According to Wikipedia:
'Pop music (a term that originally derives from an abbreviation of "popular") is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented towards a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short and simple love songs and utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes. Pop music has absorbed influences from most other forms of popular music, but as a genre is particularly associated with the rock and roll and later rock style.'
The definition of 'Pop Music' has become, from a personal point of view, completely distorted. Whenever I think of 'Pop', what comes into my head is Steps, SClub7 or Spice Girls. I think this is where the actual term derived from, and therefore the music world seems to have changed somewhat.
There are now too many genre's in the music business to actually name unless you are completely up-to-date with the latest of all music types.
Yet, I do know the difference between mainstream and non-mainstream.
Textual analysis of a music video
I am analysing ‘Only Exception’ by the band ‘Paramore’ from Franklin, Tennessee and directed by Brandon Chesbro.
Paramore can’t really be put into a genre, but if they were, I’d say they were Rock/Indie. They use heavy guitars in around 70% of their songs on each of their three albums, portraying the idea that they want to get across their ‘Rock’, serious and hard side of their music. Yet, at the same time they have the other 30% of their songs as emotional, soft rock, usually singing about love and heartache.
The video definitely brings across their Indie side. Due to the fact that they heavily use the acoustic guitar within the song it can be strongly portrayed within this genre.
Also, the video definitely realises the emotional and well-thought out lyrics and story behind the song. It shows a woman walking through life, going through guys, and finally actually finding the one she wants after not caring about love or wanting to be involved with a relationship that she knows is going to end badly. The video goes through the lyrics step by step to allow the audience to relate exactly to what message the band are trying to put across.
The lyrics are illustrated within the first line.
‘When I was younger I saw my daddy cry, and curse at the wind.’ Straight away we see Hayley Williams (the lead singer of the band) walk into a room and hug her father. This really brings across the emotion of the closeness she has to her dad and it can be seen that she has been affected by how he has been hurt in his life.
‘He broke his own heart and I watched, as he tried to re-assemble it.’ The audience then watches, through this line, Hayley have a conversation with her father. It looks as though they are smiling and having a sweet conversation about something they both knew well. Also when Hayley picks up the picture, it pushes forth questions of whom it could be, and why would she want to keep it? This keeps the audience watching. After yet again another cuddle, Hayley walks out of the room to the line:
‘And my mama swore that she would, never let herself forget.’ We now see Hayley in what looks like her own bedroom and find out exactly what the picture was. It was her father and mother together, and smiling. This then puts forth more questions for the audience, has her mother died? Have her parents split up?
‘And that was the day that I promised, I’d never sing of love if it does not exist.’ During this line we get a head shot of Hayley. It shows her emotion and the distress she feels whilst looking at the photo of her mother and father that she has just slid into the edge of her bedroom mirror. It can be seen in her face that she has been affected by whatever has happened between them and as the picture has been put out of focus and concentrated on Hayley. Yet, after we see the hurt in her face, the camera then goes out of focus on Hayley’s face and back onto the picture, which places that bit more emotion into the video as we go back to the main source of her pain.
‘Darling, you are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ From the close-up of the photo and the mirror, the camera fades out and goes into another close-up of Hayley’s face. This time she looks dressed-up and done-up, yet still miserable. But as the camera zooms out of Hayley’s face, we see her background. Hundreds of heart-shaped love notes, a pink/orange/red background that lights up around her small body in the middle of the huge floor. This line really portrays the fact that she has now changed. After all of her problems with her parents, she is able to find someone that is an exception to the rule.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ After the long shot of Hayley’s body the camera then zooms back to her, with this line in toe. Getting the close up of Hayley’s face intensifies the video even further as the audience can see right into the eyes of the loved, yet lonely young woman. Her eyes are so dark that the audience is immediately pulled in.
‘Well maybe I know, somewhere, deep in my soul that love never lasts.' Before this line, the video straight cuts to the entire band sitting onto a stage that is very simply set out. It shows band members sitting on amps and gig boxes, as well as a very minimal drum kit. This proves the idea that the band didn’t want to concentrate on them, they may want to have been shown, but the story is what is concentrated on throughout the video. Also the fact that Hayley sits on the floor, slightly curled up, portrays more emotion to how she is feeling as the rest of the band are above her, yet the spotlight still concentrates on her and her only.
