1. What was the first music video featured on MTV?
The first music video featured on MTV was called "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the British group called the Buggles. 2. What were the two key innovations in the development of music videos at this time?
The first key innovation in the development of music videos at this time is the advancement of inexpensive and easy-to-use video recording and editing equipment. The second key innovation is the development of visual effects which are achieve by methods such as video compositing. High color quality video tape recorders and portable video cameras were introduced in the New Wave era that made creating promotional pop videos quick and cheap.
3. When did the video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” debut? What was important about this video?
The video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller" debuted on December 2, 1983. The video was the most successful and influential music video at that time. Thriller set a new standard for music video production, having cost about $500,000 U.S. to film.
1992–2004: Rise of the directors
1. What new feature did MTV implement?
MTV began to list the directors along in the artist and song credits starting in December of 1992. This shows that music videos have been more of a film makers' base for their ongoing career. Some directors such as Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze started their directing career around this time.
2.What was changing about the music videos?
Music videos were becoming more expensive as the years went by. Two of the most expensive ones were directed by Mark Romanek who directed Michael Jackson's "Scream" and Madonna's "Bedtime Story." Scream cost $7 million while Bedtime Story cost $5 million. Also during this time, music videos were being shown around the world on international channels, all launched by MTV. In 1996, M2 was launched to show more older music videos.
2 Other Interesting Facts
In 1991, Michael Jackson's "Black or White" music video dance segment was cut because the video showed him wrongly touching his body.
From 1999-2001, a peer-to-peer file sharing service called Napster was launched. Users were able to share video files, such as music videos, with each other.
1. What is the dominant message of these videos?
The dominant message in Two is Better than One is that a person's future is important but it's meaningless without anyone to share it with. When you meet someone special and they disappear from your life, everyday feels empty and bare. Having someone to share your life with is better than being alone.
The dominant message in There Goes My Life is that people have to let go of their dreams in order find true happiness in their lives. As a person grows up and begins to raise a family, they have to put away their life's desires and move ahead. As time goes on, people start to find new hopes and dreams and feel truly blessed. When the ones closest to you goes away, it feels like your 'life' itself, the one you always cherished, is leaving.
2. What are the similarities between these videos?
The similarities between between these two videos is that they deal with growing up and being in a relationship with someone. Both videos talk about romance and how being with the person you care about is important. If they did not meet, their lives and futures would be completely different. The videos also show that they are grateful to have met each other.
3. What are the differences?
The differences in the two videos is that Two is Better Than One focuses more young teenage love and how without the person you love, life feels lonely and empty. There Goes My Life focuses more on growing up from a teenager into a parent with a family. The video talks about how as people start to grow up, they begin to find new importance in their life and how it's hard letting it go. It shows the importance of being a good parent and making the right decisions.
4. How are the following individuals depicted in the videos? Two is Better Than One:
Teenagers: In the video, the teenagers are the ones falling in love. They are the ones driving cars and living by themselves in their own house.
Women: The woman in this video does all the chores around the house and being the passenger on a car drive. The man sings about how he feels lonely without her.
Men: The male is the one singing about how his life would not be complete without the woman he loves. The video shows men are the ones who play in bands and drive cars.
There Goes My Life:
Teenagers: Teenagers in the video are the ones that go off to college/university. They are the ones who decide their futures. Teenagers go to high school to attend classes and they are the ones that fall in love.
Women: Females are the ones getting pregnant and caring for the family. Females are wives that stay home instead of working to look after the children and family.
Men: Men depicted in this video are the ones who join sports team like football. They are the ones working at their jobs while the wife is at home. Men are the caring fathers in the family in the video.
Parents: Parents are the ones in the video that care most about the future of their children. They are the ones who look after their children when they grow up and the ones who see them off as they head onto college or university.
5.What lifestyle choices are promoted in these videos?
In Two is Better Than One, lifestyle choices promoted in these videos is that young couples should drive in new model cars and live in rural parts of towns. In There Goes My Life, the lifestyle choice promoted in this video is that teenagers should drive nice cars, teenagers should go to college/university, men should join the football team, and people should start thinking about developing a family earlier in life. Another lifestyle choice in There Goes My Life is the man sings about the girl wearing Abercrombie clothes and using Mastercards.
6.What trends in popular culture have been inspired by these videos?
Trends in popular culture that has been inspired by these videos is that Country has become more modern over the years. In the videos, especially in Two is Better Than One, people singing country music don't always now a days wear cowboy hats and cowboy boots. In There Goes My Life, the singer, Kenny Chesney wears a cowboy hat but his shirt and pants are more current with the fashion today. These videos are promoting more modern cowboys and attracting a wider audience.
7. How has this music influenced your life?
This type of music has influenced my life in a positive way. Country music makes me want to appreciate and think about what life has already offered me. It makes me want to look towards the better side of life and be thankful for who I am and my parents who raised me. Country music has made me think more not about the past but about the future that awaits. The songs have a very deep meaning in them and almost everyone can relate to the words being sang.
The original tone/mood of the video was suspenseful and intense. The movie, The Dark Knight, is an action movie about Gotham's superhero, Batman, as he faces off against the villain Joker. The video had a more serious tone where Batman was running away since he's being chased by the police. The music for the video was fast-paced with a lot of drums, trumpets, and a bit of violin in the background. The tone gave Batman a mysterious aura and made me want to find out what would happen to him after he ran away. It makes me feel like Batman is not an average kind of superhero who is always showered in praise but is always willing to help.
2. What song/sound did you choose to the tone/mood of the video?
The song I chose for the tone/mood of the video is a more melancholic piece opposite of the fast-paced intense music. It is a slow violin piece played by Thao Nguyen called "Sad Romance."
3. How did it change the tone/mood of the video? Why did it have that effect?
The music changed the tone/mood of the video and it became more sad and forlorn. It is now a more depressing mood than it was from the intense mood before. It had that effect because the violin piece I added to the video was very slow and melancholy. Instead of an action genre, the music made the movie kind of like a romantic tragedy. With the violin music in the background, when Batman was running away, it gave it a very sad kind of tone like he was disappearing into the darkness forever. The violin piece was sad so thus making the video clip very depressing.
