Treatment For 'Thinking About You' - Frank Ocean

Having looked through and analysed music videos, they all seem to have somewhat of a correlation with the lyrics even though it may not be clear all the time.

I want my music video to be performance based so the shots are mainly going to be focused on the artist.

I'd like to incorporate a lot of long and mid shots in my music video along with a lot of low key natural lighting with clouds of smoke produced with the use of a smoke machine. I would like shots to be cross cut  This would be filmed in a dark room. I would like the artist highlighted with a spotlight like on a theater stage. I would also like the artist to be surrounded by red candles as red is associated with love which is what the song is predominantly about. This will flow with the mise-en-scene as the artist is going to be mainly be wearing black and as the artist is going to be wearing sunglasses so this will represent a mystery as we can't see their eyes. I do not want to add in any significant editing apart from the midnight purple tint to the video.

The artist is going to be lip syncing to the song the whole way through the music video so I want to in cooperate a lot of mid shots and medium close ups. In terms of cinematography, I will use a panning shot with a long shot to establish my location in the dark room lit with different colours of spot lights. Close up on various parts of the artist to show their watch, shoes and casual suit. High angle shots are going to be used so the audience can see the whole of the artist in a 'comfortable' way and also make him easier to see as the artist is still up and coming. The transition of shots are going to be straight after one another, this is also going to change along with the beat to add a real connection between the music beat and the music video.

This music video is going to meet some of the genres conventions such as flashy clothes and that the music video is performance based and also include flashy cars. Unlike the general convention of hip hop I will not be sexualising women as this is a song about one.

Final Song Choice

Thinking About You - Frank Ocean

Having gone through my possible song choices, I have decided to choose this song because I really like the song which I feel is important as I want to feel a close 'connection' to the song so it is easier and worthwhile for me to create a music video with my own ideas.

The song overall is quite a slow song where Frank Ocean is singing about one person missing another. I feel like this would be a perfect song for me to base my music video on as I am very interested in working with shadows and low key lighting as I like the theme of mystery/darkness and this fits in with the mood and atmosphere that the song creates.

Frank Ocean

Lyrics

A tornado flew around my room before you came
Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn't rain
In Southern California, much like Arizona
My eyes don't shed tears, but, boy, they bawl

When I'm thinkin' 'bout you
(Ooh, no, no, no)
I've been thinkin' 'bout you
(You know, know, know)
I've been thinkin' 'bout you
Do you think about me still?
Do ya, do ya?

Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead)
'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever (Oooh)

Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead)
'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever (Oooh)

No, I don't like you, I just thought you were cool
Enough to kick it
Got a beach house I could sell you in Idaho
Since you think I don't love you, I just thought you were cute
That's why I kiss you
Got a fighter jet, I don't get fly it, though

I'm lyin' down thinkin' 'bout you
(Ooh, no, no, no)
I've been thinkin' 'bout you
(You know, know, know)
I've been thinkin' 'bout you
Do you think about me still?
Do ya, do ya?

Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead)
'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever (Oooh)

Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead)
'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever (Ooh)

Yes, of course
I remember, how could I forget?
How you feel?
And though you were my first time
A new feel
It won't ever get old, not in my soul
Not in my spirit, keep it alive
We'll go down this road
'Til it turns from color to black and white

Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead)
'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever (Oooh)

Or do you not think so far ahead? (Ahead)
'Cause I been thinkin' 'bout forever (Oooh)

 

Target Audience & Research

As a means of exploring my target audience, I set out surveying males and females of 13-20 year old's a set of questions relating to what type of music videos and genre they like to watch on a regular basis. Here are the questions listed below and their answers.

Target Audience Profile:
-Males and females
-16-25
-Interested in hip-hop and rap
-Doesn't mind listening to other genres
-Student
-Most like has a job
-Interested in gigs
-Likes new artists
-Sociable
-Spends free time looking for new music

Gender
Male - 20
Female - 18

Preferred Genre
Hip-Hop/Rap- 14
Pop- 7
Indie/alternative- 9
Rock-2
Alternative Rock-0
Country-0
Grime-0
R&B-6

How Often Do You Watch Music Videos?
1-4 a week - 12
5-7 a week - 16
More than 8 a week - 10

What Do You Look For In A Music Video?
Story - 4
Artist Based - 15
Location - 3
Clothes/mise-en scene - 7
Editing Effects - 5
Choreography - 4

Which Of These Three Types Of Music Video Do You Prefer?
Performance Based - 14
Concept Based - 8
Narrative Based - 2 

Evaluation
Having surveyed my target audience, I have come to decide upon a performance based music video because this seems to be the most preffered within my target audience with a heavy focus on the artist and mise-en-scene.

