The first video I chose to analyse was of the song "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles. The reason for me analysing this music video first is because it was one of the first music videos made, and the first music video to be shown on national television through the channel of MTV. The message behind this song is detailing the change from radio to video, and how music videos are about to take off and rule everything. This was quite ironic for one of the first music videos to be made, and I wanted to compare this to a contemporary video to see what improvements have been made and what styles I like best.
Camera (angles, movements, effects):
- Establishing shot of a moon and young girl - could be symbolism for the meaning of the song, also sets one of the main scenes, gives audience first visual so it sticks with them.
- Zooming out from the moon & water - how the innocence of the young girl is being taken away with the decrease in use of radio.
- Mid shot of the young girl - establishes that she is important to the music, helps audience realise the young girl represents the new generation that won't experience radio as much.
- Long shot to show the girl in front of the moon, growing into a woman - the full moon represents a new cycle and new change of no radio.
- Mid shot of singer in new environment - audience recognises him as part of the band and an important part of the music video.
- Camera continuously shaking - makes it more realistic because what the song is about is very real.
- High angles when showing the TV's - lyrics of 'video killed the radio star' at the same time - makes radio seem literally very small and unimportant in the world now.
- Camera panning - follows the singer when he moves along the scene, to establish that he is the main singer of the band.
- Close up of young girl - her importance - 'everyman' representing the new generation/era.
- Camera changes to low angles when girl is on top of the radios - shows a different side that even though there isn't radio, life will still go on and the new generation will not suffer - the low angle makes her seem higher and better than the music videos on the TV's.
- Zooms in to long shot/mid shot of whole band - final scene so the band are just as important as the song, the band are getting some promotion as well.
Editing (effects, transitions):
- Master shot fades in - visual effect to interest audience.
- Image of singer wipes in to either side of the screen, master shot still in background - introduce singer to visuals, makes audience listen to the lyrics.
- Fades between different scenes - show the change in time it is talking about and the rise of new generations - e.g. the fade from the young girl to her as a woman.
- Circular fade in to new scenery - interesting and entertaining for audience, circular shape is like the shape of speakers on a radio.
- Cuts to female characters quite rapidly - in time with the music when it picks up the pace.
- Pace of cuts picks up from the middle to the end - more exciting for audience, represent anger they are showing for videos taking over the radio world.
- Extremely slow fade when music slows down - represents a change in mood about what is going on, pause as they reflect on the fact radio is no longer the best way a musician can get heard.
- Music increases in volume, band are revealed - increase in volume makes it seem as if they realise music videos can be good for people and it's not the end of the world - audience feels the same and are uplifted by sudden increase.
- Shot reverse shot - between band members and the woman - adds comparison between them and shows how visuals in music videos can be interesting.
- Fades out to white at the end - a positive colour representing a final, positive change in the world.
Sound:
- Quiet intro. into song, soft, melodic - symbolism to picture of the moon which is peaceful and calm. Also could represent the calm before the storm (life before music videos were involved).
- Fast instrument sounds - repetitive - with the 'ooh's' of the singers - picks up the pace and represents the anger they might have towards this change at the start.
- Drums are introduced into track - fast but consistent - deep and dark sounds - anger/upset.
- Added sounds - effects of 'spaceships' - show how out of space this new introduction of music videos is to people.
- "in my mind, we've gone too far...broke your heart" - very slow lyrics where the song almost stops. Represents a reflection of something new in society (music videos), and the acceptance of it.
- Guitars are added again and song builds back up again - works with visuals as whole band are introduced together in a happy environment - finally showing they have accepted music videos.
Mise-en-scene:
- Scene of the moon and young girl - symbolic of innocence and virtue of the young generation, makes audience feel bad that there will be people growing up without the use of radio as much - sympathy.
- Colours are dark, sad, angry at beginning - all emotions people could be feeling, especially new and upcoming artists who won't be able to use radio as much anymore.
- Young girl turning on radio - radio is exaggerated in size and it explodes across the screen as a hyperbole of radio 'dying'.
- Main singer introduced - in black and white - represent the 'oldness' of radio and how it isn't up to date anymore.
- Girl dressed in red - younger generation, makes her stand out, important to narrative of video.
- Young girl transforms into older woman - no radio in the background, shows her growing up without that - represents 'everyman'.
- Woman is extravagantly dressed - 'out of space' 'alien' - how she represents music videos and how they are new to people/alien.
- Echoed sound of music - shows change in their emotions - time of reflection on events - 'music videos are good'.
- Lots of visuals of band members - showing how physically seeing bands performing can be interesting and inspiring.
- Music videos shown on TV's, not radios anymore.
