Dubstep dates back to 1998 and is decribed as 'dark, experimental dance music'. It originates from underground artists of south london, Croydon. It has become more popular during the late 2000's, the sound often offering a long intro, bass drop and 2-step rythm.
WHO TYPICALLY BUYS THIS GENRE? HOW DO YOU KNOW?
The target audience for our chosen song is aged between 16-24. This is because dubstep is mainly played in clubs and parties which young people go to. Younger than 16 one wouldn't usually be able to get into a club and there is a higher majority of under 24's attending dubstep nights, thus we aged our target audience 16-24. Young people are more likely to download their music as opposed to buying it. Most dubstep songs are not published and released and so hard to find on CD, Itunes, vinal ect. So the songs are downloaded and this convention is followed by a young generation (the target audience for dubstep music).
Screen grab allocated from youtube stating the most popular age group listening to the song 'Mr. Postman' by Cragga The United Kingdom is the main target country for dubstep. Although dubstep is becoming an international genre, most of the records are produced in Britain and it is most popular throughout London. South London was the birthplace of dubstep and because it was first established in the early 2000's, it may be the reason why the genre is most popular with the younger generation in london.
Dubstep is clearly most popular in Britain (Britain is the darkest green). However, dubstep is also popular in parts of America and and parts of Europe and Australia. Mainstream dubstep is popular in international clubs and thus insreasing the target audience.
The age 16-24 is young in terms of adult years. 'Love', which is the theme of the song, meets the desires of our target audience as it is a common value in young people.
In order to develop my understanding of Dubstep and how the filming techniques and the story line emphasises the mood and atmosphere, I researched some original dubstep videos to gain inspiration of how we should do our music video. The first video i looked at was Magnetic man- I need air:
This music video is concept-based. There is no performance from Magnetic Man behind the dj decks or from the singer and in terms of Goodwin's Theory, there appears to be no specific dance routine. The video captures people dancing differently and freely (some wearing glasses, some on shoulders, others waving their hands). The target audience can relate to the club atmosphere as it is natural and the free expression of the dancers symbolises the character trait seen in the target audience. The music and visuals are synergised, the visuals often have a fast cutting pace to the beat of the music which volumises the impact of the club. The lyrics and visuals are illustrative, for example there are close-up shots of people hot from dancing as the chorus goes 'I need air', effectively relating to a target audience which dance. The music video is clearly not all about selling the image of Magnetic Man (as there are no shots of them at all in the video) but rather they are selling dubstep nights. Emphasizing on the lights and atmosphere of the club effectively promotes and may influence the audience of the song to go to a dubstep night, perhaps to promote the culture of dubstep to make it more popular.
This is a purely concept music video. It emphasizes an abstract, metaphorical interpretation of the music. The relationship between the title and the images on screen have no obvious correlation. The theme of the video seems to be a journey comparing between bare feet walking and a car driving. Because there are no lyrics, it is hard to compare the relevance of the music to the visuals and perhaps this is why the music video is concept- based rather than narrative, because of the lack of lyrics. The visuals on screen have been experimented upon (the background patterns and the lighting) which represents the experimental instruments used by the artist. The same visuals are repeated over and over again which synergies with the music because the music doesn't change- the same tune is repeated over so in that respect, the music and visuals are intergrated.
Katy B- Perfect Stranger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-VcBiS6dqw
(-unable to embed the video, please watch on youtube)
The music video for Perfect Stranger is a combination between narrative and performance. Katy B is a mainstream artist under dubstep, her music video's are more to do with selling her image, so the audience is presented with her performing and also being the main character in the narrative as there are many close up shots of Katy. The black and white effect makes the video look distant or far away (it is set in another country).
Under Goodwin's Theory, the lyrics and visuals do correlate, but not obviously. There is a sense of division between them and the police, as though a war is going on (which relates to the target audience because the police are disliked).
The lyrics 'I don't know who you are' synergise with the visuals on screen as at this point she is looking at the uniformed man behind a curtain.
however, in this music video the relationship between music and visuals is not amplifies. when the base drops at the beginning there is no dramatic change in the visuals (she is still singing behind the curtain which emphasizes her as an image to her audience).
Skream- Tapped
This is another concept-based music video with a narrative element. the lyrics and visuals on screen correlate to make a narrative story line. the fly is personified, for example when the lyrics go 'Sometimes I look back' the fly is watching tv as though looking back in time through the tv.
Although the lyrics relate to the target audience, the main character on the screen is the fly. The song is aimed at teenagers, the lyrics emphasize being trapped when grounded, a 'big brother' tapping in on your phone, not having freedom. the flies dance to the pounding speakers which represents the target audience (young people) listening to this dubstep song.
Again, there is no clips of the artist suggesting no interest in selling the artist as an image.
I was unable to find any more as there is a lack of music video's under the genre of dubstep. This is because dubstep is still an underground genre. In general the artists are not interested in selling their image, thus the lack of music video's.
Lyrics: Mister Postman, look and see (oh yeah) Is there's a letter in your bag for me (Please, please Mister Postman) Why's it takin' such a long time (oh yeah) For me to hear from that boy of mine
Wait Oh yes wait a minute mister postman Wait mr postman Oh yeah (x4) Please please mister postman Oh yeah wait a minute mister post man post post oh yeah wait mister post
There must be some word today from my boyfriend who's so far away Please Mister Postman, look and see Is there's a letter, a letter for me? I've been standin' here waitin' Mister Postman So (so so) patiently For a card, or just a letter Sayin' he's returnin' home to me!
Oh yes wait a minute mister postman Wait mister postman Oh yeah (x4) Please please mister postman Post post man man please please mister oh yeah man, post post man
So many day's you passed me by You saw the tears standin' in my eyes You wouldn't stop to make me feel better By leavin' me a card or a letter Please mister postman, look and see (Oh yeah) If there's a letter in your bag for me (Please, please mister postman)
I know it's been so long yeah since I heard from this boyfriend of mine You better wait a minute Wait a minute Can't wait (x22) wait (x13) Please (x2) Mister Please (x6)
