Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Anna Calvi - Desire, Music Video Analysis

To begin, the artist is in the middle of the shot, standing confidently. This suggests her passion and will to conquer her fears, or, as suggested by the song title, her desires. There is a difference from the beginning of the video, she was originally facing the door but she has turned around. This perhaps suggests she has turned to face an enemy as opposed to attempting to escape it.






There is then a close-up of Calvi, we can see backlighting shining over her shoulder. As we see this light the music intensifies and she sings 'the fire' repeatedly, this shows the enormity and power of her love/desire. This idea is reinforced as the camera then cuts between various objects in the room that are shaking as she sings.


We see a shaky camera shot that seems to be a point-of-view shot looking up the stairs from around a corner, this suggests a fear of a presence upstairs. This is perhaps what her desire is, to see or interact with whatever is upstairs. This is furthered by the colour choice of the carpet; red, connoting desire. But this also suggests danger or love, both possibly reasons why she wants to fight this desire.



At the top of the stairs there is a shot of the stairs with smoke rising from the bottom. This perhaps suggests that again there is a presence trying to lure her to whatever her temptation is that seems to have an aspect of danger about it. Also, as we see the smoke she is repeating 'desire', emphasising that these things are trying to lure her to the seemingly dangerous desire of hers.


As the video moves upstairs, we see a statue at the end of the corridor. Behind it we can see its shadow on the wall, perhaps suggesting a presence upstairs, maybe furthering the idea of danger.


After we see the statue, the camera then cuts to an extreme close up of Calvi and then back to a close up of the statue. This shows that whatever this statue represents has caught her attention and is part of the temptation that she is trying to fight.



Finally, within this section of the music video, and within the rest of it. there are many references to religion through both the lyrics and objects shown in the house. In her lyrics Calvi says ' It's the devil in me', in the house the objects seem to be more godly and more positive objects. These contrast with things such as the red carpet and the smoke. So, perhaps the song with the video is suggesting that although on the outside she may be a good person, perhaps not asking for anything more than is necessary, within her she feels different, she has a burning desire, suggested by the line 'the fire' for something that perhaps is unexpected or something she should not have.

Monday, 9 July 2012

Music Video to be Analysed

I will analyse from 40seconds in to 1:20, the red highighted text is the lyrics within this section of the song.
I wanna go to the sunHold my life like I've never doneBut it's just the devil in meThe devil that's calling as I come undone The sky is getting dark tonightDarker than the fear that's gonna pull us apartThe beating is the sound of loveThe sound of love is beating like a fevered heart And it's the fire, the fire, the fireIt's heavenly, heavenlyDesire, desireDesire, desire I wanna lay in the dustThe dust is gonna fall here when I lieGod knows it's just the devil in meThe devil that's taking my hand to the fire I never wanna leave you nowLeave you like the sun is gonna disappearBut it's just believing nowBelieving in my heart is what I've come to fear And it's the fire, the fire, the fireIt's heavenly, heavenlyDesire, desireDesire, desireI've got desire, desireI've got desire, desire And only the lonelyOnly the lonely fallOnly the lonelyOnly the lonely fallFall Oh, and I go to the fireBut God knows it's the sound of, it's the sound of loveIt's the beat of my heart that youFinally beating, it's coming, coming, coming for you And it's just the devil in meIt's just a door to the devil gathered in disguiseTaking me by the handAnd leading me, leading me off to the fire And it's the fire, the fire, the fireIt's heavenly, heavenlyDesire, desireDesire, desire You don't have to be lost(Desire, desire)You don't have to be lost(Desire, desire)You don't have to be lost(Desire, desire)

Friday, 6 July 2012

Music Video Design

The song for which I will be designing a music video is Made in England, by Missing Andy. The song describes and reminisces about features of living in England and the pride the singer has of being English despite some negative aspects he can remember of living in the country when he was young.

Thursday, 5 July 2012

Audience Profile Analysis

Here is some research I conducted on the audience for my music video. The genre is roughly the same so it should apply. I used the 4Cs to inform and interpret the results.

Monday, 2 July 2012

Audience Research Results

Are you male or female?

Male: 26
Female: 19


What age are you?

12-18: 8
19-25: 14
26-32: 5
33-39: 2
40+: 16


What are your hobbies/interests? (Tick multiple if necessary)

Sport: 24
Gaming: 14
Musical Instruments: 26
Dancing: 3
Singing: 10
Art/Photography: 18

Other responses:
Listening to music, film etc.
Vegetating and listening to Foo Fighters
Cooking, gardening
Music
Travel
Music, reading, painting, animals, gardening..
Sewing, quilting
Knitting
Horse-riding, nature
Travel
Drinking
Reading
Racing cars history
Attending concerts, festivals and football matches


How do you prefer to dress?

Jeans + T-shirt: 40
Trackies + T-shirt: 1
Smart e.g. shirt and trousers: 6

Other responses:
High waisted shorts and crop tops
Jeans and smart shirt, jewellery, scarf etc.
Jeans and nice blouse
occasion dependent
Shorts and t-shirt

2 skipped


What is your dream job?

Computer Programmer: 4
Musician: 27
Journalist: 7
Doctor: 0
Lawyer: 3
Software Engineer: 4
TV Presenter: 3

Other responses:
Own tea/cake shop
Criminologist
Sound Engineer
Dogsitter
Lottery winner
Teacher


What films do you prefer?

