Music Video Research

Before making out own music video, we decided it was very important to look at other artists' work to gain inspiration from it. This way, we would be able to see what makes music videos successful.

Tom Odell - Grow Old with Me Analysis

I chose this music video to analyse because the storyline and narrative is loosely related to our ideas. He includes various different narratives alternately going on throughout the music video: Singing while playing the piano as well as the relationship between the boy and girl. A lot of music videos include many narratives in order to make it more interesting and complex. This gave us the inspiration to use the same kind of outline in our music video. We will include one narrative of the artist singing, and one of the build up and break down of the relationship between the girl and boy. We also found that the video includes a lot of close up camera shots of the characters faces. This highlights the emotions of them, which is something that we could also consider doing to capture the true feelings.

Ed Sheeran - The A Team Analysis

This music video and song by Ed Sheeran relates highly to the initial ideas that we have about our own project. Many aspects of the music video such as the setting, camera shots and storyline have given us inspiration for our own work. First of all, the close up camera shots are very effective in this music video because of the emotion that the woman has on her face. Furthermore, the use of the high angle shot connotes the vulnerability of the woman at the difficult stage in her life. The establishing shots of the city setting are also effective, especially with the use of the black and white colour. The location of where it is filmed is very important, which is why we are using this in our own. I also think it is a clever idea to pick the location of a city with the contrast of a lonely girl. It signifies the fact that even though there are thousands of people around, the character is still completely alone. This could be used in our music video because of our narrative. The main character results to drinking and drugs, and we are using the urban setting of Bristol to create the same lonely and eerie tone.

Birdy - Help The People Analysis

In this music video, the artist really revolves around the setting and the people who are around us. It relates loosely to the ideas of our music video because of the lyrics and overall storyline. Birdy's song highlights the fact that everyone undergoes their own problems but live life among everyone else as humans every day, just 'getting by'. I like the use of silhouettes throughout to show the contrast between dark and light - this is something that we would like to include in our video. I also think the use of close ups really expresses the deepness and melancholy tone of the song. 

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs expresses the basic and essential aspects that we, as humans need in our lives. It is a motiviational theory which explores the way in which humans fulfil these needs.

• The first hierarchy is Physiological needs. These are things such as breathing, food, water, sleep, sex, homoeostasis and excretion. He discusses the idea that if we do not have these basic things, we will be motivated to fulfil them in order to live.
• Next in the hierarchy is the Safety needs. These aspects are very much revolved around self actualisation and the things we need in life in order for us to grow and be the best that we can. They include security of the body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, health and property.
• Furthermore, the next hierarchy is the Love/Belonging needs in life. These are aspects such as friendship, family and sexual intimacy. These aspects involve being interactive and communicating with people - if these are not met, then we will motivate ourselves to do so or we will not be the best that we can.
• Next is the need for Esteem. Maslow discussed that he thought there were two aspects to this need - the reputation other people have for you, as well as the self respect and way you see yourself. These needs include: self esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others and respect of others. Returning respect from both ends of the spectrum is what makes us happy in ourselves.
• Finally, the Self Actualisation need. Maslow explains that these are needed in order to live up to our full potential. These aspects include: morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice and accepting facts. These things will help find your purpose, drive you and motivate you to be the best that you can be,  

In order to create a successful music video project, it needs to relate closely to the target audience of males aged 17-25. 

One aspect of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs relating to our storyline is the Safety basic needs such as health. It is evident that the main character in our music video has resulted to alcoholism and so needs to fulfill this aspect of life. This could be relatable to the target audience because as humans we undergo the same problems.

Another basic need relating to the music video could be Love/Belonging needs. The storyline very much involves the problem between a boy and girl in a relationship which fulfils the need for love. Watching a music video which shows someone go through these problems may help the target audience with their own.

Finally, Esteem is something in the Hierarchy of Needs which may help the target audience. In our music video, the main character undergoes a lot of discomfort and troubles in life but seeing the 'light at the end of the tunnel' is a positive. He eventually finds himself and the self respect that was lost for a long time - he also meets a girl at the end. This is an aspect of the music video in which many viewers may find to help them.