What Music Means To Me

Childhood

David Bowie - Young Americans

Having the world's largest Bowie fan as a dad, this was impossible to avoid. While usually yelled at my dad to turn it off 24/7 as that was how often Bowie was played, my sister and I loved this song because we could expertly mime to the drums and keyboard at the beginning. I also grew to love this song more when I became able to understand and appreciate the lyrics. 

Young Teens

Blondie - Call Me 

Seeing Blondie live in year 9 is still one of my most memorable moments. Debbie Harry was late on stage and so my friends and I decided to go to the toilet. Suddenly we heard Debbie Harry's voice and the first chords of this song and ran back through Hampstead Heath (it was a Kenwood picnic concert) at lightening speed. 

Another time, I was listening and singing to this song with my friends at a bus stop. As the chorus came on and the voice that came out of me is something that my friends still haven't let me live down. 

Now

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Spasticus Autisticus

My love of Ian Dury started after I was burnt a CD. I still think he is absolutely hilarious and it was so hard to pick a single song! However I chose this one because it took my a while to understand the lyrics. I eventually learned that this song was written after he became angry, being a polio sufferer himself, at the International Year of Disabled Persons , which he considered to be very patronizing. He even considered naming the band Spastic and the Autistics. The song was originally banned for being offensive, however I was very pleased to hear this song performed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and love how really great music can be used to make a point. 

Music Video Prelim Evaluation - Wings!

Here is our Wings Remake!

1. Did you enjoy the workshop day? What were your best bits and why?

I really enjoyed the workshop day as it was so dissimilar to anything i had done before. It gave me an insight into how a professional shoot works, and I learnt that I would definitely be interested in a working in a similar environment later in life! 

Most of all I enjoyed helping out on set. When we weren't in front of the camera we acted as runners. This predominantly involved helping out with 4 production areas: the set, the production team, costume & makeup, and cast & crew. I most enjoyed helping out with the production team, helping out with things like playback (showing dancers the original shots that they would recreate), cable bashing and laying the track. My favorite part was learning about the lighting, which is something that really interests me. We learnt how to control the lights in the studio, what each one did and I was interested how vastly different studio lighting is to that of film lighting outside of the studio. Something else I enjoyed was shadowing the first A.D. From this I learnt the role of the 1st AD, how vital their job is and how different it is to the director's! 

2. What have you learnt from participating in each of the prelim tasks?

Task 1: Analyse a music video: From this I learnt the conventions of performance music videos. It taught me the importance of developing a simple idea and single concept. I also learnt how many shots and costume/make-up/set changes are needed to make a video professional looking.
Task 2: Audition video: This taught me firstly how important it is to make sure your actors are relaxed, when I looked uncomfortable - you could tell! As an actor you have to pretend that you're confident even if you're not.
Task 3: Learn your performance: I learnt from this that the best thing to do as an actor is to give it your all. Otherwise, the camera picks this up and you can tell! It's very noticeable when one person doesn't fit in. I also learnt to relax, no one is focusing on my performance other than me, on the day everyone will have their own concerns.
Task 4: Plan and organize your costumes: This definitely taught me importance of costume and mise-en-scene. Attention to detail is what makes a shot! I also learnt from this that if you look hard enough you can find most things you need, so you don't necessarily need  large budget to have a professional looking shoot.

Task 5: The One-Day Workshop: 
This was the day that I learnt the most. Firstly, I learnt that everyone has a very specific job, and it is important that everyone does exactly that for the shoot to run smoothly. I now also understand the specifics of these roles and which task is designated to whom. Also, whilst in the lighting box, I learnt about how live TV is filmed, directed and edited - something I hadn't really expected to learn on the day!
Task 6: The Workshop Edit: This edit taught me the importance of timing more than anything else and therefore the importance of planning. If one of the band members does a move half a second late, it is immediately obvious! I also learnt how fast and discontinuous the editing style is. Shots change every split second, so it is very important that actors are giving it their all the whole way through.

This is the lipsync audition video we created prior to the workshop

3. Are you pleased with the footage and your edit? Is it how you expected it to look?

I'm really pleased with the footage, and its incredible how accurately we managed to recreate the majority of shots on a much smaller budget. It looks so much better than I expected. Everyone gave it their all on the day which dramatically improved the quality of the shots. However, there are some shots where the gesture is done slightly too early in comparison to the lyrics. This shows on the edit as each shot is so quick and the lipsync has to be really accurate.

The edit looks really good, and the grading does not have to be that intense because the quality of the shots is really good. I'm really pleased with the effects that we've put on some of the shots, they really make the video look polished. I'm amazed at how well we can recreate a music video as a school!

