All Time Love

“'Cause you left me police scene, chalk line, tequila shots in the dark scene of the crime, suburban living with a feeling that I'm giving up everything for you.” This song lyric comes from one of my favorite songs, Damned if I Do Ya (Damned if I don’t), which is sung by the American pop-punk band, All Time Low. I have a particular connection to the band because they hail from my home state of Maryland. Since 2006 I have been listening to All Time Low, and have spent my formative years singing along to their upbeat songs.

Like many bands, four high school friends discovered their passion for music and formed a band. All Time Low's passion is present in their first music video, Circles. 

The video consists of the band members performing in a raw atmosphere, and simply having fun together as friends. I particularly enjoy this video because it shows off All Time Low’s spunk, which stays consist throughout the band’s career. With multiple music videos and 5 albums under their belt, All Time Low rose from an underground status to the top of the pop-punk scene.

This accomplishment is extremely impressive considering All Time Low’s unknown and inexperienced artist manager, Nano Tissera. Tissera began his management career with All Time Low at the young age of 17. On PropertyOfZack Contributor Blog, Tissera states, “When I got into the music business, I did it not knowing a single thing. All I wanted to do was help my friends band be the biggest they could be and learn a few things along the way and hope for the best.” Since becoming All Time Low’s manager, Tissera helped the band become one of the top pop-punk bands on a worldwide scale. Tissera declares success comes from mutual respect and trust between himself and All Time Low. He affirms, “Some of the best relationships I’ve had as a manager are because there’s a love and respect between everyone involved. I speak with a lot of the artists I used to work on a good amount because even without the business, we still have a great friendship.”

It’s obvious All Time Low has become so successful due to the relationship held with their manager. The band has stayed true to their roots and produced genuine music throughout the years. An example of this comes from their music videos, Coffeeshop Soundtrack (2007) and I Feel Like Dancin’ (2011). Both videos show the band’s sense of humor, which spans over four years. All Time Low has stuck to a specific brand and stand out within their market. Fans see the band having fun and are able to connect through personal experiences.

All Time Low is definitely a band to look out for, especially with the release of there new album Don’t Panic on October 9th, 2012. Here’s a look at the lyric video for their new song, For Baltimore. Enjoy!

Decades of Boy Bands

Boy bands have been around for quite some time. As a child of the 90’s, when I first hear the term “boy band,” I think of 90s boy bands like NSYNC and BSB. However if you were to ask my parents about boy bands they would talk about the Monkees, Jackson 5, or the Beatles.  Each generation seems to have there own version of a boy band, but how different are they really? I decided to take a closer look at each group and how they relate through music videos.

The Beatles and The Monkees

The 60’s version of "boy bands" contrasts quite differently from the 90s boy bands and our current popular groups. Notably the Beatles and the Monkees dominated the boy band scene. Music videos weren’t popular at the time however there are recordings of the bands preforming various hit songs. The similarities are uncanny. For example, the Monkees music video for Daydream Believer identifies with the Beatles music video for Help! Both videos portray each of the four members in a corky way. The videos both start off serious and direct but as they progress the two boy bands let loose and begin to have fun. The only main difference between the two music videos is Daydream Believer is shot in color. Besides that, both bands have instruments and sing directly towards the camera, as well as have a unique twist like Davy Jones’ singing alone in a funky room and Ringo Starr holding an umbrella.

90s Boy Bands

Flash forward 30 years and boy bands strike yet again, in a similar fashion. Undeniably the two strongest 90s boy bands were NSYNC and BSB aka the Backstreet Boys. Both groups drew inspiration from the 80s boy band, New Kids on the Block.  Throughout the late 90s into the 2000’s, NSYNC and BSB competed for the top spot in 90s boy band heaven. Each of there videos throughout the years directly competes with one another.

