Goodwins Theory of Music Videos applied to Jack Johnson - Taylor

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
The genre of Acoustic/Pop holds characterists of there being a lead character, normally the artist themselves, and is based around a certain narrative relating to the lyrics of the song. Although this video does not go with the lyrics of the song, its follows an easy-going, relaxed narrative, of which most acoustic videos have. There is also nearly always a lead holding a guitar and playing, bringing the performance and lip-syning into the video to help relate the music and video together.

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
In this particular video, the lyrics don't match up with the visuals. However, the tone and beat of the video does. This video has an outside narrative, and therefore doesnt conform to Goodwins theory of Music Videos.



3. There is a relationship between the music and visuals

The visuals in the video may be edited in time to the beats or rhythm of the song.
The calm, smooth characteristics goes with the visuals of nature, and the colouring the video. For example, you would not match this video in with something fromSlipKnot( a Punk/Screamo band) as it would not meet with the beat and feel of the song and the colouring wouldn't be as bright.

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artists and the artist may develop motifs which reoccur across their work (a visual style)

Record Labels insist on showing the artist throughout the video to sell them as an icon, and develop certain motifs or characteristics which will be instantly related back to them. Although this video does not show Jack Johnson to be the main character within the video, they still sow him regularly. Also, while researching Jack Johnsons music i have come across the re-occuring scenes of hawaii, his hometown. And with this come sbeautiful beaches and nearly always scenes showing nature at its best. This is an ongoing motif throughout Johnsons videos and is still particularly potent now. Along with the scenery, Jack's guitar is a obvious motif which is always included within a video, as it shows the characterists of the genre strongly.

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking.

Often shown with screens within screen, looking through telescopes. Also and most commonly, the voyeuristic treatment of the female body (above).

6. There is often intertextual reference

There is quite a strong intertextual reference within this video, as Jack Johnson gets a famous actor (Ben Stiller) to play him in the video quite humourously. This could make reference to his character, shy, undramatic (unlike Stiller) and also his love of music and not the selling side of things. Therefore going against the conformities and not selling himself in his music videos.

Stills of particular lighting possibilies.

I really like the hue of these images from Ben Howards Music Video. I think it gives a really authentic feel, and this is something i would like to achieve in my music video. As you can see from the still images aswell, alot of nature is involved, something that i feel is very potent in all acoustic music videos, something too i will try to add into my own video.

Research and Planning

Within my music video I would like to converge a narrative with lip-syncing. This way I am able to put the lyrics across within the video.
An artist that fits the genre, and does this well is KT Tunstall especially in her song 'Under the Weather



Actors withing my Video
I will need to research into music videos which use females to lip-sync over male voices or visa-versa as I want to use a particular actress to be the lead in my music video. This will challenge the conventions of commercialised music videos so I think it could work well in an quirky genre.

Major Influences

My chosen track fits under the genre of Quirky/Acoustic pop music. Therefore, I believe there is alot I can do with this track.

Major Influences:

Xavier Rudd ( Acoustic/Folk)
Ben Howard (Acoustic/Pop)


This particular video of Ben Howards 'Old Pine' I really like the colour of the video. It gives an authentic feeling to the footage, something I would like to incorporate into my music video.
I would like to base my video around a narartive, along the lines of a journey of discovery etc. and I think this particular video shows this very well.

My Track :)

Lyrics:

In the sky the birds are pulling rain,
In your life a curse has got a name,
Makes you lie awake all through the night
That's why.

She's intoxicated by herself,
Everyday she's seen with someone else,
And every night she kisses someone new
Never you.

You're waiting in the shadows for a chance,
'Cause you believe at heart, that if you can,
Show to her what love is all about,
She'll change.

She'll talk to you with no one else around,
But only if you're able to entertain her,
The moment conversation stops she's gone,
Again.

Welcome to A2!

Welcome back to Media Studies! This year we're starting with our first project, making a music video! We have all decided to tackle this project alone and have been given a range of tracks to pick from. The one that i have decided to tackle on the list is track 20. The next stage is to begin research and planning to bring in ideas that i could use.

CONNECT - My film opening