Gorillaz- Clint EastwoodThe Gorillaz are a virtual band, and all of their music videos are animated. ‘Clint Eastwood’ was actually the Gorillaz first music video. The band consists of 2 main people, Damien Albarn, and Jamie Hewlett. Damien is the musician and puts everything together, and Jamie Hewlett is the animator and makes the music videos and also the small cartoons on the Gorillaz channel, so we can tell that the music videos mean a lot to the Gorillaz, and they are all cartoons, but with the same 4 members in each video (virtual band). |
Styles
Music Genre
Gorilllaz are an animated pop band and Clint Eastwood could be described as ‘trip-hop’ , ‘rap rock’ or ‘indie dance.’
Music Genre
Gorilllaz are an animated pop band and Clint Eastwood could be described as ‘trip-hop’ , ‘rap rock’ or ‘indie dance.’
Animation-stop motion, digital
As Gorillaz is an animated band their video is animated.
Narrative and Interpretive
This video interprets the lyrics. It is not a straight narrative where the action tells the story of the lyrics. The video interprets the words using visuals to represent what is happening, encouraging the audience to interpret it for themselves.
Impressionist
This video could be seen as impressionist as it does create a sense of mood and feeling with its dark imagery and the reactions, or non-reactions of the band members to what is happening visually- though the action can be interpreted as ‘it’s all in your head’.
As Gorillaz is an animated band their video is animated.
Narrative and Interpretive
This video interprets the lyrics. It is not a straight narrative where the action tells the story of the lyrics. The video interprets the words using visuals to represent what is happening, encouraging the audience to interpret it for themselves.
Impressionist
This video could be seen as impressionist as it does create a sense of mood and feeling with its dark imagery and the reactions, or non-reactions of the band members to what is happening visually- though the action can be interpreted as ‘it’s all in your head’.
Surrealist Surreal is something that is so strange you can’t believe its real. What happens can be unexpected and bizarre which is easy to do with animation e.g. zombie gorillas wouldn’t come out of grave stones and attack you. The surreal element fits well in this video as there are drug references and the video could be seen as ‘a trip’ |
Pastiche and Parody Pastiche and parody both make shout outs to other artists work. This Parody pokes fun at a genre whereas pastiche videos are more of a celebration. ‘Clint Eastwood’ has the hands coming out of the graves and the gorillas dancing like the zombies Michael Jacksons video of ‘Thriller’ |
Referencing and Homage As well as referencing ‘Thriller’ this music video makes reference to and pays homage to zombie movies. There is a quote referencing the zombie movie, ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and later in the movie Murdoc is grabbed in the crotch and dragged to the ground which references the zombie movie ‘Brain Dead’. Clint Eastwood is also referenced in the title of the song and there is a scream from one of his films which is at the beginning of the video. As well as the cowboy actor there is a reggae musician called Clint Eastwood. 2-D is wearing a t-virus shirt which could reference the game @Resident Evil’. |
Conventions
Lyric Interpretation
Lyric interpretation is how the audience interpret the meaning of the song. There is a lot happening in ‘Clint Eastwood’ and different people will see different things in it. The images help interpret the lyrics. ‘Sunshine in a bag’ refers to marijuana and 2-D nevers shows a response to what is happening around him. Eventually the monkeys are kicked by noodle who is skipping along and all the images go back into Russel’s head. So these are some examples of how the images and the lyrics can be
Lyric Interpretation
Lyric interpretation is how the audience interpret the meaning of the song. There is a lot happening in ‘Clint Eastwood’ and different people will see different things in it. The images help interpret the lyrics. ‘Sunshine in a bag’ refers to marijuana and 2-D nevers shows a response to what is happening around him. Eventually the monkeys are kicked by noodle who is skipping along and all the images go back into Russel’s head. So these are some examples of how the images and the lyrics can be
Extending or Consolidating song’s meaning
The way the images are used extend and consolidate the songs meaning and make it easier for audiences to put their own interpretations onto it.
Allusion
The video and its lyrics not only make allusions to Thriller, Clint Eastwood and Resident Evil but also to the drug culture.
Links to other artists
This was the first song by Gorillaz and at the time no-one knew who Gorillaz was. MTV was popular at the time so it was easy to get the band out there. This was one of the first animated bands that did not represent other artists either directly or as a parody.
