I used to be a fan of the Union Jack Tack that is available everywhere but what with the long, drawn out boredom that is the wedding of Prince William and carried-through-life Kate Middleton. It was slightly interesting forming an opinion over their intentions of marriage but now...
what will be behind their divorce?
There is not one person under the age of 50 who will not be using the extended bank holiday to get absolutely bladdered. Does the Royal family actually think people care about the occasion? I'm sure that even despite the Royal Family's caged bird minds, that even they can grasp the idea that all the public care about is the holiday the occasion has provided.
In bulk, the zombie like vultures will fill the town recreating a scene similar to when the titanic plunged to it's death, crawling their way around from bar to bar like something out of the Michael Jackson Thriller Video... hardly a street party celebration.
Once upon the 50's there may have been street parties celebrating such events but somehow, a combination of the changing of the times i.e. binge drinking and the exposure of married life within the Royal family over the past 20-30 years, the novelty appears to have worn off.
Thursday 21 April 2011
Tuesday 19 April 2011
Blah, Blah, No Gaga
I know there is a lot of hype around this woman at the moment and there has been for the past three years ever since she burst on the music scene with number one debut Just Dance. I personally have liked such songs as well as some of her album tracks, in fact I have probably preferred the album tracks such as Speechless, Again, Again and Dance In The Dark as these tend to hold some magic in the lyrics and the chorus alongside with the musical backdrop that holds a fresh yet nostalgic element to them as they do in fact resemble work of David Bowie and Madonna, of which the 'Lady' herself has admitted to being a fan of. These songs have proved more successful with my own ear than the dull Paparazzi and Love Game with their forced lyrical gimmicks such as "Bluffing with My Muffin"(Paparazzi) and "I wanna take a ride on your Disco Stick" (Love Game). The disco stick tag seems just that of a tag to connect with a disco fan surely? Code Speech between two folks who can chat about Donna Summer all night? or more on the mark; a one night stand wrapped up in a gay friendly wimsical manner? either way it proves beneficial to create a strong fanbase. My gay Friends love her for these empty sounding songs where as I prefer the more stronger, emotional sounding songs which do in fact have more of a story to.
Lady Gaga is about to rlease her 2nd album...I have no idea what to expect, which is probably a good thing for an artist as it creates that element of surprise and keeps the fanbase guessing, however if the songs I have heard So far from the new collection of work such as Express Yourself, oops I mean Born This Way, and Judas, I personally may find my attention diverted elsewhere. It does seem that Lady Gaga may be entering the same avenue as Cheryl Cole, 'the successful material has been played to death so something new needs to be put out like yesterday!' an approach which has seen Cheryl Cole release a promising debut Fight For This Love and then tarnishing that run with the not so great Promise This. Although in comparison Lady Gaga seems to rely on her professional spectacle as oppose to her personal one, take note Cheryl!
Lady Gaga's new album will probably contain some unreleased gems and will probably go ridiculously platinum before it is even released as people will read into the image and continue to believe if they follow Lady Gaga they too can stand out from a crowd.
Thats all I have to say on the matter...
Lady Gaga is about to rlease her 2nd album...I have no idea what to expect, which is probably a good thing for an artist as it creates that element of surprise and keeps the fanbase guessing, however if the songs I have heard So far from the new collection of work such as Express Yourself, oops I mean Born This Way, and Judas, I personally may find my attention diverted elsewhere. It does seem that Lady Gaga may be entering the same avenue as Cheryl Cole, 'the successful material has been played to death so something new needs to be put out like yesterday!' an approach which has seen Cheryl Cole release a promising debut Fight For This Love and then tarnishing that run with the not so great Promise This. Although in comparison Lady Gaga seems to rely on her professional spectacle as oppose to her personal one, take note Cheryl!
Lady Gaga's new album will probably contain some unreleased gems and will probably go ridiculously platinum before it is even released as people will read into the image and continue to believe if they follow Lady Gaga they too can stand out from a crowd.
