Typical conventions from the RnB genre
Most RnB songs have somewhat of narrative, ranging from it being directly tied to the song to being barely tied to the song. The colours for slightly more intense RnB are learning toward a colder temperature, whereas RnB songs with a little bit more of a calming tone have a warmer temperature.
2 Detailed Research
1.
Name: Leave The Door Open - Bruno Mars
Year: 2021
Produced by:
Bruno Mars, D'mile
Distributed by:
Atlantic Records
Genre / Sub genre:
R&B/Soul
What conventions does it conform to?
Some general conventions of music videos are having performance shots that may include dancing or lip syncing, typically having the star be the artist. The music video here, from start to finish are almost all performance shots, having Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and other filler actors performing using instruments while lip syncing to the Song being played. Overall the music video didn't have any high level editing or extremely abstract artistic scenes or shots.
What conventions does it subvert?
When big artists create and produce a music video, typically they'd have a big budget and would like to include as much effects, and abstract artistic imagery in their music video. However, this music video does not have that much abstract imagery, editing, or any intense special effects. I'm not sure about the budget of the music video, but it can be safely assumed that it's quite big since Bruno Mars can be said is a big enough artist. Knowing this Bruno Mars continued to have a much simpler music video, containing relatively easy performance shots.
What representations are there? (people/places/events)
The music video portrays the actors and star's masculinity in a very unique way. Masculinity in the music video is portrayed as being someone who is charming, and romantic in an effortless way being groovy and winning the girl over with their soothing music. This deviates from the general portrayal of masculinity being the typical testosterone filled gym machismo.
What technical elements are used to give meaning to the representations?
Camera:
A variety of slow and smooth camera movements such as panning, push in, pull out, boom, and tilt were all used throughout the video. push ins to focus on the stars, and other movements to focus on the actors in the scene and their performance. They're done in a smooth way to reflect the more intimate and relaxing tone of the song. Keeping the movements steady to emphasize a laid back mood.
Mise-en-scene:
The environment seems to insinuate a more retro atmosphere, using vintage instruments and furniture, warm lighting, and 70s outfits to give a more nostalgic feel. Later on in the video, a disco ball is used to further enhance the nostalgic atmosphere. This could be done to emphasize the year where R&B and soul music were at it's peak.
Sound:
Trans-diegetic Sound is used to show the band playing the song live in the studio while playing the actual song in the video. This is a very simple effect that most music videos do however it's very effective in merging the two sounds and appear as if the musicians are performing on stage authentically when in reality, they're just lip syncing and possibly playing instruments randomly.
Edit:
The editing is very minimal in the music video, primarily focusing on the members playing their instruments and singing. It doesn't have any complex effects but rather keeps it nice and simple, following a simple narrative and a simple story. That story being the band performing in a live studio for the recording for the song
Name: I Ain't Worried - One Republic
Year: 2022
Produced by:
Tedder, Kutzle, Simon Oscroft, Spry, John Nathaniel
Distributed by:
Interscope Records
Genre / Sub genre:
Pop Rock
What conventions does it conform to?
Since this music video is a tie in for a move (Top Gun: Maverick). Similar to other music videos that are a movie tie in, they would incorporate a handful of short snippets from the film in their music video. This music video conforms to that convention, having short clips from the movie be included in the music video. On top of that, the other half of the music video are performance shots of lip syncing and instrumental performances conforming to the convention of including performance shots in music videos.
What conventions does it subvert?
Some music videos tend to have somewhat of a narrative, following a specific story. This music video even if it loosely connects to the songs lyrics doesn't have any focus or has little to no narrative. This is because the music video is unable to tell a cohesive story because it has to include short snippets from the movie which would take up space for the story to be told to the audience. There isn't any independent storyline created specifically for the music video outside of the Top Gun Narrative.
What representations are there? (people/places/events)
Since the music video incorporates clips from the Top Gun film which heavily surrounds aviation. It represents those who are in military aviation, or pilots that can maneuver an aircraft as being extremely cool and masculine.
What technical elements are used to give meaning to the representations?
Camera:
Several shots of close-ups and medium shots of the band were used during their performance. These shots emphasize the band's role as more easygoing laid-back musicians who seem to be enjoying life. It creates a connection between the band and the carefree themes shown in beach scenes during snippets of the film.
Mise-en-scene:
The setting is on the beach, having bright warm sunlight creating a relaxing atmosphere mirroring the lyric and title of the song "I ain't worried." Contrasting the more serious military scenes from the Top Gun snippets. The Mise-en-Scene of the beach represents a view of life where everyone is happy, carefree and easygoing
Sound:
The sound primarily focuses only on the song, using a non-diegetic sound playing the actual song in the background. The absence of any diegetic sound such as bird sounds, ocean sounds, and sounds from the directs the focus entirely on the song. creating a mood where nothing else effects you other than the positivity of the song. This also keeps the audio of the video simple preventing any distraction.
