Music video inspirations - Miss Georgiou

Planning the music video

Inspirations are essential to my planning for my music video as they aid me in the process of piecing my music video together and deciding how I want to shot my music video. When following certain genres to create and capture a music video gaining inspirations from other music videos allows the creator to really focus on aspects which suit to the genre on a wider scale meaning that they are able to select the best elements suiting said genre. It is important to follow codes and conventions of genres when creating a music video as this means that the audience is able to clearly state the music video to said genre which enables them to have a better understanding of the styles etc of the artist.

Without being inspired via other elements of the music industry it is likely that the audience will grow bored as there is nothing which has really strived the work behind the music video urging the creators towards a certain goal which they wish to maintain in order to create a successful music video. Also as time progresses as does the music industry hence if artists today were still going about music videos in the same fashion they were in the eighties the audience would soon grow bored and music videos would no longer hold an amount of interest. Hence music videos have improved with added elements such as special effects etc the idea of an artist following another music video for inspiration means that not only have they obtained a certain goal to reach but they are likely to be focusing on ways to be able to improve it. After all if you are looking to recreate something a professional artist would be looking to be able to put their own spin on it and keep the idea fresh.

When analysing my chosen artist Amy Winehouse's music video for her single 'Back To Black' I picked up various different forms of inspiration along the way:

The most noticeable piece of inspiration I noted was the use of the micro element which was the edited black and white filters which comes under editing placed over the top of the filming throughout the duration of the music video. I was inspired via this idea as not only did I really like the effects of the filter; matching to the lyrics, creating a more dark intense atmosphere highlighting the stereotypical gloomy atmosphere you would expect to see at a funeral and the effect that it had on the artist making her appear rather classic and attractive. I also admired how the filter was able to relate back to Winehouse's genre of soul as the concept of something being filmed in black and white implies connotes of a flashback or past times as it refers back to periods before colour film was in use. This is conventional towards the soul genre as the genre hasn't really developed that much since it first emerged in the 1950s this is because the audience of the soul genre are fans of the classic vibes the genre provides. 

I also admired another micro element used throughout the music video through the use of iconography, for instance the trumpets which are conventional towards the soul genre as artists of the genre are recognised for performing with large professional bands. If you was to see a soul artist perform live you wouldn't expect them to perform with a back track for the music but you would be expecting this big band this relates back to the idea of the genre still being within it's classic element. As well as the concept that soul is very much soul about the quality of the sound of the music and really getting to the core of performing the music for themselves without the help of other uses of technology etc which follows codes and conventions of the soul genre as again the genre still hasn't left the time it was first created of which certain forms of technological help for music wasn't even created. 

When looking at Marina and The Diamonds music video for her single 'OH NO!' I picked up on various different elements which I would like to use within my own music video: 

From 'OH NO!' I took inspiration from the concept which follows that the audience most likely unconsciously notices is the voyeuristic treatment of women and the female body within the music industry. Hence inspiring me with the representation of my artist. This is achieved via the artist suiting to demands which occur via most record labels involving the concept of the artist displaying a lot of close ups of the artist from a variety of different angles etc. Showing the audience close ups of the artist enables them to feel a stronger bond as the artist is close to the lenses which represents the artist being closer to them as well as the concept that she isn't hiding or shying away from the audience is she getting up close to them and she isn't afraid to show herself off to the camera displaying how she isn't afraid to present her true self within her work and to her audience creating a stronger bond between the pair. This also enables the audience to view the artist in a more attractive fashion as the view images of her face which are still attractive when she is close to the camera which is stereotyped as being an unattractive angle as people feel that the camera is more able to highlight their flaws when it is closer to their face. This is also a method which follows Goodwin's theory demonstrating how beneficial it is towards the construction of a music video. 

