Music Videos and Sub-cultures

Music Videos and Music Subcultures

A music video is a filmed or videotaped rendition of a recorded song, often portraying musicians performing the song or including visual images interpreting the lyrics. Most artists use music videos for all their songs. This is for marketing reasons, i.e. to sell the records, and also for the viewer’s entertainment. Music videos are becoming more and more popular to cater for a vast range of music channels, i.e. MTV.
There are many different music ‘sub-cultures’. For example, dance music is associated with ‘Chavs’ (e.g. Wigan Pier, Maximes, Cream etc…)
Indie music is associated with ‘Indies’. Indie rock is a music genre denoting Rock artists signed to Indie record labels. The word "Indie" has been appropriated as marketing term used by major labels and music magazines to refer to any artists of the alternative rock genre. Indie rock is not a "genre", but rather a status, indicating the rock artists of independent music. This includes bands such as Greenday, Nirvana and Oasis.
Heavy metal is a genre of rock that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Heavy metal has long had a worldwide following of fans known as "metalheads" or "headbangers". Examples of heavy metal bands include Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC
Another sub-culture of music is Emo music. This is a style of rock music. Emo is used to describe emotional loaded music, which is hardcore punk. It originated in the mid 80’s.
Pop is contemporary music and a common type of popular music. Pop music may include elements of different styles of music such as R&B, punk, rock and indie . This is the most popular type of music in the music charts.

50 Cent and Justin Timberlake video analysis- Ayo technology

Concept
This video portrays men’s sexual fantasies about women, and shows women being pleasured through technology.

Narrative
50 cent is the main rapper, accompanied by Timberland. Justin Timberlake is the main singer in the song.

Performance
50 cent and Justin Timberlake perform sexual acts through technology with women who are dancing for them in a seductive manner. At one point in the video, they are in a house, where the women are posing as waitresses, serving the men what they desire. This connotes a male dominance over women within the video also that the men have high status and power over these women. Overall the performance demeans women and portrays them as sexual objects.

Camera
There are a wide range of shots used in this video, including long shots, close ups, zooms, and a binocular effect. The close ups show intensity expressed by the females in the video. They also show passion and sexual aspiration. The binocular effect through CGI connotes a sinister atmosphere. It is as though the men are committing a sin. It also enhances the high technology within the video.

Mise en scene

Costume
The men wear black suits and ties. This emphasises the seductive tone produced throughout the video, and also highlights the division of power between the men and the women. It also adds sophistication, which foreshadows the fact that the men are able to sexually pleasure these women through technology.
The women wear underwear which is highly seductive. They also shirts and fish net tights, which again, give connotations of a male fantasy.

Props
Many gadgets are used in the video. For example binoculars, cars and computers. These props are again showing the high technology that is reinforced in the video, and also the power that the technical objects have over the women, physically and mentally.

Lighting
The lighting is extremely dark during most of the video. The dark atmosphere connotes sin and control.

Makeup
One of the main women in the video wears red and black make up and her hair colour is red. The colour red connotes a devilish feel to the video and also reinforces the sexual tension between the men and women, and the technology.



Special effects
There is night vision in the video, where the men are looking at women in their underwear, spying on them as they are getting unchanged. This again, shows that the men wants to have sex with these women, and the fact that they are being spied on, makes it seem as though they are used as sexual objects.
There is a hologram of a computer which is used to pleasure the women. It is the main technical device used by the men to get a reaction from the women. It is life sized and works by a touch screen. There are also blur effects used on some still images to give a contrast between the power of the men and the women.

Kate Nash 'Foundations' - video analysis

Concept
In this video, Kate is in a relationship with a man, which seems to be deteriorating. Kate knows that this is happening but yet she cannot seem to let go.

Narrative
Kate sings to the camera telling a story of her unhappy relationship which she cannot let go of.

Performance
The still images in this video create a sense of normality. There are toothbrushes and a telephone which are very ‘normal things’. She and her boyfriend are also playing a board game, and a game of cards, which are also very normal things to do. This helps the audience relate to her predicament. In one shot, a ball knocks over some of her shoes; this could be representing the destruction in her relationship. Kate’s relationship is being shown through domestic items in her home.

