HAPPY REMAKE 😊
LYRICS
It might seem crazy what I'm 'bout to say
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care baby by the way
Huh, because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Here come bad news, talking this and that
(Yeah) Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back
(Yeah) Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine
(Yeah) No offense to you, don't waste your time
Here's why
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Hey, go, uh (happy)
Bring me down, can't nothin' (happy)
Bring me down
My level's too high (happy), to bring me down
Can't nothin' (happy), bring me down
I said (let me tell you now) uh
Bring me down, can't nothin'
Bring me down
My level's too high to bring me down
Can't nothin' bring me down
I said
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Hey, go, uh
Bring me down, can't nothin'
Bring me down
My level's too high to bring me down
Can't nothin' bring me down
I said
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you, eh eh eh
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you, uh hey
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do, huh come on
Questions (add to blog, both question and your answer)
Upload your video to YouTube, add link to Music Video blog then…
What were you asked to do
Did you need any help - if so did you get it from peer/teacher/google/figure it out by trial and error?
Did you play with the setting, eg change the effect at all to see what else could be done?
How does the scribbly line effect suit the Bruno Mars song?
What sort of effect(s) might suit a dance/techno artist?
What sort of effect(s) might suit a heavy metal band?
Briefly, how did you make the effect?
Are there transferable skills you learned that you could use to do any other effects?
What effects did you learn how to do yourself?
Briefly outline how you did them?
Was this something you might want to do more of?
Find yourself a video - it can be any video at all but the more mainstream/conventional types (pop, performance etc) may offer more to talk about than other more abstract, less conventional videos.
Embed the video.
Briefly introduce who Andrew Goodwin was, what he has written about
and how he has identified several aspects that most music videos have
(see the above slides). Then use his SIX points as headers for SIX
different paragraphs. Use screenshots from the video to help you
illustrate your points.
Develop your answers - use full sentences,
don't bulletpoint and always try to incorporate relevant media
terminology (think about the way you answered the TV Drama exam
question).
There's plenty to do but it's supposed to be tough - these are A Levels - the A stands for 'about time you did some work'.
YOU MUST DO AT LEAST ONE OF THESE - BUT FEEL FREE TO USE THIS FRAMEWORK TO ANALYSE ANY VIDEO THAT HAS INFLUENCED YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS
1. There is a relationship between the lyrics and
visuals, with the visualS illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the
lyrics.
Find the lyrics online - read them and get an idea of what the song is about? What are the themes? What is the tone?
Does
the 'look' of the video suits the themes (love: soft focus/lingering
shots, anger: dark filters/violent camera movement/fast editing).
Has the video a narrative? Does it fit in with themes of the lyrics?
Is there a direct relationship between some lyrics and the video?
If NOT could they be described as contradictory?
Very rarely you get a literal interpretation of the lyrics like here (it's not 'like' he's in a cage - he literally is.)
2. There is a relationship between the music and visuals, with the visual illustrating, amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.
Is the editing relatively in time? Is the tempo of the editing similar to the track?
Is the relationship between the visuals and music explicit like this or this video?
What
is the tone of the music - soft, romantic enlightening, stirring,
powerful, spiritual, soul reaching, inspiring, calming, soothing? Is
this reflected in the visuals?
Is it contradictory - calm music but with frantic imagery.
DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP
3. Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography.
What is the genre of the music?
What are the codes and conventions/expectations of the audience, for a piece of music for this type.
Look
at similar artists/tracks and try to identify common performance types,
mise-en-scene, iconograpy, use of micro elements, locations.
e.g.
Gangsta rap - parties, glamourising criminal lifestyle, objectification
of women, low camera angles, ostentatious uses of wealth.
Boybands -
close up on faces of the band members, cherographed dance moves, cut
aways to moments of relfection, shots of the band 'off stage'/'off
camera'.
4. Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of their star/performers.
This
is relative to the type of artist/genre you're working with. If it's a
freaky looking dude like Skillrex the music video isn't there to sell
him as a 'star' - it's the music that is supposed to do that. But you
would lose your job if you directed a One Direction video and didn't
have copius amounts of the boys leaning on each other's shoulders and
looking earnestly in the camera.
