Bruno Mars Construction

I am going to be choosing Bruno Mars to analyse and research, to find out how this artist has been constructed over the years of performing and producing good quality music. Bruno Mars is a worldwide selling musician since working with the Smeezingtons in 2005 - an independent music company in Hawaii, until Atlantic heard his voice in the song ‘Nothin’ On You’ featured in B.O.B.s’ song in 2009 and was given a contract. He is also signed to Elektra. Since then, his fame has risen and he’s become one of the most favourite male artists in the past two years with over 12m followers on twitter and an amazing number of 333m views on his bestselling song, ‘The Lazy Song.’
The Smeezingtons is a record production and it is located in Los Angeles. They cover many genres of music and these include, hip-hop, soul and reggae. Most of the genres that they have been working with have been included in Bruno's album and his album moves from ballads to rock and reggae with hip-hop and dance in his earlier music.
Bruno Mars decided his stage name with the help of his fathers choice of nickname at a young age, he was said to resemble the look of Bruno Sammartino, a professional wrestler as he was a chubby baby. Mars was chosen because he joking Bruno has also worked and collaborated with many artists, co-working and producing songs such as Flo-Rida's 'Right round' and Cee-lo's 'Forget you.' 

 The star construction for Bruno in the music video ‘It Will Rain’, portrays and explains the meaning of love, to his target audience of mainly teenage girls and boys; he speaks, ‘I’ll never be your mothers favourite… if I was in their shoes,’-i.e. the characters parents, - ‘I’d be doing the same thing, saying there’s goes my little girl walking with that troublesome guy.’ These lyrics explain to the viewer that after a situation dealt in a relationship, other people, i.e. the parents spoken in the lyrics, look at the other in a different light, but there is a positive note within the song saying ‘Bruno’ is optimistic and willing to change their minds and prove them wrong. The lines in the chorus also say, ‘There’ll be no sun light, if I lose you baby,’ this can be relatable for the teenage audience optimizing that there is always a way out.

Only two characters are shown in the video giving a more personal perspective to the viewer, keeping the motive between the lyrics and the visual story strong. Close-ups are a main used camera angle in the video; this is helpful for the viewer to understand how the character is feeling.

Voyeurism in the video is displayed through the costume, as she only wears a long white shirt. The women in the video is filmed in long shot, so this displays her full shape and ‘perfect’ features, as a typical view for a man is toned, tanned and pretty.

Bruno’s chosen album cover represents his name and his aim for his work. The rocket represents the movement of his fans increasing throughout his music and achievements that he wishes to grow and with this it shows a contrast from the beginning - working in an independent company to being a worldwide phenomenon.  The colour of the album cover is very bright and eye-catching, this can sales and direct fans straight to his music and merchandise which includes, clothing, posters and jewellery. 
He is also quite personal with his fans, giving them closer looks into his work and behind the scenes of his projects. On his official website, he created a 'Doo-wops & Hooligans' fan base club that enters the world of himself and the band. To be part of his online fan base, you pay only £30 for a year of membership and along side this, you receive a welcome pack which includes, an official poster, a introduction letter and a t-shirt. 
He gives opportunity's to his fans for 'meets and greets', merchandise competitions and more. Also, starting from last year, he decided to create a vlog of his movements touring around the globe. He posted pictures via twitter, instagram and on his website giving almost everyone access to them. 


http://www.brunomars.com/#

http://www.brunomars.com/member

Music Video Plan

Through discussing our song choice and type of technique we'll be using to film, we will be using stop motion with the song from Motor Head called Ace Of Spades.
The narrative behind the video will be explaining a daily routine of a student preparing for college, but this is no ordinary day. As soon as the character steps into college he will transform into a Lego piece. This is create an abstract effect making it out video to be both an abstract and a narrative video.

The macro element of mise-en-scene costume, will either be unorthodox or casual like a regular student. With using a full dress costume this could help the video become more abstract, but the group and I are still discussing. Locations that will be included be only based around college and streets as they are our main priority. Another location we may need to use is a bedroom and kitchen, displaying the character getting ready. Consequently, the group and I are not all local or even close; so if we do need several clips of acting shots of the character, we will have to agree on doing independent filming. With this, we can review the shots through editing when we gather in class.
One aim to do is to pick a 'back up' song in case we do not receive permission by the artist to use the song. The genre we need to keep to is rock because the pace of the video will be fast as the character will be running and rushing. With this, it will need to be fast paced yet not to heavy otherwise the video is look out of place and will contrast too much.

Key Features Of Music Videos

Characteristics~

Jennifer Lopez, Get Right.

