Sunday, 31 August 2014
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Controversial Music Videos - Why Were They Controversial? What Made Them controversial?
1) Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke
The blurred Lines music video was released last year. The video caused uproar amongst viewers. Robin Thicke got a lot of criticism for featuring numerous naked models, all surrounding him in a provocative manner. There are two versions made of the raunchy video - a completely topless version which was first uploaded to YouTube but then removed due to its revealing content, later it was uploaded back onto YouTube but flagged as inappropriate for viewers under the age of 18. The second version is still highly revealing but the models are more 'covered up' wearing skimpy underwear. Thicke has be accused that his song lyrics promotes date-rape but Thicke refused the claims. You would have thought that all this controversy would deter people away from Robin Thicke and his outrageous music video but it actually did the opposite. All the controversial attention brought viewers to Thickes music video and blurred Lines actually became the best selling song in the UK in 2013. As well as this it also become the most downloaded song in chart history.
Watch the clean version here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU
2) Hate Me Now - Nas ft. Puff Daddy
The music video for the single was directed by Hype Williams which features Nas being crucified. When the music video was first released in 1999 the video caused uproar to a large amount of viewers, the reason being that Puff Daddy was originally featured on the cross in the first edit, Puff Daddy then demanded this execution scene to be erased from the broadcast and final edit, however, the wrong tape was sent to MTV and TRL then aired on the 5th of April 1999. Immediately after the broadcast Puff Daddy barged into the into the offices of Nas', he manager, Puff Daddy then stuck Nas' manager over the head with a campaign bottle. The video features very graphic close up shots of Nas be executed, and was see as disrespectful to many viewers.
3) Smack my Bitch Up - Prodigy
'Smack My Bitch Up' was banned by the BBC, resulting in the lyric free version being played on Radio 1. When the singles album was featured on the 'Chart Rundown' but the title 'Smack My Bitch Up' was not mentioned at all, it was disregarded. It was then later refereed to as just 'smack' and was not played. The Top of The Pops show then refused for it t be played due to it offensive content.
The music video drew harsh criticism for it's offensive content, it god lots of criticism for containing misogyny many feminist groups accused it of containing violence against women (however the main protagonist within the music video with in fact a woman). On the other hand many people praised the music video because it challenged that common stereotype that women are normally the victims within domestic violence. The video was both banned in the UK and US but through high demands on MTV they had them relent and show the video, but only after midnight, followed by an MTV news warning. In mid-2002, the full unedited version of this video was aired on MTV2 as part of a special countdown showing the most controversial videos ever to air on MTV. This countdown was only shown late at night because of the graphic imagery of "Smack My Bitch Up"
4) Closer - Nine Inch Nails
The music video for 'Closer' was directed by Mark Romanek on May 12th 1994. The video shows the event of a mad scientist which contained graphic images containing the themes of; religion, sexuality, animal cruelty, politics, and terror. Some of the controversial images included:
A heart connected to some sort of device; the beat of the heart corresponds to the beat of the song
The blurred Lines music video was released last year. The video caused uproar amongst viewers. Robin Thicke got a lot of criticism for featuring numerous naked models, all surrounding him in a provocative manner. There are two versions made of the raunchy video - a completely topless version which was first uploaded to YouTube but then removed due to its revealing content, later it was uploaded back onto YouTube but flagged as inappropriate for viewers under the age of 18. The second version is still highly revealing but the models are more 'covered up' wearing skimpy underwear. Thicke has be accused that his song lyrics promotes date-rape but Thicke refused the claims. You would have thought that all this controversy would deter people away from Robin Thicke and his outrageous music video but it actually did the opposite. All the controversial attention brought viewers to Thickes music video and blurred Lines actually became the best selling song in the UK in 2013. As well as this it also become the most downloaded song in chart history.
Watch the clean version here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU
2) Hate Me Now - Nas ft. Puff Daddy
3) Smack my Bitch Up - Prodigy
The music video drew harsh criticism for it's offensive content, it god lots of criticism for containing misogyny many feminist groups accused it of containing violence against women (however the main protagonist within the music video with in fact a woman). On the other hand many people praised the music video because it challenged that common stereotype that women are normally the victims within domestic violence. The video was both banned in the UK and US but through high demands on MTV they had them relent and show the video, but only after midnight, followed by an MTV news warning. In mid-2002, the full unedited version of this video was aired on MTV2 as part of a special countdown showing the most controversial videos ever to air on MTV. This countdown was only shown late at night because of the graphic imagery of "Smack My Bitch Up"
- A nude, bald woman with a crucifix mask.
