1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? The song welcome to discotheque by The Hit ups is a up tempo song, The Hit ups is a indie/rock genre, our aim for the song was to make the video energetic and full of life, we wanted to make it unique and try and create a music video that was interesting to watch. our video doesn't completely fit the typical genre conventions, the performance bits of the hit ups playing at their gig matched the genre convention, because in most indie/rock music video there is a lot of performing. we decided to go with a narrative and a performance based video because we thought that it would make it more interesting to watch. I think our video is quite experimental we took a lot of risk when making this music video. By making the music video mostly a narrative was a risk because we wasn't sure how our target audience would react to it. We wanted the concept to be comical. and the video to be a satirical take, on the pre-existing conventions,we did this by using a young person dressed up as a old person dancing through the city which is a case of irony because old people don't normally energetically dance to a rock gig which is what we was goin for. In the video to make our characters hair grey we used talcum powder, and throughout the video you can see in some shots the talcum powder on our characters head which we did on purpose. This was a risk because our target audience may not of understood the effect that we was going for and may not of seen it as being funny.
2.How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary?
for our print Ad and Cd cover we decide to not have an image of the band because when we spoke to the band they talked about how their music was more important then there faces and by having a certain image that image would then become recognisable and audiences would relate that image to the hit ups. The image we choose to use as the hit ups recognisable symbol is a disco ball we used a disco ball and put it in front of a water hazard sign and photo shop the word "disco hazard" we've used this image as our Cd cover because we thought it would stand out and it looks more interesting then having a image of the band, a lot of artists such as pop artists usually use themselves on the front cover, the pop genre its more about vanity and promoting yourself, because the hit ups is a band we feel we don't have to have a image of themselves. we decide to have the disco ball in most of images to create an element of disco throughout the Cd booklet. on the print Ad we have two "old people" sat down on the floor in a disco pose and the word "disco" in big writing across the floor, on the print Ad we have a quote from venue magazine. The print Ad doesn't have the image of a disco ball but because its got the word disco written across the floor we are still keeping the element of disco. I think our Cd cover and print Ad cohesive, because we have kept the disco theme all through the images and if the Cd cover and print Ad was actually released people would see that the Cd cover and print Ad were promoting the same band. Cohesion is important because it creates an image of the artists and builds a recognisable symbol, if a Cd cover didn't cohesive with the print Ad, one, you wouldn't make much profit because no-one would be able to recognise the artist because they wouldn't be able to link the Print Ad to the Cd cover which is bad marketing skills, the way to get good marketing is you have to aim to get your band recognise by the public.
3. what have you learned from your audience feedback?
It is crucial to get feedback during your this project, because the audience are the ones who are watching music videos, they know what the want to see and what they like and don't like by getting audience feedback it helps you to understand what they want to see and it will help you to produce a video that will be successful which is important in the music industry for you video to be successful because you want it to be playing on as many music channels as possible such MTV and the top 10 hits of the week by getting it played often your promoting a lot because the song will get stuck in some ones head and they might come across the album and think that they really like that song that played earlier and decide to buy the album.
By not having audience feedback your at risk to the possibility of the music video not being successful and not making a profit and not getting anywhere in the music industry.
we got a lot of positive feedback, at first we was worried that or target audience wouldn't understand the video but surprisingly our target audience understood the concept and they said that our video was unique and they enjoyed watching it.
we did get some negative feedback, some of our target audience thought that our introduction was a bit to long, we wasn't shocked at this because we knew when editing that the beginning was a bit long and we did cut down as much as we could, if we could change it we probably would cut it down even more and get more to the point in the video, but we do understand the negative feedback and we appreciate it, by having feedback it helps us to improve.
4. How did you use media technologies in the construction and research planning and evaluation stages?
throughout our media project we have used a wide range of technologies. from the very beginning of our project we lots of search engines to research UK local bands so we used google and we went on social networking sites such as facebook and myspace to find out information about the band we wanted to do in out case we researched the hit ups on google and we found a link to their facebook which had contact details on so that we can email them and the manger. when analysing Cd albums and analysing music videos we used wikipedia to find out the history behind the album covers of different artists and when analysing the videos we used youtube to get the link to put it on ours blogs. We also found out as we were researching that the hit ups had there own blog we got a lot of information's from that we got to learn more about the band on a personal level and found out who there influences were and who they compare themselves with.
By using hotmail we manged to communicate with the manger and the bands and let them know what was going on and what the plan was, by using hotmail we manged to meet up with the band and held a video interview then we put the video up onto youtube and then put it on our blogs.
while filming we mostly used three cameras so that we could get a wide range of shots, in part one filming we used a tripod to get a high angle of the the croft. when editing we used imovie which was easy to use and it allowed use to do a variety of things on there. when we downloaded the footage onto the mac we found that some of the footage was to dark so we went to the effects in imovie and we lighten up some of the performance bits, it worked really well. form the beginning of our project we have token many photos of what we have been doing such as editing and meeting the band, we put all the photos on our blogs.
to make our Cd covers and print Ad we used photo shop it helped use achieve all the inserts such as writing in disco hazard instead of water hazard and the insert on our print Ad with the image of the hit ups in corner of the page.
we have been doing a lot of research on records labels, thinking about if we to sign the hit ups to a label what would it be, we came up with a few but the two main ones we think the hit ups would be suited is Atom Sounds and Rough trade.
