What Other Media Has Inspired My Music Video

All the Rowboats - Regina Spektor

Artistic creation of sea

The video for all the rowboats is aesthetically one of the most inspiring videos in the making of my own music video. It is very creative with its visual effects by using more handmade looking visuals such as blue lights and netting to represent underwater and clear rough plastic shards to represent water. Using handmade props it gives the video a unique quality which is something that I would like to replicate in my own work.

The entire video has one continuous colour scheme which is predominately shown using lights. Most of the lighting is a dark blue which is symbolic of depth and seriousness. It helps affirm the tone of the song and its emotion. The power of lighting and colour helps show a deep meaning to a song. In the video there is also a mass use of low key lighting and spotlights. Using low key lighting implies that the song is more serious as well as giving it a more toned down feel compared to bright lighting used in happy pop songs. In addition to this, the video uses a spotlight in the form of a lighthouse which is seen at the beginning of the video. Not only does it show continuity throughout the video it shows how spotlights can be used to highlight key props and important people to the song. Regina Spektor herself is often highlighted showing that she is the main artist. It also provides contrast which brings Regina Spektor to the foreground of the video.

Light behind fog

One of feature that I found aesthetically pleasing is the smoke and fog that appears at the beginning of the video. I was rather inspired by the way they used lighting with the smoke to draw the viewers eye to it and make it stand out.

The video includes a variety of different shots, angles a compositions. Some of these elements stood out to me and I found them very inspiring. The use of speed was something I picked out. For the more powerful parts of the song the speed was faster which increased the tension and matched the beat, over all creating something that is more pleasurable to the eye.

The music video for 'All the Rowboats' can be found here.

Kickthepj - PJ Liguori

Use of projections

Pj Liguori, also known under his pseudonym "Kickthepj" is the storyteller of Youtube. His videos are known for their unique visuals and artistic handmade feel of props and other mise en scene items. Two of his most inspirational videos are 'Mirages' and 'Colour Bandits'. They both focus heavily on visuals that match the spoken poetry and music to show the story. Everything from lights to props are thought out and are used to provoke emotion that matches the tone of the song.

Use of yellow lighting

In the video for 'Mirages', PJ uses a projector to project visuals onto a blank wall in which he stands in front of to perform the song. The desert and water video clips combined with the hand-held camera work creates a rough and chaotic tone which conveys the emotion of the song as well as creating a fast paced tempo to match the song. This is an idea I would like to try out and experiment with to try and create the tone of my chosen song. The dark yellow lighting is associated with desert colours so portray the wanted environment accurately and puts the audience's mind into the story and make them feel it for themselves. Lighting is very important to convey the tone of a music video so it is something I would like to use myself in my own music video.

The video for 'Mirages' can be found here.

In the video for 'Colour Bandits' colour contrast is a very important aspect. The video starts with a pure white background and the clothing of the character also strictly white. When the powder paint is introduced it creates a contrast - adding life to the video. The flowing nature of the powder paint creates beautiful visuals when combined with slow motion editing gives the audience something to follow - leading their eyes across the screen to what is important. One of the most inspirational shots for me is where he inhales the powder and blows it out again using the power of editing to reverse the clip. This is something I would also like to experiment as if creates a powerful visual as well as suiting the song's tempo.

Symbolic red paint

When the colour is first introduced into the video it is in this shot to the right. It is a powerful image that uses imagery and colour association. He holds the powder to his chest as if he had been hurt. This image along with the use of the colour red symbolises danger or even blood. I would like to focus on imagery with my chosen song, using mise en scene and colours to imply the story the song is telling.

The video for 'Colour Bandits' can be found here.

Light Tunnels and Moving at Midnight - Sophie Newton 

Both videos share similar visuals and concepts that focus heavily on the use of light projection and smoke. Dance features in both videos as a way of emphasising the music and the beat. This is especially shown in Moving at Midnight where the cut of the video is timed to the music to put focus on the beat. At the end of the video the music builds to a climax so therefore the video matches this as seen in the gif to the left. This is a good effect to use in music videos as it puts the focus on the most important feature - the music. This is something I would use in my own music video as it communicates more of the song than actions would. 