Thats all I have to say on the matter...
Monday 4 April 2011
It’s Oh So Quiet, Director- Spike Jonze.
The music video is used in a way to promote a single for an artist, to use a visual form of gaining attention in order to boost the sales of a record, according to Jody Berland the music video has “reshaped the music industry irrevocably”.
1993, Routledge, Sound & Vision- The Music Video Reader, London.
The promotion of a song relies on a visual aspect for when the song is played on television, perhaps on music channels such as MTV or an advertisement for the single or album the song features on.
The song “relies on the visual” in order for the song to gain attention,
1993, , Routledge, Sound & Vision- The Music Video Reader, London.
The Theme for this music video was based on the musical genre. The song itself has a back drop of a brass band playing throughout which, like the vocals & the theme of the song as a whole performance ranges in tempo & volume.
The promotional video was intended to depict “modern musical with aspects of everyday life” – Björk- 2003, The Work Of Director Spike Jonze, Palm Pictures.
The verses of the song are in complete contrast to the chorus as they tend to glide along very diminuendo, In keeping with the title of the song, even describing the mood.
“It’s oh so quiet…shh, shh,
It’s oh so still”
It’s Oh So Quiet, Björk, 1994
The song itself, is built up of frequent bouts of excitement, as she sings about it being quiet around her, she breaks out into a raised voice as though she cannot contain her excitement of falling in love when it’s so quiet around her, the brass band pick in volume & speed also with her to enhance this feeling.
The level of performance for each verse is very much in keeping with the intended modern, everyday life vision, as each verse is performed similarly to the monologue of a musical in which, the performance is kept realistic; imitating everyday movements, such as riding a bicycle or walking down a street, up until the change in mood which calls for breakout of song , for example, in musicals such as Grease, the audience will not see the cast , as well as extras, dancing in the street unless the occasion calls for song, which usually forms when a character starts to reminisce or explain a situation.
As this is only a promotional video for a song, the timing is limited & the director has used the verses to separate the big performance moments (Chorus) from those intended to depict reality which are used for the cool down of the verses.
In the beginning of the song, Björk can be seen in a garage, surrounded by tyres, arranged to look like a promotion for customers , this creates a realistic approach for the viewer , yet the tyres are set out in a way that simulates pillars on either side of a walkway, as well as the entrance of the garage.
Björk singing about how quiet it appears to be walks through to the front of the garage where the tyres are positioned, the staff of the garage can be seen in the background getting on with their work, this is seen throughout the video with people walking down the street or even in front of the shot, unaware that the camera is there & making the performance more realistic as though it could actually be happening. While still in the verses, everything seems to move slowly, as if in slow motion emphasising a soft floating feel as Björk sings about the silence & peaceful surroundings.
The mood changes with a short build up to each chorus to create the crescendo of the performance during the chorus; this build up describes the change in surrounding.
“It’s oh so peaceful until…”
&
“…starts another big riot!”
It’s Oh So Quiet, Björk, 1994
The chorus parts of the song show the performance side of musicals as everything becomes almost like living fantasy; a delivery man discards a stack of soft drinks as he dances with the story teller & lifts her onto a car causing the driver to get out & join in the routine with the rest of the passers by. Also the dancing post box which comes to life after Björk leans on it, as well as the dancing pillars outside as she leaps through the street & the man in a suit who suddenly back flips away after she kicks the newspaper stand. This can also be seen in the final shot of the video where the audience can see Dustbins at the side of a building come to life & dance in the background, showing that everything in the presence of the character that Björk is trying to portray becomes involved in the mood of the performance & therefore happens to join in as though it’s a natural occurrence.
