Pre-production: Preliminary Research

 This blog contains the preliminary research that was done during the pre-production stage

Before creating and choosing a song for my music video, I want to explore different types of genre first so I can make a better decision. 

Before that, to understand more in detail i answer a question:

Why are music videos important?

Music videos are important because it is used as a promotional video for artist to show their new album or song. Artist do this because when they publish a song using the music video it helps engaging with the audience and allows them to focus. From different years as music video has develop, it has become an important part where people are showing music video differently now. In music videos they added performance to emphasize and create meanings from the lyrics word for words. 

In this preliminary research I explore 6 different genre of music to understand the differences that can be find in each genre and see what I would want to do. 

This is a template that was given by my teacher to do the research, which I will use but answering them in the form of paragraph as it is much easier for me. 

This is where my preliminary research starts

Genre: Pop

Song Name: As It Was / Harry Styles

Year: 2022

In this music video, it follows the convention of the genre pop being high production. Where it has good quality of video and audio. Other than that we can see outfits and environment are high quality, this can be seen how everyone in the music video where the artist and back up dancer were wearing same outfit of clothing. This was done as the song is pop, the color being bright is use to make it more appealing and energetic. In this music video they use performance like dances to express feelings not from expression only, this also is use to engage audience. The high paced song and the way the song starts to get stronger and more powerful, where they end with a sudden stop but it goes slowly.  

The music video represent a relationship between two people not able to be together, where they showed both Harry Styles and a girl but he couldn’t be with her. This was shown using the moving platform moving like vinyl record being played, in some part Harry Styles were running with the girl but then they stop that looks like they couldn't be together. This was shown using a high angle and close up between the two of them but at the end they don’t end up together. They also show less masculinity as they may emphasize about being gay where this was shown by the way he was dressed towards the end. Like make ups and costume. 

From this music video I like the way how they are presented the lyrics using the performance as it matches, this emphasize the feelings and allow audience to feel what they are feeling. But what I don’t like is the performance, as it was not what I usually would want to watch, even though it helps with expressing videos. I would rather have less performance of the dance without too much.

Genre: Indonesian Pop

Song Name: Dunia Tipu Tipu / Yura Yunita 

Year: 2021

In this music video they follow the convention of pop as well, but with a mix of Indonesia culture. The song builds up slowly to create suspense to the point it got very energetic to show from the feeling of sad and empathy to a more celebration kind of song. The outfits that was use in was outfit that was fully white, this represent the song a lot. Where the whole song was emphasizing about the title it self which is "Dunia Tipu-Tipu" this could mean they are trying to show the truth in a world full of lies. The color white was used to show innocence and feelings and clear. With the song having a repeated song lyric makes the song catchy but they were shown differently in different part of the music video as they show different couples that showed them being emotional. 

The music video represent relationships, but more specifically is relationship with anyone that is considered as special. Like example father and daughter, best friends, couples and many more. This was represented by using over the shoulder shot from each people to show their POV and as well from the way use close up of the eye to emphasize the lyrics where they are talking about how people can tell feelings just by the look from their eyes. 

From this music video I like how they added an external to tell the story of the song, even though it was confusing at first it started to make sense when the lyrics starts to show and their actions started represent those lyrics. 

Genre: Indie

Song Name: Zombie / Jamie T

Year: 2024

In this music video they follow the convention of the genre indie, where this music video uses performance. They perform by acting like zombie while singing their songs, this was done to represent the song title ‘zombie’ by actually showing zombies in the music video which were them. While people around them were not bother at all and seem to be normal with the whole situation happening. Showing the musical instrument are also typical of indie genre, this creates more attention where people tend to like seeing people playing the instrument as it gives the experience for them. 

This music video represent zombies where in this shows low class people, they try to show it using zombies that are zoning out and especially with people working and not caring about there were zombies there. Overall I believe this music video has no meaning to it and it was simple just an experimental and for entertainment purposes. 

From this music video I don’t like how it was very bloody and it got to a point it was a bit disgusting. but seeing from a good point of view I like the song being fast paced, but I just think it could be shown differently and not the way they were trying to show. 

Genre: RnB

Song Name: Blinding Lights / The Weeknd 

Year: 2020

In this music video they follow the convention of the genre RnB, where they showed very high quality video where they use cars, expensive places especially empty roads. This was shown very fast paced and especially using close up shot and a drone shot where it follows the car to create high energy. They also follow the conventions by using outfits that are shown very clean but at the end shows how bloody it get where this is use to show new beginning at first then pain where he was bloody at the end. They use juxtaposition where they contrast the party setting with broken performance. 

