After reviewing the Black Keys’ music video for “Just Got To Be,” I tried to think of other music videos that pulled off the concept of just a singer and a band playing in one location without necessarily any storyline. I wanted a video that was even simpler than the one by the Black Keys. I found just what I was looking for in Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” Music Video.
Released in 1986, the video immediately shot to the top of the charts and is credited for most of the song’s instant success. It was ranked number 3 on VH1’s Top 20 Videos of the 1980s, and for very good reason. The video is extremely simple and features Robert Palmer singing the song in a black tie and black pants surrounded by mannequin-looking, identically dressed high fashion models pretending to play various instruments. The background is some type of cloudy red sky and the “band” is playing on top of what appears to be a dirty concrete floor. The film does not feature many quick, fast cuts like the Black Keys video does, however, I don’t feel it needs them. It still is able to cut with the beat and switch from shots of the models, to shots of their instruments, to shots of Palmer with great ease in transition. Really, the acting by Robert Palmer and the casting of the models are what made this film great.
This video is definitely a classic. Directed by famous British film director and photographer, Terence Donovan, this video created a style all its own and set the stage for many other similar music videos to follow. For this reason, I feel it deserves at least a 4.9 out of 5. It was the first of its kind and is still the model for all other music videos of this genre.
Released in 2006, this song is definitely not one of their newest. However, the simple brilliance of this music video is just astounding. It simply features the band playing in what appears to be some sort of small, vintage-looking private concert hall. All of their shots are of them playing on the stage of this building, and yet I can really feel the emotion that the band put into the song. This video exists solely to express the meaning and emotion of the song.
There is no elaborate storyline in this film; however, I think it works just fine without one. The cuts are perfect and in-sync with the music on every beat and this really helps to get the viewer engaged with the song. Also helpful are shots of the guitarist, Dan Auerbach, getting really into the song and playing his guitar with some head banging and hard strumming. This director displays his brilliance as he often cuts away from scenes just at the moment that Auerbach or the drummer, Patrick Carney, head bangs or makes any dramatic movements. His scenes follows the rule of thumb for music videos, with quick cuts and flashes at every point to keep the viewer interested. Also helpful is the use of strobe lights throughout the dramatic parts of the song to highlight the feeling and up-tempo rhythm of the song.
All in all, this was a great video and was quite amazing in it’s simplicity. Usually I am not a big fan of videos featuring the band simply playing by themselves with no storyline or plot, however, in this case I will make an exception. This is a hard genre of music video to pull off, but they did it quite well. For this reason, I give this video a 4.5 out of 5.
This video starts out with the band playing in a set made of solid concrete on all sides except for the front as the lead singer, Adam Levine, flashes back to memories of an ex-lover. Later, it evolves into an elaborate walking scene featuring Levine navigating though several interesting and unusual situations and eventually reaching the restaurant she is at only to discover that she is with another man. He walks off feeling discouraged, and after he leaves the girl turns her head to glance at where he used to be, but he his no longer there.
This was an interesting music video, however I felt it could have been much better. Here are a few of my pros and cons about the film:
·Pros:
oGood shot selection: Some of the scenes were set up brilliantly. For example:
§The opening scene with the full band in the concrete room
§When Adam first walks into the alley after exiting the concrete room
§The restaurant scene when he spots his ex with another man
§The last scene when she turns around to look in that direction, but he is not there
oGood acting: The feelings appeared pretty genuine between Levine and his “ex-lover” as shown by their facial shots
oInteresting transfer from black and white to color scenes
§Helped set the mood for the video
·Cons:
oNot a great storyline
§Started off good, but got semi-confusing in the walking scenes especially when Adam appears to get ambushed by a clown, a Chinese Dragon, families taking photos, etc.
·Not too sure, but perhaps the point of these side scenes was to show how he can get distracted from her but he won’t ever “go home without her”
·Either way, there has to be a better way of showing this
In conclusion, I think this was an interesting video that I will still watch occasionally, however it will not make my “best video” list anytime soon. I have been quite impressed with Maroon 5 music videos in the past, and I admire the shot selection and use of flashbacks in this film, but am a bit put off by the meandering plot. Overall, I would have to give this video a rating of 3.3 out of 5.
Debuting in 2008, Kevin Rudolf’s electronically charged rock hit “Let It Rock” raced through the charts to eventually reach #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 list and landed the 28th spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 best songs of 2008. With a catchy beat, funky electronic synthesizer riff and a true rock guitar chorus backing it up, it definitely stood out from the crowd.Its music video did just the same.
Directed by Justin Francis, this video was definitely not lacking in any sort of special effect whatsoever. Composed mainly of green screen work and lighting effects, this video is a tribute to the music videos of the previous generation whose main purpose was to promote the artist and his work in union with the song. There are several scenes I like in this film. Here are a few:
1. 1.The first few opening scenes with the dark silhouettes of Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne. This was a great intro to the video and it definitely establishes the style that the director has chosen to use.
