Analysis of Digipaks.

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade is Dead

(Front Cover)

The front cover is very busy. It features the bands logo that they use on their 'Black Parade' album and the name of the album. Both in white so it stands out easily against the black theme. Fans of the band are displayed as the background from a concert implying its a live performance CD.  A crucifix surrounded by red flowers is shown in the middle of the picture which makes a link with the name of the album "The Black Parade is Dead". It supports the theme of death and that the bands previous album tour "The Black Parade" has ended and has died. So it implys the end of something old and something new is coming along. 

(This is the booklet inside of the Digipak)

Again the title of the album is shown in the centre of the booklet. You see fans of the band inside an arena running. By featuring their fans on their Digipak it promotes them and it displays the excitement of the fans when going to see them live. The black and white effect could show its in the past.

The contents of the booklet show the members of the band performing at the concert.

 (Inside the Digipak)

The background images are again fans of the band. The photos of the fans are at the concert where the DVD (in the digipak) was filmed. Its all in black and white again and it being the final concert of the bands Black Parade tour, the colours could represent mourning. Black being the loss and white representing heaven. The CD's display artwork from the bands lead singer 'Gerard Way' and are quite morbid pictures of ghosts and demons. The middle image almost looks like a skull, that symbolises death and the culture of the band. 

(Back Cover)

This back cover mimics the previous album 'The Black Parade' displaying the order of the songs are performed. Again in black and white but the majority of the back is in white. 

This album could target a younger audience who are into rock/punk music. The fans displayed in the digipak look relatively young which links in well with the audience appeal. The band itself isn't displayed on the front cover so this may show how important the fans mean to the band. The genre being rock connotates the digipak well with the colour scheme (black, red,white) the images used (crucifix) and the theme of death appealing to the audience. 

Take That - Beautiful World

(Front Cover)

 The front cover is rather simple. It shows the members of the band walking on a beach. The band name is in bold which makes it stand out to the audience. Then italics is used to denote the title of the album. This is the bands come-back album and the walking on the beach could represent reflection and past happiness or sadness. Its shown in a golden colour and that could symbolize faith and enlightment. Three of the band members are walking together and the other is looking away, this could show the significance of this particular man member or just a different way of displaying the band.

(The booklet)

This image contrasts with the rest of the digipak. All the other images from the album are taken different places but this is from a concert. The booklet contains black and white images of the band's journey to making the album. It contrasts with the gold theme that is  on the majority of the album. The black and white could connotate good and bad memories of making the album and the gold being the polished, precious and cherished result. 

(Inside of Digipak)

The centre image is again showing the band members but this time on a hill. One of the band members are right at the front of the image but his face is blurred. The other three are not blurred but are looking in different directions or at the audience. Behind the CD, pictures are shown of the band not facing the audience but walking together equally. No text is present on neither of the images. There are no colours that stand out throughout the digipak. 

(The Back Cover)

Similar to the cover, the text is in white standing out to the audience and written in italics once more. The only image you see is the bands feet. 

 There is a theme of iconography everywhere on this digipak. The band are displayed everywhere and this appeals to older audiences whom liked Take That before they separated. I think the main colour scheme of gold was to represent the prime of the band.

Album Magazine Advertisement Analysis

I have analysed two album magazine adverts and discussed why they appeal to their audiences. 

Kasabian - Empire

The artists had used a card ‘King of Clubs’  for their album cover. The man could represent a ‘King’ that links in with the title of the album ‘Empire’  and the women he is carrying could show the dominance of the King, connoting and being sterotypical. The cover is painting that again links in because Kings would have paintings of themselves.

They use the same picture for their album cover. The text is located in the middle of the picture, so that when the audience look at the advert they know who its advertising. The name of the band is very big and bold, written in black capitals, so its stands out very much. Kasabian are a British Rock Band and the their font reflects that. The black boldness symbolises the stereotypicalness of a Rock band. The image itsself contrasts with the title, you’d think for a rock band that they’d use darker colours yet there are many colours used in this advert that challenge the conventions of the genre.

