Folk Rock is the musical combination of the two genres Folk and Rock music; the genre arose in The US and the UK around the mid 1960's. The genre's background began with the American Folk music revival, the beat of the music of The Beatles, and other British Invasion bands. The Genre was established by the Los Angeles band, The Byrds, who began playing traditional folk music, with Bob Dylan constructed material of rock instrumentation.
Musically, the genre was identified with having clear vocal harmonies and a relevantly "clean" approach to electric instruments, as embodied by the 12-string guitar of The Byrds. The jangly guitar sound derived from the music of The Searchers and from George Harrison's use of Rickenbacker's 12-strings of The Beatles recordings during 1964-65.
The most famous Artists of the Folk Rock genre are-
+ The Byrds
+ Bob Dylan
+ George Harrison
+ The Searchers
Influences from-
+ The Beatles
+ Gerry & the Peacemakers
I have decided to look at the folk and indie band, Mumford & Sons Album, Sigh No More, Album art. I initially chose this as it attracted me through the use of the colours, textured back and juxtaposition feel. Below I have additionally found the image of the Inlay inside the Album, which on my mindmap below I have not evaluated but I will do an additional section in this Blog post. Unfortunately due to the pen and paper use my mind map is not eay to view on the image, so I will do a write up of these notes also.
This is a review of the Album Cover.
+The cropped out shops either side of the shop Mumford & Sons shows their importance, and that they should be the band being listened to, this is supported by the shops either side being empty.
+ Mumford & Sons look like mannequins, like they are for sale.
+ Folk band, in an Urban setting.
+The low angle from the street, appears to be like you are walking past. - Dominanace and power, as it catches your eye.
+Bold black writing, which contrasts the white building. It appears like it is resting on the pavement; It could suggest it is the name of the shop. The title is smaller than the name, so it may be of less importance?
+ The musical instruments in the picture inhance the 'Band Feel'.
+ Clear windows/ No blinds. Shows they are open for people to listen to the music. Wheres in the other shops there is a closed door, and curtains.
+ The colourful flowers and pink windows on one side of the image - different shop and the other side featuring dark and black and white with old pain flaking off the other side inicates that Mumford & Sons are stuck in the middle, as they made their own genre (out of the ordinary folk).
+ They are wearing folky clothes, away from the pop culture. It has a vintage old feel.
+The back links to the front cover in a sense it has the window, this time the content signs such as the open window, gives you the impression to come in and listen of them letting out the music.
+ The texture of the back adds to the vintage feel further.
+The text of the song names gives the impression they are also spilling out the open window. These song Titles also have a arty/indie feel to them.
+ In the building on the right there is also an image of a goat, this links to the country origins of their music and this shows that the group's genre focuses on folk-style music.
+ The '&' shows originallity and old characters that were used.
+ The target audience of this album is vast as it is an indie band, which potentially have many fans. Although the main type of person that would be interested in this music is someone who wanted to unique and get a fresh array of music that is different to mainstream songs.
+ It may also be aimed at audienceswho like to feel the same sense of unity that is gained from, folk-style music and preferto unite with other who have the same country folk interest.This is deferred through the use of elementsthat help highlight country vibes and show a united front portrayed by the band.
+ The title of the CD- Sigh No More, correspons to the music genre being carefree and also the mood highlighted being chilled and calm as there are no pressures.
+ They are shown in a relxaing setting where they feel comfortable with the people around them showing the genre of the music to me light and emphasise community rather than negativity.
+ On the inside of the CD there is a closerpicture of the band, they are shown sitting on the windows that corresponds to the building on the front of the CD cover. However in this picture the windows are showing that the audiences having now purchased he CD are on their journey to exploring the world of the indie country folk, and also showing tat, shows the genre is finding its way to the outside world.
+ After knowing this the back page hold a slightly different meaning, as the window is open and no one is there it perhaps shows that the band have succeededin escaping into the outside world and becoming more appreciated.
+ This layout takes the audience on a narrative journey.
+ An enigma is created to their true identity which will persuede audiences to purchase th album and interact with the band on a more personal level.
Mr. Brightside - The Killers + The Killers' are an indie/rock group.
