History Of Music Videos

RESEARCH

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen (1975)

This music video was seen as one of the first videos to have special effects in it.
This videos exhibits some of the special effects such as fading to black, layering, multiplying and colourful streaks. This shows that development to technology has improved.
This music video is doesn’t have a narrative; it is a series of scenes from their live shows and the 4 band members sitting in front of a black background singing.
There are many close ups used in this video, the close ups were effective with the fading in the beginning where it fades in and out from the band and the singer singing at that time.
This video follows some conventions such as the artist featuring in the video and lip synching.

Soundies.

Soundies are the early versions of music videos, they are three minutes music films which are made in America in cities like New York.
These were produced between the 1940 – 1946.
The soundies were played on a Ponoram on a jukebox which were situated in nightclubs, resutraunts, hotels and amusement places.
As technology has improved the quality of music videos have changed vastly. Now it is more cinematographic offering the experience.

Bessie Smith – St. Louis Blues (1929).

Two-reel short film which are both 16 minutes.
It is seen as one of the first music videos to be made. It was filmed in Queens, America.
This was a big step for music companies as they realised they could promote their artist via music videos.
This is the emergence of music becoming commercialised.