Tuesday 20 November 2012
Clothing
The song choice for our music video is in the indie genre so the clothing that our musicians wear is important to how they will be perceived by their fans, fashion is a big part of the indie genre so we plan to make our band members look stylish whilst still fitting the indie genre. We want our lead singer to wear a harrington jacket and we want it to come across as though it would be his signature thing to wear, we are going to put all of the band members in skinny jeans, Tom in a plain t-shirt and Tom Mcmahon in a shirt.
It is harder to dress boys and give them more than a couple of outfit changes, we think, because you can easily put girls in a skirt or a dress or shorts but boys' clothing genereally centers around trousers and a t-shirt. Because of this we're going to add accessories such as Ray-Bans and, in Joe's case, a hoop in his ear, this will compliment the clothes more and give us more outfit changes. We kind of want a 60's element to the fashion side of our music video so we've been looking at mod clothing, this is also convenient for us because Joe tends to dress like this anyway so he can help us with the outfit choices.
We have looked at the clothes that are worn in a lot of bands in the indie genre, we looked, obviously, at Foster the People but decided that we didnt want to copy what they were wearing, we want every aspect of our music video to be completely different to the video that already exists for 'Pumped Up Kicks,' we also looked at Arctic Monkeys, Stone Roses, The Courteeners and mods in the 60's, we think that a combination of all of these clothes will be perfect for our band. We just want to take pieces from each band that we have looked at and create our own signature look.
Here are some screenshots from music videos, we actually looked at a Foster the People video and saw that they're quite casual when they perform, wearing t-shirts and jeans, but when they arent performing they dress slightly smarter. Because our video is performance based we want to encapsulate the casual clothing that they wear when they are performing. Many bands take the casual approach when they are performing - especially drummers - for comfort and ease.
It is harder to dress boys and give them more than a couple of outfit changes, we think, because you can easily put girls in a skirt or a dress or shorts but boys' clothing genereally centers around trousers and a t-shirt. Because of this we're going to add accessories such as Ray-Bans and, in Joe's case, a hoop in his ear, this will compliment the clothes more and give us more outfit changes. We kind of want a 60's element to the fashion side of our music video so we've been looking at mod clothing, this is also convenient for us because Joe tends to dress like this anyway so he can help us with the outfit choices.
We have looked at the clothes that are worn in a lot of bands in the indie genre, we looked, obviously, at Foster the People but decided that we didnt want to copy what they were wearing, we want every aspect of our music video to be completely different to the video that already exists for 'Pumped Up Kicks,' we also looked at Arctic Monkeys, Stone Roses, The Courteeners and mods in the 60's, we think that a combination of all of these clothes will be perfect for our band. We just want to take pieces from each band that we have looked at and create our own signature look.
Here are some screenshots from music videos, we actually looked at a Foster the People video and saw that they're quite casual when they perform, wearing t-shirts and jeans, but when they arent performing they dress slightly smarter. Because our video is performance based we want to encapsulate the casual clothing that they wear when they are performing. Many bands take the casual approach when they are performing - especially drummers - for comfort and ease.
Tuesday 6 November 2012
Locations for our Video
There are quite a few locations that we need to go to to film the different parts of our music video. We want to have a kind of fun 'boys on tour' aspect to our video so want to film our cast just doing what a band would do if there were in London waiting until they have to play their gig. Although some of the shots that we shoot in London will be based around this idea, we also want some serious images that establish the band as legitimate. We plan to go to:
The Millenium Bridge - we have chosen to do some shots here because it is a very recognisable location and we think that it would look good on a winter evening. We plan to have the boys standing in the middle of the bridge and we will film it for about 5-10 minutes then in editing we will speed it up so that the boys are standing still but people are blurring as they walk along beside them.
Brick Lane - we have chosen to shoot in Brick Lane aswell because the surroundings and feeling of it generally fit the genre and target audience that we are aiming our video at. Brick Lane has been established as an 'Indie' locations because of the amount of vintage shops that are there, as well as this, the famous record label 'Rough Trade' has a store there which we think establishes Brick Lane as a place that musicians would be interested to visit
Charing Cross - underneath Charing Cross station there is a tunnel that leads to southbank, a lot of busking happens in this tunnel and we think the brick setting would be good to film some of our video in, because there are a few shops along this are this is kind of where we want to get our tour video type effect with the boys just laughing and looking around London. This is also a convenient location for us because its really close to Southbank and the bridge that we want to film on so it will be quick and easy to get some shots here
Pub Hall - to film the performance side of our video we are going to a hall that has a stage, we are going to put the boys on the stage with instruments and film them as though they are performing to a crowd, this is also where the opening part of our video is going to be set; we are going to film the boys setting up their instruments then speed it up and perhaps put it in black and white for the opening instrumental of the song. This adds to the authenticity of the video because it establishes them as an independent band.
The Millenium Bridge - we have chosen to do some shots here because it is a very recognisable location and we think that it would look good on a winter evening. We plan to have the boys standing in the middle of the bridge and we will film it for about 5-10 minutes then in editing we will speed it up so that the boys are standing still but people are blurring as they walk along beside them.
