A2 MEDIA STUDIES (CIE)
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-MUSIC VIDEO-
INITIAL IDEAS
Idea 1 - Summertime Sadness, Lana del Rey
My music video was inspired by the music video of "Summertime Sadness" by Lana del Rey. I used ideas of the style, the characteristics and the different features the music video has.
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Firstly, the camera work that she uses is a 'handheld' camera which gives an effect of natural motion. There are mostly eye level close-ups of Lana's face which makes it more intimate for the audience. I am going to use this type os camera work for my music video as I want my music video to appeal this aesthetics.
For the mise en scene of the 'Summertime Sadness' video is all based on the 50s, her costumes are also inspired on actresses from those years, for example Marilyn Monroe. Her make-up is also very typical from the 50s, as she uses eyeliner and red lipstick.
The editing used in Lana del Rey's music video is vintage and uses retro filters which makes it look more vintage. I am going to use these filters to make it more homemade appealing in some of the clips, as I am seeking for this aesthetic. She also uses a montage of different clips, which I am also going to include in my music video. In the indie music videos long shot are more common, which I am going to add on mine.
The narrative of the music video is a love story of two women and how there are falling apart and the stage of grief after the actresse commits suicide.
The intertextuality used in 'Summertime Sadness' choses to make connection with religion in different scenes to connote to the significance that religion has on the singer.
My Final Idea - 'Breathe Me' by Sia
I chose this song as it is reflecting the feeling of not being enough, she is also presenting the feeling of worthessless she has. Ultimatelly 'Breathe Me' is a sad song whose main themes center on depression and desperately wanting to have a friend to lean on.
I also chose this song as it is following the genre that I want to used for my music video as it is more indie music.
LYRICS ANALYSIS
Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame
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Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, enfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up and breathe me
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Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found
Yeah I think that I might break
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe
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Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, enfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up and breathe me
Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, enfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up and breathe me
Verse 1:
She starts the song with the word 'Help', which makes a strong entry for the song as she is seaking for help.
Additionally the phrase 'Hurt myself again today' also shows how she is in a stage of depression and anxiety.
Chorus:
She then talks about how she needs a friend lo lean on in hard moments. Additionally she talks about how weak she is and the unpleasent moment she is having.
Verse 2:
Sia is expressing how does it feel to fall back into depression and the feeling of loneliness.
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Chorus:
She is in need to have someone beside her and help her and understand her.
TARGET AUDIENCE
For the majority of the indie music videos the target audience is from 16-22, that is why I took this as a reference and has young adults for my target audience.
The target audience for my music video is young adults, as it is an alternative / indie song. Nowadays the majority of the teenagers listen to pop style music and therefore my target audience is not teenagers.
For the theme and the narrative of my music video I thought that young adults and adults will be able to understand it better and identify with the singer. For the audience to relate with the song and the music video is very important as it creates a connection between both the singer and the listener that makes the listener feel the song with more affection. Additionally as the song has a big and deep message it is more likely for an adult to be able to understand it than a teenager.
INTERTEXTUALITY IN MUSIC VIDEO
Intertextuality is the relationship between media products where one text references another text by reusing some ideas and concepts.
Examples of INTERTEXTUALITY in music videos:
1) 'Fancy' by Iggy Izaela
She is using reference from the movie 'Mean Girls' and using it in her music video. She mainly uses the same outfits and the same setting in a highschool, she also uses the same best friend from the movie. In this way she is using intertextuality as she is using ideas and concepts from another media text.
Intertextuality might be used to appeal to the audience as it can give a sense of nostalgia and the audience is going to be able to identify the key parts of the music video in which intertextuality is used. This can also attract a wider audience as fans of the other media text used in the new one are going to want to see it.
2) 'Bad Blood' by Taylor Swift:
In this music video there are referencing to the movie 'Kill Bill' because of the representation of characters.
I am going to use intertextuality in my music video as I am getting the ideas and concepts out of other music videos that I feel they are of my genre. For example 'Summertime Sadness' by Lana del Rey, I am going to get ideas like for example the filters she uses and the aesthetic in general. This I think it will make it more appealing for my target audience.
REPRESENTATION IN MY VIDEO
In my music video I decided to only use one character and it is a female, in this may I am punctuating the message of the song. As the song is transmitting the feeling of being alone and not having someone by your side. Additionally, the only part in my music video which is showing stereotypes is when she is applying red lipstick. What I wanted to transmit with the red lipstick is empowerment and it is also a very feminine feature.
MOODBOARD
ARTIST PROFILE
My artist is called Mabel Smith, and she is an 18 years old that is just realising her first album 'Holding On'. She started with singing classes when she was only 5 and then she new she wanted to do more music. After a few years writing her own songs she came up with the songs in 'Holding On'. The lyrics in all the songs of the album transmit her feelings and the different stages of her life. 'Breathe Me' is the main song of the album and with this song she is portraying how she needs someone by her side, just like the lyrics say.
ACTRESS PROFILE
I chose for the artist as myself (Maria Cebrian), I thought I was the ideal person to be able to reflect the idea of the song. I am also 18 yers old, as well as the artist, and in this way I new how she was feeling.
The artist using an actor or actress for their music video has been seen before. For example, in the music video 'Chandelier' by Sia, she is using Maddie Ziegler for her actress.