This line of the song lasts through a number of shots and at the last bit of the line, the camera cuts back to Hayley in her room again. This time we get a close-up of jewellery to portray her gender as well as then getting a close-up of her putting lip-stick on to represent this further. Yet, we then get a mid-shot of Hayley, looking down, miserable and as though she is trying to shake off the bad things that have happened in her past.
‘We’ve got to find other ways, to make it alone, or keep a straight face.’ The audience then watches as Hayley walks out of her room and into another room full of a girl’s favourite things, clothes. She walks past and touches all of the inanimate objects, it doesn’t make her happy. Her face stays miserable, the same as it always has been, because no matter how much she owns or can buy, she will never have love.
‘And I’ve always lived like this, keeping it comfortable...Distance.' We then see Hayley walk towards the camera, as it tilts upwards to see her made up face and hair. We then watch as she walks into what is set out as a restaurant. She walks to a table of two, with a man sitting on the other side. We then see a mid-shot of Hayley, smiling towards the man sitting opposite her. As the camera then cuts to a medium-long shot of Hayley sitting at the table, we see a line of men waiting for her and also the first of her ‘dates’ walk away abruptly as the next one pushes him to move. This exposes the idea that she can have anyone she wants, really. It’s not that she is necessarily un-loveable; she just makes herself that way due to the trauma she went through with her parents and past lovers.
‘And up until now I had sworn to myself that I’m content, with loneliness.’ The camera then uses another close-up on Hayley’s face looking confused and disorientated. Yet, we get an over-shoulder shot of another of her ‘dates’ as they look through the menu together. The next shot then again shows a close-up of another ‘date’ trying to shove the guy in front of him out of the way so he can get his turn with the gorgeous young woman. But, again, we get a close-up of Hayley’s face looking confused and a little upset that none of her ‘dates’ were what she wanted, none of them worked for her. The cuts from one man to another then give a very emotional touch to the video as it can be seen that she has gone through so many relationships and they have all ended badly. This leaves the audience feeling sorry for and maybe even being able to relate with Hayley.
‘Because none of it was ever worth the risk.’ This lyric comes across just as Hayley gets up out of her seats and walks away from all of the guys that she could possibly have, yet doesn’t want due to them not being right for her. This brings across a lot of emotion as she is still miserable, walking away from people should could have cared about yet can’t anymore. She pushes through the men with her head down and then comes out the other side with a black coat on. This represents her pushing through her past and coming out with something different.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ Hayley then walks into a different room. A room set out as a church, with all of her band mates sitting on benches wearing white whilst she contrasts by wearing a full black coat. The camera then straight cuts to a mid-shot of the drums being played and then zooms out again to the rest of the band with Hayley still on the floor with the spotlight still fully on her. Another straight cut, then, back to the ‘church’ where Hayley sits down on the front right of the left row next to a band mate. Straight after, we go back to a band member strumming an acoustic guitar, to portray the fact that they are still trying to show themselves as well as running a story at the same time.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ After the long shot of Hayley’s body the camera then zooms back to her, with this line in toe. Getting the close up of Hayley’s face intensifies the video even further as the audience can see right into the eyes of the loved, yet lonely young woman. Her eyes are so dark that the audience is immediately pulled in.
‘Well maybe I know, somewhere, deep in my soul that love never lasts.' Before this line, the video straight cuts to the entire band sitting onto a stage that is very simply set out. It shows band members sitting on amps and gig boxes, as well as a very minimal drum kit. This proves the idea that the band didn’t want to concentrate on them, they may want to have been shown, but the story is what is concentrated on throughout the video. Also the fact that Hayley sits on the floor, slightly curled up, portrays more emotion to how she is feeling as the rest of the band are above her, yet the spotlight still concentrates on her and her only.
This line of the song lasts through a number of shots and at the last bit of the line, the camera cuts back to Hayley in her room again. This time we get a close-up of jewellery to portray her gender as well as then getting a close-up of her putting lip-stick on to represent this further. Yet, we then get a mid-shot of Hayley, looking down, miserable and as though she is trying to shake off the bad things that have happened in her past.