Charing Cross - underneath Charing Cross station there is a tunnel that leads to southbank, a lot of busking happens in this tunnel and we think the brick setting would be good to film some of our video in, because there are a few shops along this are this is kind of where we want to get our tour video type effect with the boys just laughing and looking around London. This is also a convenient location for us because its really close to Southbank and the bridge that we want to film on so it will be quick and easy to get some shots here
Pub Hall - to film the performance side of our video we are going to a hall that has a stage, we are going to put the boys on the stage with instruments and film them as though they are performing to a crowd, this is also where the opening part of our video is going to be set; we are going to film the boys setting up their instruments then speed it up and perhaps put it in black and white for the opening instrumental of the song. This adds to the authenticity of the video because it establishes them as an independent band.
Thursday 1 November 2012
Pumped Up Kicks Lyrics
"Pumped Up Kicks"
Although the song itself is quite upbeat and dancey, the lyrics actually add a really dark meaning to the song. It is basically about a psychotic teenager who wants to kill everyone and many have speculated that it is actually about the Robert Hawkings shootings. Mark Foster himself has said, "'Pumped Up Kicks' is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast. I feel like the youth in our culture are becoming more and more isolated. It's kind of an epidemic. Instead of writing about victims and some tragedy, I wanted to get into the killer's mind, like Truman Capote did in In Cold Blood. I love to write about characters. That's my style. I really like to get inside the heads of other people and try to walk in their shoes."
The phrase, 'Pumped Up Kicks' actually refers to the Reebok trainers that were popular in America in the 80's/90's which had a pump at the back which added extra air into the shoe for "an extra lift," the lyrics are saying that those who can afford 'pumped up kicks' should run from the psycho killer. Its an indirect threat.
So that our music video actually relates to the title of the song, we are creating a character for our music video that is slightly psychotic and as well as this we are planning to create a montage of different 'kicks,' our music video is going to be a mix of shots that are relavant to the story line behind the title/song, and some shots of the band touring and generally being laddish.
To create the look of the band touring, we are planning to take some shots of the boys in the car, we want it to look similar to the shots that are used in the Arctic Monkeys video to 'R U Mine'
We like the handheld effect of this video because it makes the band seem more independent and the simplicity of the band holding the camera and miming whilst still making the video entertaining to watch inspired us to want to use similar shots.
Robert's got a quick hand.
He'll look around the room, he won't
tell you his plan.
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth, he's a cowboy kid.
Yeah, he found a six shooter gun.
In his dad's closet hidden with a box of fun things, and I don't even know what.
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you.
[Chorus: x2]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
Daddy works a long day.
He'll be coming home late, he's coming home late.
And he's bringing me a surprise.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice.
I've waited for a long time.
Yeah the sleight of my hand is now a quick-pull trigger,
I reason with my cigarette,
And say, "Your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah."
[Chorus: x2]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
[Whistling]
[Chorus: x4]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
He'll look around the room, he won't
tell you his plan.
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth, he's a cowboy kid.
Yeah, he found a six shooter gun.
In his dad's closet hidden with a box of fun things, and I don't even know what.
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you.
[Chorus: x2]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
Daddy works a long day.
He'll be coming home late, he's coming home late.
And he's bringing me a surprise.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice.
I've waited for a long time.
Yeah the sleight of my hand is now a quick-pull trigger,
I reason with my cigarette,
And say, "Your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah."
[Chorus: x2]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
[Whistling]
[Chorus: x4]
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.
Although the song itself is quite upbeat and dancey, the lyrics actually add a really dark meaning to the song. It is basically about a psychotic teenager who wants to kill everyone and many have speculated that it is actually about the Robert Hawkings shootings. Mark Foster himself has said, "'Pumped Up Kicks' is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast. I feel like the youth in our culture are becoming more and more isolated. It's kind of an epidemic. Instead of writing about victims and some tragedy, I wanted to get into the killer's mind, like Truman Capote did in In Cold Blood. I love to write about characters. That's my style. I really like to get inside the heads of other people and try to walk in their shoes."
The phrase, 'Pumped Up Kicks' actually refers to the Reebok trainers that were popular in America in the 80's/90's which had a pump at the back which added extra air into the shoe for "an extra lift," the lyrics are saying that those who can afford 'pumped up kicks' should run from the psycho killer. Its an indirect threat.
So that our music video actually relates to the title of the song, we are creating a character for our music video that is slightly psychotic and as well as this we are planning to create a montage of different 'kicks,' our music video is going to be a mix of shots that are relavant to the story line behind the title/song, and some shots of the band touring and generally being laddish.
To create the look of the band touring, we are planning to take some shots of the boys in the car, we want it to look similar to the shots that are used in the Arctic Monkeys video to 'R U Mine'
We like the handheld effect of this video because it makes the band seem more independent and the simplicity of the band holding the camera and miming whilst still making the video entertaining to watch inspired us to want to use similar shots.Copyright Permission Letter
Our group e-mailed Startime International, the company that manages the copyright for Foster the People, to ask for their permission to use 'Pumped Up Kicks' in our music video. We are yet to receive a reply but are hoping that they will take the time to e-mail us back.
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