Lostprophets - Start Something

This a song that we have decided as a group we would really like to do. It also helps that Miss B loves it and thinks its punchy and edgy!

Lyrics:

Verse
Start today, now show us how you feel.
Make your way, it's time to choose.
Have my say, I know, I know what I see.
Have my say, they think you'll lose
For all this to mean so much to me.
For all this, you make a move
Pass you by, it's all in this life you have
Pass you by, goodbye to you.

Chorus
1234 Move
If you don't stop there, you'll make it through.
Stop dreaming, start something
when it's in your hands to start anew

Verse
It's ok to use your ability.
You must know, it's hard to choose.
Time will tell, it's hard 'cause the way you feel
means you always seem to lose.
Seize the day, the one that you left behind
It seems so strange that you don't move
Frozen still in front of your own lights
Win or lose, its time to choose

Treatment:

After a reccy of our location this evening I have a clear vision of this video. The video will consist of three main sets of shots. One in a plain, clean space with the band all dressed in black, the next in a really messy workspace with very harsh lighting and strobes, and finally 5 individual claustrophobic band member shots. The video will be all performance and concept.

The locations will be flicked between to show the contrast in song sections. The verses have quite a pop-punky positive feel to them while the chorus is quite heavy and almost like a beatdown.

The plain location will be used for the verses (00:41, 01:40). The band will be performing in stage layout (drummer centre back, vocalist centre front, guitarists and bass in between). We will have a wide angle and individual band shots here that we will cut between to show a lively and energetic performance. It will be very brightly lit to emphasize the cleanliness and plainness of the room. The band will be wearing all black except maybe the vocalist wearing either a white top or a bright colour to stand out. The lead vocalist will do all singing and the guitarists will do the backing vocals and screaming. Our main focus will be on movement and quite normal camera angles but rarely ever still shots (apart from the wide angle).

The messy location will kick in on the "1,2,3,4 MOVE" (01:19, 02:18). This location is a lot darker and will be lit harshly. This will be partially helped by the powerful hand-held lights we found on the reccy which we will cluster together to make beacons of light facing upwards around the band. This scene will also use strobe lighting to create a really crazy mood and the band will be even more energetic than before. We will mimic the shots from the plain location but put odd cants and twists to them maybe involving focus to really mess with the viewers head.

The five individual band shots will be done in small rooms around the location, one of which is maybe the old lift we found on the reccy. These will be cut-aways used regularly throughout the entire video. My idea for them is to shoot the band members playing along to the song at half speed then in post production add a fish eye lens to the shot and put the song back up to normal speed. If we get the angles tight enough this will give a really claustrophobic feel to the shot and also make all of the band members movements really jolted and weird.

There are specific moments in the song where I also have very clear visions of particular shots. At the beginning before the vocals kick in there is a reverse cymbal (00:38) at which point I want to do a montage of reverse shots. I was thinking of tying this in with the ending of the video where there is a gong in the music (02:54). I wanted to have the vocalist throwing his mic on the floor at the end smashing it, and at 00:38 showing this clip in reverse and the mic flying back up into his hands before the singing starts. Also I wanted to show the drummer hitting his cymbals in reverse, again giving a really weird, crazy edge to the video to confuse the viewer and make them more interested in the concept of the song and video.

Another bit I've been thinking of is in the breakdown after the second chorus (02:35), the band can start playing in slow motion. To do this we can do the reverse of the individual cut-aways and film the song at 25-50% extra speed and slow it down. It will look really weird as everyone will be moving slowly but playing in time and will really fit in with the rest of the weird concepts in the video. This shot may be harder though as it will need to be a very high frame rate to slow down effectively.


This treatment does not really have anything to do with the lyrics but I don't think that particularly matters. The song is about stopping being lazy and doing something with your life and I think we can choose to show that by making a very energetic video that reflects the musical style rather than the lyrics.

We're All Alone - Architects (Split - Single, 2008, Thirty Days of Night Records) Song deconstruction

Note: All timings in this post are in reference to the youtube clip of "We're All Alone" at the top of the blog

In this post I am going to deconstruct my proposed song for music video in terms of the different sections and what happens in each. Once we have gone more in depth with the song we will be able to use this information to determine the speed of cuts and edits, the use of transitions and the filming style suitable for each section as it happens. Also from this we can determine the obvious "3 section split" in the song. I see the song as having two obvious moods and this being separated into ternary form (A, B, A) in the sense of the mood, but beneath I have gone more in depth and given each section a specific coding.


SECTION 1 (00:00 - 01:30) :

00:00 - 00:11 (Intro)
Lead guitar and drums only things doing anything. No vocals. Rhythm guitar and bass playing long chords. Fast paced, drum beat on the off beat, fast riff. Ends with vocals and other guitars coming in to drop into the next section

00:11 - 00:31 (Section A)
Vocals come in. Both guitars playing the riff, bass aswell. Drums breakdown. Much slower beat (not tempo wise but pace). All instruments in rhythmic unison at end of the phrase to bring in the next section.