This video involves a lot of dance routines as the songs genre is R'n'B and dance-pop.

Little Mix - Wings

This song is R'n'B and hip-hop.

The videos characteristics against hip-hop are bright and bouncy.

Colours clash contrasting and the choreography is unique making it modern, fresh and new.

Relationship Of Lyrics & Visuals~

DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora - Hot Right NowThis song fits as R'n'B and funk.
Amplifying is used well in the centre of the song as there is a build up of sound 'lyrics'- quiet voice, then maximizing volume.
Slow motion effects makes a big impact on the sound when building up suspension.
 It helps build adrenalin and excitement as well as an energy filled ending.

B.O.B - So Good

The genre is rap and pop
The lyrics and visuals are related in this video by using props and locations resembling the lyrics.

Relationship Of Music & Visuals ~

Gym Class Heroes, Stereo Hearts ft Adam Levine

This videos is cut rhythmically to suit the song as well as using visual effects to match the lyrics and beat.

Close-ups & / Motifs

Katy Perry, Wide Awake

This video mainly relys on close-ups and mid shots of the character.

Demi Lovato, Sky Scraper

As this is a very heart felt, emotional song, the close ups keep the video personal.

Notion Of Looking - Voyeuristic

Snoop Dogg, Sweat

This video looks at women from a mens perspective, with women in short dresses and swimsuits.

Nelly ft Justin Timberlake 

Intertextual

Andrew Goodwin

In analysing music videos, there are several segments and different areas you can research, explain and learn about the song.
These include,

• The characteristics in the genre, within the visual elements.
• The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals - either through amplifying, illustrative and contradicting.
• The relationship between the music and visuals - this also includes amplifying, illustrative and contradicting.
• Iconography - things related in the genre, stereotypical, obvious in some cases.
• Voyeurism, in the way women are treated in the video.
• Demanding part of the record company for lots of close ups of the main artist / vocalist. 
• Intertextual references either to other music videos or to films and TV texts.

Alice In wonderland Analysing

 This song represents the surprise in life, maybe a unwanted or unexpected situation. But the purpose of this video and the meaning behind it is portraying a positive message, as the lyrics say, 'I'll get by, I'll survive.' It represents a strong person dealing with chaos i.e the lyrics carry on, "When I fall and hit the ground, I will turn myself around, don't you try to stop me,' this shows that the person/ character is optimistic, positive and unstoppable with what they want to achieve.

Mise-en-scene within the video is focused on the fairy tale stories, as the title displays, 'Alice in wonder land', but it has a dark, eerie vibe instead a stereotypical positive, sweet, airy atmosphere.
The costume chosen is a black gothic flowing dress, this presents the character in two lights as one tells the viewer the characters personality, as it may be, innocent and feminine but with this appearance, it gives the female an edginess to her character as well as a darkness inside her.

 The feelings portrayed in the video are mainly scared and lost and this is shown clearly to the viewer by including close ups of the character. Close-ups help to show expression and feeling; when another character is introduced half way though, it presents a stereotypical villian. The macro element of mise-en-scene makeup, is used a huge amount to get across the character is mad and rather insane.

The locations also helps to let the viewer understand what is going on and where the character may be heading.
Other mise-en-scene also includes surreal, unnatural make up, which describes a crazy nightmare.

Video Researching

In my research of choosing my own music video to analyse, I decided to pick one of my favourite bands Maroon 5. The song consists of performance and different techniques and effects, such as, stop motion, fading and panning.

The mise-en-scene within the video is kept casual but smart wearing, jackets/blazers, waistcoats and jeans. Their clothes are all kept to dark but earthy colours just like, black, beige and brown representing a calm, relaxed mood and atmosphere. But due to the lighting that is kept dark and uneven, this displays a more edgy vibe and gives an immediate aspect to the viewer that they are a rock /pop band.

Camera angles are used a huge amount in this music video as one scene is as long as one second each and with this, they continuously change in order of size and distance zooming out into a long shot then to an extreme close up.
Panning is used frequently and this movement emphasises the motion of the character. It makes the video faster paced and interesting, giving everything an extra bit of speed.

With these shots chosen and displayed, it gives an understanding to the viewer of what he or she is feeling and expressing. The longer shots help acknowledge where the singer and the band are, here, in my photos it seems they stand in a studio or ware house full of instruments and speakers.
Along side the camera angles, a straight cut is used during editing to fit all of these together to keep a smooth run of visuals so it doesn't confuse the viewer or change the concept in any way.

The ending of the video brightens as the lighting becomes stronger and shows details displaying the band members in a better contrast.