As you can see within the image the artist has had her hair and make up done so to make her appear attractive and well presented these elements of mise en scene really highlight the audiences attractive side. This is beneficial as it urges the audience to develop a different sort of relationship with the artist as they begin to find themselves feeling more connected with her as they find her attractive. This added attractive sides encourages male members of the audience to buy into Marina's music as they find themselves developing stronger feelings for her. Whilst encouraging the female members of the audience as they find themselves looking up to the artist even more as they admire  how she is still able to present herself so well and till work so hard to portray her talent. Hence the concept of the artist being able to juggle so much presents her to be very talent and hard working making her a good role model for the female audience. Which shall also be a beneficial representation for my music video as my chosen artist was very much about promoting the esteem of women, especially in the song which I have chosen, where the artist talks of her being the one who is purely interested in a sexual relationship from her lover and nothing more. Where as conventionally it is thought to be the male who thinks this way. Thus being a good representation for my artist as it matches the message she is trying to bring across therefore helping me to bring it across through the music video. As if the artist was to appear fairly weak and unconfident this element to her personality wouldn't be brought across which could result in audience members being unsure of the message behind her lyrics therefore not finding themselves within the experience the artist is trying to create for her audience. Preventing the audience from building a relationship with the artist, gaining what she had prepared for them and over all preventing the music video from doing it's job of promoting the artist and their music video.


From Cassie's music video 'Me & u' I gained inspiration for the performance elements of my music video:

Although Cassie adopts a completely different style to that of my chosen artist Amy Winehouse being that she the two artists belong to different genres and therefore representing different things with their music both artists are able to adopt performance based style to their music videos.Henceforth both suiting to Goodwin's theory that any music video must belong to either a performance, narrative or concept based structure often with elements of each used within each other. Analysing Cassie's music video for 'Me & U' enabled me to pick up on elements of a performance based music video which my chosen artist wouldn't have as they go against my chosen artists genre of soul as well as breaching her representation of an artist. Although I plan to create my artist primarily around the concept and inspirations of Winehouse this doesn't mean that I won't look to other artists who contrast Winehouse so to focus on other elements to music videos which work well in helping the audience to engage with the audience and take inspiration from them.

Also following Goodwin's theory from the offset and throughout Cassie's music video there is frequently reference to the notion of looking e.g the idea of screens within screens or in Cassie's case mirrors within mirrors etc. as the audience views Cassie looking at herself in the mirror, seeing the artist purely through her reflection and also looking at her as though the audience are behind the mirror themselves. This is a technique I like as it urges the audience to feel closer to the artist as the idea of the artist feeling or behaving as though she is alone allows the audience to feel like they have been let into a personal environment for the artist hence the audience feels as though they are gaining a better understanding of the artist as she is portrayed to be relax without putting up a front or a certain persona as she appears to be alone. This also creates a relationship with the audience as through certain camera shots they are made to feel as though they are able to view the artist through her own eyes. The effect of this makes the audience think they know the artist better as this further intimacy encourages the audience to think and feel as the artist would in this situation therefore helping them to understand the artists mind set. This is a technique which I like as I think it looks rather aesthetically pleasing particularly with female artists as they are stereo-typically thought to care for their appearance therefore being conventional towards females of the music industry and helping the audience to build a connection with the artist as they apply these kinds of conventions with the artists attitude and persona so to connect with them. It is essential for the audience to feel a sort of connection with the artist for them to be able to gain the best possible experience from the artists music as well as encouraging the audience to feel more kindly towards the artist because this connection allows the artist to find further ways in which they can relate to the artist encouraging the audience to look to the artist as more than just their profession all of which helps build upon the artist likability factor. Which is very important as if the audience feel a certain way about the artist this can determine whether or not they buy the artists music.