In 1996, the Backstreet Boys released their first single, We’ve Got it Goin’ On. At the same time, NSYNC released their first single, I Want You Back. The videos are pretty much identical. The first similarity between the pop music videos is the mix of color and black and white footage. Second, both of the boy bands dance together in perfect sync. And third, both bands portray playing basketball throughout the videos mixed with shots of beautiful women. 

The comparison between the bands goes even further with the release of their second and third singles. As Long As You Love Me (Backstreet Boys) and Tearin’ Up my Heart (NSYNC) are even more alike than the bands first music videos. Distinctively both 90s boy bands released music videos portraying themselves in an ambiguous location (a sort of warehouse) singing directly to the camera one by one. While in the ambiguous location both bands are on the set of a photo-shoot acting goofy while dancing in front of beautiful women. The alikeness of these two bands continued throughout the 2000’s however as the bands developed so did their differences. NSYNC became more of a dance music group, where as the Backstreet boys developed more power ballad love songs.

One Direction versus The Wanted

More recently, the 90s boy bands craze has spilled into this generation and begun to popularize all over the charts. The two main powerhouse forces in the 2010’s era are the Wanted and One Direction. Like boy bands of the past, these two bands draw inspiration from the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees. Unlike their predecessors the Wanted and One Direction are focused on the music more than dancing. Glad You Came (The Wanted) and What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction) both portray the boy bands on the beach partying and having a good time. Weirdly enough both the Wanted and One Direction hail from the United Kingdom, representing a new wave of boy bands. The one main difference between these two bands is the age difference, One Direction appeals to a younger audience of preteens where as the Wanted portrays to women into their late 20s. As recently popular boy bands, the Wanted and One Direction will only grow from this point and maybe we’ll see an interesting change for boy bands.

Thoroughly Thrilled

While doing some research, I wasn’t surprised to learn that Michael Jackson’s Thriller was dubbed the most influential music video of all time. Considered the first big “blockbuster” music video, Thriller has inspired millions since it’s airing in 1983. As I re-watched the 14-minute video I was instantly transported to memories of my youth. I can remember as a child trying to recreate the iconic dance in my living room.

Thriller was one of the first “blockbuster” music video. It combined a film like quality with music. All music videos until then were solely a portrayal of the artist’s music. Michael Jackson went above and beyond with Thriller by creating a whole story with the characters. Thriller helped give hope for music video producers/directors by opening the doorway for a new kind of music video. Music video producers and directors were suddenly being recognized for their efforts.

Just to grasp how truly influential Thriller has become I have some examples how it has shaped our culture. Fall Out Boy is one band that was inspired by the video and chose to pay respect in their video, A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me.” This video pays homage to Thriller with a combination of short film clips and music. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me” also uses a similar sci-fi theme as Thriller by using vampires. Although there is no dance sequence in A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me” the band has several fight scenes, which are made to look as if they were dancing.

Another artist who has drawn inspiration from Thriller is Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga released her music video for Telephone featuring Beyonce in 2010. The video runs for 9 minutes and in the opening credits the video is referred to as “a film.” While watching this video I noticed Lady Gaga incorporates dance moves from the Thriller dance. She also references the video in her fashion choices. While in the jail common room she is wearing a leather jacket much like the one wore by Michael Jackson (only in black). 

Although these similarities may not have been planned, they are still present. Many people today don’t realize how much that video has shaped the way we think about pop culture. I shudder to think what the world would be like without Michael Jackson’s, Thriller. Even Korean prisoners draw inspiration from Thriller! Check it out here!

The Industry

A great way to stay connected in the industry is by keeping up with trade associations. One trade association that I have fallen in love with is the Music Video Production Association. On the MVPA website they describe themselves as "a non-profit trade organization created to address the mutual concerns of its members in today's highly competitive, ever-changing music video industry." As a member of the MVPA it means being among some of the most influential members of the industry including directors, editors, producers, and choreographers, just to name a few. In order to advance within the industry, becoming apart of this trade association would be extremely beneficial. 