The music video represent celebrity by making the artist to use outfits and luxurious car to indicate that he is a famous celebrity. They show the issue in celebrity which is his fame by showing his fake-looking face makeup, that shows how people hide their real selves behind appearances. The close-up shots focus on his emotionless face, which emphasize his face being empty. The music video uses wide shots of him performing to a quiet crowd make him look lonely and disconnected. They use dark lighting and stage setting to show that fame looks glamorous but actually feels empty inside.

From this music video what I like is the fast pace camera movement to create the energetic feeling that hooks the audience. Another thing that I like is how they edited the music video with fast cuts to make continuity edit which in my opinion it is the best thing that the editor did for the music video. What I don't like is how they made the artist The Weeknd to be bloody and everything, even though it does relate to the story that they are trying to tell behind the music video but I don't really enjoy seeing blood on video. Overall the whole music video was enjoyable. 

Genre: Rock

Song Name: Now And Then / The Beatles 

Year: 2023

This music video followed the convention of the genre rock by showing artist playing instruments, this allow audience to focus on the artist and it engages them. Other than that, this type of rock is a slow rock where it is showed by recording the artist still being in the recording room which shows the nostalgia. They also show the nostalgia following the title "Now and Then" by doing juxtaposition by going back and forth with footage that was recorded back then with them being in the recording room now. 

They show the representation of time, as they use AI to create the artist who had already died. They show the old and new version of each artist to show the difference between them and how everything went by faster than we expect. With the use of AI to create the artist they put the artist younger self to show the difference making it a contrast, they also put the AI artist to be with the alive artist to show that they are still together as a group. 

From this music video I like the concept of bringing back old version of themselves with the new one, as this engages audience who were fans of the band back then and showing them again with the use of AI to bring back the artist who have died create the sense of nostalgia. I dont have anything that I dont like in this music video. 

Genre: K-pop

Song Name: Strategy / TWICE ft. Megan The Stallion 

Year: 2025

This music video follows the convention of K-pop and pop by using with bright visuals, where can be seen that they were recording it in a blank white room. Other than that the artist have outfits that are matching but as well bright which make them the centre of attention in the music video. The artist have performance in the music video, where they have choreography that follows to the beat of the song, using choreography helps engage audience to the music video making them more entertain. These convention are shown using camera work like fast cuts which is commonly use in pop where it makes high energy. The performances was shown using camera like hand held while using fast zoom in and zoom out again it is use to create high energy for the audience following the upbeat tone of the song. 

The music video represents young women and empowerment, where this was shown by their performance being confident and were done together this shows that they have the control. Other than that close up shots were use to highlight each member’s expression as they are lip syncing, lip syncing are use to engage audience. The close up of their style can get audience attention and feel more entertain. They also use a wide angle shot of the group dancing, where this is use to show their togetherness being strong. Not only that they use low-angle shots to show Megan Thee Stallion which make her appear more powerful. 

From this music video, what I like is the performance as they are all in unity doing it together making it more engaging. Their style of fashion matches everyone in their group but at the same time also different at the same time to show each member's characteristics. I like how they connect the song lyric with their performance and especially when they edit when the song lyric is saying "step three" and many more, I believe it makes it more appealing to the audience. 

Genre: Indie Pop / Lo-fi Alternative 

Song Name: blue

Year: 2024

This music video follows lo-fi and indie genre conventions, in this type of genre they usually focus on emotion where this is shown by where the music video was recorded meaning the atmosphere where the scenery in this music video showed several places like the beach and the park which makes it simple. While emotion were shown through the performance like the guitar playing and walking around together. They use soft lighting and muted colors which shows the nostalgia feeling which emphasize the feeling even more. Instead of choreography they show natural moments that fits in how to show the emotional and introspective style typical of lo-fi and indie genres. They use a handheld camera work help create a personal and intimate feeling for the viewer.

The music video represents teenagers love life and relationship, where they show this by focusing on teenagers feelings from the way they perform which reflect them growing up. They use close up shots of the artist's face and their performance shown through body language to highlight sadness and isolation, while the wide shots of open spaces emphasize emptiness and freedom. The camera movement that was use were slow and slow focus that makes the music video more dreamy which represents how teenagers process their feelings by themselves with no rush. 

What I like from this music video is the way that it looks like they use a low quality camera which makes teenagers now to enjoy as the trending of the use of vintage camera can caught audience attention more. The music video is simple and not too high quality but this makes it simpler to create.

Reflection: Doing this preliminary research makes choosing the type of genre that I want to do for this project makes it much more easier. With knowing what each genre conventions are it makes it more easier to narrow down what I am able to do with the limited sources as a student can do to create a good result for the project. Not only that watching all music video genre allows me to understand what audience would want to see in a music video. Even though the convention are specifically for each genre but it gives me an idea.