Star Profile: The Killers.

Origins.

The Killers are an American Rock Band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada. THe was frmed in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (Lead Vocals and Keyboard) and Dave Keuning (guitar). The final 2 members in he ;lineup Mark Soemer (Bass) and Ronnie Vannucci (Drums) joined in 2002. Since there formation he group as got bigger and bigger. They have released 4 bi albums and other smaller albums like Greastist hits. The Killers as a brand has not changed much over time. They do not need to, over and over again they have made an album released and i has gone platinum. They have changed there image but not there brand they do not need to.



Hot Fuss (2004).


This was the killers debut album and is widely considered there best albums. Hot Fuss is mainly influenced by new wave and post-punk artists such as New Order, The Cure, Morrissey (with and without The Smiths), Duran Duran, and The Cars. Other influences include David Bowie, U2, Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins, and Lou Reed. Gigwise readers voted it the No. 1 "Best Debut Album of All Time" in 2013. Rolling Stones ranked Hot Fuss the 33rd of its list of "The 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time". This album is he sound of the Killers that most people think of when they think of the Killers. They have changed alot since then and there music have become more mordern and diveresified into different areas of rock.

Sams Town. 2006.

 
Sams Town was the second studio album recorded by the Killers.It has sold over 5 millions copies worldwide and was number 1 in the album charts of 5 countries which was more than Hot Fuss.

Day and Age. 2008.

Day and Ae is the thrd studio album by The Killers.So far it has sold over 3 millions copies world wide and was very popular on Amazon being one of there top selling albums of the last 10 years.

 

 

 

BattleBorn. 2012.

BattleBorn is the 4th studio album recorded by the Killers.  In 2012 it sold 1 million copies worldwide. This album is very different from all of the others album and it is alot more slowed pased having a lower average bpm in the majority of the songs. This album was recorded in 2011 after the band had taken an extended gap to persue solo endevours they wanted to do. After this members of the band feel like they 'thought about music differently'.

 

Style.

The killer style has changed and went through a stage of being mordern (Day and Age) and has then gone back to a vintage 60's rocker group with leather jackets.

Music video Research

The video stars with the room being dark and black. AS the room gets lighter we then start to see Annie lennox. She has short hair and is wearing a suit. Also we see a medium shot of her standing at the end of business suite with a large picture of the globe behind her. This all adds up to make her seem very powerful. This could also be seen that she is trying to be a man. Her red hair Really adds to the feeling that she is very powerful in this video. The red hair makes me think of fury and power. Annie Lennox is also commanding a man in the video and this is like a counter stereotype.

The beat of the video is also a powerful, constant and enticing beat. The effect of thought beats are used in the video. For example things re put down on table or words are type in time to the beat.

The camera work is harsh, unmoving and always changes shot and location in time to the beat of the song. This gives the feeling that the video is more random than it seems and maybe this is someone imagination. Also sometime some of the people in the video seem hypnotised and are focuses on Annie lennox.
We also see lots of aspects of concept videos in this music video. For example there is one section when Annie Lennox and the man in the video are laying on the table in the office. This would be strange enough and then a cow walks through the background. This has no relevance to the lyrics and is possible expressionism. People from the video have said that the video is about life as it is, and living life as it Com's. This is hard for me to see personal as none of the scenes portray normal life.
When we see the the performers out in the field they are spinning around playing chellos. This may symbolises there lives spiralling out of controlling, although the setting of the green Fields does suggest otherwise. The tranquillity of the green field counteracts against  the spirally (crazy looking) man playing the chello.
Mis En scene in this clip is used to empower Annie Lennox. For example in one scene Annie lennox is siting legs crossed with rows of records behind her. Her achievement is shown off and also it shows her as if her life in order.



This video is showing us Voyerism. In the video we are shown lots of shots of women. Often these shots only show partially parts of breats or bottoms in a sexually way. Also the women are shown to not know that you are looking at her because she is looking away from the camera. As the viewer we are forces to look at this. This is an example of the Male gaze.

This Video is a good example of exhibitionism.
This video is a story of lesbian relationship.
This is a video which conains female gaze.