In Light Tunnels the light source is directly behind the subjects and fractures out to resemble the sun or some other form of heavenly light. Like Moving at Midnight, there is a lot of colour and colour symbolism that add further depth to the visuals. By using a single light source it shows up the smoke from the smoke machine more creating a peaceful flowing image that further conveys the tone of the music.   

The video for Moving at Midnight can be found here and the video for Light Tunnels can be found through the following links.

Ride - Twenty One Pilots

The video fro 'Ride' is filmed in one location and in one go rather than on two separate days. What separates the video is the use of light. There is a strong contrast between black and white within the video. The video starts with white being the prominent colour. Instead of being filmed in a different location at a different time to get this white colour, the saturation of the video has been adjusted in editing. The original video is filmed at night so that the main colour is black. 

The quality of the clips that are darker and of better quality as it is the original video. After the saturation has been adjusted the quality drops, making it look pixelated and blurry.

 If I were to use the black and white contrast idea in my own music video I would film in two separate locations or use something else to change the colour. This means the the quality of the video would stay consistent. 

Blue Sushi - Bertie Gilbert and Sammy Paul

'Blue Sushi' is a short film released on Youtube in late 2015. The first scene aesthetically, is one of the most inspiring openings. The entire opening is filmed in reverse, showing the transformation of the main star from their masculine apparel to a feminine dress. As everything is shot in reverse it creates some interesting visuals that have inspired my work. It creates an surreal image that differentiates it from the rest of the video, placing emphasise on its importance. Later on in the film the same sequence is played again but normally. The first time the sequence is played it shows a smiling turing into a frown as she puts on the female apparel. It highlights that as a trans male, the main actor does not feel as comfortable in female clothes. Later on it shows the frown turn into a smile as they have found comfort in wearing male clothes. It shows the positive effect that transition has had on them. 

About Daughter

'Daughter' and an indie folk band composing of Elena Torna (singer), Igor Haefeli from Switerzerland (guitarist) and Remi Aguilera who hails from France (drummer).  They formed in 2010 after Elena met Igor. Originally Elena Torna performed under her own name as a solo act before stating that 'it didn't suit me at all.' She later went on to perform with Igor then at a later date with Remi as their drummer.

In 2010 the band first released a series of demos entiled "Demos Ep" which were recorded in Igor's bedsit before being self-released. These demos and word of mouth started creating a small fanbase and later in 2011 the released their debut EP "His Young Heart". Later that same year they released a second EP "The Wild Youth" in October. This EP became one of their most known EPs including singles such as "Youth" and "Medicine" which have both been used in popular culture.

In 2012 after head-lining a show in London, Daughter announced that they signed up to UK label '4AD' who also have signed up artists such as Bon Iver and Iron & Wine. After this they had the opportunity to start releasing singles and at a later date an album. They first released a single called "Smother" in October of 2012 soon followed by singles such as "Human" and "Run". Later on in 2013 they released their debut album "If You Leave" which won Independent Album of the Year at the AIM Independent Music Awards in London.

Elena who writes the lyrics to all the songs states that 'I never tell anyone what my songs are about' and these words are often rather metaphorical with no clear meaning. An example of this is the song 'Landfill'. The lyrics are as follows:

"Landfill"

Throw me in a landfill
Don't think about the consequences
Throw me in the dirt pit
Don't think about the choices that you make
Throw me in the water
Don't think about the splash I will create
Leave me at the altar
Knowing all the things you just escaped

Push me out to sea
On a little boat that you made
Out of the evergreen that you helped your father cut away
Leave me on the tracks
To wait until the morning train arrives
Don't you dare look back
Walk away
Catch up with the sunrise

'Cause this is torturous electricity
Between both of us and this is
Dangerous 'cause I want you so much
But I hate your guts
I hate you