+ In the Killers' Mr Brightside music video the band are all shown playing their instruments throughout the video and this is one of the main characteristics of this genre, as it shows the meaning of the band performance.
+ Another characteristic of this genre in the video is the use of a love story and specifically a love triangle which is shown visually throughout the video. I believe that the woman is a prostitute and her and her work partners have a pimp they share, but the lead singer of the band playing in the brothel has fallen in love with her.
+ The link between the lyrics and visuals are quite strong, the lyrics explain what is going on in the video, however there is not a direct link between the exact actions made to the lyrics.
+ Mr Brightside is an example of a narrative as it links the visuals with the lyrics and tells the story through the visuals which relates to the song. It also has a dance theme running throughout; it involves clever integration.
+ The video could be considered as post-modern as it presents some challenging ideas of the uniqueness of the location; this unusual but beautiful location is defined by the deep red curtains that the characters are hiding behind and the vivid statues and interesting ceilings. The video could also be considered as post-modern by the doll-like girl who features as one of the main characters and the inter-textual links to the 'Moulin Rouge' theme.
+ Long shots have been used throughout the video to show the band together and playing their instruments, emphasising the skill of the band as it shows them performing together. There is an additional long shot of the lead singer standing at a balcony watching fireworks and the girl running to him. The shot allows the viewer to see the setting as romantic and exciting to watch.
+ Establishing shots are used to set the scene also and this allows the audience to notice the inter-textual links again to the 'Moulin Rogue' theme. A camera movement that has been used is a panning shot from the band moving in to a close up of the lead singer. This allows the audience to identity who the band is and what promotes them.
+ The use of the props helps identify the genre of the video, with the unique use of rustic, Roman statues and red furnishing highlights the indie/rock genre. Additionally it link to the post-modernism theme again.
+ The girl looking unusual has connotations of fantasy because of the white hair and very pale skin, making her appear pure and unreal.
+ Interspersed shots have been used showing the the two guys in the love triangle competing against each other in a chess game, along with the girl looking very mystical and and dreamy with smoke surrounding her. This emphasises the idealised character of the girl which adds to the representation of this genre.
+ The Killers are being represented as clean cut and a classy band. This adds to the meta-narrative already known by the fans as they are shown in the video to be wearing suits and fashionable clothing (for the burlesque theme) adding to the classy image.
+ The lead singer of the band comes across as being quite rebellious because of the secret affair going on between the girl and him. This challenges the ideological representation of The Killers.
+ The ideological discourse in the video shows how women are represented as being the men's beck and call. The women are being presented as an object for male pleasure and consumption. The women during the kiss is being shown as leaning back and submitting to the male advance and this representation conveys the idea that sex is about male aggression and female submission. Although the girl has one up of the lead singer as he is chasing her, and respects her, in contrast to her relationship with her pimp, as he pushes her away.
+ I believe that this music video would appeal to fans of the band, ages 15-27, and will be consumed on music channel, such as MTV, MTVtwo and VH1.
How to save a life- The Fray + The band genre is acoustic Indie.
+ The characteristics that the band is well known for is playing their own instruments and becoming very involved and moved by their songs. The song and music video is very powerful and emotional due to both the components.
+ The meaning of the song seems to be about helping you friends out when they need you most, especially in this when they have a drug addiction, dying or through a break up.
+ The opening shot is an out-of-focus shot of the band, showing they are not the main subject behind this video and the video is more about the subject is it singing about, than the band themselves.
+ The white background also makes it very heavenly or medical. But the plain background can again show that nothing is relevant but the words being sung about.
+ The high angle of all the children makes them seem small and weak, in need of protection.
+ The close up of the red heart being held with the red t-shirt symbolises light within darkness. The heart, which is being held so feebly, can be seen as innocence, good or hope, with the black t-shirt, which is dominating around the hands, can be seen as the tough, dark world, or hopelessness that can be seen within society.
+ The out of focus shot makes the subject nearly lost within the background, only his skin and hair and and jeans are fully visible.
+ The low angle in this shot is used to show power and confidence in the character who is stretching out their hand to the screen. The way it is out of the screen can help the audience think that is can be help for anyone, even the person watching the video.