     This advert provides critical responses from music magazines such as ‘Q’ ‘Uncut’ & ‘NME’. They show quotes and how many stars they had rated it. This usually persuades the audience to buy the album or at least listen to it. The quotes tend to be more positive ones. The advert also gives an album release date ‘THE NEW ALBUM – 28^th AUGUST’  which is like the name of the band, in capitals and stands out, allowing the audience to see it clearly. The other text is smaller and in red, implying its less important then the other texts provided. Right at the bottom of the advert, it shows a link to the bands website, the bands record company & a link to the record companies website.

The advert picture and band title mainly takes up the entire page and this is so that it grabs your attention and it interests the audience also. Ovbiously the target audience would be for Kasabian fans and the Magazines that comments were featured on the adverts are for people who read the magazines and are into that kind of music.

The Stone Roses – Remastered Album

The images are very chaotic and the background image looks like a messy painting. There are two lemons present also, one replacing the O in Roses and the other in a random place. The lemons could represent the freshness of the remastered album and that’s its brand new. Artwork is entropic and unpredictable, it’s a bit of a mess and its very random, yet its redundant that for its genre ‘alternative rock’  being very abstract and different.

   The font is again bold but in a gold/yellowy colour, this could connotate the feeling of success and improvement.  The smudges of colour and were it says ‘Remastered, Re-packed, Re-discovered’  are both in Red, White & Blue that connotes Britain and that the band are British. This links well in with the bands connotations. Their genre has been classed as Alternate Rock & Madchester. Madchester is a genre of music created in Manchester (the band formed in Manchester). So the band could be digging into British roots by representing in on their advert.

     At the bottom of the advertisement, theirs a logo for the iTunes Store and this links in with the connotation of the text being in gold because it shows their going up a step by advertising their music on iTunes. Underneath the logo is a link to the iTunes store website.  Then on the bottom right hand side of the advert is the record companies’ logo with the link to the website underneath.  In the middle of both of the logos it says ‘OUT NOW’ which is in bold/gold like the title, so it stands out and the audience can see it.

     The advert takes up the entire page and is very eye-catching. It’s a busy advert and gives the audience enough to look at. This maybe so that it would stand out to people and make them curious (so to get them to look at it).

     It would appeal to an older audience – especially fans that were a fan of the older album. This advertises the remastered version so it needs to attract the main audience. Not many bright colours are used so it may not appeal to younger audiences, the only element that may is the fact that you can buy it on iTunes. 

Music Video - Research & Analysis

Alan Goodwin's Theory - Owl City 'Fireflies'

View more presentations from EmiStickland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuRGfAaju4&ob=av2e

Permission Proof.

The email I'd sent asking permission to use Sally J Johnson's song. 

Redundancy and Entropy

Redundancy
A very predictable or conventional message that is known for specific fields. e.g. Saying 'Hello' to greet somebody is very predictable.

Entropy
Completely random or unpredictable elememts.

I have analysised 3 videos to whats redundant and entropic about them.


Michael Jackson - You Rock My World

Redundancy	Entropy
Beautiful woman – typical of a male artist to feature attractive women. Michael Jackson always features a women in his videos, predictive thing.	Set like a movie. Unpredictable. Not everyday you see Michael Jackson & Chris Tucker eating a Chinese, poor location, unexpected for a millionaire.
Predictable of Michael Jackson to dance in his videos with his trademark moves and posistions.	Comedian dancing with other people. Doesn’t go with the song.
Dancing with a female. Trademark dress – hat, shoes, socks etc	Michael Jackson doesn’t really have violence in his videos. Ironic of the glass smashing on a ‘no fighting’ sign. Doesn’t go with his personality.

My Chemical Romance - Ghost of You

Redundancy	Entropy
Typical of the lead singer to have an entire shot to his own where the other band members are shot together. Difference in style of video is predictable of MCR.	Quite a nice shuttle shot – not like MCR. Not predictable for a rock band/song.
MCR tend to use women to signify heartbreak, sadness & death.  Predictable of them to use this. She’s in black which symbolsis death and the video is about soldiers going to war.	Very unpredictable – nice montage of a dance floor then an ocean and soldiers. It’s a dance between soldiers and women then goes into that.
Lead singer is always doing something different to the other bands members – he stands out more and is mostly seen throughout the video.	A band member doesn’t usually die.  Bassist doesn’t usually have the highlight in music videos.

