Monday, 31 January 2011

What is Rock music?

Rock music, is as it says in Wikipedia:

"Rock music is a genre of music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. The sound of rock often revolves around the electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard instruments. Guitar solos feature prominently in rock music; however, keyboard, and blues-style harmonica are also sometimes used as soloing instruments. In its purest form", it has three chords, a strong, insistent back beat, and a catchy melody.
A group of musicians specializing in rock music is called a rock band. Many rock groups consist of an electric guitarist, lead singer, bass guitarist, and a drummer. Rock bands from some genres, particularly those related to rock's foundations in rock and roll, include a saxophone. More rarely, groups also utilize bowed stringed instruments such as violins or cellos, and brass instruments such as trumpets or trombones."

A band which have used some of these instruments are The Calling in which their song “For You” consists of violins.

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

The Song that will promote/be relevant to the film that we created - 23 ep2 EraceD

Lostprophets - Wake Up (Make a move) from the album Start Something.




The genre of the music Nahida and I are going for

Genre – Rock/heavy metal = conventions
The props included in the video are related to “rock/heavy metal” e.g. skulls, death, crows, fire, weapons, black “objects”, T-shirts/clothes which are bloody, destructive, mention death/ quotes bands etc. The video is not ordinary and very heavy and distorted sometimes. A lot of the views and exaggeration in the video is based on both the guitars and drums of the band aswell as “parts” of the song which are up beating/loud.

Analysing music video's - Bring Me The Horizon = The Sadness will never end

Analysing Music Videos

Use the following questions to analyse Music Videos.

Relevant key concepts: Genre/Audience/Codes and Conventions/USP


  1. What is the purpose of a music video?
A music video is used to promote the band and the song they are performing. With this they create a short 3-5 minute “film” with the band playing in an environment that matches the song and sometimes a narrative i.e. a story that goes with the song. The video can sometimes promote a film/TV series that the song is from. In this case both the band, and the movie is being promoted and clips from the movie will be shown in a stylistic way that matches the song.


  1. List the elements that make up the majority of music video.
      The band themselves
Instruments
Close-ups of at least one of the band members (especially the singer)
Lighting – matches the pace and tempo of the song
Sound
Props
Location for band and for “narrative”


Watch a selection of music video closely and answer the following questions:

  1. What genre of music is this? How do you know?


Rock/heavy metal.
The name of the band (Bring me the horizon), video is slightly distorted/jumpy, close ups of singer and guitar’s. How the band is behaving (jumping, head smashing), the colours of the “video” are gothic and dark. Setting – woodland (scary). It is an angry video and the song is about revolting/rioting.


  1. Comment on the style and song used.


The style is simple, jolted and distorted and mysterious. The setting and colours of the video are gothic and stereotypical for a heavy metal band. The song includes “screamers” and shouting and a lot of movement. The music is loud and boisterous. The video is quick and moves from one “scene” to the next. Constantly in movement.

  1. Who do you think is the main target audience for this video? Why?

Fans who enjoy heavy metal – loud music and they are a heavy metal band.
Goths – stereotypical colours used, setting and the song itself
Girls – the whole band are guys
Fans of the band – previous music, relate to music (fans of similar genre)
Teenagers e.g. 15-21 – stereotypical and more teenagers appear to listen to this genre


  1. How does the music video attempt to interest the audience?


Keep the audience entertained. The narrative behind the song tells a “story” about rebellion. The camera emphasises the movement and feeling that the audience are similarly feeling whilst watching this video. The quick cuts engage the audience into wanting to know what is going to happen in the narrative. The song itself is upbeat.


  1. What atmosphere is created?


Chaotic, riot, revolution. Darkness, destruction, fighting back/fighting, being alone, anger. A feeling of “shouting out” and causing a riot.


  1. Comment thoroughly on how the technical aspects: camera framing, angle, movement, editing, sound and mise-en-scene are employed within the music video.

Camera framing:     
Angle movement:   
Editing:                     
Sound:                      
Mise-en-scene:       

Do particular genres like Rock and Hip-Hop use stock methods of promotion? List these methods for two genres you can think of.