If you have a star there will be a
multitude of shots of them attempting to build a representation that is
in line with their star persona. Artists' launch video is always very
telling in how the record company hope to position them - think Ollie
Murs (jokey), Connor Maynard (authentic), Cher Lloyd (nuts).
Some type of shots can lead to objectification:
seeing a human being as a thing disregarding their personality, self or
capabilities. Objectification tends to take the form of 'sexual objectification' so the 'thing' the person is reduced to is an instrument of sexual pleasure, for use'. This usually takes the form of the camera lingered and focusing upon body parts of the artist.
The
idea of sexual objectification is often used to suggest that female
artists are 'controlled' by the camera. This idea has developed as some
theorists believe female artists can self-objectify using their
sexuality as a strength as it allows theme to express their sexuality
publicly. Think Beyonce - a hugely successful artist that seems in
control of her representation but is still objectified.
How
is the artist represented (sexy, cute, fun, daft, serious, tormented
etc)? How do the micro-elements combined to create this representation -
what aspects are focused on?
Is the artist objectified - how?
5. Voyeurism
Definition: A Voyeur is "one who looks". Voyeurism is the practise of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviour.
We
often see activities in music videos of an intimate nature - tender
moments between lovers, people getting ready for a night out, episodes
of reflection etc. - basically a private activity that people don't
usually invite the audience of MTV to spectate.
Voyeurism has a base
appeal - having an nosey into others' lives and often has sexual
context, but it's often used to show a different side to the performer,
their 'off-stage' persona that fans want to have access to.
Also pop
songs are often about intimate subject matter: love, hearbreak, anger,
loneliness - so there is a thematic connection to the content of the
video.
Have a look at this lovely Neyo video
about him trying to seduce a girl with low self esteem - 36 seconds in -
that's voyeurism, even the camera has a 'peeking-through-the-pot-plant'
look to it.
Is there any content of a voyeuristic nature? Describe it. What effect does it have on the video/representation of the artist?
6. There are likely to be intertextual references to other music videos, TV shows, books, movies, games etc. Have a look here for more help.
Intertextuality:
shaping of texts meaning by the other texts that may include an authors
borrowing and transformation OR a reader's referencing.
There may be explicit use of intertexuality such as this Foo Fighters video which is just a shot for shot remake of Falling Down.
Or a mix of references such as Azelia Banks' 1991 that somehow manages to cram a bit of Crystal Water's 100% Pure Love, Madonna's Vogue, Veronica Lake and the photography of Horst P Horst.
Then
there's the fact that videos are made of imagery, scenes, context we've
seen before using meaning/framing we see in many other texts - soft
focus, narratives, costume. So think of what the video feels like to
you.
What references are there in the video? What does it remind
you off? Have you seen similar treatments before - where? How does this
all influence the effect and impact of the video?
MUSIC VIDEO ASSESSMENT WEEK TASK
Next week you will have a 3-hour session to film and edit a sixty-second music promo
You will work in groups of 3 or 4 which you can choose
As a group choose a song track for your music promo
Your video needs to contain the following:
- lip synching
- choreography
- a "clone" sequence
- a "squiggle" effect
- three locations
- an abstract element
- a colour palette
WHAT DOES A MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR DO?
- https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/questionnaire-carly-cussen/35973
- http://fuzzfamily.blogspot.com/2012/05/espspotlight-interview-with-carly-cussen.html
- https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8512833/justin-bieber-ed-sheeran-i-dont-care-video-director-emil-nava
- https://www.52-insights.com/music-video-emil-nava-i-want-to-shut-down-the-internet/
- https://www.videostatic.com/blog/2015/02/09/videostatic-interview-emil-nava-director
TASK
Produce an advert for a vacancy as a MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR
You'll need to write a brief JOB DESCRIPTION which outlines the MAIN ROLE of a MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR that contains the following information:
- What are the key functions of the DIRECTOR within the MUSIC VIDEO production team
- What equipment will they need to be able to use?
- What are the KEY SKILLS needed to be a MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR?
- What QUALITIES make a good MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR?