2. 2.The scenes with the moving green box in the background of Kevin Rudolf as he is singing into the microphone. This scene mainly serves to draw the viewer’s attention to the rhythm and speed of the song as well as the artist himself. It serves as a virtual roller coaster of sorts and allows the viewer to experience the music at a whole different level.
3. 3. The scenes featuring Kevin Rudolf playing his guitar on top of what appears to be a stack of speakers with either flashing white lines or a shot of himself playing guitar in bright LED lights in the background.
I think this video really helps establish who Kevin Rudolf is...a rock star. The point of all music videos is to promote the band or artist they feature. I think this video accomplishes this objective very well and is also very visually pleasing. All in all, I would count this as a job well done and a great introduction for a rising star.
Released in 2009, this is a very fun and entertaining music video. Aside from Michael Buble’s impeccable singing abilities, he also possesses a talent for acting (or at least semi-acting) in music videos. His performance was amazing and I was very impressed with the storyline of this film.
This is one of the most complex films I have reviewed so far. It began with Michael Buble singing while walking through the frozen foods section of a grocery store and evolved into a full-fledged dancing extravaganza starring all the employees and shoppers. One of my favorite scenes is when Michael first sets eyes on his “dream girl” in the frozen foods isle. As soon as they lock eyes, the lights begin to flicker in the store and it is a semi-magical moment. Another scene I really appreciated was halfway through the video when all the workers and shoppers began to dance. However, the final dancing scene was probably my favorite. When the marching band began to play and the shoppers rushed out into the street, the feeling of excitement was quite intoxicating. I felt like I truly was in this video and wondered, “Where can I find this awesome grocery store?”
In conclusion, the key to the success of this video was definitely the choreography and storyline. In the end, when you find out that Michael was singing to a random cashier while waiting in the checkout line, you can almost sense the awkwardness of the situation. And, when he walks past his “dream girl” while leaving the store, it pretty much sums up nearly every person’s feelings about relationships. There are several moments in your life when you picture a relationship working out much differently than it actually did. Despite his grandiose visions of romanticized revelry, he must now face the hard reality that he “just hasn’t met her yet.”
This video, which debuted in 2008 and was directed by Hype Williams, is in my opinion, one of the most interesting and original videos I have seen. This is due in part to the outgoing and personable nature of Chris Martin, the band's lead singer, as well as the unique style of Hype Williams.
The film is a very simple concept, with the band “performing” in front of a textured, highly filtered and stretched backdrop of their album’s cover artwork.The video contains several interesting and beautiful sequences and is as much a work of art as their album cover painting by Eugène Delacroix. The opening shot of a blooming rose is quite brilliant in its simplicity and is perhaps a metaphor to the “blooming” nature of the band, representing their rise to prominence and the eventual perfection of their art.Another scene I am particularly fond of is about thirty seconds into the video when the guitarist, Johnny Buckland, is seen playing his guitar. No detail is spared in this simple scene, as the outline of the guitar is highlighted with white neon lines and the theme of the letter “V” is emphasized on the body of the guitar. I am also especially fond of the last shots in the film where the band appears to be transforming into rose petals and drifting away with the wind as they stand with their instruments.
Overall, I emphasize that this video would not have been the same without the superb performance of the band members themselves and without Hype Williams’ brilliant direction and eye for beauty. Nearly three years later, this is still one of the best music videos I have seen and it truly takes the concept of film as a medium of art to the next level.
The video opens with Lupe Fiasco gazing in the mirror of his dressing room before he takes the stage to perform at a concert. Just one level above him we can hear the crowd cheering in anticipation of his performance. As he makes his way to stage level, the hallway begins to expand and contract around him, even becoming totally dark at one point with only the light reflecting off of his shades, watch and shoes left shining. The camera cuts to flashes of the crowd waiting for his arrival and shots of Lupe rapping alone with a black background and reddish rays of light following his movements. Eventually he arrives backstage and the curtain goes up.
There were a few scenes in this video that I absolutely love. The first occurs when he transforms into a child as he is rapping about his childhood ambitions and dreams. Another scene I like is after he enters the elevator when he rises through what appears to be a lit-up map of the world as his song discusses the changes he hopes to make in the world.
This video was directed by Hiro Murai and includes several interesting film techniques. Some techniques he uses are shadow play, some green screen work, several instances of artistic lens flares, and colorization filters for different scenes. The scenes with shadow play occur mostly when Lupe is shown rapping by himself surrounded by a thick black background, created using a green screen. The shadows are used mainly to highlight Lupe’s movements as he raps. Also in these solo scenes, several different lens flares and flash effects are used to portray the fame and glamour surrounding Lupe’s lifestyle.
If I could sum up the point of this video in one word it would be perseverance. When the curtains lift you see Lupe Fiasco standing in front of a cheering audience, demonstrating how he has persevered through his life struggles and conquered his own dream, and how with enough work you too can accomplish yours. This video is meant to be inspiring and to show how you should never give up on your dreams and how everyone who tries to stand in your way should know “even if they turn the lights off, the show is going on” and you won’t back down.
