Analysis of music genre-Miss Georgiou

Analysis of music genre

8/9/14

Vasil

Within the music industry, there are 3 key music genres: Rap, Dance and Electronic music. In this case for Dance I will use Flo Rida`s "Club Can`t Handle Me"; for Rap I will use Drake`s "Over" and for Electronic music I will use Depeche mode`s "Enjoy the Silence".

Firstly, Dance has several key concepts that are implemented into it. A dance video would usually consist of back up dancers and/or Backup singers. Usually the video is located in a Club setting where the viewer would see plenty of Good-looking girl s that performs a set Dance routine. Sometimes there are Teenagers. However, there is always a Fun atmosphere full of Bright lights. Also the performers/artists are wearing very flashy or expensive clothing.

Throughout Flo Rida`s "Club can`t handle me" the viewer will straight away spot the standard convention for a Dance music video. The convention is the use of an Establishing Shot with the use of iconography (The Lambos) that portrays the materialistic side of the artists. The convention carries on by also displaying new clothes and new jewelry. This is conventional to a dance music video because the artists like to show off to others the amount of money that they have. This is why, they would show off their status by turning to a club in the shiniest car they own.

In this picture, cinematography is used (specifically a high angle shot) on the artist which, shows him singing up facing towards the camera. The camera further shows the club setting in which all the people are dancing and looking like they are having fun time. Once again, the picture shows a very conventional shot for a dance genre as firstly, the dance music video is set in a club and secondly, it adds with another convention by showing everyone in the background, having a good time.

Another Cinematography shot (In particular a close-up) is used to portray another concept. The close up is used on the artist in order to show him performing on a stage. This is to give the idea to the audience that he is the centre of attention and that he is bigger compared to others. Once again, it is conventional for a dance genre as the artist is meant to be important in the song as he is singing about himself. 

 In this music the audience would also spot video editing techniques, such as: fast editing as the fast paced music is synchronized to the different scenes in the club. This matches the tempo and allegedly represents the artist`s lifestyle. This is conventional for the dance genre because dance music videos usually contain back up dancers that are performing a set dance routine whit which they emit the pleasure of dancing in the club with the artists in Flo Rida.

The second editing technique that is used is slow editing which can be seen in the beginning of the music video. The audience would see the two Lamborghinis slowly opening their doors and then the group entering from the Lambos in the disco. It is conventional for a dance music video to show a slow build up from the beginning to the main part of the song as they try and show how important the entry to a disco/club is and that once there, everyone will freak out of joy. Therefore this is seen as an introduction to the music video and the correct song for entering the disco/club. 

However, unlike Dance Music Videos, Rap music videos contain conventions in which the rapper is usually dressed in casual clothing under which wearing jogging bottoms and differently colored t-shirts is counted as casual. Nevertheless, this genre of videos is usually themed with violence, sex and drugs. Nevertheless the artist has to carry around a microphone and jewelry and produce songs containing angry lyrics. Sometimes they might be passionate but they are always set either in the ghetto or in a room of a miserable apartment. Also unlike the Dance music video genre, the cinematography used is mainly close ups and mid-shots.

Thus we can begin with this genre by analyzing the song “Over” by a Mr. Drake. In his music video, he uses a miss-en-scene technique known as clothing. The artist is wearing upon himself pair of jeans and a hoodie. This is slightly unconventional for a rap music video as artists usually wear more relaxed clothing such as tank tops and some kind of trousers. Nevertheless, Drake`s style still falls under the convention for casual clothing (But probably under the European branch of this convection). Furthermore, the lyrics of the song would not be able to be supported from the clothing he is wearing if the clothing was flashy. This would result in the audience loosing the point which he is trying to send to them.

 A second micro-element, known as Cinematography (In particular the close-up) is used while the artist is rapping on his bed and looking towards the audience. This way he is following a very similar convection to the Dancing Video one. The only difference is that the Rap artist would want the audience to be able to see only him in order for them not to be distracted while he is giving his message to them. This way his personal convenience is sent across the audience and both sides would be happy. This is conventional for a rap music video because there is a connection within the audience and the artist, further building the relationship between these two groups.

Finally comes in the editing of the video. The first very cool video editing technique used is a filter that swaps the artist`s body-line with a flame. Unlike Dance music videos which contain mainly slow editing for the intro of the song, rap videos use such a filter in order to visually express the feelings within himself, which can be translated as passionate or warm towards the subject (In this case a female lady) that he allegedly has. From earlier times said, it is conventional for the audience to see in a rap video the artist raping about his feelings. 

The second editing technique (can be spotted by the first picture of this video) used is a straight cut which is used at the beginning of the music video. The shot shifts after he looks up at the camera from an angle to a full faced shot of him sitting on the bed. As explained in one of the earlier paragraphs, it is used to make a positive relationship between the artist and the audience. This technique is used to maintain that relationship while there is a transition between the two shots. 