+ Clips of the main singer, singing whilst playing the piano are also previewed. He also sings into the camera at eye level, showing the he relates to the song too.
+ The record company are aiming the track towards a very wide audience as the growth of the acoustic singers is widening. However I believe that is is targeted at mid-ages teenagers to a much older age group. The target audience for this song could also be anyone that has lost someone important to them and doesn't know how to cope.
+ Throughout the music video words become a visual side to the video as the director of the video has included small and large amounts of text saying words such as 'Touch','Smile','Love' and 'Breathe'; these them become both eye catching to the audience as when their eyes catch a glimpse of the word they automatically read it, by then the audiences mind has processed it to what they think the video is meant to mean by those certain words.
+The Black Eyed Peas, Where is the Love?, is a unforgettable song and music video, initially released in early 2002. The music video is accompanied by an Hip Hop/ R&B styled song, and the video was directed by Will.I.Am, a quarter of the Black Eyed Peas.
+ The main message of this song is about how war, racism and terrorism that is affecting our world. It brings over the message of bombing, terrorism, discriminations and the type of values that we are not showing the youth of today.
+ Shot in Los Angeles, the video itself features the whole of the Black Eyed Peas, and many young children and 'general public' of L.A who are getting shown and explained to, about the message the Black Eyed Peas want to bring across.
+Throughout the music video, there is similar representations of all different ethnicities, in a range of different ages. Such as Black, White, Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic and Latino.
+ The possible audiences of this music video can be split into two categories. Firstly it could attract the younger audiences (age 12-30) as the band is popular with mostly teenagers and young adults, as the Black Eyed Peas are quite youthful and understand the R&B genre. Which the audience can then relate to them, but the older audience may not as much. Secondly the audiences can be from all different racial backgrounds as the overall message of the video is to make everyone aware of issues involved with racism.
+ The first camera shot are hooded youths are seen frantically running around East L.A dressed in black, head to toe running from police cars. We then see them illegally putting up and handing out a symbol of a question mark and stickers around the most popular areas in the city.
+There is a negative stereotype on the black community in the first part of the music video which along with the mise en scene adds to the negative portrayal.
+The clothing choice is usually associated with criminals and have intentions, due to the hood have intentions of committing serious crimes. Although they are just spreading the "?" for an overall positive cause, although to the law it is still criminal; It is not badly crime related.
+ Due to the negative stereotype on the black community it initially comes across to the audience that the other races are more innocent, when is it known this is not the case, just a negative stereotype. A bad stereotype of youths in general are additionally shown in this music video.
+ The police officers arresting a member of the Black Eyed Peas, is white,which can be portrayed as the white race being more heroic and following the law.
+ Fortunately the message the Black Eyed Peas are trying to bring across in all this is that we should all live in one world and respect each other, this is supported when we see and feel sorry for a man from the black community shown looking up at the sky, most probably to God, asking for guidence and asking 'Where is the Love?'. During this clip the camera angle is low, which initially makes him look more powerful to us and possibly indicating that times are changing.
+ The graffiti on the wall in one scene reads the phrase, 'We are not a minority'; a minority being an ethic group of people that only find recognition with people of the same race. This suggests that the people from different races shouldn't be isolated from each other.
+ The technical codes used such as the long camera shots for this particular scene is effective as it allows the audience to see Will.I.Am, an additionally black member of the group standing in front of the graffiti suggesting that this is the race that has fallen victim to racism in society the most.
+ The man's pose on the graffiti resembles Lord Kitchener in the famous " You're country needs you" posters; this well known and powerful pose signifies that Black people are also an important part of society, it helps the representation of them become more positive and reinforces the message behind the whole music video, that black and white should be treated equally.
+ The involvement and close up of the generations, especially the children adds to the message that if the social issues do not change, such a racism then it will effect the next generation. The older female at the end shows that she would like to see a change, since living like this.
Fit but you know it - The Streets
+ At the start the main singer of The Streets, Skinner, goes into a photo printing shop and pays for his holiday photos. When handed to him, these photos become the central point of the video.
+ The artists video are based on normal, personal life and this help the artist to make himself to appear 'an ordinary person' like his audience, which in turn helps him to form a connection with them and thus boost his popularity and sales.