So leave me in the cold
Wait until the snow covers me up
So I cannot move
So I'm just embedded in the frost
Then leave me in the rain
Wait until my clothes cling to my frame
Wipe away your tear stains
Thought you said you didn't feel pain

Well this is torturous electricity
Between both of us and this is
Dangerous, 'cause I want you so much
But I hate your guts. I want you so much
But I hate your guts.
Well this is torturous
Electricity between both of us
And this is dangerous 'cause I want you so much
But I hate your guts
I want you so much but I hate your guts

(Words from of azlyrics.com)

The song has no clear storyline and uses visual metaphors as a way of creating a beautiful image. To Elena the lyrics to her songs have meaning, however to the audience the lyrics can mean anything. For example many speculate that the meaning behind this song is about being tossed away by those you cared about but we will never the true meaning behind the song and what experiences inspired Elena to write this song.

Daughter's songs have been used throughout popular culture, being used in adverts for Tour de France and in TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Hollyoaks, Skins and Arrow. Their indie folk vibe makes for emotional ambient music which tells a beautiful story. I choose this band due to this as it gives me the opportunity to match the visual imagery of the lyrics with music video visuals.

In the following interview, Daughter explain their story, how they met and how they work. It is an interesting insight to their music that shares more of their personality and their love for music.

A link to their live performances can be found here.

More information on Daughter can be found on their website at ohdaughter.com. All their music can be found on iTunes, their Bandcamp or their Soundcloud. 

Artists that Inspire Me

Before looking into what song I would like to chose for my music video I researched bands and artists that inspire me.

The Neighbourhood

Sourced from laweekly.com

The Neighbourhood, often known as the NBHD are an American experimental band. It consists of lead singer Jesse Rutherford, guitarist Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott and drummer Brandon Fried. Over their career they have released two EPS, 'I'm Sorry...' and 'Thank You' as well as a full-length album named 'I Love You' in 2013. Their most famous song 'Sweater Weather' topped the charts in 2013, reaching number one on Billboard's alternative charts and was also in the top ten on Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Their reverb guitar and atmospheric sounds inspire a slower and a more meaningful music video just as they have produced for 'Let it Go', 'Sweater Weather' and 'Female Robbery' that all have conceptual videos. A convention the band use with their music videos are that they are all in black and white. In this a video that can be found here, lead singer Jesse explains why they use black and white. In their music videos it creates a moody aesthic which matches the tone of the music.

In the video below is the full 'I Love You' album:

Twenty One Pilots



Sourced from tattoodonkey.com

Twenty One Pilots (often stylised as twenty øne piløts), are an American duo consisting of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. They were formed in 2009 and since then have released four albums, two self-released and two with the label 'Fueled By Ramen'. Their music uses a mix of piano, synthesizer, drums, vocals, rapping and occasionally ukulele.

Their use of lyrics to convey emotion and inner thoughts are inspirational as it gives the opportunity to create expressive music videos. An example of this is the music video for 'Car Radio' where the emotion is expressed through the use of deliberate cuts and facial expression. In an interview found here, Tyler Joseph explains the history of the band and why he writes the lyrics he does.

In the video below is one of their music videos. It shows most of their conventions and ideals as well as personal lyrics.

Daughter  

Sourced from ohdaughter.
BlogSpot.com

Daughter is an English Indie Folk band with three members including; Elena Torna (lead singer), Igor Haefeli (guitarist) and Remi Aguilera (drummer). They formed in 2009 and since have released four EPs and one album. In 2012 they signed up to the label 4AD and with them they released the album 'If You Leave' and in are currently making a new album to be released in January 2016 titled 'Not to Disappear'.

Their music has an atmospheric and emotional tone that can calm but also provoke emotion within the listener. Elena's lyrics are inspiring due to their metaphorical nature. It gives the listeners an open window to interpret the lyrics how they wish.

A link to the full 'If You Leave' album playlist can be found here.



