Blog 6 - Video Analysis.

Paramore - MISERY BUSINESS:

‘Misery Business’ is a music video / song from the band Paramore. It was their first single in their second album ‘Riot’. This is connected to certain shots of the music video. Those shots which are set on the band playing. In the background of these shots, ‘Riot’ is all over the wall. This connects to the album name. A reference to the album name. Not only this, but the font s used for ‘Riot’ represents the genre. Misery Business was nominated the best video award at Kerrang! Awards in 2007 but unfortunately, lost to Fall Out Boy ‘This aint a scene, its an arm race.’ The song was also featured in video games like Saint Rows 2, NHL 08, Guitar Hero World Tour, Lips and Rock band 3. The song was released on July 15th 2007. Categorised in the genre of pop punk and emo. The label being ‘Fueled by Ramen’. The setting of this was filmed at Reseda High School. Also; Misery Business was also first heard on Stephen Kings adaption psycho thriller film Misery (1990) The song was influenced by this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/misery_business . The video starts of with the band, the cuts of the shots are cut fast, this is to represent and highlight the beat of the music. It is soon cut into the narrative of the video. A spiteful; malicious IT girl walks into the school, with heavy make up and a blue dress. She walks through, pushing through the cheerleaders to represent that she is more popular than these. She has more power and confidence over them. Even though, cheerleaders are stereotyped to be the most ‘Popular’. This emphasises that she is more popular than them. She continues through the corridor, with cuts crossing to the band every so often and soon snapping back to the narrative. The confident female starts smiling and acting nice / innocent to a blonde with braids, but to her dismay, the blonde realises that her braids have been cut off after the popular female reveals the braids and the scissors, a grin upon her face. She then heads once again through the corridor, herself walking as though she owns the place. She approaches a male who had recently made an exit out of the medical room and deliberately slams him against the wall; again, showing the malicious female she is. Even then, she doesn’t stop with the torment of people, later on in the music video, she approaches a couple who are clearly in love and passionately kisses the male; then walks off smiling. As it is mentioned in Wikipedia, Hayley Williams is ‘Student body president and in charge of the high school’. Though, when she makes an exit out of the classroom; followed by the rest of Paramore, it is ambiguous to who she may be. Hayley approaches the female and there is a moment pause; the music still going; but their movement is still. The two females; Hayley and the popular girl are staring each other out. Though, a head shot is soon shown when Hayley turns to the side and laughs. Soon after, Hayley exposes the girl for what she really is. Removing the false pads she wore and wipes off her make up. The shot is soon left with Paramore walking away. Knowing that they have overpowered her and taken away that power she had.

Close up to represent her emotions. Same with the victims. Close up to show they’re feelings after this female has tormented them.
Close up and over the shoulder shot of the ‘Happy ‘couple – Until ruined.
Many close up, mid shots and long shots are used in this video. Cutting fast to show the tension and to follow the beat. Quick pace.
Long shot of the band. Hayley laughs – close up of her as she wipes the make up of and takes out the pads used for ‘fake’ breasts.
Leaving it with a long shot at the end, of the IT girl leaning over. This represents that her power is now gone because of how low she has got. Instead of the high posture she had.

Mise-en-scene:
Cheerleading outfits – Show they’re cheerleaders. Stereotypical.
Main girl – Dressed ‘appealing’ to guys. Highlight of make up, blue dress and Jewellery. Shows she has style and class. Her hair done nicely into curls again shows that she has class.
Arm bandage (Sling) – to represent that this male has an injury which the woman is going to spitefully injure further.

The lyrics:
The lyrics fit in with this video because some of the words in the song represent the IT girl who is up her self. Stealing guys and bullying etc.
She is out of their life. ‘Not one of them involving you.’

A clip of this video is: http://music.aol.com/video/misery-business/paramore/1904302

Paramore - DECODE:

The other music video I have looked at and analysed is Paramore ‘Decode’. This song was released as a single from the soundtrack to the film ‘Twilight’. It was certified platinum in the US, selling over 1,000,000 copies on the February 16th 2010. It was a song which was nominated a Grammy for the best song written for a movie. The song was recorded in 2008 and the genre being Alternative rock. ‘http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decode_(song)’ This song was written for the hit movie ‘Twilight’ which was a collection of films from a series of books by Stephanie Meyer. This song has appealed too many because of this being on the soundtrack of the film. Those who are fans of the movie are going to direct to the music. Buying the soundtrack or just browsing the songs on a network. Like YouTube for example. Paramore have set this music video in the woods/forest. This is shown as the music video begins; Paramore have used an establishing shot to represent the woods. Not only this, but the establishing shot they’ve taken out of the movie ‘Twilight.’ These shots are of course have been approved instead of being copyright. This is because a majority of Twilight is set in the woods/forest and what Paramore has targeted themselves to do, is to connect themselves in the story of Twilight. So for example; with the pace of the vampires running through a scene in the film, Paramore have placed it as if though they are they’re with the vampires. Many shots cut from the band towards Kristen and Robert, to show the love story from Twilight. The song is as if though its representing the relationship between Bella and Edward because its an awkward love. With Edward not being able to read Bella and all, Hayley emphasises the hardship that they must be feeling. Especially when there is a mid shot of Hayley shaking her head in order to represent that it is being messed with; a new leash on life; realising the impossible is possible and expressing the mixed emotions. When the song gets more upbeat, the music starts to get more fast cuts and zoom shots to build up the tension. This also connects with the narrative of the video. This appeals more to the younger teens, following up to young adults. Whereas, Misery Business would be ranging from mid-teens/late-teens to young adults. This is because the Twilight film is full of mythical characters and is targeted to the younger generation.

