1. WHAT ARE THE CONVENTIONS FOUND IN:
PINK - JUST GIVE ME A REASON
In the music video for 'Just Give Me a Reason', by Pink, the conventions found are:
lip-sync: Pink is filmed from different angles and in different settings while she lip-syncs to the song. Both Pink and Nate Ruess are expressive while they are mouthing the lyrics in order to enhance the feeling that the lyrics and melody are meant to portray.
lyrics normally based on love/relationships: 'Just Give Me a Reason' is a song about wanting to hold onto a relationship even though it seems to be fraying.
artists represented in a sexual way (voyeurism): Props such as Pink's clothes include lingerie (scene of her on the bed); there are also sequences in the music video with her and her (ex?) boyfriend being affectionate towards each other
cut to the beat: the scenes change often, switching from setting to setting on most of the beats during the chorus (it is more upbeat)
lyric interpretation/ extending or consolidating the song's meaning: In the music video, besides the scenes in which she is singing facing the camera, Pink is seen on a bed, surrounded by clouds and water, as she is either with her (ex?) lover or without. There is a short scene in which it seems that she caught herself daydreaming/ reminiscing in regards to the time she and her lover were together - this adds depth to the lyrics and enforces the idea of missing the way their relationship had been in the past. Elements such as the clouds and the water are also used to represent the uneasiness and uncertainty that Pink feels regarding her relationship.
close-ups of artists' faces, long shots of artists lip-syncing: they are used to display the emotions which the artists are expressing, for example, the hopelessness on Pink's face while laying alone on the bed
BILLIE EYELISH - BELLYACHE
In the music video for ‘bellyache’, by Billie Eilish, the conventions found are:
lip-sync: Billie is filmed from multiple angles and in multiple different shots as she lip-syncs to the song while walking on the empty street
close-ups of artist's face, long shots of artist lip-syncing: The multitude of shots where Billie is looking at the camera allows the viewer to connect and get insight on what emotions she wants to transmit throughout the music video. As stated by Billie Eilish herself, the song is written from the perspective of a psychopath who has just murdered her friends, and this is enforced through the expressions which she makes in the close-up shots. The long shots' purpose is for the viewer to understand the context, and therefore they allow us to see the empty road, the panoramic view, the cart full of black garbage bags, the money.
cut to the beat
lyric interpretation/ extending or consolidating the song's meaning: the lyrics and the visuals match, as the theme of 'the psychopath killing her friends' is enforced through garbage bags (referencing the bodies of her friends), the wilting sunflower on the road (resembles Billie's future), the police officer coming at the end (she is caught and potentially punished for her actions), Billie just staring at the officer (as if she did not realise the gravity of her actions), her gestures towards her stomach when the chorus comes (having a bellyache, the bellyache being a metaphor for the guilt she feels)
bright, vibrant colours
fashionable clothes
ZDOB SI ZDUB - DJ VASILE
In the music video for ‘DJ Vasile’, by Zdob si Zdub, the conventions found are:
lip-sync: both the man and the women are filmed while lip syncing to the song
close-ups of artists' face, long shots of artist lip-syncing, as well as shots of 'DJ Vasile', which is the older man spinning the vinyls and is the subject of the song.lyric interpretation, extending or consolidating the song's meaning: the lyrics are related to making flour and bread, and the music includes traditional Romanian notes - such as when the women are singing
bright, vibrant colours
2.What genre is the music video/trailer/documentary/short film in? How is this shown?
Both music videos belong to the pop genre this being shown through different codes and conventions these kind of music videos use. Firstly, there is a link between the visuals and the lyrics of the song in order to make them easy for the audience to remember them.For example,in Billie Eilish's video where the lyrics talk about the money that she stole,this is represented by her opening bag full of money and throwing them around.Pink's’ video also has a strong connection between what the artist says and the visuals as all of the sad lyrics are represented by the model also feeling down.