Rihanna - We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris

Rihanna is always kissing another man in her videos – she usually sings about love or sex so its predictable of her to do this in her videos.	Not like Rihanna to skateboard – she’s very feminine & she’s dressed quite tomboyish and skateboarding isn’t like her.
Lots of dance in a pop video –predictable		Very abstract – unlike Rihanna – she’s very mainstream and this symbolism of drugs is teaching children bad things.
Dressed very sexily – Rihanna always dressed like this in her videos. Plus she uses symbolism e.g. the fire representing passion or hatred which goes well with the theme of the song ‘we found love in a hopeless place’		Again, very odd for a pop video. She is throwing up ribbons. Out of character and slightly weird.
Female being alone and wanting to be loved – stereotypical.		Is quite confusing under the theme of the song – its Rihanna breaking up with her boyfriend even though it’s a song about having a strong love.

Researching & Planning - Analysis of Christina Perri 'Thousand Year'

Analysis of Shot
This long shot shows the artist staring out of a window.  The shot compliments the piano music. The main lighting is natural from outside of the window, the artist is silhouetted. The location is in a house and this is a sort of establish shot. The connotation shows the artist in a black dress and seems like she is mourning or waiting for somebody hence why she is staring out the window.  The colours give the audience the feeling of solitariness.

Music/Lyrics    - Piano Instrumental                                                                                                                    Edits – Dissolve edit before the artists starts singing.

Analysis of Shot

The artist is addressing the audience by singing to them.  She is holding a candle that may signify the frailness and emotions she is feeling and this links in with the lyrics.  Again the lighting is natural and is coming from the candle. Everything is dark and with the candle it may again show she is trying to find a way out of the dark.  The shot type stays the same and she switches from looking at the candle to looking up at to the audience.  The connotation is almost telling a story. 

Music/Lyrics    -  “How can I love when I’m afraid to fall”              Edits –  After the artists sings the lyrics, it dissolves into a scenery.shot.

Analysis of Shot

The lyrics are contradicting with the shot. The shot before is of a character from the movie (Breaking Dawn) the song was written for, throwing the wedding invite on the floor and his Father picking it up. The movie is under the theme of love and loss.  The entire shot doesn’t work with the lyrics. The raining represents anger and jealousy. An element of sadness is shown in this shot. I don’t think there is a connotation present within this part.

Music/Lyrics    -  “One Step Closer”                                                                               Edits –                                  Dissolves into the chorus lyrics.

Analysis of Shot

The candles could represent how many years she has loved somebody, so each candle is one year.  The lighting is slightly blue and this colour implies sadness but the yellow of the flame could show a small amount of hope. The artist is surrounded by candles and the connotation could mean its all she cares about in her life.  This could appeal to audiences who like love songs.

Music/Lyrics    -  “I’ve loved you for a thousand years”       Edits –  The shots  dissolve into each other rapidly unlike the shots in the verses.

Analysis of Shot

After  two characters say “I Love You” to each other, this shot appears and the colour dramatically changes from blue sad colours, to yellow, orange brighter colours that represent hope and happiness. The sunrise represents new beginnings. This part links in with the lyrics with the connotation and symbolism of being one step closer to being loved. This appeals to the Breaking Dawn fans with the theme of gaining love.

Music/Lyrics    -  “One Step Closer”                                               Edits –  The shot dissolves into another clip from the movie

Analysis of Shot

This is a clip from the film. Connects with the lyrics, the character is looking worried. The clip fades into a clip of her husband telling her to not be afraid.  Good for target audience as they can tell the song was written especially for the film as it goes well with the lyrics of the song. Connotes well with the theme of love.

Music/Lyrics    -  “Darling don’t be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years”   Edits –  Dissolves into a clip of her husband looking concerned.

Introductions.....

This is my A2 Media Coursework Blog!!!
For my coursework, myself & my group members will be producing a Music Video to an Unsigned Bands Song. Then I will be making some promotional material; a digipak and a magazine advert. 


My group Members are: Sarah Lawrence, Jade Dovey & Tamara Adams.
Our chosen artist is: Sally J Johnson and we'll be making a music video to her song 'Dreaming Out Loud'.