CCR: Music Video

The song used in this music video is called Hey, Soul Sister, and was created by an American rock band, Train. It was released as part of the band's fifth studio album, Save Me, San Fransisco in 2009. The song was written by singer Patrick Monahan and is a tribute to their hometown and "the group's folk-rock roots". The song has since sold over 6 million copies, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and won a Grammy as well as a Billboard Music Award. 1. How does your product use or challenge conventions AND how does it represent social groups or issues? This song is classified as a mid-tempo pop-rock song but it doesn't match typical lyrical and melodical norms for this genre. It was written in the key, E Major, and moves at 97 bpm. The song has a signature pattern of ukulele, something fairly uncommon in pop. Most songs within this musical style are more aggressive and quick-paced but Hey, Soul Sister uses some more country/folk influence. It is arguably closer to contemporary rock in style, and everything from the music to the music video defies the standard of the time. Hey, Soul Sister was a change in style for both the band and the genre's conventions. This song is considered a love song. Love is a very complex and emotional issue for many and songs about it are a dime a dozen. However, the lyrics in this song suggest that the singer is attempting to forget a past lover with little success, something that many people can relate to. Love has no social or racial limitations and is something that isn't exclusive to any demographic. Therefore, it is something almost everyone can understand which I think is what allows a greater connection with the music. Romantic love has a powerful emotional influence that can have a big impact on someone, which is part of what Train was talking about with this song. However, in my music video, I represented a different kind of love than the one that Train is singing about. My video shows scenes of familial love and the joy associated with spending time with people you love platonically. In some way, this love can be even more impactful than any romantic affections we might feel. 2. How does your product engage with audiences AND how would it be distributed as a real media text? I tried to make my video as easy to relate to as possible. Not everyone has experienced romantic love before, some will never feel that kind of attachment, and others would rather not be reminded. By connecting the song to familial love, I hope that it can reach a wider audience. While it is true that some people may not have experienced familial love, and that every family is different, everyone has dreamed of having the perfect family. By showing my experience in the most idyllic way that I can, I hope to help present that image. Whether or not it is an accurate depiction, it will stir the feeling of nostalgia for similar experiences and desire for recreating or obtaining them. As a source of media, Hey, Soul Sister would be found on music apps and streaming channels but also on television due to concerts and performances that are recorded. The music video would be considered entertainment and most likely posted on social media sites and streaming channels like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Songs can be produced by a large company or done personally by the artist. Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play are examples of common streaming sites. TikTok, a newer social media application, has been an influential platform for new, or up-and-coming artists to attract attention to their songs. YouTube is the most common site for artists or brands to post music videos, music covers, and other related visual-based content. 3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project? The role in which I grew the most during the process was most likely as director. Filming is already quite difficult but because of the volatility of my surroundings and schedule, it became even harder. I had to think on my feet and decide when to film and what to film quickly and spontaneously. This meant that my perception of my environment became focused on potential content. What I was seeing involved more steps than normal and that I had to consider if and how I could use the scene if I were to record. This kind of decision-making process combined with the filming steps, made for interesting skill growth. It also resulted in some amazing footage of an amazing experience that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I also think that I had some growth in my practical filming skills, with things like angles and perspective, though I would argue I still had a long way to go. In future videos, I would like to advance my transition skills and widen the variety of angles found to create interest. Furthermore, because practicing can only help you improve, I would also say my editing skills increased. Cutting every clip down to those perfect few seconds as well as adding effects, music, and choosing the order for my scenes all resulted in an improvement of my editing skills. 4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware, and online – in this project? As a video project, there was not a single step of this process that did not involve technology. Every scene was recorded with a camera, which was a very important factor to consider in a filming project. Every place we visited was researched via online resources. Communication happened through technology as well. All the footage was stored and uploaded on Google Photos and then downloaded onto the computer. The song was reviewed and played from Spotify. It was then recorded onto a voice recording program, sent to my desktop, and downloaded onto a computer. Then music and footage was put together and edited on editing software which was on my laptop.