I plan to use this technique within my own music video for the 'bedroom' scene whereby the artist is seen moping around in her bedroom looking rather sad, depressed and fairly tragic as she is seen waking up looking rather emotionally unwell with last nights make up smudged around her face and drinking wine straight from the bottle as she wakes. I decided this would be a good scene for this piece of inspiration as it is rather stereotypical for a girl to have mirrors in her bedroom therefore making the artist appear more relateable to the audience as she is seen doing more day to day things which you would expect of any other girl. This is important as in order to make the artist appear relateable she needs to be presented away from any kinds of conventions or representations of her fame as this shall highlight her differences from the audience. Representing the artist as relateable not only improves on her likability factor but it also enforces the idea of her belonging to the soul genre and therefore really aiming towards the audience of said genre as being relateable is known as a convention towards the genre due to the content of soul artists lyrics being more personal and meaningful compared with other artists from different genres. As the artist gets out of bed and begins to pace around her bedroom she will be shown looking in the mirror whereby the effects which followed Cassie shall be applied. This will also helps the audience to understand the artists mental state more easily as she appears to be fairly more superior in other scenes for instance the performance seen where she is seen on stage looking rather powerful and talented.

Another music video I took inspiration from was Duffy's 'Warwick Avenue':

Again from the out set and throughout Duffy's music video relateable locations are used. Which is conventional to Duffy's genre which happens to be the same genre as my chosen artist (soul) hence I was able to look to Duffy's music videos also for inspiration both for elements which work well within a music video as well as conventional elements so to ensure that the audience are clearly able to define my artist as being a member of the soul genre. Relateable locations are conventional towards the soul genre as they represent soul artists ability to make the audience feel as though they can understand the artists struggles building a bond between the artist and the audience as the audience can see themselves living a similar life to the artist whilst coping with it in a similar manner. The first location the audience sees within Duffy's music video is of a train station. Being a relateable location as for many people taking the tube is a regular thing as well as walking past a train station. This also helps the audience to picture the artist away from her fame and fortune which keeps them from tying themselves with the artist and encourages them to picture themselves in her positions. After which the artist is seen sitting in the back of a car this reminds the audience of getting a cab again something which most audience members would have been in often regularly if not they certain would have seen cab's and would think of them as a normal part of life which helps the audience to paint the artist as someone who could relate to them and understand their own struggles as they paint themselves to be so down to earth.

I also took inspiration from Natasha Bedingfield's Music video 'I bruise easily':

Bedingfield applies the factor of there being a relationship between the visuals and the lyrics within a music video which conducts Goodwin's theory. For instance as the lyrics reference; "I found your finger prints on a glass of wine" the camera displays a glass of wine. This is beneficial as it  helps the audience to follow the lyrics more easily as well as providing them with an image so to help them put to the lyrics which helps the audience to remember the lyrics. Many audience members find that their experience of songs are better once they have heard the song a few times and are familiar with the lyrics as it helps them to sing along and enjoy their experience with the song often loosing themselves within it. It also helps the artist to ensure that the audience is clear of their message and is following the song correctly which is important as this means that the audience are in fact following the song as the artist intended therefore obtaining the correct experience which allows them to take what the artist wished for from the music video. There is also the deeper reference towards the lyrics within the visuals of the music video as the artist sings about bruising easily by which she means she is easy hurt suggesting that she feels that she must put up a guard so to avoid herself getting hard and that she is very protect of herself. Which is represented as she is seen as dressing up as someone very different from her usual representation which is represented throughout other scenes. As the artist begins to wipe away the make up and take off the head pieces which help her to create this other persona the audience get to see the side to her which they know and are use to. This represents that she is knocking her guard down and showing her true self to her lover whilst attempting to rid herself of her fear of being hurt which is suggested as within the lyrics she is informing this lover that she is easily hurt which goes against the guard that the artist had previously being putting up so to prevent her lover or any previous lovers from seeing this sensitive side to her. I plan to take this inspiration and use it within my music video by like the artist showing images which match exactly what is being spoken about within the lyrics for instance there are lyrics within my chosen song which talk about a river for which I shall show the artist walking past a river. As well as making reference to the lyrics in a sutler and clever way such as Bedingfield as the artists troubles are presented throughout the music video which are made subject to within the lyrics of the song. 

Taking inspiration from other music videos is a big part of planning and producing a music video as it allows the creators to look at other elements of music videos which work well and which don't so to provide them with guidelines to follow. As well as providing them with a platform so to view and inspire them to better so to help them create music videos which up the lever expected from them and therefore growing with the audiences expectations.