00:31 - 00:41 (Section B)
Everything cuts out except lead guitar for a second then everything comes back in. No time signature. Very fast complex riff. Timeless feel. Drums are only doing fills rather than a beat to keep time, used as an instrument rather than a rhythmic device. Vocals very drawn out over the phrases, not in obvious places.

00:41 - 01:06 (Section C)
Back in an obvious 4 in a bar time signature, drums similar to intro on the off beat. Guitars playing simple chord patterns with a slightly more lead line over the top. Bass following the root of the chords. Gang vocals, involving the whole band to emphasise the words "All on our own". Those four words repeated three times to really drive in the point of the song. At the end of the section plays half of the intro again but with a vocal line to add variation before going back to the original section.

01:06 - 01:30 (Section A.2)
Same riff and beat as first time round section A, but altered lyrics, similar theme but has been developed through section B & C. End of the section (01:23 - 01:30) is different with an extra part of the riff added on, again similar to section B it has no real time signature but instead follows the rhythmic patterns of the riffs following descending scales leading down to the first chord of section D.


SECTION 2 (01:30 - 02:48) :

01:30 - 01:50 (Section D)
The song takes a completely different mood with the guitars playing straight drawn out chords and the drums playing lots of fills. The vocals are screaming long lines that emphasise the change in lyrical direction as well as mood of the song. The lyrics are "And I just don't care anymore about you, You can sit and suffer alone without me". This shows that the character has given up hope on whoever the lyrics were aimed at before. These lyrics are reflected by the song with the riff at the end of A.2 being a big descending scale and then stopping with the chords. This is a clear sign that the editing should become slower and reflect the mood of the song.

01:50 - 02:14 (Section D.2)
Now a lead guitar line comes in and the song picks up pace, not quite as fast as the original riffs but gives the song direction and a driving force. The lyrics are simple so as not to distract from the intricate guitar part.

02:14 - 02:39 (Section D.3)
The drums break down into a slower beat and singing begins (first time in the song). The singing creates a very melodic section in contrast to the really dissonant chords and patterns seen in the opening sections of the song. The pattern repeats twice with different lyrics and then manages to go directly back to the same speed and pace of the original riffs.

02:39 - 02:48 (Section E)
This is a small linking section to bring the pace back up and not make the change of mood sound too sudden. It is a simple build up with some drum fills and simple chords.


SECTION 3 (02:48 - 03:03) :

02:48 - 03:03 (Section B)
This is an exact repeat of the first section B but ends very suddenly with the vocals left going after all the instruments have stopped on the line "We're all alone" which is the driving theme of the song so that it sticks in your head.

We're All Alone Lyrics

I am your hero
Still I sleep alone at night
In years you'll thank me
For getting everything right
I am the sun
Still I sit alone in a red sky
Keeping my eyes on you
Were all alone

In time you'll find that
Were all on our own (all on our own)
Were all on our own , chasing nothing
My dreams have fallen , I'm wearing thin
I need something to fill this void I'm constantly in
And I can't do this

I am your hero
I just don't care tonight
In years you'll forget me
I got everything right
I am the sun
I didn't rise today
I left you in darkness

And I just don't care anymore about you
You can sit and suffer alone without me

I am your hero
Save your "thank you"'s

In times to come ill rise above this
But for now i'll just sit here (save your "thank you" 's)
My dreams have fallen once again
My dreams have fallen once again

I need something to fill this void I'm in

Guitar Syncing

Seeing as me, Matt and Simon have basically chosen the song we are going to do for our project I thought it important to think about the possibility that I may be playing guitar in this video. To think about this I have learnt the song we want to use and practiced playing along accurately with the recording. Whether I play the song perfectly or not, the point is that it looks like I am playing it perfect. This is very important for the performance for if the guitar playing looks wrong the performance overall will look very tacky. From this exercise I have seen the importance of practicing a song and making sure you know a song inside out for the video shoot.

The main things I have observed as important are these;
-Playing in time
-Playing something that works synchronously with the song (when the song changes chord, you must as well otherwise it looks wrong)
-Playing the right kind of instrument (I'm using an electric guitar rather than say a banjo!)
-Being able to play the song from start to finish so that any moment of the take can be used

My Mirror Speaks (Death Cab For Cutie, The Open Door EP, 2009 Atlantic)

My third song to pitch is My Mirror Speaks by Death Cab For Cutie off of their 2009 EP, The Open Door. The song is of the Indie-Rock genre. The song is approximately 3 and a half minutes making it ideal for the time limit and the video project.

This song has a completely different mood to the other two chosen with a very calm laid back feel. However with a very walkable beat and catchy chorus it could very easily become a hit. Although being very soft it also has a very rocky feel to it which I like.

