Lyric annotations: Clocks- Coldplay

The lyrics to our song (Clocks by Coldplay) with annotations for what we planned to do in our final version of our music video:

In planning, I suggested using varied shots of the same thing to make things more interesting but to keep with the simplicity of a storyline-narrative:

In production, we amended the shots, but chose to use this idea with both the male performer:

...and the piano:

Clocks- Coldplay: Planning/Brainstorming

When we chose the song, we sat down and listened to the song on repeat three or four times. Whilst the song played, each of us had paper and a pen and we brainstormed anything that came to mind in which we felt was appropriate, could be used, or could be built on.

From this we came up with various ideas and put them all together to create the idea behind our video.

We wanted our video to be quite abstract and very simple, in order to follow the genre.

Immediately, the idea of clocks triggered time- and so all three of us wrote down the word 'clocks.' From this we decided that a clock would definitely be featured in our video.We then developed this to the idea of creating a time lapse. The clock would continually appear throughout the video and different stages of its cycle showing a passage of time, we wanted to speed the movement up so it created a time lapse. I set up the camera and filmed a clock for 10 hours in order to create this effect in the most effective way possible.

From this, Brogan particularly imaged a character trapped. And the trapped character needs to be free and needs to escape. However they are unable to do so, all the character can therefore think about is the idea of time. The fact that time is passing, time is being wasted and time is running out. We liked this idea a lot and thought it was versatile enough for us to work around when filming our video. We felt that it could be incorporated into our performance element and we could also use the clock idea alongside this to make the idea stronger.

Tiffany felt that the idea of using candles, or flames would be appropriate and fitting with the genre as they were not ever lasting, but almost an aid in a trapped situation.
Personally, I felt that the video would be most appropriate and effective simply using shots of the performance- the piano and the singer. We therefore, incorporated all of our ideas together and created our final idea.

We then discussed the ending of the song; should it be uplifting or not? We thought it could go either way, the lyrics of the song are not very positive and the idea behind our video was not leading us more towards a negative ending wherein the character doesn't escape being enclosed. Or we also considered an uplifting ending where the character finds freedom before 'his time runs out.'

Coldplay- Clocks: Brainstorm

After brainstorming we went on to the internet and created a mood-board type brainstorm to help visualise our ideas:

Coldplay, Clocks- Lyrics

Clocks- Coldplay
The lights go out and I can't be savedTides that I tried to swim againstHave brought me down upon my kneesOh I beg, I beg and plead singing
Come out of things unsaidShoot an apple off my headAnd a trouble that can't be namedA tiger's waiting to be tamed singing
You areYou are
Confusion never stopsClosing walls and ticking clocksGonna come back and take you homeI could not stop that you now know singing
Come out upon my seasCursed missed opportunitiesAm I a part of the cure?Or am I part of the disease? Singing
You areYou areYou areYou are
You areYou are
And nothing else comparesAnd nothing else comparesAnd nothing else compares
You areYou are
Home, home where I wanted to goHome, home where I wanted to goHome, home where I wanted to goHome, home where I wanted to go

Genre – Codes and Conventions – Indie

Codes and Conventions – Music Genres

Indie – Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

• Scruffy hair
• Casual clothes – Jeans, polo shirts
• Band playing
• Guitars and drum kit
• Dark setting
• Shadows
• Standing still/little movement on feet

In this music video the codes and conventions of the Indie genre are followed to the audience’s expectations. The band a dressed in neutral coloured casual clothing such as jeans and polo shirts, they also have scruffy hairstyles. This supports the relaxed and laid back image of stereotypical Indie bands seen today. The Arctic Monkeys are all playing instruments in this video as well, with a drummer that has the band’s logo on the bass drum. The lead singer is playing guitar as well as the other two band members. There is also use of coloured lighting, which could be seen as something unconventional for Indie bands, however in general the setting which the band is in is dark and ‘moody’ with lots of shadows cast onto the bands faces.

Click here for the ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK7egZaT3hs&ob=av2e

 

http://heathenmedia.co.uk/rock/2011/10/21/genre-codes-and-conventions-indie-and-rock/

Research into Media Institutions & Platforms

As Coldplay are a popular band of the current time, we decided they needed a popular institution that was recognised by a mass audience. We therefore decided MTV would be appropriate for our band as Coldplay are mainstream.

http://www.mtv.co.uk/

A platform is something that can help raise and/or promote media to the next level. There are three different types, these include:
-E-Media (Internet Sites)
-Print Media (Magazines, Newspapers, Posters)
-Moving Image (Music Videos, Films, Television)

We will use platforms such as YouTube to promote our video for the band.We would create them a Twitter/Facebook page to advertise and create publicity and a larger fan base. We would also create a website for the band themselves in order to give out information about the band.

We would also promote the band through the use of magazines and newspapers in order to gain maximum audience coverage. 

If something successful for the band was to take place, we would also advertise through posters on billboards. This way a much larger audience would be covered.