Types of Music Videos

There are three different types of music videos that apply to all music genres. Some particular music genres tend to lean towards certain music video types, for example, rock music tends to use performance based music videos whilst pop videos tend to use narrative based music videos. Mostly songs and genres stick to just one type of music video however there can be combination videos that use multiple types of music videos.

The first type of music video is narrative music videos. These types of videos tell a story based on the lyrics of the song. It relies heavily on visual imagery and acting to be able to portray the story the lyrics are trying to say. Though these types of videos are interesting and often very beautifully tells the story in an easy way it can be very costly to produce compared to other types of music videos.

An example of a narrative music video is 'Dance Dance" by Fallout Boy. The video features the member of the band at a prom and follows their stories within the prom. Though the video also features

Sourced from rock-music.info

performance elements the narrative elements are shown as snippets throughout the song where the music is dimmed and there is spoken dialogue over the top.

An other type of music video is performance based music videos. This type of music video is more often used for rock or punk rock videos. Usually, it features actual members of the band rather than actors and shows them playing their instruments in front of an audience. They are a preferred type of music videos as they are much cheaper than concept videos.

The band Twenty One Pilots often use performance-based videos in their music videos. In the video for 'Lane Boy' it features footage from an actual Twenty One Pilots concert where it shows the band members performing for their audience. It includes dancing, singing and strobe lighting.

Sourced from pop-buzz.com

The exact same concept is used in their video for 'Car Radio' where the lead singer walks straight through the audience of a Twenty One Pilots gig and crowd surfs back to the stage.

Lastly, there are concept/ spectacle music videos. These videos are usually more unusual and revolve around one specific idea. Visuals and editing are more on display here and can often cost just as much as a narrative video due to props and costumes.

Sourced sonicamp.com

A good example of a concept video is Coldplay's 'Paradise'. It shows a person in an elephant costume trying to escape a zoo and run away to Africa. Due to its unusual idea and lack of relation to the songs lyrics it is conceptual. It's complete focus is on the idea of escaping and explore different ways of
displaying it within the music video.

Andrew Goodwin: The Theory of Music Videos

Sourced from likkleg.wordpress.com

In relation to music videos, Andrew Goodwin suggests that there are five key aspects to a music video. These six keys are seen throughout most music videos and they demonstrate a way of analysing the video.   

The first key aspect is the relationship between the visuals and the lyrics. Visuals are used to either amplify, illustrate or contradict the meaning behind the lyrics. Within this key there are three steps which are as follows:

• Firstly, we look at the music itself and its structure including choruses, verses and bridges. 

• Secondly we looked at the main body of the song. The voice of the main artist can be unique and can be used as a form of identification or a trademark. 

• Thirdly, is the mode of address. Music videos are often in the form of a narrative so songs can be seen as story telling devices. 

The fifth key is the frequent gestures and notions to looking and is particular the voyeruistic treatment of the female body in music videos. 
The sixth and final key is the frequent use of intertextual references to TV shows, films, other music videos and other media. 
Using this information we can analyse any music video. To prove this I am going to analyse the music video to 'Bad Blood' by Taylor Swift using the six keys. 

If we look at the video using the first key we can establish that the verses are split between Taylor and Kendrick Lamar with the backing of other famous artists. Their voices are unique so you can use them to identify who is singing. For example Haley Williams only features twice in the song but due to her unique voice you can hear her despite not being the main body of the song. 

The second key states that the video should show characteristics of its genre. Bad Blood is a pop song so therefore there are certain characteristics such as fast-paced editing and lip syncing. Both of the characteristics are heavily featured throughout the entire video. 

The video also demonstrates the third key in which a relationship between music and visuals are shown. The song features a heavy beat that carries throughout the song. To match this the music video uses synchronised cuts so each clip is cut to the beat creating a fast-paced tempo. 
Taylor Swift herself has not much of an image or a motif due to originally being an independent artist however the music video does feature close ups rather frequently to show Taylor's image as a form of identification. 

In the fifth key states that gestures to looking are frequently used in music videos. One example of this is the use of camera tracking to show how Taylor Swift turns round to see Selena Gomez. It echoes the gesture and guides the audiences eyes to the action.

