Star Analysis - Wheatus

Star Analysis – Wheatus

There have been many members come in and out of the band, these being mainly backup vocals, 20 people have come and go, however as to main knowledge the main band members have stayed the same, their most popular song was Teenage Dirtbag, previous members include; Vanessa Jimenez, Michael Bellar, Michael Tully and 17 more. The current band members are Brendon B. Brown, Mathew Milligan, Karlie Bruce, Gabrielle Aimee Sterbenz, Mark Palmer, and Leo Freire.

They as well come under several types of genres not only because of the music they release but also because of different times have changed…

• ·         Alternative Rock
• ·         Pop Rock
• ·         Power Rock

Many labels have also gone to sign them on including…

• ·         Song BMG Music
• ·         Entertainment
• ·         Montauk Mantis

History

The band itself originated from Northport in New York, it started in 1995 but the only originally band member Brendon B. Brown, who made the band with his brother. Peter Brown was on Drums, Rich Liegey who was originally on Bass and Vocals, and Philip A. Jimenez on various percussion instruments, keyboards, harmonica, providing samples and special effects. The name of the band has been formed after Brendon and Peter took note of the nickname their father often gave them.

Since starting they’ve had multiple hits songs, however there first and largest hit was Teenage Dirtbag which had debuted at number 2 in the UK Single Charts, since then came a number of successful songs and several albums…

• ·         Hand Over Your Loved Ones  (Suck Fony)
• ·         TooSoonMonsoon
• ·         Pop, Songs & Death, Vol 1: The Lightning EP
• ·         Pop, Songs & Death, Vol. 2: The Jupiter EP
• ·         The Valentine LP

By Danniella Chapman

Director Research - Michel Gondry

Director Research

Michel Gondry

Michel Gondry is a French independent film director, screen writer and producer. He is known for his in creative visual style and unique operation of mise-en-scene.  In 2004 Michel Gondry had won an Academy Award for Best Orignal Screenplay as one of the writers of eternal sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which was also ranked one of the best films in the 2000s.

He's well known for his music video collaborations with Beck, The Chemical Brothers, Bjork and The White Stripes.

Michel Gondry has been directing videos with artist that are known world-wide; such as Daft Punk, directing the song ‘Around the World’, Foo Fighters directing ‘Everlong’, Wyclef Jean ‘Another One Bites The Dust’; also directing a music video for one of the world’s most known band, The Rolling Stones directing ‘Gimme Shelter’

Michel Gondry had the use of closeups when directing music videos, mostly closeups of the artists face which will identify who he is to the audience, as well as using closeupson the products used in videos such as Wyclef Jean in 'Another One Bites The Dust' which is promoting the products as well as the artist himself.

By Nathan Gilbert

Music Video Analysis - P Money

Goodwin’s Music Video Analysis

Wiley: P Money

In the music video of ‘P Money’ Wiley has a variety of different dance moves but all match the beat of the music and the style of dance goes with the music itself; for instance when the beat drops in he begins to rather step to the beat or jump up and down to it, this tells me that the genre’s characteristics are in their case ‘hyped’ or being ‘active’. This shows that the type of people to this will do the general things that are happening in the video, being going to a mc battle or going to a house party.

During the music video as well as dancing to the beat of the music, his hand gestures and body language match with the lyrics that he’s saying; for instance when he’s talking about being a pro he mentions Hullet known to be a legendary footballer and how he was like a bullet and does the hand gesture of a gun. He does this throughout the video, as well as all of his other videos he tries to match his actions with his lyrics as well as matching the dance to the beat of the music.

The genre grime always has the use of rather a track with a lot of base and treble, which creates excitement in the atmosphere; as the tracks have the use of bass and treble this can create an adrenaline for the audience, especially if the music is loud it affects the audience as a result of jumping up and down a lot, or everyone performing a dance where they’re all synchronised and in time with one another.

In this music video the use of close ups show the dance moves he’s performing, mostly throwing his arms around but moves them to the beat of the music, but the dances that are performed in the video is a dance that every fan does that watches his music videos; in all of his videos he has the use of dances that involve his hands going to the beat of the music if not jumping up and down.

In most of his music videos he uses lyrics that a high percentage of people know about, meaning he’d create lyrics that have been heard from the news, talking about famous people or even making lyrics about another former MC.  They do this because this brings the audience hype, making them think that there may be a clash battle occurring soon about the two MCs, things brings a lot of attraction to the two MCs as this is something that can also be a joke that sometimes continues on to other music videos and gets them more fame for what they’re doing.