Another aspect of making the performance look natural can be seen back in the garage near to the beginning of the song, as Björk dances down the walkway of tyres (entrance of the building) we see mechanics dancing past her which is her main accompaniment, but also we can see a mother dancing with her daughter resulting in a lift as they glide across the front of the shot which suggests that as a whole performance, these same actions may be happening outside the shot & even behind the camera giving that unawareness of the cameras being & that this is out of the ordinary.
The ending shot of this video features a dance routine in the road with the extras seen during the song, the main character (Björk) then starts to levitate imitating the final scene from Grease, during this final scene there is a dramatic crescendo finish as is lifted higher & further away from the dancers in the street emphasising the head-in-the-clouds affect.
1993, Routledge, Sound & Vision- The Music Video Reader, London.
The promotion of a song relies on a visual aspect for when the song is played on television, perhaps on music channels such as MTV or an advertisement for the single or album the song features on.
The song “relies on the visual” in order for the song to gain attention,
1993, , Routledge, Sound & Vision- The Music Video Reader, London.
The Theme for this music video was based on the musical genre. The song itself has a back drop of a brass band playing throughout which, like the vocals & the theme of the song as a whole performance ranges in tempo & volume.
The promotional video was intended to depict “modern musical with aspects of everyday life” – Björk- 2003, The Work Of Director Spike Jonze, Palm Pictures.
The verses of the song are in complete contrast to the chorus as they tend to glide along very diminuendo, In keeping with the title of the song, even describing the mood.
“It’s oh so quiet…shh, shh,
It’s oh so still”
It’s Oh So Quiet, Björk, 1994
The song itself, is built up of frequent bouts of excitement, as she sings about it being quiet around her, she breaks out into a raised voice as though she cannot contain her excitement of falling in love when it’s so quiet around her, the brass band pick in volume & speed also with her to enhance this feeling.
The level of performance for each verse is very much in keeping with the intended modern, everyday life vision, as each verse is performed similarly to the monologue of a musical in which, the performance is kept realistic; imitating everyday movements, such as riding a bicycle or walking down a street, up until the change in mood which calls for breakout of song , for example, in musicals such as Grease, the audience will not see the cast , as well as extras, dancing in the street unless the occasion calls for song, which usually forms when a character starts to reminisce or explain a situation.
As this is only a promotional video for a song, the timing is limited & the director has used the verses to separate the big performance moments (Chorus) from those intended to depict reality which are used for the cool down of the verses.
In the beginning of the song, Björk can be seen in a garage, surrounded by tyres, arranged to look like a promotion for customers , this creates a realistic approach for the viewer , yet the tyres are set out in a way that simulates pillars on either side of a walkway, as well as the entrance of the garage.
Björk singing about how quiet it appears to be walks through to the front of the garage where the tyres are positioned, the staff of the garage can be seen in the background getting on with their work, this is seen throughout the video with people walking down the street or even in front of the shot, unaware that the camera is there & making the performance more realistic as though it could actually be happening. While still in the verses, everything seems to move slowly, as if in slow motion emphasising a soft floating feel as Björk sings about the silence & peaceful surroundings.
The mood changes with a short build up to each chorus to create the crescendo of the performance during the chorus; this build up describes the change in surrounding.
“It’s oh so peaceful until…”
&
“…starts another big riot!”
It’s Oh So Quiet, Björk, 1994
The chorus parts of the song show the performance side of musicals as everything becomes almost like living fantasy; a delivery man discards a stack of soft drinks as he dances with the story teller & lifts her onto a car causing the driver to get out & join in the routine with the rest of the passers by. Also the dancing post box which comes to life after Björk leans on it, as well as the dancing pillars outside as she leaps through the street & the man in a suit who suddenly back flips away after she kicks the newspaper stand. This can also be seen in the final shot of the video where the audience can see Dustbins at the side of a building come to life & dance in the background, showing that everything in the presence of the character that Björk is trying to portray becomes involved in the mood of the performance & therefore happens to join in as though it’s a natural occurrence.