4. How do you think your prelim experiences will impact on your approach to next term's music video coursework?

My prelim experiences will have a massive impact - I've learnt a lot! 

• Firstly, it has made me realise how important it is to plan everything to the very last detail. It is always possible to deviate from the plan, but if you don't have one, things go wrong. 
• When making my music video I will do everything I can to make my actors feel comfortable. I've learnt that this is definitely a priority, and it directly affects the quality of the shot. 
• I will definitely invest more time into styling! If possible, one of us will focus time on the day of the shoot styling the actors. Before the shoot, I will find visual references, and decide exactly what I want in terms of hair, makeup and costume. I will also spend more time designing the set and finding perfect locations and props. 
• I will spent lots more time researching and testing out lighting because that is something I've become particularly interesting in recently, because I feel that I have often neglected it in the past and that it can make a shot. 
• I would like to gain more experience on camera, to make my work look more professional, and I will try to do this on the A2 course. 

Overall, the prelim experiences will impact my work next term and in the future greatly. 

DYM Homework 1: Analysis of a Music Video - Beyonce - Single Ladies

For this homework I will analyse the performance music video "Single Ladies" by Beyonce. 

Below I have analysed whether this music video fits the 15 main music video conventions. 

1.The music, lyrics and imagery work in collaboration.
This is evident throughout. An especially notable physical image during the lyric "if you like it then you should've put a ring on it" is that of Beyonce moving her hand back and forth, making it clear that there is no ring on her hand. 

2. The performance drives the music video and it is sustained throughout. There may well be narrative or conceptual elements too.
The video is purely performance based, dancing ability is something that artist is renowned for. 

3. The band or artist sing/mime throughout. The lip-sync is believable.
The lip sync is believable and Beyonce sings/mimes throughout. 

4. The role of the band / artist may switch between artist performance and artist-in-character performance.
Beyonce does not switch between artist/artist-in-character performance; one persona is maintained throughout. 

5. The audience will expect to see singing/ dancing/ movement/ playing instruments. This is likely to conform to their expectations of the genre and/ or the band/ artist.
Whilst Beyonce sings/mimes throughout, this performance is strongly based on dance, and no instruments are seen due to Beyonce being a solo singer. This is recurrent in most of her videos. 

6. The band/ artist performance will be engaging/ impactful/ visually striking.
The performance has been extremely impactful with the dance routine recreated by
 fans and non-fans worldwide. The black and white grading emphasises the dance increasing its impact and making it even more visually striking. 

7. It is likely that the video features highly stylised costume, hair, make-up, backdrops and effects.  A variety of sets, backdrops and costumes is common.
Whilst costume, hair and make-up are highly stylised, backdrops and sets are not in order to emphasise the formerly stated aspects. This simplistic minimal range directs the audience focus to the most impactful aspects of the music video. 

8. A strong sense of development is expected - things change and move on.
Whilst a very strong message is delivered, other than this, there is no massive change or development. 

9. A strong sense of artist identity is crucial through movement, gestures, costume/ hair/ make-up and band relationships. The video is aspirational to fans of the band/ artist.
Beyonce is represented as strong, independent and beautiful in this video. Her appearance, vocals, and dancing ability are aspirational to not only her many fans but to many others that have seen the video. 

10. Beauty shots/ money shots are expected by the record label, plus repetitions of these key shots.
In this video the focus is on Beyonces body and dancing ability. However there is a notable money shot at the end, when the camera zooms from a long shot to a close up, and Beyonce smiles. 

11. Extreme juxtapositions and binary oppositions make the video interesting.

There is very little juxtaposition in this video, the main juxtaposition being in the lyrics "cause cried my tears, for three good years" juxtaposed with the other lyrics connoting and dance moves connoting her strength. 

12. Discontinuous editing is standard.
Most of the shots are very long (timewise) and so editing plays a more minor role in this music video. A majority of the editing at the beginning is continuous however towards the end discontinuous editing sets in, although there is still no change in set and costume. 

13. Audience will gain pleasure from references to popular culture.
Minimal references to popular culture beyond the concept of marriage. 

14. The video will be polysemic in nature, offering different layers of meaning, despite only being a performance video.
The video does not make the song polysemic, however the song arguably is polysemic with the surface meaning being that men should commit if they have feelings for a woman. Other meanings are similar but preach female independence and related issues. These meanings are all of the same subject so arguably the song is not polysemic; the general message is very straightforward and evident. 

15. It is likely to provoke a strong audience reaction.
This song had a massive cultural impact and provoked a large audience reaction, particularly among women, with multiple cover versions and parodies. The dance is commonly recreated and has been featured in multiple mediums.