Techniques
Cutting to beat
Cutting to the beat is making to video go along to the beat. This video does this with the Gorillaz coming back and forth and whenever they’re singing and miming. This video cuts to the beat.
Effects and Camera Movements
As it is an animation they can have cool effects like the camera is moving like when the band is introduced at the beginning of the song. Another cool effect is like when Del the rapper is singing it is like an old tv which keeps losing its image which adds to its unrealness.
Miming and lip sync
As it is an animation it is all like a mime as the band isn’t real.
Playback and lip sync
It is like the band is lip syncing to the song, but there is also action clips like when Noodle is skipping or whenever the gorillas are chasing Murdok.
Camera angles
It is like they are using some cool camera angles even though it is an animation.
The way the images are used extend and consolidate the songs meaning and make it easier for audiences to put their own interpretations onto it.
Allusion
The video and its lyrics not only make allusions to Thriller, Clint Eastwood and Resident Evil but also to the drug culture.
Links to other artists
This was the first song by Gorillaz and at the time no-one knew who Gorillaz was. MTV was popular at the time so it was easy to get the band out there. This was one of the first animated bands that did not represent other artists either directly or as a parody.
Techniques
Cutting to beat
Cutting to the beat is making to video go along to the beat. This video does this with the Gorillaz coming back and forth and whenever they’re singing and miming. This video cuts to the beat.
Effects and Camera Movements
As it is an animation they can have cool effects like the camera is moving like when the band is introduced at the beginning of the song. Another cool effect is like when Del the rapper is singing it is like an old tv which keeps losing its image which adds to its unrealness.
Miming and lip sync
As it is an animation it is all like a mime as the band isn’t real.
Playback and lip sync
It is like the band is lip syncing to the song, but there is also action clips like when Noodle is skipping or whenever the gorillas are chasing Murdok.
Camera angles
It is like they are using some cool camera angles even though it is an animation.
Chroma key
There are times when it looks like backgrounds are superimposed. Check out the clouds in these 2 scenes. They look like they are 2 layers which have been put together in post production
There are times when it looks like backgrounds are superimposed. Check out the clouds in these 2 scenes. They look like they are 2 layers which have been put together in post production
References
http://www.scribd.com/doc/150378840/Music-Videos-Styles-Conventions-and-Techniques-2#scribd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Eastwood_%28song%29
http://www.slideshare.net/957303Hayley/styles-and-techniques-for-music-video?next_slideshow=1
http://www.scribd.com/doc/150378840/Music-Videos-Styles-Conventions-and-Techniques-2#scribd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Eastwood_%28song%29
http://www.slideshare.net/957303Hayley/styles-and-techniques-for-music-video?next_slideshow=1
Faul & Wad Ad vs. Pnau - Changes
Styles
Music genre
Changes samples the chorus from the Australian electonic duo Pnau’s Baby, which was a hit in Australia in 2007 and mixes it with a European deep-house funk groove with lots of saxophone and piano lines.
In concert and ‘as live’ footage
The music video for changes doesn’t use in concert or ‘as live’ footage as it is like a film as it has been digitally mixed. The video is presented as a film with opening titles and ‘fin’ at the end. introduction and an ending
Music genre
Changes samples the chorus from the Australian electonic duo Pnau’s Baby, which was a hit in Australia in 2007 and mixes it with a European deep-house funk groove with lots of saxophone and piano lines.
In concert and ‘as live’ footage
The music video for changes doesn’t use in concert or ‘as live’ footage as it is like a film as it has been digitally mixed. The video is presented as a film with opening titles and ‘fin’ at the end. introduction and an ending
Interpretative
The children are singing in a nursery rhyme style mixed with the electronic rhythms and sounds and the video interprets this by showing lots of different conflicts e.g. the boys vs the girls, playing vs war, order of singing all neat in school with the chaos of the battle. The audience can interpret it anyway they like.
The children are singing in a nursery rhyme style mixed with the electronic rhythms and sounds and the video interprets this by showing lots of different conflicts e.g. the boys vs the girls, playing vs war, order of singing all neat in school with the chaos of the battle. The audience can interpret it anyway they like.
Narrative
There is a narrative of game where the girl has been kidnapped and the others ‘arming’ themselves and preparing to make a rescue and the mess it causes.
Impressionist
There is definitely an impressionist look in this video as t is very colourful and has images of toys and the mother in the kitchen that reminds the audience of innocence and childhood and having fun but there is a feeling of violence and conflict too.