‘We’ve got to find other ways, to make it alone, or keep a straight face.’ The audience then watches as Hayley walks out of her room and into another room full of a girl’s favourite things, clothes. She walks past and touches all of the inanimate objects, it doesn’t make her happy. Her face stays miserable, the same as it always has been, because no matter how much she owns or can buy, she will never have love.
‘And I’ve always lived like this, keeping it comfortable...Distance.' We then see Hayley walk towards the camera, as it tilts upwards to see her made up face and hair. We then watch as she walks into what is set out as a restaurant. She walks to a table of two, with a man sitting on the other side. We then see a mid-shot of Hayley, smiling towards the man sitting opposite her. As the camera then cuts to a medium-long shot of Hayley sitting at the table, we see a line of men waiting for her and also the first of her ‘dates’ walk away abruptly as the next one pushes him to move. This exposes the idea that she can have anyone she wants, really. It’s not that she is necessarily un-loveable; she just makes herself that way due to the trauma she went through with her parents and past lovers.
‘And up until now I had sworn to myself that I’m content, with loneliness.’ The camera then uses another close-up on Hayley’s face looking confused and disorientated. Yet, we get an over-shoulder shot of another of her ‘dates’ as they look through the menu together. The next shot then again shows a close-up of another ‘date’ trying to shove the guy in front of him out of the way so he can get his turn with the gorgeous young woman. But, again, we get a close-up of Hayley’s face looking confused and a little upset that none of her ‘dates’ were what she wanted, none of them worked for her. The cuts from one man to another then give a very emotional touch to the video as it can be seen that she has gone through so many relationships and they have all ended badly. This leaves the audience feeling sorry for and maybe even being able to relate with Hayley.
‘Because none of it was ever worth the risk.’ This lyric comes across just as Hayley gets up out of her seats and walks away from all of the guys that she could possibly have, yet doesn’t want due to them not being right for her. This brings across a lot of emotion as she is still miserable, walking away from people should could have cared about yet can’t anymore. She pushes through the men with her head down and then comes out the other side with a black coat on. This represents her pushing through her past and coming out with something different.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ Hayley then walks into a different room. A room set out as a church, with all of her band mates sitting on benches wearing white whilst she contrasts by wearing a full black coat. The camera then straight cuts to a mid-shot of the drums being played and then zooms out again to the rest of the band with Hayley still on the floor with the spotlight still fully on her. Another straight cut, then, back to the ‘church’ where Hayley sits down on the front right of the left row next to a band mate. Straight after, we go back to a band member strumming an acoustic guitar, to portray the fact that they are still trying to show themselves as well as running a story at the same time.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ On the first beat of this line we see a bride walk through the doors of the church, completely exposed with sunlight so as not to see her face. When the bride walks in, everyone turns round to look at her and see her shining as a new bride, aside from Hayley. The camera pans right towards Hayley, to show her miserable, lonely face as the bride walks down the aisle.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ The video then edits straight back to Hayley lying down on the love letters once again. This portrays the fact that that is where she wants to be...Surrounded by love, not surrounded by someone else in love.
‘Instrumental’. There is then a close-up of Hayley’s miserable, unloved face which then cuts to a long-shot of Hayley running out of the church, into the light as she cannot take the heartache any longer. Yet another cut is brought to the video as a mid-shot of the guitarist is seen as well as a pan to the right of the drummer, Hayley and another guitarist and then another pan to the left to contrast of just Hayley’s head and part of the drummer. The instruments then carry on as there is a cut to a completely different set that has not yet been seen in the video. We watch as a high-angle shot of Hayley as the camera pans right in slow motion.
‘You are the only exception, you are the only exception.’ The video then edits straight back to Hayley lying down on the love letters once again. This portrays the fact that that is where she wants to be...Surrounded by love, not surrounded by someone else in love.
‘Instrumental’. There is then a close-up of Hayley’s miserable, unloved face which then cuts to a long-shot of Hayley running out of the church, into the light as she cannot take the heartache any longer. Yet another cut is brought to the video as a mid-shot of the guitarist is seen as well as a pan to the right of the drummer, Hayley and another guitarist and then another pan to the left to contrast of just Hayley’s head and part of the drummer. The instruments then carry on as there is a cut to a completely different set that has not yet been seen in the video. We watch as a high-angle shot of Hayley as the camera pans right in slow motion.