- Fades to white - represents a positive future of media and music - happy, calm feeling.
From analysing this music video I have realised how important the scenes and the lyrics are and how they need to work together in order to create the message. Also, the interesting edits in between scenes need to be specifically chosen to represent parts of the lyrics to make it more interesting and involving for the audience.
8 Screen Shots of Music Video
Camera (angles, movements):
- Shaking, close up of main singer - introduces him, promotion of artist first of all.
- Montage of short clips - introduces scenes of NYC, and environments that are going to be used in the video.
- Establishing shot of a deserted place - floating phone box - links with lyrics 'floating so high, up off the ground' - deserted to represent how they only have eyes for one another, or nothing else matters.
- Extreme close up of artists and the girl - introduces main characters in the narrative, much like a film.
- Shot reverse shots between artist and the girl, and other master shots - shows links between them.
- Fast cuts - to go in time with music - gets faster just before artist starts singing - builds suspense and excitement - representing emotions of relationship.
- Long shot/Mid shot of main singer, quickly cutting to other scenes - shows connection.
- High angle of phonebox and couple inside - represent how nervous/scared they both are together.
- Half fade of artists face through other scenes - allows audience to see two scenes at once - importance of artist and connection of him and other scenes.
- Camera turns around artist when singing - links with title and lyrics of 'turn around' - literally turning around, moves with the rhythm of the music.
- Low angle of artist in streets - how empowered he feels.
- Close up of second main singer - introduction.
- Jolty camera/unsteady filming - gets more unsteady as song progresses, represents excitement increasing.
Editing:
- Lots of fast cuts - keeps audience amazed and thriled by constant change in environments - visuals to watch.
- Montage of lots of mid shots - to the beat and rhythm of the music - makes it flow.
- Fades between scenes when slower part of song, cuts when faster - represents up and down speeds of relationships.
- Parallel editing - changing from artist alone at nightime in streets of NYC, to artist with girl when it's bright daytime. Represents how he feels when he's with the girl - much happier.
- Tracking of artist when standing on top of bus - shows both him and girl together, tracks them to repesent them never being apart.
- Light effects shining across bus - like the lights are guiding their way or their future is lit up for them (positive).
Sound:
- Opening sound of train - represents constantly moving forward in relationship.
- Sound of guitar playing same time as the cuts of scenes - audience understand rhythm and are more likely to notice changes/contrasts.
- Continuous rhythm of instruments - show how continous and neverending the artists love is.
- Lyrics relate to the speed of cuts - when sung faster, the cuts are much quicker paced.
- Introduction of new singer - starts of slow and then continous - represents how a relationship progresses.
- Ending of verses pick up the pace, anticipating chorus - climax.
- Bridges very slow - eventually picks up back for chorus.
- Lyrics about the girl when in verses, lyrics sung/with the girl when artist is shown with her - lyrics are important for the visuals.
Mise-en-scene:
- Conor Maynard - dark clothing at start when byself, merging in with the background of streets, not standing out much. When with girl he also doesn't stand out much.
- Girl - dressed in much lighter colours - whites and beiges - so when artist is with her, it's almost like she makes them stand out/brings the best out in him.
- Darker scenery - always nightime when he's alone, and lighter when with girl - change in emotions from sad/lonely to extremely happy/passionate.
- Second artist - Ne-Yo - mixture of both light and dark colours in environment and clothing. Also introduced in quite a deep red background - represent how experienced he is, older person.
- Characters floating in lift - no one else around - lyrics relate 'nothing can stop us now' and 'floating so high' - metaphorical to relationship.
- Artist falling - relates to beginning - show how he's constantly falling for the girl.
- Phone box gets higher - progression in relationship.
- Finally ends with artist falling down and camera staying still - represent how he's finally fallen in love.
What have I found out?This music video really opened my eyes up to the differences in technology between an old one and contemporary videos, but I have realised that mise-en-scene is an extremely important aspect. When creating my own, I will now take into account the variety of environments I will use and the colours, props, actors I choose.
8 Screen Shots of Music Video
Comparisons and ContrastsThere are lots of differences between the old music video and new ones, mostly being the effects and ability to involve the audience. However, both music videos capture the importance of many scenes to keep the audience interested, as well as having a reason for every last detail that relates to the narrative. I can tell that all of the props, transitions, angles and clothing have all been specifically designed to create messages and themes for the audience to figure out.
Why have I done this?I wanted to compare two different music videos, and I thought the best way to do this was to choose ones from completely different ends of the scales (old and modern). I found them very revealing into decisions you need to make when producing a music video, and this exercise have proven to be very helpful for me, especially for the filming and editing part.
SOURCES:
1. www.youtube.com
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