Music Video History
Music Videos came to prominence in the 1980s when MTV based their format around the medium.
MTV is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1st 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs (Video Jockeys). Early Music Videos
'The Animals’ 1964 hit “House of The Rising Sun” was one of the first performance clips. This high-quality colour clip was filmed in a studio on a specially-built set; with the group lip-synching.
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MTV Award Winners
2018 Camila Cabello (featuring Young Thug) - Havana
2017 Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE. 2016 Beyoncé - Formation 2015 Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) - Bad Blood 2014 Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball 2013 Justin Timberlake - Mirrors 2012 Rihanna (featuring Calvin Harris) - We Found Love 2011 Katy Perry - Firework 2010 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 2009 Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) 2008 Britney Spears - Piece of Me 2007 Rihanna ft. Jay-Z - Umbrella 2006 Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies 2005 Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams 2004 OutKast - Hey Ya! 2003 Missy Elliott - Work It 2002 Eminem - Without Me |
While on our discussion of MTV, and music videos, it is interesting to take note of the effect that MTV and music videos have had on all forms of the media industry, not just music. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is described as a long music video - the impact of MTV on the film industry. Read the article (below).
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It's hard to go past Michael Jackson's Thriller music video ... no, not the 3 minute one, the 13 minute 43 second 'short film' that even has it's own IMDb page! So why was it so special?
The short film was directed by John Landis; a comedy / horror film-maker, known for his work on horror films in particular. Vincent Price – the voice-over guy; was an actor, known for his deep voice (which has been used in many gothic / horror animated films) and his roles in horror films. You also have to consider the year in which it was made. Before 1983, MJ struggled to receive airtime on MTV. Can you guess why? |
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Taylor Swift's We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together is an example of a one-take music video (the entire video was done in one take, with no edits / cuts to other shots). Watch the clip carefully to see how this was done - pay particular attention to the way the set works to allow this to happen.
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Eminem and Rihanna's hit The Monster is accompanied by a very exciting, and fast-paced edited music video. This is typical of most contemporary music videos, as the creators must quickly and fully engage their typically teenage audience. There are multiple settings, props, costumes changes, as well as some interesting lighting set ups. Note how fast the music video appears - with very quick cuts between shots from multiple camera set ups.
This music video for Hozier's Take Me To Church was released almost 11 months after the official music video. The video, directed by David LaChapelle (an American music video director also known for fine-art and commercial photography) stars Ballet's Bad Boy Sergei Polunin, a tattooed 25 year old Ukranian, reputed to be one of the best dancers in the world. Look at how simple the music video appears - there is one setting, a use of naturalistic lighting, and a ballet dancer. So what is it about this music video that is engaging and interesting? What keeps the audience watching?
Creating an original idea for a music video can be hard work, so sometimes it's best to try something simple, and use objects to tell the story. This is the case in this music video for the song April by Imaginary Future ft. Kina Grannis. While the characters (actors) may be very simple, what do you notice about the story-telling invovled in this video? How do camera techniques engage the audience and also help to communicate the message of the video?
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ONE TAKE MUSIC VIDEOS
What does a 'one take' music video mean? Well, just that; the whole video was taken / filmed in one consecutive shot. Meaning that there were no pauses, no coffee breaks, no time to change the camera or lighting set up. It really is an art to perfect, and to make it look good. But it has been done, before, and also very recently with Taylor Swift's We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Check it out here.
Since Taylor Swift, the one take music video has taken on yet another life. Check out this 'mash up' of Hunter Hayes' 2013 hit song Everybody's Got Somebody But Me (right) which features the singer himself, and a host of YouTube talents who have all covered his song.
Interested in the history of one take music videos? Read the article below which discusses Taylor Swift's song and the videos that inspired her own.
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THINKING TIME
Think of your favourite music video clip …
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MUSIC VIDEOS SET WORLD RECORDS
In a new music video, Paramore have chosen to not only make an original music video, but to also attempt to break the most number of World Records within a music video! Click the link below to watch the music video for Ain't It Fun.
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The process of creating a media product falls into five stages:
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CollabraCam - film-making tool
If you have an iPad or iPhone this app might come in handy for shooting your next video. Using Collabracam you can film and edit live from four iPhone, iPad or iPod touch cameras streaming in realtime over Wi-Fi or Hotspot. You're in charge! You can appoint a Director, and choose which camera you'd like to film from. This is a fantastic app, perfect for capturing live action from multiple camera angles. Say goodbye to the one camera set up and having to re-take that scene.
See the video tutorial or download the user guide for more help.
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