2. Country Music
• Country music is a genre of American popular music that originated in Southern
United States, in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1920s. It takes its roots from the south-eastern
genre of American folk music and Western music. Country music often
consists of ballads and dance tunes with generally simple forms and harmonies
accompanied by mostly string instruments such as banjos, electric and acoustic
guitars, fiddles, and harmonicas.
• The origins of country music are the folk music of mostly white, working-class
Americans, who blended popular songs, Irish and Celtic fiddle tunes, traditional
ballads, and cowboy songs, and various musical traditions from European
immigrant communities.
3. Jeff Bridges
• Jeff Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor, country
musician, and producer.
• Bridges starred in the film Crazy Heart in 2009, where he portrayed a
fallen country music singer. On the soundtrack to the film, Bridges sang
five of the sixteen songs. In 2011, he signed with jazz music label Blue
Note Records, where they announced Bridges will record and release his
debut album later in the year.
4. “What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do”
Jeff Bridges
• Camera angles:
- Extreme Close-up shots of instruments being played.
- Close-ups on two men singing.
- Tracking shots panning around bridges and partners singing.
- Low shots of Bridges singing and playing guitar.
- Emphasises all main instruments of country music.
- Tracking shots of trees and bushes – concentration on typical rural elements of country music.
• Editing:
- Steady pace throughout, adding to the relaxed nature of country music.
• Representation:
- Relaxed representation of singers and band members (costume – jeans and shirts etc.)
• Mise-en-scene:
- All in Black and White… compliments a relaxed vibe.
- Locations – studio (emphasis on the making of the music), stage, and rural backgrounds (fields, flowers,
wood etc.)
- Hillbilly guy in back
• Audience:
- Very little, if any, eye contact with camera. Audience does not feel like they are being targeted in an
assertive way. The are simply observing.
6. Zac Brown Band
• Zac Brown Band is an American country/folk band based in Atlanta, Georgia on the
Southern Ground Artists label. The group was founded in 2002.
7. “Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band
Starts with a home video where the band members are playing live. Emphasis on the importance of their instruments. We hear a
cockerel sound (compliments the rural nature of country music) and the video begins.
• Camera angles:
- Extreme close-ups on guitar (picking and chords), fiddle, tapping of foot
- Close up on red truck
- Close-ups of instruments and men singing.
- Low shots of Zac Brown and his guitar.
• Editing:
- Steady pace throughout the music and the video, adding to the relaxed nature of country music.
- Throughout the video there is ‘old’ footage of a soldier and his family having to say goodbye etc. to represent the theme of the song.
Shows a strong sense of family and togetherness.
• Representation:
- Jeans and T-shirts
- Sunglasses
- BBQ
- Dance
- Babies (family orientated)
• Mise-en-scene:
- Very warm lighting throughout (reds and oranges) – complimented by bonfire at the end.
- Locations – Stage surrounded by trees in forest location, performance in garden with friends and family.
• Audience:
- Audience is attracting by seeing others having a good time. The example is set by the video.
9. Conventions of Country Music
• Ragged/relaxed look – beard, jeans, t-shirts
etc.
• Major emphasis on instruments during video
(close-ups of guitars etc.)
• Often has a clear element of performance.
• Steady pace throughout both music and
video.
• Themes of family, drinking, love etc. are
present throughout.
10. Folk Music
• Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music conveyed by
mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers. One
meaning often given is ‘old songs with no known composers’.
• Starting in the mid-20th century a new form of popular folk music evolved from
traditional folk music.
• This form of music is sometimes called contemporary folk music or folk
revival music to distinguish it from earlier folk forms.
• In the 1960s a new type of music was started by Bob Dylan who mixed traditional
folk song with rock and roll.
• This type of folk music also includes fusion genres such as folk rock, folk
metal, electric folk, and others.
• In older times folk music was part of communal recreation. This means that small
communities such as villages or families would relax by playing and singing music
together. People would often make up a new song or new piece of music, or make
changes to music that they already knew. In this way music was always changing.
11. ‘Little Lion Man’
Mumford and Sons
(British Folk/Rock Band)
• Camera angles:
- Close-ups and extreme close-ups of instruments (guitars, double bass, banjo, piano.)
- Close-ups of Marcus Mumford singing.
- Wide shots of auditorium
- Wise shots from behind them all, looking out at auditorium.
- Editing:
- Clean cuts (no fancy transitions)
• Representation:
- West-country/old-country vibe.
- 100% performance format.
- Mise-en-scene:
- Fairy lights. Low-key lighting
- Location – old theatre, crusty, clothes represent a rural atmosphere.
• Audience:
- Feels like you are watching a concert.
13. ‘Hopeless Wanderer’
Mumford and Sons
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rId6PKlD
XeU
• Clearly points out the stereo types for these
sorts of videos!
14. ‘The Lion’s Roar’
First Aid Kit (Swedish folk duo)
• Camera angles:
- Wide shots of forests
- Low shots of boat form water
- Tracking shots of trees and through the forest as if walking
- Close up of their faces
- Close up of drum (emphasis of the beat)
• Editing:
- Cross dissolve creates very mystical element.
- Very steady and clear flow to the whole video.
• Representation:
- Very mystical/medieval. Almost possessing.
• Mise-en-scene:
- Flowing dresses (red, black, dark green, purple). Bare feet.
- Locations – Performance in woods. Very simple and fairy-like. Rural.
- In a boat.
- Snow/Pollen. Dancing.
- Mist and water reinforces the woodland feel of the video.
- Lighting – very low key and natural to compliment the natural atmosphere.
• Audience:
- Eye contact with camera but not intimidating. Drawn in by the atmosphere.
