In this post i will evaluate four very different music videos. These should have been from a documentary, but (as i was absent for the lesson when these were shown to the class) i was instructed to find my own examples. These are the four songs i chose:
1. Stay too long - Plan B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wauIGhax9xg
The genre of this song is mainly rap orientated, however in the beginning it gives the impression of an indie song ressembling an acoustic guitar style used in bands such as the kooks. There also seems to be a very distinct soul theme to the song (as with many of his others of late). The video appears to be telling the same story that the artist is singing about, and that is a story of the lead singer on a night out with the lads which appears to be going well at first. This deceptive sequencde of first shots ties in well with the use of musical style at the beginning, as it is missleading to the listener (as is the use of suits worn by the characters in order to display sophistication). This first scene is juxstuposed with the next consisting of the same people out on the town, creating noise, and getting drunk; it is also coupled with the introduction of the rapping segment.
There is a clear representation of men in their teens to twenties having a huge urge to have fun in the most self-destructive way possible. The lyrics also back this idea up with the singer's confessions throughout the story of cheating on his girlfriend and not caring about anything else except having fun. It appears that during the chorus he is talking about the fact that events such as this always happen to him and that he is aware that it's his fault (perhaps this is heinsight talking) however in the verses he is rapping about a specific (or perhaps generic) occasion where he messed things up by "Staying too long".
Maybe the meaning that he is trying to communicate is that we should heed his warning and not repeat his actions, as they will inevitably lead to disaster (as proven in the video through the result of his night out). I feel this does make sense, however i think that he is just sharing a story with the audience for them to make of it as they will. The audience will most likely be large as it should consist of people of a similar age group who can relate to the story being told (male 15-30), fans of rap, fans of indie music who enjoy altenative approaches and also possibly those into music with a soul theme. Due to the rap side of the track i would guess that the main viewers would be working class.
2. I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRVNYb30nxU
This song falls into the rock genre and is a representation of fools in love who will do anything to keep that love. This is made apparent through the use of a space adventure symbolic of the difficult journey some embark on for the one they love. It's very parodical in this, and doesn't take itself too seriously showing itself to be quite comical in nature. The narrative helps to paint this picture of nonsensical use of monsters in space through the lyrics of the song. A line from the song states the main man: "Can't explain all these feelings that you're making me feel"
The potential audience of this song would be rock fans (due to the nature of the genre); quite a young audience of 13-30 and prodominantly male. This is because older and younger viewers would not appreciate the sexual inuendos used in the video, and males find these sort of refferences humorous. It would also be mostly working class viewers/listoners as it is quite a rebellious form/style of music.
The meaning or moral that i can grasp from this video is the afore mentioned persistance for the sake of (and confusing effect of) love. The video communicates this meaning, i feel quite clearly, by deciding to make the overall presentation very comedic. This achieves in the delivery of the message as it is very easy to digest, and the over-the-top props used on set create an unrealistic world that works as a metaphor for the effects love can have on people and the somewhat literal extent (travelling through space) that people will go to for a chance at love.
3. I Want to Break Free - Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM8Ss28zjcE&feature=related
This song is also rock in genre and is slightly comedic in its stlye, yet this sense of comedy is more outrageous and obvious; it is not reliant on sexual inuendo. In this video, the band play the roles of the characters who are intentionally breaking the classic representation/stereotype of "housewives". They achieve this by them themselves dressing as women to do the household chores. The lip-sync to the song whilst doing this and the lyrics explain their need to "Break free" in the video they are doing so by dressing as women, but a double meaning is that the women that they are playing want to break free from their everyday chores. This is the meaning that is most prodominant. The audience for this appears as though it could be very large, this is as it appeals to both men (who would find the situation humorous and stereotypically like rock moreso than women) and women (who would be interested to see the portrayal of their gender and find it humorous also). Queen have quite a vast fanbase anyway, but they do genrally appeal to an older generation of perhaps 30+ and male today. Usually it would be associated with working class also, as it is quite a rebellious form of music.
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