Here It Goes, there's just a Million Ways

“A Million Ways” 2005
This single from ‘Ok Go’ was their first single successful from their album, “Oh No”, due to its music video which “proved to be a viral Internet phenomenon”[1]. It was a very low budget video (costing “under ten dollars”[2]), which features the band members in the back yard, performing a dance choreographed by Kulash sister, Trish Sie, who is a Grammy Award winning choreographer and director. It was done without the consent of their label; however it had become the most downloaded music video in August 2006 with over 9 million downloads. This lead to the success of this first single, and the popularity of the band.

I could seriously watch this all day, but i have this blog to complete. There is nothing wrong watching 4 men, showing their moves to its fans. Superb.

“Here It Goes Again” 2007
This was the third single released from their album “Oh No”, and was extremely successful in reaching the Billboard Hot Chart at number #30 and reached #36 on the UK Singles Chart. This was largely due to their stunning and amazing music video for “Here It Goes Again” which received over 47 million views on YouTube. This video was again choreographed by Trish Sie and took “a total of seventeen attempts to complete the video”[3]. Amazing, Ok Go also performed the dance routine at the MTV Video Music Awards 2006, which I remember watching, amazed.

Both Music Videos “A Million Ways” and “Here It Goes Again” have promoted their track, making it successful, which is the purpose of a music video, which is to promote. For conventions of a music video they do include Lip Synching, Dancing, the Band members and style which give them an identity.

Footnotes
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_Go#Music_video_fame
[2] ibid

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_It_Goes_Again

Ok just GO!

I remember the day I saw this. I was utterly amazed. It must have taken such careful planning and having to re-do the whole thing, great choreography which is brilliant, and made their song “Here It Goes Again” successful. This isn’t the usual way a music video is constructed. Therefore I shall analysis it and compare with other music videos. They wasn’t a very successful band, however, I love their music. I and my mate, Hollie, said we would do the dance from their music video from their single called “A Million Ways”. I actually love this video and think it’s so just class, and I and Hollie will one day do it; we promise.

Ok Go Profile
Rock band from Chicago
Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka, Andy Ross
Unusual fashion sense & energetic music videos
Awarded Grammy for “Best Short-Form Music Video 2007”

Analysis of Take On Me

This music videos released by A-ha was seen as one of many memorable music videos of the century, due to its special effect by using rotoscoping. Although this effect has been around for years, the combination of live actions as well, and the idea of a girl jumping into this romantic fantasy storyboard gave a huge impact. The single itself took 3 tries to be included onto the UK Charts, becoming number 2 in 1985. I think this is due to the music video, which definitely helped to promo the single. This video on six awards and was nominated for two in the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards:

Won
Best New Artist in a Video
Best Concept Video
Most Experimental Video
Best Direction in Video
Best Special Effects in a Video
Viewers Choice
Nominated
Best Group Video
Video of the Year

This music video contains inducements, the artists and lip synching, as well as having a story narrative, which are some of the conventions of a music video. The editing of this music video suits the tune, and has quite a medium tempo. The fast editing of certain moments show the rush of moments, such as the running from the two men, and at the beginning when the race is about to begin, and we get a series of montage which establish a race.

Take on Me - A-ha

Profile
A Band from Norway
Morton Harket, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy & Magne Furuholmen

“Take on Me”
Directed by Steve Barron
Producer Alan Tarney
Filmed in Kim's Café and on a sound stage in London, in 1985
Pencil-sketch Animated/ Live Action (called rotoscoping)

Storyboard
“The video's main theme is a romantic fantasy narrative. It begins with a young woman, played by actress Bunty Bailey, drinking coffee and reading a comic book alone in a coffee shop. The comic contains a narrative about competitive motorcycle racing in which the hero is pursued by two villains. As the girl reads, her waitress writes out the bill for her to pay. The winner of the race, played by Morten Harket, winks at the girl from the page. Then a graphical representation of a hand reaches through the comic book, inviting the girl to enter his animated world. Through a creative effect they both view each other through a strange window which allows them to see each other in live action, while themselves, still remaining in comic book form.

When the waitress comes back for the bill, she discovers the girl missing and believes that she has left without paying. She angrily crumples up the comic book and throws it into a garbage can. Then, since the comic book is crumpled, the pages overlap and touch, allowing the two motorcycle villains to cross over into the panels containing Harket and the girl. One, wielding a pipe wrench, smashes the window. Harket punches one of the thugs and retreats with the girl into a maze created by the crumpled paper. Harket tears a hole so the girl can escape as he faces the two thugs. The girl reappears on the floor in the coffee shop, to the surprise of the shop clientele and employees. The startled girl grabs the comic book and runs to her home, where she tries to smooth out the creases to learn what happens next.

One of the panels shows Harket lying unconscious, and she begins to cry. Harket then wakes up and starts throwing himself against the edges of the panel of the comic books page, attempting to break out into the real world. As he does this, he begins to flash between animation and live action. The live-action version of him appears in the hallway leading to the girl's room, throwing himself against the corridor walls. He finally escapes from the comic book and embraces the girl. This last scene is based on the 1980 movie Altered States." [1]

Footnote
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_on_Me

Font with Help

I got the right font used by Black Diamond Bay. Thanks Tom.

I am so Glad

Black Diamond Bay are amazing. They are so helpful. It was so like me to pick a wrong email. But, we finally got there.

So again. Thankyou! I hope I'll do yous proud.

The Reply

Re: Regarding "I Won't Forget You" for Media Coursework‏
From: Black Diamond Bay (blackdiamondbaymusic@googlemail.com)
Sent: 12 August 2009 18:51:17
To: Carla Fletcher (carla.fletcher@hotmail.co.uk)

Hi Carla, it's Tom here from Black Diamond Bay - I'm the techy one who does keys and produces most of our stuff.

We're very flattered that you like our music, that's really cool - I can't see any harm in you making a video to some of our tunes - so long as if you put them online it's clear that they're for school coursework.

That sounds like quite an ambitious amount of things for an A-level! I wish we'd done stuff like that when I was at school.

A lot of our artwork is online, but if you want more then let me know and I'll send a zip over with a load in. If you haven't got the MP3 yet - you can get it at musicglue.com/blackdiamondbay for free. Also, the name of the font we used to do the BDB logo is called 'Bleeding Cowboys'. I think you can get it from dafont.com.

All the best and good luck!Tom

Im Persistent

I have not given up. Yet. I have found another way to contact Black Diamond Bay, and i really hope they do get back to be. Hopefully allowing me to let me use their music. I do really love it, and have so much plans!

History of Music Videos - Where it all Began

Promotional Films. It is considered that The Beatles began music videos with their motion picture of the song “A Hard Day’s Night”. It appears that “this 1964 Beatles movie included musical segments that resemble today's music videos”[1]. The band then began making more short promotional music videos for their songs that would be featured on a variety of television shows.



Music Videos then became popular when MTV came on the music scene, which was launched on the 1st August 1981. It purposes was to feature music videos which were hosted by VJ’s (video jockeys). Today it still has this element, mainly incorporating popular cultures and reality shows targeted at young adults.

Footnote
[1] http://www.1st-free-music-download.com/music-video.html

Awaiting

They have not returned my email, so i am rather worried that they will not let me use their music. I really do want to use it, so i shall email again and find other ways to get in contact with them. If not, then i must be defeated and search the unsigned.com website again for another artist, who may be more willing to let me use their music.