Another aspect of making the performance look natural can be seen back in the garage near to the beginning of the song, as Björk dances down the walkway of tyres (entrance of the building) we see mechanics dancing past her which is her main accompaniment, but also we can see a mother dancing with her daughter resulting in a lift as they glide across the front of the shot which suggests that as a whole performance, these same actions may be happening outside the shot & even behind the camera giving that unawareness of the cameras being & that this is out of the ordinary.
The ending shot of this video features a dance routine in the road with the extras seen during the song, the main character (Björk) then starts to levitate imitating the final scene from Grease, during this final scene there is a dramatic crescendo finish as is lifted higher & further away from the dancers in the street emphasising the head-in-the-clouds affect.
Sunday 3 April 2011
Crazy Little Thing Called Love?
If true love is supposed to conquer all, then what conquers true love?
I am certain everyone has their own outlook on this tedious subject.
My definition of Love is two individuals wanting to spend their lives together due to the inspiration of the other person who without existence would feel pointless. A feeling that is growing, rejuvenating and replenishing each and everyday (even more so with time spent apart) despite flaws and imperfections, if anything, in spite of anything that is not necessarily of the 'norm' creating a subconscious, unconditional devotion.
My theory however is that of an ideal world. In truth, Love seems to be of a difficult sport, clearly due to the commitment of it which should make it clear to anyone analytical of the smallest thing.
Love can come in all disguises which we will all fall victim to. At first it's all shiny and fresh and we find ourselves captivated and thrown into the hell it will later become when the comfort has set in. Arguements seem to be a good time to stick the knife in. Love becomes manipulation when the other begins touching on the others weakest points that they have confided in.
Lying also becomes easier when the trust is set in place because we begin to know how to deal with the others feelings and how to provoke them and, just as much, spare them.
Is the relationship then a mistake?
Do we need to get out in order to find that true definition?
Heartbreak can be a good thing, what does not kill you... and all. It raises questions and builds walls i.e. a defense which we should all build but can only build a decent strong wall with experience like any tradesman!
It is a vicious circle though, this 'strength' can lead to repeating the behaviour the 'dumpee' is exposed to in order to create a sense of control and false strength.
Is this way of thinking the future or are we our own worst enemies?
If love is like a sport then why not keep competing for the others feelings?
Keep things fresh and new and remain as close to the person they fell in love with, and they should also return that favour.
Too much to ask?
I am certain everyone has their own outlook on this tedious subject.
My definition of Love is two individuals wanting to spend their lives together due to the inspiration of the other person who without existence would feel pointless. A feeling that is growing, rejuvenating and replenishing each and everyday (even more so with time spent apart) despite flaws and imperfections, if anything, in spite of anything that is not necessarily of the 'norm' creating a subconscious, unconditional devotion.
My theory however is that of an ideal world. In truth, Love seems to be of a difficult sport, clearly due to the commitment of it which should make it clear to anyone analytical of the smallest thing.
Love can come in all disguises which we will all fall victim to. At first it's all shiny and fresh and we find ourselves captivated and thrown into the hell it will later become when the comfort has set in. Arguements seem to be a good time to stick the knife in. Love becomes manipulation when the other begins touching on the others weakest points that they have confided in.
Lying also becomes easier when the trust is set in place because we begin to know how to deal with the others feelings and how to provoke them and, just as much, spare them.
Is the relationship then a mistake?
Do we need to get out in order to find that true definition?
Heartbreak can be a good thing, what does not kill you... and all. It raises questions and builds walls i.e. a defense which we should all build but can only build a decent strong wall with experience like any tradesman!
It is a vicious circle though, this 'strength' can lead to repeating the behaviour the 'dumpee' is exposed to in order to create a sense of control and false strength.
Is this way of thinking the future or are we our own worst enemies?
If love is like a sport then why not keep competing for the others feelings?
Keep things fresh and new and remain as close to the person they fell in love with, and they should also return that favour.
Too much to ask?
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