Sci-Fi: 16
Action/Adventure: 22
Mystery: 9
Romance: 2
Comedy: 32
Horror: 11
Biopic: 4

1 skipped


How healthy is your diet? (1 to 10, 1 being the worst)

1: 0
2: 1
3: 1
4: 5
5: 9
6: 7
7: 14
8: 6
9: 2
10: 0

Average: 6.3


What do you like about the Foo Fighters' music?

Speaks to them on a personal level
Catchy
Good, honest rock music, and Dave's hair
Everything
Grew up with it, 'great dudes'
Creative and humorous
Variety
Emotive
Interesting lyrics with good sound
Pure, unadulterated rock music
Band are their age, love rock and roll
Preferred older grunge/punk influence, sound more like Bon Jovi each day
Inspirational, variety through the years
Consistent style
Pop structures with rock energy
Heavy but melodic
Best alternative style
Loud guitars, drums, good riffs and Dave yelling
Speaks to people of all ages
Fun to play along with
'Simple answer - good song-writing and musicianship.'


What do you think makes Foo Fighters better than some other bands/solo artists?

Humble despite fame
All great musicians, Dave has great stage presence
Dave Grohl
Can see that they love what they do
Longevity
Do what makes them happy
Regular guy attitudes
Simplicity, passion and musicianship
Skill and personality
Songs for every mood
Unique sound
Honest
Mix of melody and screaming, ability to create atmosphere in every song
Great figurehead
Live performance
Don't care about image, all about the music

1 skipped


Do you like their music videos? If so, what is it you like about them?

Humour
Self-derision
Different
Don't take themselves too seriously
Creative

1 skipped

These results will be shown and analysed in a powerpoint.

Music Video Analysis: Alt-J (∆) Breezeblocks

The music video is directed by Ellis Bahl, the song is by Alt-J. The music could be said to belong to the Alternative genre. It is slightly similar to the music of the band Hot Chip.

The song corresponds to the visuals frequently in that the visuals demonstrate the lyrics. For example, when there is a picture of the woman in the bath, the lyrics are '...so hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks'. Also, soon after that the lyrics are as follows '...never kisses all you ever send are full stops.' This indicates the story and the cause of the conflict, their relationship has clearly had some problems and the man has been violent because of it. These lyrics are coupled with the picture of the man's wedding rings, this emphasises the strain the situation is having on their relationship. Also, at this point, the music is quite intense for a short burst, again reinforcing the strain. The video was inspired by 'Where the Wild Things Are', this includes a character being upset about someone leaving them and is violent in order to make them stay. This shows that the violence does not necessarily mean that he wants her to leave, but is so desperate to make her stay that he needs to hurt her and possibly kill her.

The video frequently cuts to the beat of the song, as aforementioned, there is a shot of the wedding ring, when the music changes there is a cut to a close-up of the ring on his finger. At the beginning of the song and video, the pace is quite slow, but then they both simultaneously increase in pace as they go on.

The band make no appearances in the video. This means that there is not an image presented of the band within the video.

Saturday, 30 June 2012

Music Video Analysis Choice: Alt-J (∆) Breezeblocks



She May contain the urge to run away so hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks – citrezene your fever's gripped me again never kisses all you ever send are fullstops - LA LA LA LA – 

do you know where the wilds things go they go along to take your honey - LA LA LA LA – 

break down now weep build up breakfast now lets eat MY LOVE MY LOVE LOVE LOVE – LA LA LA LA - 

Muscle to muscle and toe to toe the fear has gripped me but here I go – my heart sinks as I jump up your hand grips hand as my eyes shut – AHHH AHHH AHHH AH AH – AHHH AHHH AHHH A HA HA - HA – 

do you know where the wild things go they go along to take your honey – LA LA LA LA - break down lets sleep build up breakfast now lets eat – my love my love love love - LA LA LA LA – 

she bruises coughs she splutters pistol shots but hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks – she's morphine queen of my vaccine my love my love love love –LA LA LA LA – 

muscle to muscle and toe to toe the fear has gripped my but here I go – my heart sinks as I jump up your hand grips hand as my eyes shut – And AHHH AHHH AH AH HA – AHHH AHHH AH A HA AH – AHHH AHHH AHH HA AH – AHHHH AHH AH A HA HA – HA – 

she may contain the urge to runaway but hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks – germaline disinfect the scene my love my love love love – but please don't go I love you so my lovely – Please don't go please don't go I love you so I love you so – please don't go I love you so I love you so – please break my heart – HEY – 

please don't go please don't go I love you so I love you so – please don't go I love you so I love you so – please break my heart – ah ha – 

PLEASE DON'T GO I'LL EAT YOU WHOLE I LOVE YOU SO I LOVE YOU SO I LOVE YOU SO – PLEASE DON'T GO I'LL EAT YOU WHOLE I LOVE YOU SO I LOVE YOU SO. REPEAT X4


(http://www.onlylyrics.com/alt-j-lyrics-1086014.php)

Friday, 22 June 2012

Audience Research

The audience that I will be researching is that of Foo Fighters, the highly successful American Alternative Rock band. In order to research the audience of this band, I will place a survey (which I am going to create using SurveyMonkey) on a Foo Fighters forum, http://bbs.foofighters.com/. Below is an example of a Foo Fighters music video..