There are plenty of long shots of the band, and cuts to close ups of the instruments to represent which instrument is playing at certain times. Not only this, but there is a few panning close up shots of Hayley. The lighting of this is pretty dark.

The black clothes in the music video emphasises the genre and the mood of the song.

Blog 5 - Target audience of artist/band. Part 2/2.

In this blog, it is continued from the target audience from the previous blog ‘Blog five: part 1/2’. This blog consists of screen captures from the networking site ‘Face book’. Also comments from YouTube and then magazine shots taken from Google. Apart from the magazine shots, I have numbered each picture and highlighted certain aspects of each shot. These are what I am to explain.

Image one:

I have highlighted two comments from this YouTube video to represent where the song has headed. It has recently been used in the new season of Glee. With this there, it has collected a lot more fans and it has also been placed into the television programme because Glee is directed to teens. Which allows this song to appeal more to the target audience of Glee. There is also other comments that have been shot in with this particular shot which gives feedback from those who this song appeal to. All of these comments are positive and each have their own view on this music.

Image two:

I have chosen these two particular comments because they both have different views. The first comment ‘This song is so beautiful because the meaning of the song is don’t give up on love because one day you will find that special someone.’ I feel as though this comment could help when creating our music video because it highlights the fact that this song is about Love and the narrative of it is not to give up. The second comment ‘Love how people never knew about this song till this year when it came out last year...’ I have chosen this comment also because it emphasises that the song was not popular when it first came out but as a year has gone by, it has become well known. This is most likely because of Paramore getting ‘Bigger’ in a year than the previous year as their songs have become more populated. Into films and television shows and such. Not only this, but by pairing up with different artists. Like B.O.B for example. This has a big impact on the audience because once having a favourite Paramore song, they will look up the rest of their music in order to find something more and allow it to either appeal to them or not but at least they’ve given it a taste.


Image three:

Image three is from the face book page ‘www.facebook.com/paramore’ I selected this not only to show how many people like this but also to show the ‘Latest’ updates on the page. Since the song has been on ‘Glee’, they have advertised more merchandise and have advertised the song being in ‘Glee’ in order to get more fans of the song and the band. For example; on this shot, they are advertising jewellery and Glee which has connection to ‘The Only Exception’. For example on the advertisement of Glee, they have written ‘Don’t forget to catch ‘The Only Exception’ on tonight’s episode of GLEE at 8/7c on FOX!’ It is advertised with a small picture of Glee below this. If you look closely, you can see advertisement on the EP that they have combined with this picture of Glee. This is again to appeal more to the audience and get them to buy this product.

Image four:

Image four is another screen capture taken from the Face book band for Paramore. I have chosen this shot because it shows the tour dates specifically on the Face book page. Those with Face book are able to view this information on this page without having to search the web. This becomes useful for them because it is supplied on the page. This also gets Paramore to possibly get more fans planning to go and see them because if they see this on the page, they could get the idea of heading to one of their concerts.


Image five:

Image five is quite similar to Image four because it shows the tour dates and the same reason for this is written for Image four. Though, this is different because I have screen captured the top list to represent what is on their Face book page and what stands out particularly in order to appeal to the audience. Above, it has Wall, Info, Photos, Music, Tour Dates and Merch. The wall can be used in order for fans to get involved in what is happening, advertisements and the latest news on Paramore. Not only this but they can leave comments, hoping and maybe receiving comments back. Though, that isn’t always the case because it is set up to just give out the latest information and to try and make Paramore appeal more to people. Info is information which fans can look at to see more information about the band. This way it supplies it here than browsing the web for information on them. Photos and music, with these fans are able to approach these photos and the music and get a taste in what the band are like and if they are fans then they are able to see recent pictures and music. This way, keeping updated with it all. The last two are ‘Tour dates’ and ‘Merchandise’. I have highlighted these in black boxes because these aren’t usually on Face book pages. These are specifically selected and with these, they get a wider audience and its also advertising for those who are interested in them. Which gets more purchase on their products because it is advertised further than just an advert or a product in a magazine. Especially when it’s on Face book where there is over 500 million active users.

The magazines:

The first magazine Paramore is placed onto, which I picked out from Google, is ‘Spin’. Wikipedia claims it to be ‘College-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop.’ ‘significant coverage to hardcore punk, alternative country, reggae and world music, experimental rock, jazz of the most adventurous sort, the burgeoning college rock and underground music scenes of the 1980s’

The second magazine Paramore was placed onto, which I picked out from Google, is ‘AP; Alternative Press’ Wikipedia claims it to be ‘underground music’ and ‘Alternative Rock’.

The third and final magazine Paramore was placed onto, which I picked out from Google, is ‘Rock sound’. Wikipedia claims it to be ‘alternative music. The magazine aims at being more "underground"’

As you can see from above, each one of these magazines have alternative and underground music. Each of these magazines targets a similar genre to the audience. Which with these being similar in genre, fans of Paramore are most likely to look at these magazines to see Paramore and take interest in them.