[.Music Video Song Ideas.]

After research into various bands, we decided to shortlist our ideas in 6 songs choices:

crushcrushcrush - Paramore

-Released with the album Riot! in June 2007 in the United States, and July 2007 in the United Kingdom. Third single released from the album in November 2007 in the UK.
-Pros - Could immediately pull out a narrative from the lyrics
-Cons- No alternate narrative, exisiting music video had already covered it; and the song was too repetitive to provide a broad range of scenes

Hallelujah - Paramore

-Second single to be released from the 2007 album Riot! Released on the 3rd September 2007 in the United Kingdom
-Pros- Existing video was very vague - flexibility
-Cons- Difficult to pull out a narrative from the lyrics, chorus was very bland in terms of lyrics

Pandora - Madina Lake
-Last single, (released 2008) from their debut album "From Them, Through Us, to You.", reaching 154 on the US top 200 Billboard chart; and number 64 on the UK top 100 chart. Album released March 26th 2007 in the UK
-Pros- Although released as a single, song is fairly unknown leaving lots of room to create a unique music video
-Cons- Difficult to make a video to resemble the band due to their lack of videos, also the lyrics are hard to pull out a suitable narrative

Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast) - lostprophets

-First single from their third album Liberation Transmission (June 19th 2006); highest performing song alongside 'Last Train Home'
-Pros- Lyrics are fairly broad, leaving room for a variety of narratives
-Cons- Song is already well established, would be difficult to differ from the original. Amazingly overplayed after being featured on 'Guitar Hero' and a top rated video on Kerrang!


For He's a Jolly Good Felon - lostprophets

-Third single released from their fourth album 'The Betrayed' (2010)
-Pros- Lyrics reveal an extremely detailed and interesting narrative that the video itself was very vague in covering; perfect opportunity to create a new spin on the narrative
-Cons- because of the one-track style of the narrative, possibility of being compared to the original


From Yesterday - 30 Seconds to Mars
-Third single released from their second album 'A Beautiful Lie' (2005) music video was the first ever to be filmed in the People's Republic of China in it's entirety
-Pros- Cryptic messages could have made a very interesting and symbollic music video
-Cons- The music video is almost as famous as the song itself, it would be hard to overide the popularity of the video by making a new idea that fits in with the style of the band


Finally, a group decision was made to make the music video for:
'For He's a Jolly Good Felon' by lostprophets.

[.Genre Research.]

Before we could choose our genre, we needed to do some field research about exisiting genres that would appeal to our working style.

• Alternative Rock - Emerged in the late 1980's and became more popular in the 1990's. Alternative rock is a mixture of many subgenres that had flared up at the time, including Britpop, Grunge, Gothic Rock, Punk Rock and Indie pop; but also used as a nickname for the underground artists of the 1980's. Very few actually became mainstream, others kept with independant record labels, but in more recent years Alternative Rock has become a lot more popular. Alternative rock bands include: Biffy Clyro, lostprophets, Madina Lake, MUSE, Nirvana, and The Offspring
  
  
• Emo - Originated in the 1980's Washington D.C hardcore punk movement; Emo music is often known for being extremely emotional, with very confessional lyrics, being nicknamed 'emotional hardcore' and 'emocore'. Contraversy lies with the genre that it supposedly promoted the suicide and self-harming of a teenage girl in 2008. Emo artists include: 30 Seconds to Mars, Mayday Parade, The Spill Canvas and The Used
  
  
• Grunge - Also known as 'Seattle Sound', emerged during the mid 1980's and booming in the 1990's; inspired by hardcore Punk, heavy Metal, and Indie rock. Recognizable traits include the use of heavily distorted guitars, contrasting song dynamics and apathetic or angst filled lyrics. Grunge artists include: Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Hole

[.Music video analysis 2.]

Basket Case - Green Day (1994)

This iconic video by Green Day is set in a mental hospital; this is made apparent by the use of extras dressed in white coats, VERY exaggerated hair, and the use of chain link fences to add an element of captivity, whilst the decoration of the room is very 60's, bright coloured rooms, and mismatched carpets. The band seem to represent patients, as they are all dressed in scrubs, with similarly dressed people clawing at the doors/walls, all of which appealing to the name of the song "Basket Case" which is a person on the verge of insanity/nervous breakdowns.

Fans who are familiar with the band members recognize each one represented as a different form of mental patient. As the song begins, the doctors and nurses begin to ensemble the instruments in a very slow, scrambled fashion; all the instruments in which are covered in duct tape. As the song progresses; the band appear to be more and more insane as they appear to be playing to no crowd; spliced shots show the band members in typical areas of a mental hospital (padded rooms, medical areas, etc).

The use of 360 degree rotational camera angles add a sense of solidarity and paranoia towards the lead singer (Billy Joe Armstrong); which is further enhanced with random people walking around aimlessly in over-exaggerated pig masks, possibly symbolizing hallucinogens. As the song dramatically ends; the closing of the gate symbolises the end.

This video, although very controversial at the time of it's release, is very successful by remaining one of the most memorable music videos in rock music history.

[.Music video Analysis 1.]

Foo Fighters - The Pretender (2007)

The video starts out with an empty room; with typical properties of an airport hanger, typically never left empty. As the male lead of the band (Dave Grohl) takes centre stage, he wraps his hand in bandages (often associated with guitarists) and begins playing. Slowly the band members form their posts around; almost as if they are playing a gig to an empty warehouse.

The colour scheme is strictly black and white for the members of the band, and the monochromatic shades of the hanger makes the bright red backdrop the only real main focus of colour. A policeman in heavily padded uniform makes a stand opposite the band; allocating himself as possible antagonist for the narrative of the music video. As he stands nervously, looking around, the band continue to play whilst staring down the policeman. After a few riffs the lone policeman turns into a whole crowd of police loaded with riot shields. This would normally connote that the band might actually be antagonists, as policeman are often represented as protectors; but when dressed in black, they can often be concieved as threatening.

The shots alternate between a wide shot of the police, and a close up of Dave Grohl's eyes, also with spliced shots of low angled shots of the band; the cross cutting editing adds tension as they quicken. As the song hits a break before the final chorus; the police charge towards the band in slow motion. But as the final chorus starts playing, it returns to full speed whilst the previously mentioned red background explodes towards them. As the band continue to play through the red hurricane, the police are no longer seen; symbolising a possible win for the band.

Overall, the simplicity and subtlety of the narrative made this video memorable as complimenting the song rather than creating a whole new narrative.