Questionnaires (Facebook)

we decided to ask some questionnaires to find out what our target audience and the public think to music. to guarantee that we asked a wide range of people we used a social networking group (Facebook). we asked a simple, but hopefully effective question; "what is your favorite music?".

we provided some more frequent answers, and had a box at the bottom to allow people to add their own answers. the provided answers were:

• Acoustic
• Classical
• Drum and Bass
• Dubstep
• Grime
• Heavy Metal
• House Music
• Pop
• Rn'B

below is a print screen of the questionnaire showing some of the initial results. it is clear to see that Grime and Rap are in the lead (with 5 votes each). Acoustic follows (4 votes) with Drum and Bass (3 votes) taking 3rd place. Drum and Bass and Rn'B (1 vote) are both at the bottom of voted answers, with the others not even scoring a vote.

Codes and Conventions of a R n' B Video

R&B music videos often include women and the main singer dancing. There is usually quite low lighting, with flashing lights to create a club scene which is the usual setting for a R&B music video. The women in these music videos are often wearing revealing clothing and dancing in a sexual way. These videos portry wealth and power and there are usually cars, lots of jewlery, alcohol and money.

What is a Digipak?

This is the Wikipedia definition of a digipak;
"Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak^[2] is often used generically, even when the media holder is a hub or "Soft Spot"^[3] rather than a full plastic tray."

CD Insert

front cover

What I consider a digipak to be is a limited edition CD that has fold out flaps and extra album art, posters, lyrics, etc. for example the "Death Magnetica" by Metallica. this is part of there limited edition album for the latest album "Death Magnetica". You can see the insert booklet for the CD case, it has an interesting pattern going all the way through making it more of an experience that a piece of reading material.

Some digipaks might also include special download able content such as limited edition songs, images, games or even videos.

ANALYIS OF FOREIGN BEGGARS & NOISIA 'CONTACT'

This is a song by a rap duet called Foreign Beggars, this was a collaboration track with Noisia. the songs title i called contact, it is a fast song with loud and repetitive beats. this is a very steryo typical video for a rap song it starts with a man walking down the street in a hoodie with the hood up (very stereotypical of the audience that would listen to this song, youths with loose trousers and hoodies) he is entering the same phrase over again " YER, YER, YER, YER!!" the way he says this and the arm gestures make you instantly recognize him as a rapper. the construction of the video contains three main locations: a set/gig at a venue, out on a street in black and white and a black room with there logo in the back ground. However, half way through the video "2:38" they start adding random clips that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the song, a man dressed as Vishnu and a man holding a record player.

The music has a close relationship with the visual of this video, for example there is a wobble bass line that is consistent in most of the video. the way they have Incorporated this into the video is by using a wobble affect on the camera as if there is a earthquake "0:31", some of the lyrics also fit the visual for example when Orifice Vulgatron the man to the right of this image says "been around the block still pack shows enit" it cuts to them on a street corner rapping with fellow member of the group Metropolis to the left of this image. after the couplet it then cuts to a slow motion clip of them rapping on stage at a venue "0:43-0:47".

I feel that Foreign Beggars would be a good inspiration for the type of music video I hope to create. This is a quote from wikipedia describing them;
"Foreign Beggars are a critically acclaimed English Hip Hop, Grime and Dubstep group based in London. The group consists of MCs Orifice Vulgatron, Metropolis, producer Dag Nabbit and DJ Nonames and are renowned for their eclectic and energetic live shows. Currently performing well over a hundred shows a year the group has performed with a number of high profile artists spanning a range of musical genres. Foreign Beggars release their records through Dented Records a label which was created and owned by the group to support their own material and a host of UK underground artists."

They also have a website to promote themselves this will be good research when creating my own website for my artist/group. http://www.foreignbeggars.com/

Video Analysis - Calvin Harris - Bounce feat. Kelis

This is a video analysis of the recently released song 'Bounce' by Calvin Harris featuring Kelis.

Right from the start there is titles, such as the artists names (as seen on the right) which gives it a movie like intro feel.

The movie intro feel continues with more titles (as shown below, the songs name) where it also incorporates Andrew Goodwin's 6 features, where there is a relationship between both the lyrics (Bounce) and the music with the ball bouncing and title. (Upbeat 'bouncey' type).

The start of the music video gives the idea of a story, in it two people are engaged in an arguement and the woman shouts at him to 'bounce'. With the sound of sirens in the distance this gives the word the slang meaning which is to go/leave/move etc. He throws her a necklace which could either signify that he's either A. stolen it, or B. breaking up with her and the sirens actually have no meaning. However, after the lyrics start there is the lyrics "I can't believe it, every day and every night, its getting better with you out of my life" which would show that its actually the second option, B, that he's broken up with her and he's gone off out to party. This is further reinforced by him them going home changing his clothes which even though is a normal thing to do and pretty insignifigant, it could represent how he's changing everything about his life.

As soon as the lyric period is done and its just music that kicks in it shows him out with what I presume to be his friends enjoying himself and letting himself loose really, which would represent that he has broken the ties that would've held him down and is now living his life.


There is a close up of the featured artist in the video which is of no doubt to of course raise awareness of the artist. Also there is the typical voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

The artist Calvin Harris also appears very briefly later on in the video. With more time focused on the featuring artist it shows that they are trying to show them off to give them recognigition.

This genre also tends to sterotype women in this way. Through the video there is various shots of women in a voyeuristic manner, including scenes of sexual nature. Thus, the video lives up to sterotypes.

First Post - Introduction

This is my new Blog for A2 media, in this i will keep you up to date with my groups progress and our production company "StandHard Productions". the group is remaining the same however, the is one difference; Ryan a former member of the group isn't taking A2 on. we hope to make a video that you will be proud of. we are so exited about this music video project,with so many ideas buzzing around our heads. we cant wait to show case our ideas and get feed back.