Edit:
The music video frequently uses a montage style editing. Cutting between different activities, such as a volleyball match and flying in the air, as well as cutting to the band's performance. This technique implies that life is full of fun and carefree moments, the montage style suggest that these different activities are all carefree and chill.
6 simpler researches
1.
Title: Espresso
Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Year: 2024
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
The target audience for this music video could to be young women judging from the vibrant colours and the display of extreme femininity. Having visuals of males tirelessly working for females, almost appearing as slaves towards them.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
I quite like the colours in the music video and how vibrant they are. I there may be a chance where I may want to use more vibrant colours in my music video. I also enjoyed how a little bit of the beginning was black and white. I'm not sure how I might incorporate that into my music video, so Im not sure I'll be able to include it but I'll consider it.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
I think I'll avoid more feminist or patriarch themes for my music video since I feel that our music video may have more of a friendlier and lighthearted tone and not touch in similar.
2.
Title: Dance The Night Away
Artist: Dua Lipa
Year: 2023
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
This music video could be targeting young teenage girls to adult women. They're appealed by using an extremely pink environment and the great amounts of fashion dresses. The target audience can also be fans of the Barbie movie since this music video is also a movie tie-in.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
I enjoy how the editing matches somewhat matches the fast pace of the song. I feel like it helps connect the visual and the audio a lot more seamlessly. I might incorporated this in my music video so that the visuals and audio sync up nicely and look appealing.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
The music video has more intricate sets and set pieces, I don't think I can replicate the sets or set pieces in the music video this since I don't have that much of a budget, so I think the best option is to avoid attempting to use intricate sets altogether.
3.
Title: Here with me
Artist: d4vd
Year: 2022
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
I think the target audience for this music video are teenagers to adults that are in a relationship or are experiencing love, since the music video features happy moments with their partner throughout the years.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
The aspect ratio of the music video seems interesting to me as it's shot in a unique aspect ratio being 4:3 instead of the typical 16:9. I think this is an artistic choice to give a more nostalgic feel since the music video has a similar nostalgic feel.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
The music video seems to be shot in a lot of locations. I don't think I'll use this since I feel that it would be a hassle for me to travel to multiple different locations, especially with member schedule restrictions and the amounts of traffic in my area.
4.
Title: Feel it
Artist: d4vd
Year: 2024
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
The target audience for this music video seem to be about teens that do daring things, as portrayed in the music video. The music video portrays teenagers that like to take risks which I feel do not at all reflect the lyrics of the song, however it's still entertaining.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
I like the narrative in this music video, I think it felt entertaining and fun to watch. I think for my music video I would also try to incorporate an entertaining music video to watch so that visuals seem appealing and the project seems more fun.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
The music video seems to have lots of shot with stunts. For my music video I don't think that we'll have a lot of shots with stunts, since that I'm afraid that any of my team members might get hurt and may result in me being at fault.
5.
Title: Die With A Smile
Artist: Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars
Year: 2024
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
The target audience could be young adults, this could be because of the retro costumes that the stars wear which could bring nostalgia to young adults. The stars also seem to play a role in nostalgia, as these artists were at their peak when these young adults were teens or kids.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
I enjoy how simple the music video feels. All it is are the two stars performing and lip syncing to the song, just like one of his previous songs that I researched. From what I've noticed, this seems to be a trend that Bruno Mars seems to follow for his music videos.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
The music video features both stars wearing extremely flashy costumes, having somewhat of a colorful retro cowboy theme. This to me felt odd as I don't think the costumes relate to the music video, however it could be an artistic choice. I don't think I'll use any silly costumes in my music video as I feel it will take time to get.
6.
Title: APT
Artist: ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
Year: 2024
Target audience, and how are they appealed to?
The target audience may be teenagers and k-pop by including one of the more popular k-pop idols, as well as having a fun and whimsical feel in the music video. it has this whimsical feel by having the stars be extremely jumpy performing in a very playful eccentric way.
What would you like to use in your music video from this?
The music video displays some of the lyrics from the song in the music video in an artistic style that fits the music video. I really like this, as I feel this would be visually appealing, and I like the style of it. To me it might seem fun to do as well.
What would you like to avoid in your music video from this?
The music video as an incredibly minimal and simple pink setting. I don't think that I'll use an extremely simplistic setting since I don't think it'll fit with my music video's theme, and I don't think that I have an area with enough space to completely change it into my own setting.
Here is some additional Research
I took a look at this video which shows a handful of tips and tricks on how to shoot a music video. This video helped with providing me with a handful of ideas
Self reflection
These are a handful of music videos that I've researched. I think getting some songs to research were a lot easier to do than getting companies for research. I found this task to be quite easy to do since I managed my time really well with this research, by carefully doing research for a song for each day. In the beginning we started by having R&B indie and later leaned into the indie side since we think that it would be more possible to create a video for an indie song since they aren't as complicated or abstract to do. They're much simpler because they have a lower budget, making them easier to recreate or heavily inspire for our music video.
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