One of the first contemporary music videos I was attracted to was “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry. I know, it’s kind of a girly video, but something about it spoke to me. A few months earlier, I had heard this song on the radio and pictured a similar storyline in my head. I was impressed with how the director had captured the true essence and feeling of the song into a simple video.
The video opens with Katy Perry and the “groom” character, a young man named Alexander, in a very bright church surrounded by family and friends. Everything appears to be going quite normally until the priest asks Alexander, “Do you take Katy to be your lawfully wedded wife?” As he is pondering his answer, the camera cuts to different shots of his facial expressions as well as the expressions of the crowd. I could almost feel the awkwardness of the situation spewing from the screen as he desperately tries to grapple with his answer. (Note: Video shown above does not contain the first scene with the vows. Unfortunately, it was the only version I could find on Youtube.) The essential element of this scene, however, is Katy’s expression as she looks off to the right while rolling her eyes in annoyance and then back at Alexander, letting him know exactly how she feels about his lack of decisiveness.
As the wedding party begins to sway in tune with the music and the church windows begin to flash bright red and purple, the camera switches views quite frequently and is wonderfully in sync with the music. One of the most humorous shots in the video is when the priest is seen in a “rapper-esque” pose glaring at Alexander as Katy is singing. As he makes a run for it, the whole wedding party begins to point at him and dance back and forth on cue.
During his main running scene, many random events happen. For example, when Alexander tackles a man in a hot dog suit and when Katy hijacks a bicycle from two girls who are assisting the helpless hot dog man.
Alan Ferguson directed the video, and his unique style definitely shines through in the scene when Katy is singing in a retro club with wild neon lights flashing a reference to an eighties style new wave music scene. This is by far my favorite scene in the video, specifically for its choice of color and shot selection.
The video also includes several scenes in which Katy is chasing Alexander with her rather disheveled “bridesmaids.” The makeup and the clothing fit the occasion very well and give the viewer an insight into the mind of the groom as he can almost feel the anger of Katy manifested into these horrific “zombie bridesmaid” characters.
The film also brilliantly uses product placement, further explaining how they acquired such a large budget. The first instance of this technique can be seen when Katy is performing in the new wave club proudly sporting “Diesel” sunglasses. The next especially obvious use of product placement is when Alexander pulls out his “Nokia” phone to find that he can’t escape Katy no matter how he tries. The last product placement that I noticed was in the hip-hop dancing scene towards the end of the video where Katy and her crew are sporting retro “Adidas” workout gear.
The ending of the film is very fitting when all three versions of Katy encircle Alexander as he collapses to the floor and she approaches him leading a zebra by a leash. This part in particular confused me for quite some time, but the best I could figure was that the zebra represented him and his non-committal nature, referring to the lines “it’s black and it’s white” used earlier in the song.
In conclusion, the script plays out very much like a dream sequence and at the end when we find out that it actually was a series of thoughts racing through the mind of Alexander, it all makes sense. This was a wonderfully well thought out video and I look forward to seeing many more from this director.
My journey in film began almost three years ago when I received my first video camera as a gift during my senior year of high school. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I gave it my best shot and before long I was making short films daily.
I can’t explain the emotions I felt as I assembled my films and crafted them into the vision I had in my head. The screen became a tool through which I could showcase my ideas and project my thoughts.
Aside from the medium of film, I also had a deep interest in the study of music. I had learned to read music in elementary school and I have been creating and enjoying music ever since. So, naturally, I fell in love with music videos.
After reviewing some of my old films, I realized that I had, in fact, been creating music videos since the beginning. By placing music in the background and having very little, if any dialogue, I had unknowingly been creating mini music videos.
I would listen to my favorite songs over and over again as different thoughts and images raced through my brain. So many ideas and so many emotions contained in a single song. Each one told a different story and I felt it was up to me to properly paint the picture that I envisioned.
Eventually I became obsessed with the idea of what I could create if given enough time and the right equipment. It was then that I decided to take film more seriously and attend the Communication Arts program at the University of the Incarnate Word to study Video/Audio Production. I have been formally studying film for two years now and am constantly looking for opportunities to produce new videos and spread the joy of the music video wherever I go.
Ever since I saw Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video, I realized how great a music video could be. Since then, I have seen hundreds of music videos from all different artists and genres and I have noted their attributes and their faults. I love creative and unique videos and cannot stand generic, run-of-the-mill productions. I know how a music video should look and I aim to produce the great quality videos I'm talking about. Music videos should make you feel the emotion of the song x10. If it doesn't do that, it is not doing its job properly.
This is my blog about how a music video should be, how it shouldn't, and how in the end, it doesn't really matter what I think...as long as the viewer enjoys it and takes something meaningful from the video, it has served its purpose. I hope you enjoy my critiques and comments. Thanks for reading and there is much more to come!
