Here is the pitch to our music video. The song we have chosen to use is Drive by Oh Wonder (Official Audio Below). We have chosen this song because it has perfect climbs and lulls during the song that allow us to use these to our advantage by matching it with shots that will create our desired effect on the audience. I have attached a copy of the Slideshow that we used to pitch our music video.
How has the image of Miley Cyrus developed over time?
Miley Cyrus, aged 22, rose to fame after auditioning for Disney Channel's 'Hannah Montana' when she was 12 in 2006. After receiving the role she rapidly became famous for her acting and singing.
Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, is a country singer who was famous when she was younger. He also got the role of playing her dad in 'Hannah Montana'. 2007: She signed her first recording contract, and released her first hit single 'See You Again'. Her first image was set for her to become a teen idol, for children to look up to her and be inspired to be like her. 2008: Her second album was released, 'Breakout'. This album included her popular single '7 things'. This also launched her film career as the voice of Penny in 'Bolt'.
2009: Miley featured in The Hannah Montana Movie that had a successful single 'The Climb'. At this point, Miley was still seen as the teen idol but of course, after having grown up, her fans grew up with her. Her style and clothing were always natural and appropriate for her fans. Miley also released an extended play in 2009 called 'The Time of Our Lives'. This album included the popular song 'Party in the USA.' This song accompanies a music video that begins to show Miley as having grown up rather a lot since the beginning of Hannah Montana. She is seen wearing short shorts and cowboy boots. This is the first time we are shown how Miley grew up being from Tennessee rather than LA. She sings about the true country girl in herself, which contributes to her next image portrayal. 2010: in 2010 Miley released her third album 'Can't be Tamed'. With this, her new single 'Can't Be Tamed' is accompanied by a music video that portrays Miley to have become more of a woman than a teen idol. She sings about being impossible to tame and dances with other dancers whilst dressed in a 'sexy' black outfit showing lots of skin. Also in this year she starts in the coming-of-age film, 'The Last Song'. This year for Miley showed her grow up the most. She became more and more aware of her personal appearance to become 'the male gaze', and her unconditional talent of singing and acting proved her to be more than the teen idol she used to be.
Between 2010 and 2013 Miley made her most dramatic image change to date. Miley still stayed in touch with her country roots in 2012 when she sang a cover of her Godmother's (Dolly Parton) song 'Jolene' in her 'Backyard Sessions'.
She had moved away from the 'Can't Be Tamed' phase of dressing to play the part of a Teen finally grown up and is now seen as a smart young lady. She cut her hair shorter to just below her shoulders. Many fans of Miley's would follow her image changes and copy them. In 2012, Miley made the drastic decision of changing her hairstyle completley. Below show the images of two public appearances before and after she cut her hair. This was the beginning of a huge change in image for Miley.
In 2013, Miley released her fourth album 'Bangerz' showing a completely new image that was unexpected by the world. Singing singles such as, 'Can't stop' and 'Adore you', Miley had created a whole new image for herself that made her fourth album more popular than ever. 'We Can't Stop' left the world in shock after Mileys accompanying music video showed a party animal rebel that had changed so much in the past year.
The song that got her the most recognition from her new album was ofcourse, 'Wrecking Ball' that received 795,897,999 hits on Youtube. The purity of her face in the first frame is different to anything that her fans had ever seen. She shocked many people by posing naked on the wrecking ball, and definitely left her stamp by being the main focus of many parodies to come after this video was released. She definitely got the attention of many people.
Since 2013: Miley has kept the image of being a crazy/rebellious party animal. she has grasped the attention of press all around the world for her loud behaviour and extraordinary stage presence. The difference between her first Hannah Montana Tour and her recent Bangerz tour couldn't be more different. She has collaborated with artists who are not appropriate for young teenagers or children, which contrasts what Miley used to be like during Hannah Montana. An example of this is her collaboration with will.i.am in the song Feelin' Myself.
2014
2008
During the summer of 2015: Miley went back to doing her Backyard sessions similar to the ones she did in 2012. The theme of her covers are somewhat similar to the ones in 2012 yet of course her image has changed. She still shows to have perfect singing ability and although the dramatic change in her change in 2013, she still manages to maintain her good reputation of being a beautifully accredited singer.
To begin our music video project, We began looking at the different types of music videos and soon found that most music videos fall into three main categories of the way in which they are presented.
We chose one music video from each category and further analysed them.