By Megan Birch

Music Video Analysis - In Too Deep

Goodwin’s Music Video Analysis

Sum 41 – Pop Punk Music

The early 2000’s were an era for pop punk, as teenagers around the world related to the rebelliousness that the type of music portrays in the music videos. This is also relatable to bands such as Sum 41, and their song ‘In Too Deep’ which is still often played today. The rebelliousness of the band is in theory what drew the audience in and it portrays itself in the music video as well.

• The characteristics of a pop punk music video are simply…
• ·         Particularly All Male Band
• ·         Rebelling against the stereotypes
• ·         Live Band playing
• ·         Doesn’t always have a link to the song
• ·         Large area of people

The music video ‘In Too Deep’ ticks almost every single one of the characteristics to the pop punk music videos codes and conventions, there are multiple moments during the music video where you can see the rebellious attitude come off of the band members, and while there is a more closer link to the song itself and the music video, there aren’t many moments when this link is clearly visible, and may even only spot it if you are paying close attention.

One of the biggest links between the music video and song are during the chorus, as its more than obvious they’re in a pool, while they do a live performance, and the camera quickly switches to them diving into a pool during a diving competition, the lyrics ‘Cause I'm in too deep, and I'm trying to keep, Up above in my head, instead of going under.’ Obviously relates to the idea that they’re too deep within the pool, or they’re getting deeper, which is why they are trying to keep their head up above. In the music video they are also in an empty pool near the shallow end, and diving off the boards.

‘Just as things were looking up, you said it wasn't good enough. But still we're trying one more time.’  This line is a link to the music video as when they arrive at the swimming pool, the crowd was cheering for them. This relates to the line ‘Just as things were looking up’ as the crowd was cheering for the, the line ‘you said it wasn’t good enough. But still we’re trying one more time,’ in the music video the other swim team was being booed and they were putting down Sum 41, so more or less the band is trying one more time to rise above.

The last line that relates to the music video is ‘because I'm bending over backwards to relate.’ This line links to the music video as when the band sings in, one of the members is also doing a back flip off the diving board, bending his back, linking it to the music video.

During the music video, it’s set up almost identical to All the Small Things, by Blink 182.  During the music video there is a lot of close up’s of the lead singer mainly to show the emotion on his face and to add to the rebelliousness of the band itself within the music video, there is also a lot shots of the band when doing a live performance in the pool, just like Blink 182 when they’re in the airport, there are also close up’s of the band when they’re diving off of the board.

By Danniella Chapman

Music Genres

Music Genres

A music genre is a conventional method of categorising something that identifies itself with some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of technical and symbolic media conventions. Music genres are distinguished by the musical form and musical style present in the musical material, although in practice these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

There are currently 1264 genres and sub genres of music, amongst some of the most popular music genres in the world currently are:

• ·         Rap
• ·         Rock
• ·         Pop
• ·         K-POP
• ·         R&B
• ·         Country
• ·         Latin EDM

Nathan Gilbert

Music Video Analysis - Fatlip

Goodwins Music Video Analysis

Sum 41 – Pop Punk

In the music video ‘Fatlip’ it shows the band themselves jumping around on the stage and they sing with a bit of aggression in their voice like they’re shouting; the dance hasn’t necessarily got a routine as everyone has a different dance, whether its head banging or jumping around to the beat of the music; the video shows a lot of energy as the scene is also at a street party from start to finish.

The lyrics match the music video in most parts of the video; as they state at the start ‘storming through the party’, and in the video it shows a smaller group of boys barging through a load of people. Also throughout the whole video it shows different people doing different out-of-control things, such as coming down a hill in a box and falling out of it while trying to drink at the same time; the music video contains party animals throughout, the lyrics match the actions that are happening in the background of the music video.

The music itself is very quick and loud and also has a range of noises at the same time; the band has the use of three guitars and a drummer, this creates a hype for the audience which leads them all to just jumping around, or being hyped up/violent; watching the band themselves gives of an aggressive atmosphere as well as being fun/happy; it shows everyone having a good time.

In every music video they always have the same type of hair style, being long; scruffy and spiked up or just really short. The type of clothing that they wear is usually rather baggy, and most videos they are usually coloured dark or red; which can represent the fact that they have a scruffy style and the colour that often occurs can represent the fact that the band have dark thoughts, meaning careless about the type of things that happen in the music video.

In some of the music videos that I’ve watched myself some of the music videos link; for example the song ‘Fatlip’ is the introduction of one of their songs ‘In Too Deep’ which then suggests that the songs are linked in with each other, as well as the videos; it’s like it’s sending out a message to the audience to have fun and party wherever you go, don’t change for anyone else.

By Danniella Chapman

Meeting Minutes - 22/09/16