Industry
Seeing as my artist is unsigned and started out just a year ago, there is not much research into him that can be done.
The type of record label that Paul would fit into, though, is one that has taken bands in that haven't really been known in the past but have played a few gigs and won't be utterly main stream.
Target Audience
I decided to do a questionnaire for my target audience research:
(answers to come)
What type of music do you like best?
R’n’B
Rock
Indie
Pop
How often do you watch music channels?
Everyday
Every week
Not often
Never
Why do you watch them?
Because you like the music
Recommendations
To see the story unfold
You don't
Do you like music videos when you see the artist or when you don’t?
See the artist
Don’t see the artist
Not fussed
What type of Storyline do you like?
Happy
Sad
Deep
Funny
Do you like cliff hangers in music videos or not?
Yes
No
How many main characters would you expect to see?
1
2
3
4
5
What theme do you prefer in music videos?
Storyline
Dancing
Comedy
Other
CD Cover Research
Katy Perry sells millions of albums, and that is why I've chosen to analyse her CD cover. Her music is very mainstream and therefore seen by millions of people across the world.
As can be seen from the cover of 'One of the Boys', Katy likes her music and attitude towards her job to be bright, fun and silly.Candy floss pinks and cherry reds are used all over the cover to show her girly, fun side and to also contradict the albums title. Seeing as Katy is surrounded by pink Pelicans and baby pink 'boom boxes' situated next to small colourful flowers, it is obvious that whatever is inside the album is going to be girly, happy and really easy to dance to, which it is. Yet, Katy's face contradicts her surroundings just as her album's title does. She seems serious and sexy which is much more mature than the set-up that has been made around her.
It is quite obvious as well from the picture of the young woman that the lighting is from a studio. This could possibly represent the fact that the album is produced in a fake way. The songs are 'plastic' and do not hold much emotional reasoning. Most of her songs are silly and quirky, and the album cover definitely shoes this with it's random props and Katy's 'cute' clothing.The text saying 'Katy Perry' also seems to represent some type of candy. As the font is swirly and covered in a cherry red colour with a creamy white outline, it could remind the audience of strawberry laces, which seems to be the exact idea that Katy was going for. The album cover is probably targeted at young party people that are waiting for a good time. It will no doubt be in the age range of 12-22.
Mumford and Sons are a pretty new band and have brought out two albums. This is their second.
Image
The image on the front of the cover is quirky and unique. I have never seen anything like this done before which creates an eye-catching idea. The fact that the four band members stand casually in shop window is a very initiative technique. As they stand with their instruments, it is easy to see by looking closely what type of music they are trying to sell.
The lighting is dim, and the buildings around the one in which the band members are posing in are dark and forgetful. Yet, the fact that the four members of the band stand in the window of a shop that is gleaming white and really stands out from the crowd gives it a reason for the audience to take a second glance. As the font black allows it to contrast against the bright grey pavement and also stand out beneath the band.
Font
The font is a mature and bold, helping the band to sell the type of music they play and also the way they want to come across. By having this type of font it shows that they probably won't be a pop group or an r'n'b group as this genre can be seen by simplicity rather than something like Katy Perry which can be sold by her creativeness.
Layout
The layout is pretty simplistic. There are no huge ideas or different things going on. There is two things that the cover concentrates on, the band members and where the font is placed. This is pretty familiar in this type of genre as simplicity is key in the indie/rock world.
CD Cover
I decided that my CD cover would be simple. Seeing as the song, video and artist are pretty casual and simple, I realised that if I went too far with the CD cover, it would give the audience a completely different idea of what Paul is really like.
I also decided that the cover would represent the album title's lyrics. Seeing as the album title is 'A Suit for Paris', I would need something that represented Paris as well as a couple of the lyrics in the song like 'You're Pinstriped', being the reason for the pinstriped background. Also I wanted a picture of Paul and the 'thankyou's' on the same side of the CD cover as it would look personal and shout out to the buyers as Paul Howe being a caring and passionate artist.
Here is the CD Cover:
Here is the inside cover:
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