Certain ways the MVPA affects the industry is through there events and resources. The MVPA has an events section on there website in which members are invited to attend. Some of the events they have held in the past include the MVPA awards, mixers, and seminars. These events are a great way for members to network with fellow professionals and advance further through the industry. 

The resources page on the MVPA website is another great service they provide. The list consists of links to important resources a member could want or need including music festivals, production companies, and music libraries. In order to start a business of my own within the music video industry, several of these resources will be beneficial especially Disc Makers. Disc Makers provides manufacturing and duplicating of the disc hardware. Another resource I found very interesting was a book called Experiencing the Music Video: Aesthetics and Cultural Context. I haven’t had a chance to read it but it is definitely a resource that could help further shape my knowledge and feelings towards the industry. 

One thing I wish the MVPA had more of would be an active comment/discussion board. I would love to hear more from the members themselves and get insight on being apart of the MVPA. It would be wonderful to hear how the MVPA has helped its members on a business level via networking.

A few other trade associations to check out are the Motion Picture Association of America and Recording Industry Association of America. Both the MPAA and RIAA have active blogs and news updates to keep there members informed every minute. Although neither, the MPAA and RIAA are directly apart of the music video industry both topics play an essential role in what makes up a music video. I think trade associations are an important and necessary way to stay informed within a niche of an industry.

A Magical Inspiration

Today my blog post is all about business storytelling. I have decided to focus my post on a speaker who has inspired me throughout my life. As the author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling has been an active influencer on the world for the past two decades. She not only inspires me to fulfill my dreams but also motivates me to do better in life.

In 2008, J.K. Rowling gave the commencement speech for the graduates of Harvard University. After watching her speech I immediately became overwhelmed with inspiration. Rowling’s particular style of presenting is amazing to watch. She dives into a poised storytelling method full of detailed sentences, which truly paints a picture of her life.

Rowling’s begins the speech with a comedic tactic that allows the audience to see past her celebrity status and see her as a real human being. Throughout the speech she mentions two pieces of advice, failure and imagination. Rowling’s elaborates on these ideas by telling stories of her experiences. As she describes each, I began to connect emotionally to her past and how she was able to overcome struggle. In particular, Rowling’s mentions that her biggest fear when leaving college was failing. Seven years after graduation her biggest fear came true, and she ended up failing on her marriage, career, and finances. It wasn’t until after she failed that she realized she needed to pursue what made her happy, Harry Potter. After a long road, she succeeded and now she is one of the most successful women in the world (oh and a BILLIONAIRE).

J.K. Rowling’s life is the age-old story of the underdog making anything possible. Business CAN come from a single dream. I’ve been able to take from her speech and apply it to my own ideas. Rowling’s is definitely someone I aspire to be. I admire her strength, success, and overall grace when speaking.

Another great commencement I stumbled upon is by Amy Poehler. Check it out here! I won’t go over it too much, but it’s hilarious and a fun watch! Her style is completely different from Rowling’s but still inspiring. Poehler’s speech energized me to keep a light-hearted attitude with whatever you set out to accomplish. 

The Rock Ballad

The 80’s jump-started a popular type of music video, the rock ballad. Although rock ballads came about in the 70’s, the 80’s really took the lead in defining a style for a rock ballad music video. Every band from the decade had at least one rock ballad song followed by an accompanying video. Hair and Rock describes a ballad as a type of song that has a slow tempo, low voiced notes, use of electric / acoustic guitars, and evoke emotional pain, love and loss.

So what are some characteristics of a rock ballad music video? 

It’s simple, any video that shows the band preforming on stage for an audience. Sometimes these videos are in color and sometimes they’re in black and white. Many include shots of pretty girls from the bands shows, signature band moves on stage, the bands tour buses, and backstage footage.