Banana Phone

For this task we were asked to stretch our editing skills. We were asked to film a variety of different shots to the song 'Banana phone'.

What went well?
I think that in the end the video and the different shots all turned out alright. I also really like the part when the shot starts going backwards.

What could be improved?
The Lypsincing bit at the start is awful. The Music is completely out of time with the persons mouth. I think i should have completely re-shot the scene and in the furture I definatly would.

What have I learnt?
I feel i have andvanced my skills in premiere and now have a better understanding of the wide variety of tools avaliable in the programme.

Music video Research

In this video women are mainly looked at as object and as 'Candy' 50 cent can choose. The video begins with 50 Cent coming into his house and finding lots of girls dressed provocatively and instantly paying attention to him the second he walks through the door. The video continues to show women dressed up in a nurses outfit and other girls dancing seductively in tight red clothing. Even the female artists he is collaborating with is dressed up in seductive clothing, when 50 Cent is just wearing smart clothing. The way that the women act around 50 Cent is that ‘he is completely irresistible’ and they cant take there eyes off him, which also contrasts with the ‘cool’ look 50 Cent is trying to achieve, because he emotions stay completely neutral throughout the video. The ways in which they are shown makes them look like objects and the singer can choose which on he wants. This coupled with the words of the song create the idea that the man may have entered a brothel. were in fact it is saying all women act around him as if they cannot stop being attracted to him.
' I'll take you to the candy shop
I'll let you lick the lollipop
Go 'head girl, don't you stop
Keep going 'til you hit the spot'
The words to the song  become more and more sexual as the video goes on and in the end verse he is just describing sexual acts.
This video is showing us Voyeurism. In the video we are shown lots of shots of women. Often these shots only show partial parts of breasts or bottoms in a sexually way. Also the women are shown to not know that you are looking at her because she is looking away from the camera. As the viewer we are forces to look at this. This is an example of the Male gaze.

Audience Question.

How to I consume?

The main time I listen to music is on the to and home from school. I listen to alot of different genres of music, I do not really think that one type of music is suitable for different times of day, i think i just listen to what ever i want to listen to at the time. I mostly listen to music as an Individual however i do listen to music in the car with my parents. I listen to music when i am doing Homework and i always use my phone to listen. I prefer listening to music when I'm not doing anything (Like walking home) because it stops me getting bored.

Personal Identification - when I used to get angry with my parents I used to blast songs that would express how I feel and that would make me feel better

Information - sometimes you learn something from a song? Oliver Cromwell by Monty Python taught me some history.

Entertainment - Madonna and her dance moves

Social Interaction - songs my friends and I would always request and dance to when we went out

escapism

create mood - romance, melancholy, upbeat

cheer you up

get you in the mood to go out

add atmosphere to a gathering

help you sleep

distraction

companionship - driving, travelling

Video Analysis

This is 'I bet that you look good on the dance floor' - by The Artic Monkeys. This is an entire performance video. They use a moving camera to show all the differwent aspects of the band throughout the video. The main singer gets the majortiy of the attention, and the others are shwon to be assiting him. In the video the band are portrayed as normal people. They are not wearing special costumes, they are dressed casually.Also at the start the lead singer speaks to the veiwer saying 'dont believe the hype'.



In this video a young girl who seems like life has never given her anything is being abused by her 'boyfriend'. She looks like is using durgs. Throughout the video she is wearing the same clothes this impleis she is poor and she does not have many changes of clothes, or knowone cares for her.

This is a very good Concept video. In the Video we are shown 3 cigarrette boxes who comes to life and do the 'Warriors Dance'. The cigerrete boxes are shown as very compationate and save all the other cigerette packets.

Video Analysis

In this video editing and props are used to make it look like Lady Gaga is very vunerable at helpless. She is 'pimped' and sold to a ruission millionaire and is then taken to a bedroom. She then gains the power back when she burms the buyer at the end. All the way through the video, we are showned Lady Gaga flanked by lots of dancer and she is wearing different clothes to show her body off.