Atom sounds is a UK independent indie record label promoting a wide range of artists its not a big label, it started in 2003, its more low key but has signed a load of artists worldwide, i think the hit ups would be good for this label because the hit up are not hugely big, they are only well known in Bristol as Southampton mostly, atoms sounds is likely to take them on which would give them a boost in their music career. the link to atom sounds main website http://www.atom-sounds.com/
A more well known record label is Rough trade which is UK independent label which started up 1978 by Geoff Travis, so it has been going on for awhile, it has signed artist like The Smiths and Adam Green. This label would be really good for the hit-ups because Rough trade is a very well known label that's been running for ages so it had the experience of success. rough trade may be hard to sign with then atom sounds because atom sounds is more low key and more willing to sign most artists but rough trade may be more picky because its more well known and there is probably a waiting list full of artist that want to join. theses are the two labels that would suit the hit- ups most.
when we spoke to the band they told us how the most important thing was getting there music well known not necessarily there faces that's most of there art work is not themselves but mostly bright cartoon characters.
We have now finished our music video, and now we are currently writing up a feed back questionnaire to give to a wide range of people to find out what they thought of our video. We are planning to show our music video on a film night that is being held in our college then we will give everyone a questionnaire to fill out asking them question such as what they thought about the video, weather they liked it or didn't like it, and did they think the concept matched the song.
The Results from our feed back questionnaire:
After getting back our questionnaire we found that must people enjoyed the video and that it was unique, most people understood the concept but a few was unsure but got the idea towards the end. we asked if there was anything that they didn't like about the video some said that the introduction was a bit to long, but that's the only thing that people didn't enjoy about it. when we was editing the video we was aware that the introductions was long and we did cut down on a lot, we learnt now that it still was a bit to long. we asked if the video reminded them of any other videos, some said it reminded them of Goldie lookin chain or just jack.( which is what we was aiming for)
Beautiful women in not a lot of clothing, rappers by an expensive item such as a car or big house, a lot of jewellery (bling), and the normally the main focus of the video.
In the 50 cent video he is the main focus of the music video him and a lot of women the connotation is he is seen as a lady's man and is always surround by women and he is the alpha male since he is the only male in the video. for part of the video he is rapping by a expensive car which shows that he wants to come across as someone who has money and can buy what ever they want it also says that he has a lot of power because money is power, the car is red which represents sexiness and danger. The colour red in a main theme in this video, a lot of the women who are dancing are wearing it. The lyrics is quite accurate to the visual, the song is a very sexual and passionate one. The video is bascily a lot women dancing around and are in the sceen with 50 cent.There is a lot of close ups of 50 cent he is the main focus of the video, the video is a narrative-based.
Lyrics:
Intro: 50 Cent Yeah...Uh huh So seductive
Chorus:[50 Cent] I take you to the candy shop I'll let you lick the lollypop Go 'head girl, don't you stop Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)[Olivia]I'll take you to the candy shop Boy one taste of what i got I'll have you spending all you got Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)
Verse 1: 50 Cent You can have it your way, how do you want it You gon' back that thing up or should i push up on it Temperature rising, okay lets go to the next level Dance floor jam packed, hot as a teakettle I'll break it down for you now, baby it's simpleIf you be a nympho, I 'll be a nymphoIn the hotel or in the back of the rental On the beach or in the park, it's whatever you into Got the magic stick, I'm the love doctor Have your friends teasin you 'bout how sprung I gotcha Wanna show me how you work it baby, no problem Get on top then get to bouncing round like a low rider I'm a seasons vet when it come to this shit After you work up a sweat you can play with the stick I'm tryin to explain baby the best way I can I melt in your mouth girl, not in your hands (ha ha)
Chorus:[50 Cent] I take you to the candy shop I'll let you lick the lollypop Go 'head girl, don't you stop Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah) [Olivia]I'll take you to the candy shopBoy one taste of what I got I'll have you spending all you got Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)
Bridge: 50 Cent & OliviaGirl what we do (what we do) And where we do (and where we do) The things we do (things we do) Are just between me and you (oh yeah)
Verse 2: 50 Cent Give it to me baby, nice and slow Climb on top, ride like you in the rodeo You ain't never heard a sound like this before Cause I ain't never put it down like this Soon as I come through the door she get to pullin on my zipper It's like it's a race who can get undressed quicker Isn't it ironic how erotic it is to watch em in thongs Had me thinking 'bout that ass after I'm gone I touch the right spot at the right time Lights on or lights off, she like it from behind So seductive, you should see the way she wind Her hips in slow-mo on the floor when we grind As Long as she ain't stoppin, homie I aint stoppin Drippin wet with sweat man its on and popping All my champagne campaign, bottle after bottle its on And we gon' sip til every bubble in the bottle is gone
Chorus 2x:[50 Cent] I take you to the candy shop I'll let you lick the lollypop Go 'head girl, don't you stop Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah) [Olivia]I'll take you to the candy shopBoy one taste of what I got I'll have you spending all you got Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)
Westlife - what about now (boy band)
genre characteristics :
the main focus is on the band, a lot of close up of the band members showing there facial expression, mostly performance based.