~There’s bright lighting and some form of bright object/costume in pop videos.This makes the video stand out more and also appeals to youth(the target audience), as it appears vibrant and lively, something young people are attracted to. It also makes it more upbeat, so it fits the band general message of the songs. ,,Bellyache'' clearly has some vibrant,colourful scenes that stand out and are usually what the youth is attracted to as it also gives a feeling of modernity, the effects in the shoots being similar with something you would find on a popular media platform such as Pinterest. ,,Just give me a reason'' also has some catchy props and unique effects, the action happening in the sky, on a mattress.
The costume for actors in these music videos is generally whatever is fashionable at the time. Billie Eilish is wearing a yellow set, this being a very modern outfit. She also has purple hair and bold makeup. Pink on the other hand is dressed in a more simplistic way, the makeup being also way simpler as the music video is made in 2012 so colourful hair and eccentric sets were not really a thing.Also most of the lyrics from the videos are about love (Just give me a reason) or other adolescent problems such as the stage of rebellion (Bellyache).
On the other hand,the song ,,Dj Vasile-Zdob and Zdub" is part of the rock genre having the conventions specific to this. The singers have rebellious attitudes,not wearing a shirt,having long hair and a lot of proeminent tattoos. The music video can also be integrated in the folk-rock category as the artists us vintage instruments such as violin and piano but also have traditional pieces of clothing but also show activities mostly older people did such as making flour and bread. We can also see that the music video is a rock one by the facial expressions the artist uses, the main one being anger or just somehow agressive.
What do the elements in the music video represent (denotation and connotation )
PINK - JUST GIVE ME A REASON
In the song “Just give me a reason “ written by pink, the elements and symbols combine and gives the audience the feeling and effect of sadness . The singer is guiding us and telling the story of a relationship that unfortunately has ended, so the music video shows the public two different scenarios : the one where she is with her boyfriend and the other one where she is alone . Throughout this video the idea of loneliness is enhanced and it’ s represented by the scenes where Pink is sitting on a bed surrounded by clouds and water . The water resembling the insecurity she feels and the waves of emotion she’s gone through in the relationship but also when she was single . One important prop in this music video is the teddy bear is sitting on her bed when she is alone . This object can symbolize that the singer has a very childish personality but also the teddy bear can represent a toy from her childhood and that leads to the meaning of the relationship and that they have been together since they were little . The feeling of release is showing through the scene when her is jumping in the water to cool down her emotions but also to feel free and forget about the things that happened after the relationship . Also taking part from the mise-en-scene are the costumes that are very simple and basic. The singer has 3 costumes or clothing choices that are very different . In the scene she is singing along with that man she presents a very classy and girly look by wearing a beige ruffled dress and her hair nicely put together which gives a taste of elegance and femininity . In another scene where she was laying in bed with her boyfriend she had just lingerie on which transmits the message that the couple was close and had no problem in being around each other like this , it shows the connection between them but also showing their naturality . The scenes where she is alone is a variety of look from lingerie to a very comfortable outfit that transmits she doesn’t care about her look and its not really important to her because of her emotional state she’s in which has a very strong impact on her life .
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Billie eilish -Bellyache
This music video has a more simple structure as it has the same set from the beginning to the end of this music video . Happening on a street next to a heel where you can see that is a very calm and lonely place where is not too much movement , no cars on the street , no animals , just a lot of plants and trees that surround this road . The colors are very bright and the sky has a very vibrant and electric tone of blue that makes the video pop.
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DJ VASILE- Zdbob si Zdup
This music video represents the mixture of postmodernism and modernism because the artist combines rock music with popular Romanian music. In the music video he emphasizes the folcloric. This music video emphasise the activities that were performed in the past, for example the stone wheel which symbolizes the making of flour which they used to make polenta out of it but in the video it’s used like a vinyl. Also the costumes are a combination of folcloric and rock clothes, we can see this throughout the video because the man have traditional romanian pants but the are topless. 📷📷📷
3. What age is the audience that is likely to listen to DJ Vasile?
DJ Vasile is a mix between folcloric - rock - reggae moldovian song. The fact that it covers a range of genres, it is more likely to be an attractive song for a larger audience, like 15 to 50. The folkloric touches in the song with a mix of rock and weird/crazy scenes, like the girl who is dancing with a hula hoop, the old man at the DJ station and the young tattooed singers, is a very unique way to put a video together. The fun part of it is going to attract a younger audience, whereas the traditional elements are going to attract an older audience.