Lastly there is several references to other media within the music video. Overall it is thought that there are sixteen film references including:

The second key is whether the music video displays characteristics of the music genre. This is also known as 'iconography'. For example if it is a pop music video it is more likely to be fast-paced and colourful as it is the respected convention. All information of music genre conventions can be found here.

The third key is the relationship between music and visuals. This is different to the first key as it focuses more on the beat and is often called "Thought Through Beat'. This effects the way a music video is edited for example if the song has a faster tempo it is more likely to have fast-paced cuts. 

The fourth key is to do with the demands of the record label including much need close ups of the artist and any motifs the artists may develop. For example as the beginning of every Jason Derulo song he sings "Jason Derulo" which has now become his motif. 

Kill Bill: Vol 1&2

The Matrix

Sin City

Daredevil

The Fifth Element

Hunger Games

Divergent

Aeon Flux

Quantum of Solace

Prometheus

Tron

Sucker Punch

Kingsman

Jem (1980's Cartoon) 

Best Music Videos of All Time

Many sites and polls argue as to what the best music video of all time is and there are often varying answers. However below are some of the most frequently mentioned music videos range from the 80's to present day.

10.  The Scientist - Coldplay
Rated number 12 on 4 Music's top 100 music videos, this video is highly rated for reverse narrative and interesting concept. Over the years it has won multiple awards including MTV Music Video Awards for Best Group Video, Best Direction and Breakthrough Video.



9. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Bad Romance was Lady Gaga's most renown music video, introducing the weird wacky concepts and themes that make Lady Gaga famous. The video received 10 MTV Music Video nominations and went on to win 7 of the categories.


8. Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
Baby One More time is one of the most iconic videos for Britney Spears with her school girl look becoming her most famous outfit, even featuring as Halloween costumes for many years to come. The video is loved for its cartoon-like environment and also was nominated for multiple music awards.



7. Lady Marmalade - Pink, Lil K, Christina Aguilera, Mya
Written for the film 'Moulin Rouge', the music video for Lady Marmalade continues the vibrant and colourful theme that the film was famous for. It won three awards including two MTV Awards and a Grammy award.


6. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
The music video was directed by Samuel Bayer and was influenced by the idea of a school concert turned riot. In an article by Rolling Stone writer David Fricke, he described the video as "the greatest gig you could ever imagine." The video won for awards including two NME Awards and two MTV Awards.



5. Vogue - Madonna
Vogue is famous for its iconic Golden Age of Theater style, with it art deco and black and white composition. In 1998 it was placed at second on MTV's '100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" and number 5 on "The Top 100 Videos That Broke the Rules" due to the exposure of skin whilst wearing Madonna iconic lace dress.  In 1990 Vogue was nominated for 9 MTV Music Awards at it won two.


4. Single Ladies - Beyonce
The video for Single Ladies is most famous for its simplicity and iconic dance choreography. When filming, the director Jake Nava stated the dance routine "would connect with the human endeavor of Beyoncé's awe-inspiring dance". The video itself has won many awards including Video of the Year, Best Choreography and Best Editing at the 2009 MTV Music Awards. It was also voted number one in the 2008 Popjustice Readers Poll

3. Black or White - Micheal Jackson
The music video for Black or White was first release on MTV on November 14th 1991. The video is most famous for it's 'morphing' scene were people of all nationality and race are shown to morph into each other. It's editing is still regarded as one of the best of all time. In 1992 it won a MTV Music Award for Best Visual Effects


 2. Take On Me - A Ha
In the creation of the video an pencil animation technique called rotoscoping was used in combination with live action. It created an interesting effect that had not be shown in this way before. The video won six MTV Awards including Best Visual Effects.


1. Thriller - Micheal Jackson
The music video for Thriller in 13 minutes long and was released in December 1983. It has easily become the most popular music video of all time. The video features people rising from the dead and its iconic dance routine. Every award nomination was won including 100 Greatest Music Video of All Time in 1999.