Technical aspects
The two different coloured socks move around on the floor, together and apart. It is clear that one sock belongs to Kate, and another belongs to his boyfriend. The socks are moving together and apart which is what is happening in her relationship.

Camera
A wide range of shots are used in the video such as head shots, close ups, extreme close ups and full shots. A shallow focus is used on a close up of the couple holding hands, creating a sense that nothing else matters, except them. This is also shown where there is a close up shot of their feet together as they are lying in bed. This gives connotations of the ‘typical image’ of a happy relationship.

Mise en Scene
Kate has a very distinct sense of style. She wears very bright colours, which match the bright colours of the things in her home. She wears a yellow dress in one shot, which have connotations of happiness. This contradicts her feelings about her relationship. She also wears a green dress which gives connotations of jealousy, which could be present in her relationship.

Lighting
The apartment is very light as there are lots of windows, creating an ‘open view’ of her feelings. At the end when she packs her bag to leave him, the lighting is much darker, representing the dark side of the relationship and also representing her upset.

Actors
The only actors in this video are Kate and her boyfriend.

Props
There are many many props in this video, all representing the state of her relationship in some way. Most props are very ‘normal’ which shows how normal she is and how normal her relationship is. E.g. beer bottles, a cake, shoes, a telephone. At the end of the video as kate leavesher boyfriend, there is a sign on the door as she closes it behind her which says "Don't fall for this". This statement is telling people not to fall for a relationship like she has, and it is implying that her relationship with this man has been a mistake.

Rhianna- Umbrella analysis

Concept
‘Umbrella’ is used in this song by Rihanna as an extended metaphor about a positive love relationship going through good and bad times, hence the ‘rain’ and ‘sun’ references used to describe her relationship. The quote ‘you can stand under my umbrella’ shows how she will always love and be there for him, through the good and bad times. These contrasts are portrayed through the music video by the use of black and white and sun and rain themes.

Narrative
Jay Z acts as a narrator and introduces the main singer, Rihanna. He is representing the male in the relationship that she sings about in this song.

Performance
In this video, Rihanna’s performance has connotations of a sexual nature. This is shown by her dancing around her umbrella using submissive poses, and she treats the umbrella as though it is a phallic sculpture to be worshiped. She subjects herself to utter objectification, a sexual fantasy to men. This video reinforces the idea that she is a ‘good girl gone bad’, which is again, a contrast, which is the title of her album.

Technical aspects
The camera goes in and out of focus creating a blurred image of Rihanna, giving connotations of rain and mist, which represents the negative times in her relationship. The split screen in one shot of the video is coloured white and orange, this has connotations of the sun, representing the positive times in her relationship.
Black and white is used throughout the video to represent different times in her relationship. I think the black background creates a sinister atmosphere, which suggests that Rihanna is not a ‘good girl’, but she has hidden depths.

Mise-en-scene
Costume- Rihanna wears a black leather jump suit with a trilby. This outfit is sexually dominating and suggests sophistication and domination. Her fishnet tights give connotations of a sexual aura. In contrast to this outfit, she also wears a white dress, which suggests innocence and purity. This could also be representing the happier times in her relationship compared to the dark times (in the black outfit).
Rihanna also wears a black ballet dress with ballet slippers. This outfit, although black, shows a softer image, as the ballet slippers are associated with young girls and are seen as ‘delicate’.
Another outfit of hers is a black maid’s outfit, with fish net’s and red shoes. The red shoes are seductive and show sexual power. The maid’s outfit could suggest Rihanna’s contribution to the relationship, through the good and bad times, she will be there.
Her final look is when she is naked, but sprayed silver. I think this image is showing that he should love her for who she is, it is showing ‘underneath her clothes’, what is inside of her. There is something almost foetal about this image which suggests purity, she is untouched.

Actors
The actors are Rihanna herself, Jay z who is her boyfriend in the video, and her dancers. There are male dancers dressed in black, which makes them look as though they are simply in the background, and makes Rihanna stand out.

Props
The umbrella is used in most shots, being the main theme of the song. The umbrella is Rihanna’s safety.

Make-Up
Rihanna wears smoky black make-up which is seductive and also shows a sexual side of her. She wears red lips which has connotations of seduction, maturity and sexual desire.

