Music Genre Codes and Conventions - Pop

- Celine Dior

Andrew Goodwin

Andrew Goodwin is a theorist that has identified a number of key features within music videos.

Andrew Goodwin’s six Features of Music Videos;

·         Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop) [this is also known as iconography]

·         There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

·         There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

·         The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).

·         There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

·         There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc).

Information From ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ (http://beauchampcollegemedia.com/2010/09/01/features-of-music-videos-andrew-goodwin/)

These can be broken down into five simple key aspects to make them easier to understand at A-Level;

·         Thought through beat (Seeing what the lyrics mean in your head)

·         Relationship between the song and visuals

·         Narrative and performance of the song

·         Technical aspect of a music video (Mise-en-scene, special effects, sounds and editing hold together the video)

·         Star Image (The artist’s image/appearance/reputation)

Thought through beat

·         Lyrics should be able to make the audience see or feel what the artist is feeling, focusing on the chorus which gives feeling the verses which usually tell the story.

·         The voice of the song should be unique compared to others to give the person a form of identification.

·         The music video can aid the story telling by showing a narrative which plays out the moments of feeling which the artist is singing about. (This links in with the relationship between the song and visuals.

Relationship between the music and visuals

There are three ways which visuals can be used to promote a song;

1.      Illustration – The video used certain images and shots to explain the meaning and story of the lyrics.

2.      Disjuncture - The meaning of the song is completely ignored

3.      Amplify – This is when the images and camera shots are manipulated and shown repeatedly throughout the video and is drummed into our vision so we feel what the artist is feeling.

·         Andrew believed that music videos can promote a song by the way it acts out the lyrics. This is shown when a character does exactly what the song says. For example, in Tinie Tempah’s ‘Trampoline at many points in the song we see clips of the item which is mentions such as ‘tambourine’, ‘Nikies’, and ‘no nighty’.

·         This relationship links to the narrative and performance because the performance will often act out the lyrics.

Narrative and performance

·         It is important for an artist to be involved in the music video by performing or acting out a role as the main character or singer.

Technical aspect

·         Lighting and colour sets the mood and creates emphasis on significant parts of the song.

·         Mise-en-scene is vital to the production of the music video. It can help the artist gain authentication and also make his/her makeup appear more professional.

·         The beat of the song are useful to create effective cuts that go with the rhythm of the music

     Star Image

·         The star image is always very unique in the way he/she is presented. E.g. costume, moves and appearance.

·         Using lots of camera shots focusing on the artist/main actor, making him/her the centre of attention.

·         The star makes the video look more appealing to audiences while bringing a unique style to the video in the way he/she is portrayed.

- Celine Dior

Our timetable and deadlines

We have created a timetable/deadline sheet. This is to help us be a bit more organised and hopefully help us meet all deadlines.

We also have a checklist, to make sure all 3 of us have done our tasks each week.

What are Digipacks?

Digipaks are a type of CD case usually made from cardboard and plastic which differs from normal CD cases which are usually made from plastic. Digipaks are usually only used for special editions of CD’s such as Linkin Park’s Reanimation and Red Hot Chilli Peppers Stadium Arcadium. Digipaks started in the 1980’s with artists such as Prince and U2 releasing albums in the forms of digipaks. Digipaks are generally much more durable than their jewel case counterparts. Mainly because if they are dropped they are less likely to break and they are also much less likely to get scratched from normal wear and tear. Despite being much more durable on the outside compared to jewel cases, they are still just as vulnerable on the inside as the CD tray is still made out of plastic meaning that it is much more likely to break compared to the outside. The teeth in the middle of the CD tray that hold the CD in place are especially fragile because there isn’t much structure or support keeping them intact. This type of CD cover is more environmentally friendly but despite this they still remain less common. This is because they cost more to manufacture in bulk and are much more likely to become damaged in a shop being made out of cardboard. Digipaks started to become very popular in the early 2000’s. When digipaks are opened they usually fold out into three sections. One section should contain the CD, another should contain the leaflet and the other should be a piece of artwork from the artist. Nowadays digipak makers are trying to find ways to make digipaks even more environmentally friendly. For example digipak makers are now making the plastic tray out of recycled bottles which means that there won’t be problems with the teeth being brittle. Another manufacturer has decided get rid of the whole plastic tray and replace it with a paper one made out of sugar cane and egg cartons.

Magazine Advert - Pop

This magazine advert is for Florence and the Machine. The advert shows the front cover of the album when it was yet to be released. It also has the title of the album in big bold font so that everyone can read it. Underneath the title it has the release date for the album in the UK. it then has the most popular songs from the album. it then states that it has three different formats that the album will be released and that it will have a deluxe CD. At the bottom in very small font there is the website for the artist.

We are one member down... :(

Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, Luke Sayer has had to leave our group as he moved to collage. He had some great ideas which are posted already on our blog which we will still continue to carry out. He has agreed to up up with our filming being in scenes of our music video. We will continue to focus as a group and as we are now a member short, we intend to knuckle down and get everything down ahead of time.

Magazine Advert Research - Rock

This is a magazine advert for Fall Out Boy's album Believers Never Die - The Greatest Hits. this advert could have been placed in a Kerrang Magazine because in the middle it has Kerrang's name. This advert shows the front cover of the CD. It also shows the CD's main tracks that everyone who likes Fall Out Boy will know. this album must have a lot of popular songs because it has six songs on the advert. Most adverts for CD's generally only include two or three songs on the front. The advert shows it release date in the UK. It also tells the viewer that there are two versions of the CD. One version which is normal and a deluxe version which includes the CD and a DVD.