Hip Hop Music Video Analysis

Hip Hop music video analysis

Drake - Marvins Room

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals

Overall, there is a strong link between the lyrics and the music video. In the beginning stages of the video when Drake is on the phone with a girl, there's a scene showing the girl on the phone so we as the audience, know who the girl who is speaking. Drake is portrayed to be drunk, so the visuals have a red tint to it, that could be representing what you see when you're drunk. The whole video is set in a slower time frame, much like the lyrics and the song itself which is slow. The colours are very dark and based around red/pink/black. The mood created is sad and missing someone. The lyrics tie in well with the visuals such as when Drake is rapping 'I've been drinking too much' the shot is a 360 shot of him downing a shot.

Relationship between music and visuals
The music is at a slow tempo generally with one moment where the song goes into slow motion. The music, visuals and lyrics all combine together to create a sense of 'drunkeness'. The differing shots such as close ups, medium shots, panning shots and long shots which are predominantly focused on Drake to show his emotional side, are well transitioned with each beat of the song. The editing is very slow and synchronised with the tempo of the song. At one moment where the music video slows down along with the music. Overall, as most music videos, editing is at a minimal throughout the music video and the shots are transitioned one after another with no special effect. The scences are short to keep the audience interested.

The music video is also performance based, following Drake around for a night while he's on a night out hung up on a girl. 

Kanye West - Homecoming

Relationship between lyrics and visuals

There is a strong relationship between the lyrics and visuals, such as Kanye singing along within the music video, kids being shown while Kanye is rapping about his past. The video itself is in plain black and white reinforcing that Kanye is singing about the past rather than the present as black and white is often associated with the past due to old movies being presented in black and white. The housing seen in the video represents his home in the past as it looks like a rough neighborhood. Specific lyrics are visually portrayed such as when Kanye raps 'I met this girl when she was three years old' the visuals on the screen is of a little boy and girl holding hands, 'when I grew up, she showed me how to go downtown' there is then a visual of Kanye in a different location. This occurs throughout the whole video so this backs up the fact that there is a strong relationship between the lyrics and visuals.

Relationship between music and visuals

There is a very strong relationship between the music and visuals. There is a medium tempo throughout the video. This is clear within the first 10 seconds of the video, at the start of the video while the piano is being played the visual on the screen is of an almost see through piano, where you can see the train in the background. It cross cuts between different shots with each beat, every time you hear Kanye rapping the visuals are of Kanye himself. This is the same case when Chris Martin is singing. There are a lot of mixed shots and you are never looking at one shot for more than 3-4 seconds, the shots used are handheld, tracking shot, low angle, high angle, mid shot, close up, long shots. The interesting point here is that there are quick transitions between different locations. 

This music video is mainly performance based with some references to a narrative based as the lyrics tell a story about Kanye's past.

Hip Hop/Rap

I have chosen to base my music video on a hip-hop/rap song. This is because I generally only really listen to hip-hop so naturally, this would mean that I understand the normal convention of the music videos. This also means that I will have more of a chance to put my influence across as many hip hop songs 'speak the truth' and often rap about their own hard lives, thus meaning it will let me portray a 'real' message rather than something made up. Below are some artists and their songs that I could base my music video.

Drake

Hold On We're Going Home
Marvins Room
Best I Ever Had
The Real Her
Underground Kings

Chris Brown

Don't Judge Me

Next To You
With You

Frank Ocean

Thinking About You

Super Rich Kids
Lost

Lyrics Analysis

Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)

The video was directed by Jerome D and premiered on August 3, 2012. The song is a typical modern rap song and has characteristics of it in the video, as shown by the sexualisation of women with apperance of alcohol and reference to drugs.

Pour up - drank, Head shot - drank
Sit down - drank, Stand up - drank
Pass out - drank, Wake up - drank
Faded - drank, Faded - drank

These first lines could be describing modern parties, from pouring alcohol and shots and drinking excessively to passing out. However, this is most likely his perspective towards the current generation on how people don't drink little amounts anymore and they just want to get 'wasted'.