Setting
She is in a studio, which is completely black, except for one window which has a ray of light peering through. She also dances in a dance studio, which is completely white. Again it is giving the contrast of black and white, good and bad.

Camera and editing
The video contains a range of camera shots, including close-ups, extreme close-ups, full shots and long shots. It allows us to not only view her performance, but see more clearly her emotions (with the extreme close-ups.)
There is a lot of fast editing where the camera shakes. This foreshadows shaky experiences in her relationship.

Special Effects
Smoke, rain, and a fuzzy effect of the camera are used to show different types of weather, which represents different times in her relationship. Glitter is also used, which is another way of representing the rain, but in a more glamorous way. It could also represent a time of celebration.

Christina Aguilera - Candyman music video research

Concept
This music video is set in the 1950's. Christina Aguilera is an entertainer for pilots. She is singing and dancing with a brass band, whilst there is an audience of men who look like they work for an air force who are admiring her. The brass band gives connotations of the type of bands that were around in the 50's and she is trying to create a 1950's image throughout the video.



Mise en scene
Location
The first location in the video looks like it is in a 1950's club, filled with men who are entertained by women. Christina Aguilera sings for these men and she also plays another character who is dancing with the men. The club represents the 50's style, as in this period of time, women entertainers would perform acts in these types of clubs for men such as pilots who were home.
The second location used in the video is in a 1950's diner. It is presented in the style of 'Grease' which is a very famous 1950's film. Christina Aguilera is accompanied by female dancers and male dancers in the background. The 'grease' style location gives connotations of the 50's which are what is trying to be portrayed in the video.
The third location is at an airbase, where she is dancing with men from an air force. There is an old fashioned airplane in the background in which they are dancing in front of. Again, the pilot image is being reinforced, but instead of performing for the men, Christina is performing with then men.


Costume
In the video, she wears 4 different outfits. The first is a white pilot outfit, with a pilot hat. Here, she looks very sexy and gives off connotations of sex. Christina is performing for these men however her image gives a feeling of sophistication and authority over the men as they are dressed in a brown pilot outfit. So although her costume is made to fit in with that of the pilot's, she is also made to stand out by being dressed in a brighter colour than them. Also, famous women of the 1950's were seen to be perfect. E.g. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor. In this video, Christina is also made to look 'perfect' as she is wearing white which gives connotations of purity.
Her second outfit is a baby pink coloured v-neck sweater and short skirt. She wears frilly white socks and black high shoes. The pink colour sets her apart from the men and gives connotations of femininity and innocence. In this period of time, women did not often wear trousers, so her outfit emphasises the expectations for her gender at this time. Her frilly white socks and black shoes are what school girls stereo-typically wear. They connote innocence and femininity as well as being a sex symbol to the men.
The third outfit she wears is peddle pushers, a red shirt that's tied at the bottom which shows her mid-riff. This gives connotations of a sexual nature. She also wears a red scarf tied around her head. This was the fashion in the 1950's. The colour red gives connotations of sex and seduction. the female dancers that she is accompanied by are wearing the same style of costume but in slightly duller colours, which makes Christina stand out from the others and makes her look more sensual.
Her final outfit is supposed to represent a pilot outfit; however it has been designed to make her look more sexual that before as it consists of blue hot pants and a blue cropped top. Here, she is dancing with the men instead of performing for them. Her outfit is representing the male desire for her.


Make-up
Christina wears a typical Marilyn Monroe hair style throughout the video; a bleached blonde curly bob. This was a popular hairstyle in the 1950's. She wears bright red lipstick which gives connotations of sexual desire. She is made to look like a glamorous sex icon, admired by all of the men.


Props
In the shot of the diner, Christina Aguilera held a pink milkshake and so did her dancers. This is a typical item found in a 50's diner. The pink connotes femininity. There are many props in the diner such as the stools, which are used for the girls to dance on. Another prop used in this video is an airplane, which Christina and her male dancers dance in front of. This is showing that the dancers are pilots and the flag represents the military feeling that is trying to be portrayed in the video.

Actors
At one point in the music video, when she is singing to the men, there are 3 singers; however they are all Christina with different coloured hair. There are male dancers and a brass band in the background. There are also female dancers in the diner.

Music
There is a traditional brass band playing trombones and trumpets, which indicates the time period that the video is set in.