Many bands embraced this type of video because it showed off their personalities while preforming. The fans were able to connect emotionally with the song as well as each band member by the way they preformed. I believe many concert tickets were sold because of rock ballad music videos. By viewing this type of music video, fans could recognize their peers having fun a concert and in turn want to be apart of that atmosphere.

Some bands that truly utilized this style of video are Aerosmith, Guns n Roses, Poison, Bon Jovi, Journey, and Motley Crue. Each of these bands had several rock power ballads and signature videos to match.

Motley Crue defined the rock power ballad with their Home Sweet Home music video in 1985. In the video they include every characteristic of a power ballad video. The majority of the shots are of the band preforming, however they also include shots of pretty girls, stage acrobatics, smashing guitars, backstage footage, and interaction with the audience. The band also utilizes the use of editing color shots with black and white shots. Home Sweet Home is the quintessential 80s rock ballad video which helped define the genre completely. 

One band that has used the rock ballad music video throughout their career is Aerosmith. In 1988, Aerosmith released their video for their rock ballad, Angel. The video combines shots of the band preforming for a large audience as well as shots of the band preforming in a slue of random locations. The pretty girl in the video is represented as an angel that flies over Steven Tyler. As mentioned in my last post, 80s music videos utilized overlaying shots which can also be seen in this video. 

These videos became such a big hit with rock bands that they remained popular through the 90s, and can still be seen today. Aerosmith used these techniques throughout the 90s in such rock ballad hits like Crazy and I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing. Both songs evoke emotion of love and loss defining them as rock power ballads. The videos make use of the popular techniques from the 80s, in particular shots of the band preforming which has become a signature for Aerosmith music videos.


These videos helped define a generation and inspire rock bands for decades to come. By capitalizing on this type of style of video, bands were able to connect with fans and present there personalities making them that much more popular. Bands to follow in this style include Green Day, Blink 182, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Yellowcard, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead. As we approach the 90s look forward to story line videos, fashion influence, and the introduction to hip hop. 


Miss MV

Editing in the Eighties

In 1981, MTV debuted their first music video, Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles. This video is the perfect example of a typical 80s music video. The Buggles used several key video elements that represent the look of an 80s video.

After watching the video, off the bat, I noticed the editing techniques. First was the overlapping of different video images. In particular shots of the lead singer overlay shots of a little girl by the water, and in the far background shots of the moon are present. This type of overlapping became very prominent at this time. It gave the illusion of a futuristic world. It can be seen in other hit videos from the 80s like Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams, and .

Another technique that was quite popular in the 80s, also seen in A-ha's, Take on Me, is the use of black and white mixed with color. In Video Killed the Radio Star, the shots of the lead singer are in black and white but the video underneath is shot in color. Again this type of editing technique is presenting a futuristic feel that hadn’t been seen before. However in the video Take on Me, the black and white shots are mixed with color shots. Combining the two creates a unified look making the viewer believe it is one overall shot, instead of layers. 

Take on Me completely innovated the music video. Besides the use of color, Take on Me was the first of its kind to use computer-generated graphics with live-action footage. The video became one of the most popular music videos of the 80's, and completely changed the face of music videos.

Using black and white shots with color shots also became very popular for rock bands in the 80s. One particular example would be Poison’s, Every Rose has its Thorn. This video shows real life images of the band while on tour. Each clip is from a different time on the tour so depending on what type of camera was used, some shots are in color and some are in black and white. In combining different shots like this, it’s easy to differentiate between staged footage and real life footage. In a video like this, the audience is able to connect with the band on a personal level because of the real life footage.

 

The 80s were definitely an eccentric time for pop and rock. Editing techniques were all about innovation and creating a persona for the artist or band. In my next post I plan on discussing the 80s further with, what I think the most popular type of music video from the 80s, THE ROCK BALLAD VIDEO. Also coming up look forward to posts on the fashion from the 80s, and the ever influential, Thriller video. And later, I plan on moving into a time period more familiar, the 90s.

Miss MV