westlife is a worldwide band and is well known for doing Ballard's, in the video there is a lot of shots of the members of the band and uses a lot of fade out to show this. the connotation is they come across as being sophisticated and serious. the location is set somewhere cold and icy and the main colour scheme is mainly white the band is dressed head to toe in dark clothing which shows that they are the main visual of the video. there is a lot of usage of extreme close ups of them singing by using this camera angle it shows the expression on their face showing their emotion. the song is a slow and by having a crane shot of the surroundings it goes with the pase of the song, it makes the song seem relaxing and meaningful its not a flashy or in your face type video its more about the voice of westlife. the visual don't exactly match up with the lyrics. The video just has the band singing in it, its not a narrtive just a performance.
Lyrics:
Shadows fill an empty heart As love is fading, From all the things that we are But are not saying Can we see beyond the stars. And make it to the dawn?
Change the colors of the sky And open up to The ways you made me feel alive, The ways I loved you For all the things that never died, To make it through the night, Love will find you
What about now? What about today? What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be? What if our love never went away?
What if it’s lost behind words we could never find? Baby, before it’s too late, What about now?
The sun is breaking in your eyes To start a new day This broken heart can still survive With a touch of your grace Shadows fade into the light I am by your side, Where love will find you
What about now? What about today? What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be? What if our love had never went away? What if it’s lost behind words we could never find? Baby, before it’s too late, What about now?
Now that we’re here, Now that we’ve come this far, Just hold on There is nothing to fear, For I am right beside you. For all my life, I am yours.
What about now? What about today? What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be? What if our love had never went away? What if it’s lost behind words we could never find?
What about now? What about today? What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be? What if our love had never went away? What if it’s lost behind words we could never find? Baby, before it’s too late, Baby, before it’s too late, Baby, before it’s too late, What about now?
Maroon 5 - harder to breathe (indie/rock)
genre characteristic:
mostly performance based, instruments, close up of the lead singer and "rocking out"
Maroon 5 video is a performance based one its just the band singing, there is a lot of close up on the lead singer as he is singing into the microphone there are also close-ups of the instruments while they are being played. During the video there is some usage of some effect, the video uses some stop motion and insert for example the band coming in and out of the shot which makes the video more interesting to watch. The colour scheme is quite dark and the lead singer is wearing a red t-shirt but that is the only bright colour in the video by the lead singer wearing the only bright colour it shows that they wanted to highlight the fact that he is the lead and they wanted him to stand out and be the focus of visuals. Not all of Maroon 5 videos are performance based some are narrative i choose this video to analysis because i thought it represented the genre of indie/rock best. The lyrics don't really match the visual because the video is just of the band performing but it does go with it the song, the lyrics seem quite strong and deep and in the video there a lot of dark lighting and the lead singer says the word strongly so i think in a way the visual do go with lyrics.
Lyrics:
How dare you say that my behavior is unacceptable So condescending unnecessarily critical I have the tendency of getting very physical So watch your step cause if I do you'll need a miracle
You drain me dry and make me wonder why I'm even here This Double Vision I was seeing is finally clear You want to stay but you know very well I want you gone Not fit to fuckin' [CD cover says: "funkin'"] tread the ground that I'm walking on
When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love You'll understand what I mean when I say There's no way we're gonna give up And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
What you are doing is screwing things up inside my head You should know better you never listened to a word I said Clutching your pillow and writhing in a naked sweat Hoping somebody someday will do you like I did
When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love You'll understand what I mean when I say There's no way we're gonna give up And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Does it kill Does it burn Is it painful to learn That it's me that has all the control
Does it thrill Does it sting When you feel what I bring And you wish that you had me to hold
When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love You'll understand what I mean when I say There's no way we're gonna give up And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe is there anyone out there cuz its gettin harder and harder to breathe
in order for our music video to be completely finished we had to film one last time, because we had found that parts of our footage didn't make complete sense, so we took one camera and filmed our main character George waiting on the road pacing up and down while looking at his watch giving the idea that he had been stood up by his lady friend. to film we used a lot ofhigh angles shotsso that we could get the surrounding in and we thought it gave the shot a morecreative look. we also did anover the shouldershot to get a close up of the characters watch from the characters point of view. some of the problems that we faced was as usually was lighting and the weather because it started to rain and the day was getting darker, but we manged to get some good shots and now we can add the final touches to the video and hopefully will be finished.
