Performance Based
A performance based video is a common type for boy bands as it allows the viewer, which is mostly younger females who are fascinated with boy bands, to see their faces and feel as if they are singing to them.
An example of this is One Direction's One Thing as in this video, the boys are standing infront of the camera singing into it.
One of Andrew Goodwin's key points is Genre Characteristics, and a strong characteristic for a performance based music video is a dance routine for a boy band. It also allows the chance for boy bands to reinforce the typical boy band stereotype of them being a close and fun band, and young girls will love to watch their favourite boys perform a routine in which they can copy and perfect.
Another characteristic is for them to have the 'boyband' look. In this video they are all dressed very smartly, as it gives them a chance to show everyone that they look good and are up to date with fashion and they have 'that image'.
The star image of the artist is also explored in this video, as lots of close up camera shots are used when the boys are singing into the camera. This is so the audience of young girls can get a good look at each of their faces which is what they want to see.
The editing involves lots of cut shots showing the boys having fun running down a hill, playing on space - hoppers and riding bikes. These are also sped up, so it looks as if they are just running around having fun, which is too the image of a boy band. Other props that are used in the big red London bus which features in the background and they travel around London on meeting their fans. There are also many shots of famous London landmarks such as Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. This all reinforces that they are London boys, and that they love London girls which would be the main audience.
The lighting of the video changes from day light to night time at the end of the video, which gives the impression that they boys are travelled around London all day meeting their fans, yet they are still having fun. This is reinforcing the representation of youth, as they are only young boys aged 18 to 21, and at this age all the want to do is have fun and stay up most of the night.
Likewise, in the sixties, The Beatles were one of the big boy bands at the time, and most of their videos were performanced based. This was too because they had a lot of female fans, so by making a video where their fans can physically watch them performing it, makes the girls feel as if they are being sung to, and can eagerly watch their 'boyband crush'.
Again, lots of close up are used of the boys faces, so the females get really look and study their faces, and be as close to them as they possible can.
In the eighties, it was the boy band era with big bands such as Westlife, Spandau Ballet, Take That and Wham. Wham were a big band, and most people had a huge crush on George Micheal. In their video for Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, he is the first person you see, and is the one who is seen most on the video dancing and singing, as he is the one that the fans want to see most.
Another characteristic is for them to have the 'boyband' look. In this video they are all dressed very smartly, as it gives them a chance to show everyone that they look good and are up to date with fashion and they have 'that image'.
The star image of the artist is also explored in this video, as lots of close up camera shots are used when the boys are singing into the camera. This is so the audience of young girls can get a good look at each of their faces which is what they want to see.
The editing involves lots of cut shots showing the boys having fun running down a hill, playing on space - hoppers and riding bikes. These are also sped up, so it looks as if they are just running around having fun, which is too the image of a boy band. Other props that are used in the big red London bus which features in the background and they travel around London on meeting their fans. There are also many shots of famous London landmarks such as Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. This all reinforces that they are London boys, and that they love London girls which would be the main audience.
The lighting of the video changes from day light to night time at the end of the video, which gives the impression that they boys are travelled around London all day meeting their fans, yet they are still having fun. This is reinforcing the representation of youth, as they are only young boys aged 18 to 21, and at this age all the want to do is have fun and stay up most of the night.
Likewise, in the sixties, The Beatles were one of the big boy bands at the time, and most of their videos were performanced based. This was too because they had a lot of female fans, so by making a video where their fans can physically watch them performing it, makes the girls feel as if they are being sung to, and can eagerly watch their 'boyband crush'.
Again, lots of close up are used of the boys faces, so the females get really look and study their faces, and be as close to them as they possible can.
In the eighties, it was the boy band era with big bands such as Westlife, Spandau Ballet, Take That and Wham. Wham were a big band, and most people had a huge crush on George Micheal. In their video for Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, he is the first person you see, and is the one who is seen most on the video dancing and singing, as he is the one that the fans want to see most.
At 21 seconds, an extreme close up is shot of just his face, which lets the audience look right into his eyes and feel as if he is singing to them. At 35 seconds, when he jumps back to the main stage, it is only him that we see jump back. Slow motion is even used so that the audience can thoroughly watch him in action flying through the air.
He is wearing all white , which is a colour known for making someone look more tanned. Also he hair has been perfectly styled, and is wearing small hoops in each year, which was a big fashion trend during the eighties.
A split screen is used at 48 seconds. Previously the whole of the stage and audience is ebing filmed, however the split screen inserts a two second shot of George Micheal down the middle, so although we can see him dancing on the left hand side, the audience's attention is drawn to the new screen and get to see him clearer.
Great start Chloe. Could you link this boy band video to others in music video history?
ReplyDeleteThink about representation of gender, male iconography & target audience, from The Beatles & The Monkees in the 60s through to the 1980s boy band hey day - Take That, Boyzone, Westlife, to the present day.
What role do the fans / audience play in the production and consumption of these boy band videos?
Look at male iconography and mise-en-scene in more detail to extend your analysis.
Keep up the good work, Ms Keenan