There is a narrative of game where the girl has been kidnapped and the others ‘arming’ themselves and preparing to make a rescue and the mess it causes.
Impressionist
There is definitely an impressionist look in this video as t is very colourful and has images of toys and the mother in the kitchen that reminds the audience of innocence and childhood and having fun but there is a feeling of violence and conflict too.
Pastiche and Parody
This music video feels like it is a pastiche as there are bits in that feel familiar, like when the girls go to get the ‘amunition’ and the boy is dressed like a gangster and they have an argument and he ends up lying on all the rolls. This could be a shout out to various films but I am not familiar with them. It also feels like it is a parody of warm films with all the violence and mayhem and chaos mixed in with the retro 60’s look, bright colours and suburban background
Referencing and Homage
I studied Lord of the Flies at school and this video reminds me of that book. How civilization disappears in childrens games and how kids are more likely to be ‘violent’ when they hide behind the masks of the painted face.
This music video feels like it is a pastiche as there are bits in that feel familiar, like when the girls go to get the ‘amunition’ and the boy is dressed like a gangster and they have an argument and he ends up lying on all the rolls. This could be a shout out to various films but I am not familiar with them. It also feels like it is a parody of warm films with all the violence and mayhem and chaos mixed in with the retro 60’s look, bright colours and suburban background
Referencing and Homage
I studied Lord of the Flies at school and this video reminds me of that book. How civilization disappears in childrens games and how kids are more likely to be ‘violent’ when they hide behind the masks of the painted face.
Influence of commercials
This video reminded my parents of the Andrex toilet roll ad as the puppy makes a mess through playing with toilet paper. This song is also used in a commercial for Mercedes Benz.
Conventions
Lyric Interpretation
In this music video it isn’t really the lyrics that are being interpreted more the fusion between the mix and the chorus as I mentioned earlier.
Extending or Consolidating song’s meaning
The video has really helped promote the song as it is a great video to watch and has many different ways to interpret it so different people can enjoy it on different levels. The colour, the play and the story work well with the music
Allusion
The allusion is to gang wars but in a very pretty suburban environment
Links to other artists
This video reminded my parents of the Andrex toilet roll ad as the puppy makes a mess through playing with toilet paper. This song is also used in a commercial for Mercedes Benz.
Conventions
Lyric Interpretation
In this music video it isn’t really the lyrics that are being interpreted more the fusion between the mix and the chorus as I mentioned earlier.
Extending or Consolidating song’s meaning
The video has really helped promote the song as it is a great video to watch and has many different ways to interpret it so different people can enjoy it on different levels. The colour, the play and the story work well with the music
Allusion
The allusion is to gang wars but in a very pretty suburban environment
Links to other artists
The words are sampled from Baby by Pnau and Pnau are credited in the title.
Techniques
Effects
This music video uses a lot of fades when going through shots.They also use CGI to superimpose the toilet roll whenever it is a birds eye view on the buildings and there’s toilet roll everywhere.
Miming and lip sync
The bit of miming in when the children are singing in the choir.
Playback and lip sync
The only lip sync in this video is where the school choir is singing the chorus.
Camera movements
Camera moves constantly and there are lots of quick cuts which allows the editor to fit lots of action in and works well with the music
Camera angles
Lots of unusual camera angles are used which adds to the feeling of the video. In this image the
Techniques
Effects
This music video uses a lot of fades when going through shots.They also use CGI to superimpose the toilet roll whenever it is a birds eye view on the buildings and there’s toilet roll everywhere.
Miming and lip sync
The bit of miming in when the children are singing in the choir.
Playback and lip sync
The only lip sync in this video is where the school choir is singing the chorus.
Camera movements
Camera moves constantly and there are lots of quick cuts which allows the editor to fit lots of action in and works well with the music
Camera angles
Lots of unusual camera angles are used which adds to the feeling of the video. In this image the
Chroma key
This video looks like it was shot on location rather than using chroma key
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changes_%28Faul_%26_Wad_Ad_song%29
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/review/a559244/faul--wad-ad-vs-pnau-changes-single-review-a-beautiful-dance-monster.html#~p52KbYxkwI9pXg
This video looks like it was shot on location rather than using chroma key
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changes_%28Faul_%26_Wad_Ad_song%29
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/review/a559244/faul--wad-ad-vs-pnau-changes-single-review-a-beautiful-dance-monster.html#~p52KbYxkwI9pXg