1. Unit 6
LO2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJO5HU_7_1w
“The Real Slim Shady” is a hip hop song written by Eminem, Dr. Dre and Tommy Coster for Eminem’s
third studio album The Marshall Mathers LP (2000). It was released as the lead single a week before
the album’s release. The song was later released in 2005 on Eminem’s greatest hits album Curtain
Call: The Hits.
A large majority of Eminem’s songs/albums are targeted at the demographic audience of young
adults, typically male. They are also often found to be a heterosexual audience, possibly due to some
of the explicit content of Eminem’s lyrics in a number of songs. However, after taking a vast amount
of criticism by listeners and critics, Eminem stunned the world by doing a live performance with
Elton John and explaining that there is no hurtful intent in his lyrics.
Despite his controversial songs and music videos, Eminem is one of the most acclaimed names in the
music industry. His music is incredibly mainstream and is listened to all over the world by mass
amounts of people. In terms of psychographics Eminem’s audience is very much targeted
mainstreamers. This is obvious by the language and slang he uses in his songs and responses he gives
in interviews.
The socio-economic status of Eminem’s audience would largely fit into middle/working class people.
However, due to the mass size of his audience, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find upper class members
of the public listening to his music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJQSAiODqI
‘Vogue’ is one of many hits from singer-songwriter Madonna. The song features on her studio album
‘I’m Breathless’ and also reappeared on her 1990 greatest hits album. The music and song was
inspired by the film ‘Dick Tracy’ and used to promote the film in 1990.
The demographic audience of Madonna’s songs sway very much towards a female audience. Her
lyrics, song titles and actions during live shows are very much targeted at females of all ages.
However, because of some of the content within some of her lyrics her audience’s age range will
approximately be 18-30 year olds. On the other hand, her raunchy attitude and actions within some
of her music videos may attract a small male audience due to her sex appeal. But even with that in
consideration her music videos are very much targeted at females.
Madonna is considered a worldwide sensation in the music industry, as well as having successes in
film directing, producing, and acting. Because of all her achievements, her audience (in regards to
psychographics) is very much targeted at mainstreamers. This is the most popular category of the
psychographic research table, with a mass following of people. Madonna’s songs are primarily in the
‘pop’ genre, most artists involved with ‘pop’ music will be targeting their music at mainstreamers as
that will give them the most success.
2. Madonna’s audience would largely fit into the socio-economic status of middle class. However, you
would still be able to find lesser amounts of audiences at either end of the socio-economic table.
Similarly to the psychographics, pop/chart music will spread across the class system but to gain more
credibility and success it will be targeted at the largest group of people, in this case, middle class.
Questionnaire:
Which music video did you prefer?
“I preferred the Eminem video.”
“Madonna vogue”
Why did you prefer it?
“The humour and comedy used within the video made it enjoyable to watch. It helped that I already
liked the song, because I’m already an Eminem fan I think I would have enjoyed it regardless of what
the video portrayed.”
“I enjoy the take she made on popular music culture and self-imagery of women within 20th century. I
am also a big fan of mis en scene techniques used particularly the lighting and the vintage black and
white filter.
What didn’t you like about the other video?
“The other video didn’t really interest me. I didn’t like the black and white effect throughout, it didn’t
help that I don’t really like the song though.”
“I didn’t it was an equally entertaining video I just feel that Vogue had a stronger message”
How could one of the music videos been improved?
“I would have liked to see more colours and quicker cuts in the Madonna video.”
“I have no opinion on the subject”
How do the videos compare to ones you already enjoy?
“The Real Slim Shady music video is already one of my favourites. Most of Eminem’s songs have
funny and controversial elements which is why I enjoy them. I like how it cuts quickly and to the beat
like lots of other Hip-Hop and rap songs.”
“I don’t particularly watch music videos, however compared to ones I have seen, these have
encouraged me to take more notice of them.”