Now I done grew up
Round some people living their lives in bottles
Granddaddy had the golden flask
Back stroke every day in Chicago
Some people like the way it feels
Some people wanna kill their sorrows
Some people wanna fit in with the popular
That was my problem
I was in the dark room
Loud tunes, looking to make a vow soon
That I'mma get f*cked up, filling up my cup
I see the crowd mood
Changing by the minute and the record on repeat
Took a sip then another sip then somebody said to me

In order, this song could be him reminiscing about his childhood as he talks about growing up. He could be reffering to how he grew up with an alcoholic family. This leads onto the golden flask which is only carried around by avid drinkers, reinforcing the fact that he had an alcoholic family. Playing with the song title 'Swimming Pools' the 'back stroke' could refer to him physically drowning in alcohol in Chicago. Kendrick then proceeds to list three reasons to why people drink, one to just feel drunk, second to soothe their problems and thirdly to fit in with the popular group which can be seen as peer pressure. Then he goes to say that was his problem, which could mean that he got peer pressured into drinking. He then goes on to describe a typical party scene, dark room, loud tunes. He then mentions that he's looking to make a vow which could mean he's looking for someone to marry. However he goes on to say 'that I'mma get f*cked up' which tells us that he has made a vow to get drunk. 'I see the crowd mood, Changing by the minute' could be describing how quickly your moods change when you're drunk. Lastly he says 'record on repeat' which could be telling us how all songs sounds same when you're drunk or could be reffering to the lifestyle of partying which he carries out on a regular basis.

N*gga why you babysitting only two or three shots
I'mma show you how to turn it up notch
First you get swimming pool full of liquour then you dive in it
Pool full of liquour then you dive in it
I wave a few bottles then I watch em all flock
All the girls wanna play Baywatch
I got a swimming pool full of liquour and they dive in it
Pool full of liqour I'mma dive in it

Here, we can tell his friends are asking why he's only 'babysitting' a few drinks so he's going to show Kendrick how to 'turn it up' meaning Kendrick is getting pressured into drinking more by 'diving in it' so not thinking about it. 'Pool full of liquour' could mean to buy so much alcohol that you can fill a pool. 'Wave a few bottles' could go hand in hand with 'All the girls wanna play Baywatch' reffering to how girls 'flock' for alcoholic drinks.

Okay, now open your mind up and listen to me Kendrick
I am your conscience, if you do not hear me
Then you will be history Kendrick
I know that you're nauseous right now
If I take another one down
I'mma drown in some poison abusing my limit
I think that I'm feeling the vibe
I see the love in her eyes, I see the feeling
The freedom is granted as soon as the damage of vodka arrived
This how you capitalise
This is parental advice
Then apparanlty I'm over influenced by what you are doing
I thought I was doing the most till someone said to me

Here talking as his conscience. Kendrick is implying that downing excessive amount of alcohol will 'poison' his body even though he knows what he's doing. The conscience could be trying to prevent Kendrick from being 'history' or in this case - dead. However, he states that 'the freedom is grante as soon as the damage of vodka arrived' which could mean that his conscience doesn't concern him once drunk. His conscience could also be giving 'parental advice' to not drink - which is what parents tell us.

I ride you ride bang
One chopper, one hundred shots bang
Hop out, do you bang
Two chopper, two hundred shots bang
I ride, you ride bang
One chopper, one hundred shots bang
Hop out, do you bang
Two chopper, two hundred shots bang

Here he could be saying that when Kendrick drinks, you drink. One hundred shots, could refer to alcholic shots or a physical gun shot. However, with the contiunous use of the word 'bang' it could be reffering to gun warfare while also talking about drinking at a party.

