a blank canvas to your mind's
eye. ' Quoted from http://www.videomaker.com/article/13049/
Jimmy Saville. It featured artists such as Dusty Springfield, The Hollies, The Dave Clark Five andThe Rolling Stones. It was only intended to broadcast for six editions, but there have been
more like over 2000.
This show eventually began to make managers and record labels realise that being on
Top Of The Pops made the difference between being number 10 in the charts instead of
number 1. It was the red carpet of TV shows, everyone wanted to be seen on it.
Eventually in the late 1960's European artists began to arrive on the scene of Top Of The
Pops as well, including people such as Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.
MTV became the next generation in music video broadcasting emerging into our lives in
1981.
MTV is music is a television network which was originally only to show music videos, especially
popular rock music. It later became used for a variety of different material all to be aimed at
teenagers and broadcasted this across the world 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The first video to be played was Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggies, however when it first started out the channel was streaming hardly any music videos at all which is why the MTV business expanded to then form MTV2 which was purely for music. Also VHl was added but was to be aimed at a more adult audience although this became very quickly TV shows and music as well. On August 1st 1987 MTV franchised to Europe bringing stations like MTV Asia and MTV Latin America.
It took another decade for MTV Europe to split into channels to channel to different countries, and in 1997 MTV UK and Ireland finally began broadcasting and went digital in 2001. The 'main, original' MTV channel was used for showing the bigger programmes made in the U.K. or brought in from America, but the music videos themselves were/are aired on the other MTV channels, like MTV Hits and MTV Base. 2
Music Videos have turned into an art form and have progressed very far from the likes of Bohemian Rhapsody to the more new videos of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. The videos have evolved to satisfy the worlds population's growing yearn for exciting aesthetically pleasing videos with mysterious storylines.
2 'Wherever you go, MTV is now an established part of the entertainment landscape. ' quoted from http://www.ministryofrock.co.uk/the-beginning-of-mtv.html
Bibliography/Webliography
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=685
http://idolator.com/395561/what-purpose-do-music-videos-serve-in-2008
http://www.videomaker.com/article/13049/
http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/totp.htm
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/mtv/history.html
http://www.ministryofrock.co.uk/the-beginning-of-mtv.html
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