What age is the audience listening to this song?
Just give me a reason
An audience that is likely to listen to ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ by P!nk is likely to be between 15 and 30 years old. This is a pop, love (heartbreak) song. This can relate to a wider audience. P!nk is wearing a short, pretty dress in the first shot of the video. Also, she has a pixie cut hair, with a bow in it. She also has some tattoos and has a strong voice and personality. This mix between ‘vulnerable’, ‘cute’ and this strong woman is the reason why a wide range of people know her. In this particular song, she is featuring Nate Ruess. He appears next to her when singing to the microphones, and also on the TV in the water, while she is on the mattress, with a teddy bear and a sweet drink. Another shot is with P!nk on the mattress with another very masculine man, that is actually her husband in real life. This shot with the man could attract many young girls and also the older audience that feels that they lost a good man. It is real that the scenes with him are just.flashbacks, and now she misses him. The overall message of the song is that even if the other person did then wrong, they could forgive them and they could start all over again. As everyone has experience something like this before, the song is adequate for this particular age group. (15-30).
What age is the audience listening to Bellyache?
The age group that is more likely to listen to ‘Bellyache’ by Bilile Eilish could be anywhere between 14 to 20. Details such as her blue - pink coloured hair is more likely to relate and fit with this younger audience. Also, oversized clothes are in trend now, so she is promoting that. Simple and easy to follow and understand music video is more likely to attract the young people. Police is arriving in the end, which is kind of a ‘wow’ factor of the storyline, in order for the audience to be excited. The chill - alternative melodic line is also a factor for which this song is fitted for a younger audience. Lyrics such as “reckless”, “mouth full of gum” and “where’s my mind?" are relatable for this audience. The overall message of the song and the music video is that Billie killed her ex boyfriend and she is carrying him along an empty road. Also she says that she’s too young to go to jail, but soon after the police shows up. But what is happening after that? The video ends. This is giving off a mysterious and dangerous feel, which could inspire some young people, and intrigue them in a ‘positive’ way.
4. USES AND GRATIFICATIONS OF THE AUDIENCE
PINK - JUST GIVE ME A REASON
mood management and mood adjustment: the consumers of the music video are gratified by using the song to adjust their mood
gender socialization of emotions: the female listeners may enjoy the song more because they generally enjoy feeling one-directed sadness, for example empathy, sympathy, and pity and the song validates those feelings
relationship functions of entertainment: vicarious experiences(consumers wish to live through the characters portrayed in the music video and imagining living their lives and experiencing their emotions), downward social comparison (the consumers may be in a similar situation, or they feel as if Pink is worse off than them, and that is why they listen to the song), eudaemonic motivation (the consumers of the song search for insights regarding a romantic relationship when listening to this song; also, the female listeners wish to understand nate ruess's part in the song as they can relate to pink's lyrics)
BILLIE EILISH - BELLYACHE
mood management and mood adjustment: the consumers of the music video are gratified by listening to the song to adjust their disposition - as the song is quite upbeat yet melancholic
sensation seeking
gender socialization of emotions: the listeners might enjoy the song more due to the carelessness and the apathetic atmosphere of the song
relationship functions of entertainment: vicarious experiences (as Billie Eilish is quite influential nowadays, especially for the younger audience, the consumers of her music videos wish to be in her position because she embodies someone authentic and fearless, at least in this music video)
ZDOB SI ZDUB - DJ VASILE
mood management and mood adjustment: the consumers of the music video turn to it in case they want to shift their disposition to a happier, livelier one as the song is upbeat and fun
sensation seeking
relationship functions of entertainment: vicarious experiences(the people portrayed in the music video are joyous and hyper, and so the people who watch the music video may watch it because they wish to be in those people's positions), downward social comparison (nowadays, in Romanian culture, traditional values and ways are looked down upon by the urban youth, and those consumers may watch the video because the characters portrayed are seen as 'below' them, and they are gratified by this fact), eudaemonic motivation (viewers may watch the music video because they wish to gain insight on traditional music and traditional Romanian culture)
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