History of Music Videos

Ever since Film Cinema was introduced in the 19th century, this technology had created the ability to bring songs and music to life. Within the time period of over two decades, there have been many advances in the technology that is used to create films and music which have helped to transform music videos from how they were orginally to what they are today.

The Early Years

Music had began in the 1920's, when Motion pitures where still in the Silent film Era.

Many Jazz musicians of the time such as Bessie Smith had made short films to accompany popular blogs.

Bob Dylan

1965- Bob Dylan , Subtarian Homesick Blues as a segment for D.A. Pennebakers film. Dont look back- widely credited as one of the first modern music videos.

Pop music TV shows

1970- The record industry discovers TV shows as a great opportunity to promote their artists.

They focus on producing short 'promos' early music videos which started to replace the live performance of the artist on the TV show.

Bohemian Rhaspsody

1975- This was considered to be a ground breaking rock music video released by Queen in the 20th century. This was marked as the beginning of the video era and set the language for the modern music video. The video is thought to be a step forward in the music video industry since it was one of the first song videos to use the most advance video effects(of its time) which was achieved by taking advantage of visual and audio feedback, using shaped lens to create the honeycomb illusion and positioning the camera at a moniter.

Technical Codes-Camera Work

• As with any moving image text, how the camera is used and how images are sequenced will have a significant impact upon meaning.
• Camera movement,angle and shot distance all need to be analysed.
• Camera movement may accompany movement of performers(walking,dancing etc) but it may also be used to create a more dynamic feel to stage perdormance, by for instance circling the band as they perform on stage, which an be used to represent their union as a band or to create an illusion effect.
• Close up shots are often used quite predominatly,  mostly TV which is partly because of the size of the screen and partly because of the desire to create a sense of intimacy for the viewer. It also empasises half of the commodity on sale(not just the song, but the artist and particulary the voice).

Editing

Though the most common form of editing is associated with the music promo is fast cut montages, which renders many of the images impossible to grasp on thefirst viewing thus ensuring multiple viewing. There are videos which use slow pace and gentler transitions to establish the mood of the video or song.

This is particulary apparant for the work of many female solo artists.