- A monkey tied to a cross.
- A severed pig's head spinning on some type of machine.
- A diagram of the vulva/vagina.
- Reznor wearing an S&M mask while swinging in shackles.
- Reznor seated in front of a wall covered in fetish gear, wearing a ball gag.
Many viewers of the video found the contents disturbing a wrong, however, the video was successful and helped the band's success.
Analysing Past Student Work - Send Me On My Way - Hit The Roof Productions
Send Me on My Way -
Grade B
Camera Shots
The main camera shot used within the video are:
Long shots
Mid shots
Close up shots
There isn't a large amount of difference in the shots. We mainly see long shots and mid shots and then occasionally some close up shots of the girl in the car. However, because it's quite a fun upbeat video the shots do not seem boring as within each shot their is a new person/character so the shots are not of the same thing the whole way through so, in a sense it does not matter that the shots are quite similar because of the different people within the shots. That being said, I think to improve it would have been nice to see some other shots maybe some over the shoulder shots, high and low angle shots, but due to the nature of the narrative being quite simplistic I can understand why these would have been difficult to incorporate into the song.
Editing
They have tried to edit to the beat of the music, as the beat comes they change the shot where we meet a new person dancing. They have also used a black and white/greyscale filter at the very start of the video. This creates a retro type feel to the video as it then blast into colour when the start of song starts. They also use a the editing technique of key framing which is quite fun and impressive and breaks the song up a little bit which gives a nice feel to the video. They have also speeded up a camera shot to fit the fast pace sped of the sing which fits very well. This fast pace editing is also in reverse, I feel this fits the song very well. at the end of the song they then use the greyscale effect again, coming out of colour, signifying the end of the music video.
The greyscale filter.
The keyframe effect.
The speed up reversed scene.
Lighting
Whilst watching the video i couldn't really see any attention to the use of lighting. All the shots are basically of the same level of brightness. The lighting is very natural looking. I assume that this is due to the fun nature of the song, so they didn't really have to focus on the use of lighting as much as opposed to a sad natured music video. However, I feel if they had paid attention to lighting it would have made their music video look a lot more proffesional and put together.
Costume/Hair/Makeup
Everyone featured within the music video are wearing very casual clothes. However, I assume that they has not planned costumes before filming due to the fact that they filmed random people off the street. However, the people featured are wearing casual clothes so it gives a very laid back, fun feel to the music video. which is what they were going for. Hair and makeup also relate to my last point in the same way.
Grade B
Camera Shots
The main camera shot used within the video are:
Long shots
Mid shots
Close up shots
There isn't a large amount of difference in the shots. We mainly see long shots and mid shots and then occasionally some close up shots of the girl in the car. However, because it's quite a fun upbeat video the shots do not seem boring as within each shot their is a new person/character so the shots are not of the same thing the whole way through so, in a sense it does not matter that the shots are quite similar because of the different people within the shots. That being said, I think to improve it would have been nice to see some other shots maybe some over the shoulder shots, high and low angle shots, but due to the nature of the narrative being quite simplistic I can understand why these would have been difficult to incorporate into the song.
Editing
They have tried to edit to the beat of the music, as the beat comes they change the shot where we meet a new person dancing. They have also used a black and white/greyscale filter at the very start of the video. This creates a retro type feel to the video as it then blast into colour when the start of song starts. They also use a the editing technique of key framing which is quite fun and impressive and breaks the song up a little bit which gives a nice feel to the video. They have also speeded up a camera shot to fit the fast pace sped of the sing which fits very well. This fast pace editing is also in reverse, I feel this fits the song very well. at the end of the song they then use the greyscale effect again, coming out of colour, signifying the end of the music video.
Lighting
Whilst watching the video i couldn't really see any attention to the use of lighting. All the shots are basically of the same level of brightness. The lighting is very natural looking. I assume that this is due to the fun nature of the song, so they didn't really have to focus on the use of lighting as much as opposed to a sad natured music video. However, I feel if they had paid attention to lighting it would have made their music video look a lot more proffesional and put together.
Costume/Hair/Makeup
Everyone featured within the music video are wearing very casual clothes. However, I assume that they has not planned costumes before filming due to the fact that they filmed random people off the street. However, the people featured are wearing casual clothes so it gives a very laid back, fun feel to the music video. which is what they were going for. Hair and makeup also relate to my last point in the same way.
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