Analysing Lyrics and Shooting Ideas.

Here, I have printed off a copy of the lyrics of the song for the music video and annotated them.
After studying the lyrics and thinking of links and meanings they could have of Andy and Edie in the factory years and I think that my findings have been successful.
The song is ultimately about staying up all night partying at a first glance, but after reading between the lines, the lyrics have relation to Edie's 'party' lifestle and how Andy was trying to steer her away from the reputation.
At the beginning of the song, the lyrics seem to be written in the third person, 'we had fun', which could have relation to how Edie 'used to' be before she died. To me, this seems like the band is singing from the present day about her, which differes later in the song as the lyrics turn to the present day, 'and now words are to cheap'. I believe that this could have relevance to my music video of Rickie kind of becoming the part of Andy in the video, so therefore he is telling her directly, 'in the present day'.
By analysing these lyrics and linking them to my idea concept, I wanted to create 'Intertextuality' and give the song an additional meaning which by implying through lyrics and visuals, some audience members may understand this and gain a sense of fulfillment about this. I feel that it gives the song an additional layer and link with the visuals, as I don't want to just create a 60's style video alongside music.


Analysing Lyrics

Final Song Choice.

After sifting through many different song choices, each providing different creative pathways and areas of imagery I could explore in a video, I have chosen to use the song 'End of the Night' by The Smith Westerns.
I feel that the 60's retro influence that the band persues through their music would fit in well with the ideas I have for the music video.

End Of The Night by Smith Westerns

We had fun
We didn't know what time it was
Close your eyes, oh girl
Then I'll stay close

Don't know why
Sun's up in the sky
Close your eyes, oh girl
Then I'll stay close

Everybody wants to be a star on a saturday night
Come with me baby and your eyes shine the sunlight

Ooh, it's the end of the night, it's the end of the night
Are you gonna go home?
Ooh, it's the end of the night, it's the end of the night
Are you gonna go home?

Fell asleep
And now words are too cheap
Close your eyes, oh girl
Then I'll stay close

Don't you care?
You feel the sunlight warm your hair
Close your eyes, oh girl
Then I'll stay close

Everybody wants to be a star on the saturday night
Come with me baby and your eyes shine the sunlight

Ooh, it's the end of the night, it's the end of the night
Are you gonna go home?
Ooh, it's the end of the night, it's the end of the night
Are you gonna go home?

Choosing a song.

When choosing a song for Rickie and the Islanders, I have been experimenting with using exising songs from previous eras. I felt that by doing this, the band would have a vintage appeal to a young audience as well as possibly appealing to an older audience.
I feel that by choosing songs by bands that have an easily recognised lead singer, the new image being portrayed of the existing artist fronting in a band would work well.
An initial idea I had was 'London's Calling' by 'The Clash'. The song immediately sparks ideas for a video in my head and therefore I felt that with this song, the idea of having a location shoot and a studio shoot would fit in well with my idea of having a filming location and a studio shoot.
Despite my ideas, the video for the origional song is very dated and unimaginative which could be a bonus for shooting a new video as I would not have to live up to a standard already set, nor go to alot of trouble to avoid copying existing material. However, I feel that this song may be slightly too obvious and well regognised, therefore hard to re-vamp and the genre of the song is more Ska music which is not the genre of band I had in mind.



Then two more song ideas came to mind, the first being 'Naturals not in it' by the english post-punk band 'Gang of Four', from the 1979 album 'Entertainment!'
I think that the bass to this song is something that could really channel and carry a good music video, however, I could not find an existing video to look at, which could leave me complete creative freedom with nothing to compare to. Even though the band is post-punk primarily, I feel that the overall sound of the song would not clash with the image of the band.



My third song choice, and one that I felt strongly about towards when starting my thinking period, is The Boomtown Rats, 'I don't like Mondays'.
I feel that this song would be very interesting to create new visuals for as the back-story for the song of 16 year old Brenda Ann Spencer who took her Dad's rifle to school and carried out a shooting spree, all because she didn't like Mondays. I feel that Amplification Music videos and songs that have meaning behind them are very interesting and I feel that this is something I would definetly want to consider when making my music video.
The only thing I would say about this song is that it is very stop-start, which could affect the pace of the music video and make the editing quite slow, which I believe will determine whether the video looks proffesional or not.



Another song that I have chosen to consider for my music video is 'Still New' by the Smith Westerns. I feel that this band are very much what I am searching for directionwise for my music video. I feel that the sound of the music reflects how I imagine Rickie's music to be previously, but with a new vintage flare.
I love how the band have a vintage sixties/seventies vibe about them, I think that this would work well with my initial idea as well as make the video and band current in today's market. I believe this is a good thing as if I were to use an existing song from a previous era and create a vintage inspired video alongside it, it would not appeal to a younger market.
I love this song, and I feel that the visuals could be beautifully psycadelic, although I have to think about the band aspect of the video, and I don't think that this is a song that could be easily lip syncd to. I also feel that the song I choose should have a more upbeat feel about it, still maintaining a rock aspect in the sound.






I began to listen to more of the Smith Western's album and I feel that this song, 'The End of the Night' would be a good contender for the final video.
When listening to this song, I feel that the rock aspect is there aswell as having a strong vintage flare about it. This song in particular makes me recognise the band's 60's psychadellic influence aswell as being a young and modern group.