Aw man, where is she taking me
Where is she taking me
All I, all I, all I
All I have in life is my new appetite for failure
And I got hunger pain that grow insane
Tell me do that sound familiar
If it do then you're like me
Making excuse that your relief
Is in the bottom of the bottle
And the greenest indo leaf
As the window open
I release everything that corrode inside of me
I see you joking, why you laugh
Don't you feel bad
I probably sleep and never ever wake up
Never ever wake up, never ever wake up
In God I trust but just when I thought I had enough


Here he refers to a 'she' but doesn't specify who it is, this could be interpreted in two ways. Firstly it could be a women who is dragging him around or it could be a metaphor for alcohol. The metaphor for alcohol seems much likely going on to the next three lines, he states that he only has 'appetite for failure' which could be Kendrick referring to alcohol as 'failure' and that he slowly needs more and more 'I got hunger pain that grow insane'. He then goes on and tries to reach to his listeners, by asking if they've been on the same situation before then goes on to say that drugs and alcohol are a excuse for relief. He then could be reffering to throwing up after heavy drinking when he says 'I release everything that corrode inside of me' and that he gets laughed at because that is what people tend to do when someone gets sick due to drinking excessive amounts. It maybe linking it back to being peer pressured; bullying. When he says 'sleep and never ever wake up' he could be linking it to alcohol poisoning and that he trusts God to put it right.

Research For Ideas

Possible Choices Music Genres:

Hip Hop/Rap: This is a predominantly male dominated genre. It has constant reference to drinking, drugs, women, fast cars and money. This is usually shown through mise en scene, they're normally covered in gold chains and expensive watches with women flocking over them. Artists are generally shown to be 'living the live'. The primary target audience is in and around 15-25 year olds. Artists include Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz.
I would like to choose a song from this genre as it is what I listen to on a daily basis and there are a lot of my own ideas I could add in to a music video.






Here we can see Kanye West wearing a over sized gold chain reflecting one of the common conventions of hip hop; wealth.







Here we can see Wiz Khalifa smoking, wearing the typical hats worn by the artists in this genre.








Pop: This genre has a mix of male and female artists and their songs are usually about love and/or relationships. They are shown as happy and enjoying life by the mise en scene used. They usually wear quite expensive clothing but they are quite simple at the same time. They have a predominantly young teen audience. Artists include Justin Beieber, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift.

 Here we can see Bruno Mars sporting a baseball jacket and shades, a very popular look within the pop genre and also expensive.

Jason Derulo, seen wearing a shirt and a hat. Common with the older pop artists such as Ne-Yo which can be seen as maturity of the artist.

Music Video Analysis

Dizzee Rascal - Holiday

Genre
Dizzee Rascal is a UK hip-hop artist. This is quite clearly portrayed in his music videos, there are girls - who are sexualised- Dizzee himself wearing expensive clothing and accessories.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals
Overall, there is a weak link between the lyrics and the music video. However, within the video the colours are extreme, bright and eye catching. The mood portrayed is happy and carefree much like a 'holiday', props such as bikinis, pools, sunglasses are used to reinforce that the main focus of the video is to be viewed as a holiday. The use of different shots, showing a lot of people looking like they're having fun also reinforces that they are on holiday. The lyrics and the way its rapped/sung works well with the video as the lyrics themselves. The people shown in the music video are energetic and happy, much like the overall lyrics themseleves.
The lyrics and visuals together do tie in but not as much as they could have. The visuals are instead used to promote what the lyrics are saying, showing the audience what the lyrics are saying.

Relationship between music and visuals
The music is very upbeat and represents the party/holiday scene perfectly throughout the video, the music, visuals and lyrics all combine together in an almost subconscious fashio, interlinking through subtle things such as the visuals changing quickly to the beat creating more excitement. There are a lot of panning and close up shots to really show the enjoyment created by the holiday scene. Overall however, editing is at a minimal as the shots are lined one after another, with short scences to keep the audience interested.

Screen grabs

 The image of the artist, Dizzee Rascal, is portrayed as your typical rapper/hip hop artist, surrounded by girls and good clothes.

 In terms of previous videos, this is quite similar in terms of the upbeat lyrics. 'Bonkers' being a good example - listed below.

 The main message in this video is that holidays are fun and that most people don't have the time to go so the people who do should cherish the moments away.

Narrative but also performance based
The music video follows a young girl for the most part, portraying a story about being on/going on holiday. This is enhanced by the placements of props and mise-en-scene. Dizzee Rascal is shown to be happy in every close up of him giving a relaxing performance. It looks as if though the rapper is not performing a pre-planned dance and is just dancing 'as it comes' reminding audiences that holiday is about having fun.

Ideas gained
This video has given me a few ideas on how I'm going to deliver my own music video. I really like the fact there is only a loose connection between the lyrics and the video itself.