My main reasons for this song are;
-Yet again the band performance leaves us with something to have a strong emphasis on in the video
-The lyrics are very storylike telling a story of personal growth which we could use to our advantage and craft into a narrative to suit the theme of the song and to split evenly with the performance side of the video.



Lyrics:
With every sun that sets I am feeling more
Like a stranger on a foreign shore
With an eroding beach disappearing from under me

And when my mirror speaks it never minces words
That these eyes don't shine half as bright
As they used to do and they haven't for quite a while

'Cause I'm a man who hides from all that binds
In a mess of fading lines
And there's a tangled thread inside my head
With nothing on either end

I always fall in love with an open door
Or the horizon on an endless sea
As I look around the ones who are standing right in front of me

And then my mirror speaks with irreverence
Like a soldier I can't command
It sees the frightened child in the body of a full-grown man

And he's a man who hides from all that binds
In a mess of fading lines
And there's a tangled thread inside his head
With nothing on either end
There's nothing on either end

A new position for a different view
But nothing changes but the slightest hues
When I am standing face to face

With a man who hides from all that binds
And a mess of fading lines
And there's a tangled thread inside his head
With nothing on either end

To A Friend (Alexisonfire, Crisis, 2006 Distort inc.)

My second choice of song is To a Friend by Alexisonfire off of their 2006 album Crisis. This song is of the Post-Hardcore genre. The song is around 3 and a half minutes and therefore would fit the time limit perfectly making it good for multiple playbacks.

The song has a slower pace than dethroned and is a lot more melodic and singing based. However it still has that same energy and passion through the melodies and especially the chorus which is very catchy.

I have chosen this song for a few main reasons;
-The band line-up again means we can do a very performance based video helping create a very good atmosphere.
-The song is deep and meaningful and this is portrayed greatly in the pure passionate way that the vocals are sung, which we can use to our advantage to create a similarly passionate theme once we have better gone into the theme of the song.

Lyrics:
I'm thinking that it's time to get out
My patients are fading fast
mind bruises just a little bit easier
Dark times and shadows cast

What are you suffering for?
Your proud of some kind of personal war?
And will you throw it away?
For nothing more than a simple taste?

I'll stay in time and watch you pass by
paranoia woven deep beneath my skin
I'll draw this line
and hope you'll take my side (breath slow, breath slow)
you shouldn't have to fight alone
you shouldn't have to fight at all
its nobody's battle but your own

panic holds me like a gun
firm and steadfast bleak and cold
I think its time to kill the drama
This life style's getting old

whispers behind closed doors
eyes spy from dark windows
plotting minds that seek to harm me, or maybe not
I don't really know

There is something waiting for me
in the darkest part of my imagination

I'll stay in time and watch you pass by
paranoia woven deep beneath my skin
I'll draw this line
and hope you'll take my side (breath slow, breath slow)
you shouldn't have to fight alone
you shouldn't have to fight at all
its nobody's battle but your own

This is just self-induced terror
there's more to come
this is just a glimpse
I tell myself it's all in my head
but I'm pretty hard to convince

Oh, there's no relief
Oh, this world can offer

I'll stay in time and watch you pass by
I'll draw this line
and hope you'll take my side
You shouldn't have to fight alone
It's nobody's battle but your own

Dethroned (Architects, Hollow Crown, 2009 Century Media)

My first choice of song for the music video project is Dethroned by Architects off their 2009 album Hollow Crown. This song is of the hardcore/metal genre. The song is just over 3 minutes and therefore the perfect time for a music video.

The song is fast paced and heavy from the start, with a full band line up. It has a very raw sound and definitely an obvious edge to it. All of this mixed with the huge change of pace with the singing bridge creates a truely momentous song, that will be hard to forget.

I would like to do this song for a few main reasons;
-The band line up makes it easy to do a performance based video, and with the energy of the song, we could create a really convincing and passionate performance.
-The lyrics are deep and meaningful, talking about false idols who fail you and therefore could inspire some very good imagery and help create a good narrative to go along with the performance.



Lyrics:
Another cold dark night, left alone
Your arrogance will lead to the death of you
I'll be the one to pull your head back down
Remove your hollow Crown
So far from the truth you hide away
I'll be the one to pull your head back down
Remove your hollow crown
I'll die happy knowing that I will never be anything like you
What gives you the right to silence me?
All my life I've wanted just to fell like this
You came, you conquered you gave it away
And how does it feel staring down on your idol's grave
The one you once looked up to has fallen into dust
The one you once looked up to has fallen away
What's left for you in this fickle world?
Remove your crown

Song Pitches

In the next few posts I will show some of my song choices for the Music Video project. Obviously they will have to be discussed with the rest of the group but I thought it good to have some pitches to make when the groups are decided. Although I wish to do some of the songs more than others I would be willing to do any of them if the group came to the same decision.

For each song I will list the qualities that I like about it and why I think it would be good for a music video. I will do three song suggestions and ask the group (once it is chosen) what they think about each one.