2. WHAT IS A MUSIC VIDEO?
A music video is a short film in conjunction with a song produced for promotional
or artistic purposes. Music videos are used as a marketing device to promote the sales
of the song itself. Music videos can contain a range of video making techniques
including animation and live action. Many music videos will interpret images and
scenes from the song’s lyrics. Others may take a more restricted approach while some
may not have a concept but rather simply a filmed version of the song being
performed live.
3. HISTORY OF MUSIC VIDEOS
Two sheet music publishers projected a series of still images on a at the same time to
live performances. This then become a popular form of entertainment known as the
illustrated song, the first step towards the music video.
MTV one of the most popular platforms for broadcasting music videos was launched
in 1981. MTV kicked off this revolution which was 24 hour music broadcasting 7 days
a week with ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’.
4. MUSIC VIDEOS IN THE 1980’S
The 1980s saw the release of the biggest music video in existence. Michael
Jackson’s Thriller, the most successful, influential and iconic music video of all
time was released in 1983 directed by John Landis. The video set new
standards within the music video making industry costing $800,000 to film.
5. MUSIC VIDEOS ONLINE
2005 saw the most revolutionary movement regarding music video viewing online. This year
YouTube was launched, making viewing videos much faster and easier.
Some artists began to see success of their videos as a result of them being seen online. Band ‘OK
Go’ are a testimony to this trend. Songs A Million Ways (2005) and Here it Goes Again (2006)
both became viral videos online.
Vevo was launched in the December of 2009 by several major music publishers to officially release
artists’ music. Vevo is most popularly known via YouTube with Google and Vevo sharing the
advertising revenue.
6. LYRIC VIDEOS
Lyric videos are a form of video where the words in the song are presented
as the main element of the video.
In 1990 George Michael released song ‘Praying for Time’ as a lyric video as he
refused to make a traditional video for it.
Lyric videos are usually released separately to the official video before it is
released to spark interest in the new release.
Screen grabs from George Michael’s –
Praying for Time Lyric Video;
7. CONTROVERSIAL AND BANNED
VIDEOS
The first video to ever be banned by MTV was Queen’s music video for ‘Body
Language’. It was deemed unsuitable for television audiences in 1982.
The BBC had banned ‘Girls on Film’ by Duran Duran which featured topless women.
MTV however did air the video although it was a highly edited version of it.
Michael Jackson’s video for ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ created much controversy in
the music industry and was banned by MTV, BBC and VH1 because he allegedly and
falsely accused anti-Semitic messages in the song.
Body Language; Girls on Film;
8. MORE BANNED VIDEOS:
Ciara – Ride (2010) Banned by BET and all UK television channels for being
too sexually charged.
Rihanna – S&M (2010) Banned in 11 countries with an ‘18’ age restriction.
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball (2013) named most controversial video of the
year and also the fastest viewed video of all time at 100,000,000 views in just 6
days.