Now, when it comes to strobe like effects and the use of electric piano, people think about the house video music genre or the disco music genre. And when fun upbeat atmosphere scruffy hairstyles are heard they would jump for either a Dance Music Video or a hip-hop music video. And then when someone says that the music lyrics create a down to earth atmosphere and send a message to the crowd about love, drugs or other taboo themes, they would assume that the music video genre is RAP. Well…what will they say if I can give them an example of a music video genre that has all of those convections in it`s self? Some might argue that there is no such thing. However, little do they know how wrong they actually are. During the 1990`s, one of the best Electronic House bands produced a pure gem of the Electronic house video genre. This is where my choice for the representative of the music video genre comes. 

Depeche Mode`s “Enjoy the Silence” was and is the perfect example for this music video genre as not only does it show all of the above mentioned connotations but adds more.

To most fans of the video, it is still hard to listen to the song without picturing David Gahan (The man with the crown on the bottom side of the paragraph), walking about the countryside in a crown and robe. And this is where my first point comes, which is from the M-E-S sector of clothing. While the band conforms to the standard convection of wearing casual clothing and scruffy hairstyles (which can be seen by the picture on the left) it does repeal with the main singer wearing a crown and robe. Although one might say that it is unknown why he is wearing it, he does contribute to another convection which is that the video should be hard to understand. This category of music videos usually falls under the diverse music video flag and does it in quite a successful way (more on it later). Therefore both convections are being conformed by the band in order for the audience to find the music video remembering and possibly wear the clothing which is worn by their idols.

 Another convection being followed is the use of Cinematography (In particular a Close-up). Similarly to RAP artists, Depeche Mode used the close-up on their main artist to reach to their audience and make them remember their message "Enjoy the Silence". Interestingly, the song is a love song. The reason why we see him at the end with a black screen behind him is because he asks us for is silence, because "words are meaningless and forgettable," and that when words crash into him, they might create pain. This is why at the end of the song, the close-up with the last 3 word of the lyrics are without sound. This fully follows the code for an electric house music video in order for the audience to receive the message.

The use of a Panning shot (Of how he is walking in the countryside wearing a deck chair) while the chorus is pleading "All I ever wanted/All I ever needed/Is here in my arms" is used to intrigue the audience with his pain and problem while the music becomes more upbeat. While, this sounds confusing to them and supports the clause with the idea of a diverse music video, the artist is using it to create a compassionate relationship with his audience. The first time, I saw the video, I thought that he was having relationship problems and that he wants to be isolated on a hill where only the wind could listen to his problems. This made me realize that there are two sides to a relationship. Thus the use of Cinematography further reinforces the convection that the artist has created a down to earth atmosphere and that the artist has introduced the theme of love via his lyrics and at the same time video.

Finally comes in the editing whit which the video is so memorable and representing the convection for such a genre. The first editing technique used is the 7 jump cuts in the first 19 seconds of the video. If the viewer is bored enough to pause on each jump cut, he would see a set of roses in differently coloured backgrounds. While some may say that the reason for them is to intrigue the audience, they are actually used to conform to the style of this type of music video. During the 90`s Electric House Music Videos had the convection for containing bright colours in order to liven up the scene. They were used to show when the fun or upbeat part was coming and with this technique this type of music was quickly separated from house and could not be mistaken for a RAP video (As they are also placed in dark settings). Furthermore the iconography used (A rose and some other flowers) reminds us once again that it is a video song with the theme of love. Roses usually give the connotation of Love or Romance. Thus while the audience might be confused, they would now know why this type of flower is used in the video.  

Another editing technique used is the Reaction shot which is used in the first fragment of the video. The audience would notice that when a flower was shown, one of the members of the group would leave the group. This might suggest to the audience that they have experienced a bad relationship and they do not want to talk about it or that the background colour is their favourite colour...Who knows? One of the most obvious reason for their behavior is that they are an enigma. Although not initially listed, music videos of the house or electronic house genre tend to be very diverse with hidden messages. And for a successful diverse music video, the use of an enigma aids further the interest in the band as the audience would want to know more about the artist. This is why this video can also be used to proove Andrew Goodwin`s theory. Nevertheless, the use of shot reverse shot as a method to create an enigma for the audience and create an interest in the band is very effective and conventional for such a music genre.

In Conclusion, several varying Technical elements have been used in different music videos as they appeal to the set music genre audiences. If the all the music videos had the same technical elements, then the music video would not fit in to the particular genre. However, it should be said that even the elements that are from the same type vary in the way that they deliver the wanted message by the artist. For example, Flo Rida`s Close-up showed everyone happy and dancing and it was promoting the artist. Meanwhile Drake`s Over showed him and displayed his emotions and that he wanted to make sure that the audience would hear his message.
Furthermore Music videos appeal to a set type of audience. The style of music used by Drake does not make me want to download his album as he looks too depressed for me. Meanwhile Flo Rida, would be the one I would download/purchase as it is more cheerful and up-beat. And while fans of Drake would argue with me that his music is moody, I would still prefer to purchase/download Depeche Mode`s album as they can create a better moody song that is with an unconventional story.
For my video, I would personally like to use the upbeat dancing from Flo Rida, as I find that it would be a lot more popular for the audiences. I would also like to use the approved clothing by either Flo Rida or Depeche Mode as both groups have a very fashionable taste.