Music Movements and Technology

One music movement that we talked about in class was Punk, which included the Sex Pistols, Ramones, and the Clash. Another group that could be added to this category is Green Day, which was one of my favorite bands growing up. This band relates to technology because many of their music videos introduce different video effects. For example, their music video to the song Boulevard of Broken Dreams is very staticky throughout it, in order to create the idea of loneliness and being deserted. Their music video to the song American Idiot has black/ white and faded effects. Many different angles are used, and they play with the lighting making it look like they are almost being struck by lighting. In their music video to the song Holiday, the background is constantly being changed even though they are staying put in place.

Another music movement that we talked about was the Nineties, which included artists such as the Cranberries. An artist similar to the Cranberries is Sheryl Crow. Ever since the songs First Cut is the Deepest and Soak Up the Sun came out, I have loved Sheryl Crow. Since then, I have gotten into some of her older songs from the nineties, including If It Makes You Happy, Everyday is a Winding Road, and All I Wanna Do. These songs all deal with technology because of how the music videos were made. Crow's music videos always play with the lighting. The music video to If It Makes You Happy will have scenes that go out of focus and are blurry and then become clear again (this music video is hilarious because of her outfits, so 90s!) Her music video to Everyday is a Winding Road not only plays with the lighting, but the whole video is done in the video effect of sepia. The music video to Steve McQueen divides the screen, so that there are multiple clips being shown at once.

Girl Power was another music movement discussed. A woman that I would add to this category is Adele because I believe she is truly inspirational. She has an astounding voice and was incredibly successful despite any people who argued how she might not fit the image. She is definitely a woman to look up to. Some of her songs include Someone Like You, Rolling in the Deep, Chasing Pavements, and Set Fire to the Wind. She relates to technology because of the visual effects in her music videos. Someone Like You is done completely in black and white. Chasing Pavements blurs out the background a lot. Set Fire to the Wind uses effects to create fire. At one point a woman is holding fire and then at another point people are burning in the fire.

We also talked about the music movement Disco. A group that I would add to this category is the Village People. One of their most famous songs that I still listen to today is YMCA. Another song of theirs is In the Navy. They were before many of the popular visual effects in videos were used, although they relate to technology by the different angles that were used in their videos and the lighting adjustments.

Electro-clash was another music movement we talked about. An artist that I would add to this category is Ladytron. She has many songs, including Everything You Touch, Runaway, and Seventeen. She relates to technology because of the video effects in her music videos. For example, in Runaway, there are lines that look like they are bleeding everywhere and the patterns on their clothes are moving. In addition, the music video of Everything You Touch plays with the sizes of things, making everything un-proportionate.