+ The genre of the product is a mixture of rap, garage and techno sounds. These are some of the genres The Streets very often use in their songs.
+ There is a small introduction which helps to communicate the storyline to the audience so they have an understanding which helps make the storyline flow.
+ Throughout the video there is a dual narrative, as the moving photographs held in Skinners hand's shows the rowdy antics of his holiday, whilst the camera still shows Skinner walking through the streets in present day.
+The location is an 'ordinary', everyday location. The use of the location helps reflect The Streets image as they are a typical 'London', British band. This can also relate to the audience as they go to these everyday locations themselves helping to build up a relationship with the artist and his music.
+ The camera work used in this music video, is well done and has a mixture of shots. The use of the long shots whilst panning helps set the scene. Whereas medium shots showing his face when he raps/sings shows he emotion on his face, for example at one point Skinner is angry at an image. The final most used shot was a "point of view" shot. This is used to show the audience what the character was looking at, in the video he is looking at photographs, making us look at them.
+ Editing is mainly used on the photographs he has in his hands. They hare images that start moving and sing along to the song.
+ Diagetic sound is used in the cars driving past, the doorbell ringing and the till opening. But the actual voice over/narrative is diagetic, as the singer is acting but is aware of the music.
+ The Streets attire is very casual and working class looking, this links in with the genre of music and target audience and this is predominately young, male working class music and so the artist dresses this way as a way of fitting in a communicating effectively with his audience.Costume used is casual everyday wear in grey-ish sort of colours, in contrast with the bright holiday in the photographs.
+ The target audience is wider due to it's humour.
+ The representation of women in this music video is that of them being a floozy, and not being as true to herself and discreet as she can be.
+ The overall style of the video is light hearted, with comedy moments and the clever device of the moving photographs in Skinner's hands make it an interesting watch.
+The picture is of Lana Del Rey herself, in a garden type setting, staring directly into the camera.
+The size of her name on the Album indicates her importance and that it is her album alone, and about her voice more than her image and album style.
+ Born to Die, the name of the album additionally adds to the meloncholic feel of the Album cover.
+Her name in white indicates her innocence and possibly the stand out of that and the blue sky. The blue writing for 'Born To Die' suggests that the coordination of it with the sky initially makes it less important and her name of more importance.
+ The positioning of Lana Del Rey can suggest that she is powerful and the most important of the Album due to her being in the middle of the cover.
+Treatment Signs- The camera on a low angle onto her shows she is slightly more dominant and powerful than the audience and that linked with her staring straight into the camera makes this dominance seem more intimidating, and strong.
+The setting is a soft country looking background again showing a contrast in the calm, fresh countryside and her more stern, 'born to die', unhappy exterior.
+ The colour and strength of the lighting gives a feel of a 'perfect neighbourhood' and housewife feel. This and her unhappiness in the title and image can show that she may not be happy and content with the world she is in. Additionally the link to her red/ orange lips and red bra can suggest more...
+Her white shirt suggest that she is fresh, young, and innocent, but the red bra underneath tells you that the exterior may be innocent but her interior may be tougher, like the title suggests.
+ The red/orange lips can additionally suggest that she may want to escape a 'perfect exterior'.
+The shadow in her eyes may make her stare seem darker, along with the heavy mascara. The mouth slightly open or pouting and in an orange tone can initially indicate the importance of her voice or be a sexual attraction.
+The focus of the Album, in your eye is to her as it is slightly clearer, but around her is not much different. This can suggest her power, and significance.
This is a quick first post for my A2 Media Studies Coursework just to introduce you all to my blog, and to find a starting point for my Music and Artist project. Initially I am going to create a copy of a music video, and compare many Album covers, by looking at how the genre and Artist come across to the audience; and the results of a successful and inviting cover.
Folk Rock is the musical combination of the two genres Folk and Rock music; the genre arose in The US and the UK around the mid 1960's. The genre's background began with the American Folk music revival, the beat of the music of The Beatles, and other British Invasion bands. The Genre was established by the Los Angeles band, The Byrds, who began playing traditional folk music, with Bob Dylan constructed material of rock instrumentation..bmp)