These categories are: -Performance music videos: David Bowie, Life on Mars? -Conceptual music videos: Queen, I Want to Break Free
and -Narrative music videos: Bon Jovi, Always
We analysed the music videos by commenting on the main style of the video and the stages that it goes through, describing the image of the artist, describing the purpose of the music video and if there were any 'WOW' moments within the video.
Describe the style of the music video. Describe the 'stages' the video goes through. David Bowie, Life on Mars?
This video is a performance piece by David Bowie. As you can see, there are lots of long shots used to present the detail in his person. He is very serious in his appearance to show that this performance is not humorous and is important. the detail allows the audience to connect with the artist through the bold makeup and 'different' colour suit to the classic black suit and tie. Queen, I Want to Break Free
This video is more humorous than David Bowies, Life on Mars? The first shot involves Freddie Mercury, dressed as a woman hoovering a carpet which is very humorous for the audience to watch because they are not used to seeing him in this light. This music video is based on the concept of wanting something more out of life. Freddie is dressed as a house wife but only dreams to be in the 'bigger world' so the video progresses to reveal Freddie looking at a photograph hanging in the wall of the house, only to notice that as the photograph zooms in, it comes to life and he is actually in the shot. Bon Jovi, Always
this narrative video involves the heartbreak of a man who loses his girlfriend due to cheating and then realises that he has a made a big mistake, only to find that when he returns after he, she has gone off with another guy. The story begins very mellow and comfortable as the couple are in love. As the song progresses, so does the video. It becomes heightened. The characters begin to get enhance their performance and become more intriguing. There are cutaways to show the performance of Bon Jovi playing with passion throughout the whole video, becoming more intense and emphasised just like the characters do as the video progresses.
Describe the image of the artist(s) that is being represented. How is this technically achieved? David Bowie, Life on Mars? In this video, David Bowie is being represented as being serious about the issue he is singing about. He is singing about being alone and not fitting in his world. The use of extreme close ups allow the audience to connect with him. His outfit and extreme outfit allow us to see that he is 'different' to the typical stereotypical artist, therefore clarifying his position he is singing about in his song. Queen, I Want to Break Free Freddie Mercury is being represented as very humorous in this video. He is dressed as a woman and is acting very melodramatic, therefore allowing the audience to enjoy the song and enjoy his performance. Bon Jovi, Always Bon Jovi are being represented as very passionate about there song. As they sing about love, they show the passion in their voices and connect well with the song, therefore allowing the audience to become involved with the lyrics.
What is the purpose of the music video? What is it designed to do to your opinion? David Bowie, Life on Mars? David Bowie is trying to send a serious message in this video that he feels alone in the world and is different. On the contrary he is showing he isn't afraid to be different because of the extravagancy of his makeup and the colour of his suit. He is the only person in the whole music video which shows he is not afraid to be the centre of attention, yet at the same time, he is singing about a sensitive topic of not being the centre of attention. Queen, I Want to Break Free This video is more for the audience to relate their lives to it. People always want to strive for their larger dreams and so this video gives the lyrics justice and puts the artists in the same position as the audience of always wanting more out of their life. Bon Jovi, Always This video is very specific in the narrative and what actually happens therefore it is harder for the audience to actually relate in detail. But by watching this, the audience can still feel some of what the characters might be feeling, therefore trying to send the message of losing and learning, and always remembering that love is not a hard emotion to simply release.
Any 'WOW' moments? David Bowie, Life on Mars? The first vertical pan revealing David Bowie in a close up of his face and his body. Queen, I Want to Break Free The first moment we see Freddie Mercury dressed as a woman Bon Jovi, Always The moment that the boyfriend lights fire to an apartment of a man that his girlfriend was seeing. It amplifies the smoothness of the video.
After looking at all of these music videos, We then commented on the representation of each artist, and also commented on features of the music video style and the way in which it complements the according representation.
BEYONCÉ-CRAZY IN LOVE
comments on representation:
used to contribute to the Male Gaze.
Beyoncé is central to the camera composition
used to convert girl power
her ethnicity is represented as being Ghetto stylish and glamourised
comments on features of the music video style:
her body is emphasised as being sexy
romance and flirtation with Jay-Z the male character
ED SHEERAN-THINKING OUT LOUD
comments on representation:
his loyalty to the female character
non threatening, innocent, romantic
he is showing elegance
metrosexuality contributing to emotional depth
comments on features of the music video style:
balanced between both genders
female gaze, sleeves rolled up to reveal tattoos, nice suit.
BACKSTREET BOYS-I WANT IT THAT WAY
comments on representation:
they are represented as a group
suggestively desirable, through the fans in their video, having a named jet
being unthreatening and presented as the boys next door
