Funky House Album Covers

I think that this album cover would be appealing to the UK Funk House genre because it colourful, the neon pink swirls and splashes of purple symbolises the fun and the wild side. The font is ALL CAPS, bold and it stands out. This album cover shouts out 'FUNKY HOUSE'!!! The editing of the album cover places the scene of a rave/party. The medium shot of the woman is placed in the centre and it capture the woman's make up, big hoops, her red sequin dress and sparkly creating the disco light effect. Her body is outlined with neon pink lines and smudges, this oozes energy and hype. The album cover states the type of music 'FUNKY HOUSE',

I think that this album cover is fresh for the fact that it has a white background. Even though it has a medium close up show of a young woman in action the album is quite boring. There is very little editing done to this album cover compared to the the previous cover. However the bright blue font which is ALL CAPS, stands out because it is placed in the centre of the cover similarly to the 1st album cover which I looked at. I also noticed that there is an orange box at the bottom of the album cover. This caught my eye immediately because it contrasts with white and the bright blue of the central font.

This album cover doesn't contain many colours but the blend of colours: purple, white and orange are quite vibrant and contrast well with each other. The font is purple, rounded and bubbly. This font will attract UK Funky house listeners because the font is exciting. The young woman is wearing a silver sequin dress which like the 1st album cover creates the disco ball effect and the night life in clubs.The background had been edited with brushes possibly from Photoshop, so I think I will also use Photoshop to design my album cover also because I can get creative with the colours, fonts and brushes. There's a puple and white (click---> "Ministry of Sound") logo which is placed on the right side of the young woman, this is a good way to get the attention of UK Funky House target group because Ministry of Sound promotes and "spread the dance music gospel around the world".

Now that I've looked at three album covers I've noticed a trend in the covers that I've analysed so far; they all have a centered medium shot of a beautiful young woman, in the party gesture and smiling. I think this will be appealing to young guys aged 15 and onwards because the women are pretty to look at and it would be the first thing they see. This would be good advertisement because it is the opposite sex.


I think this album cover would be the most appealing for album cover because the black background contrasts with the bright pink and white fancy font, the silver disco ball and the bright and luminous pink specks of light. The sequin look is prevalent amongst the four album covers that I have analysed so far. Notice: The disco ball enhances the Ministry of Sound's logo which my target will find appealing because they know that this logo represents the best in UK Funky House. The logo is also edited with orange, yellow and pink and black. which is a fantastic contrast.The editing for this cover is quite simple but very effective because it is strikingly bright and colourful. The light around the disco ball symbolises the night life in clubs.

Click here to view a range of UK FUNKY HOUSE Album covers.

Album Cover Research!

An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially-released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records (either in several connected sleeves or a box), or the front-facing panel of a CD package, and, increasingly, the primary image accompanying a digital download of the album, or of its individual tracks.

The cover serves 3 main purposes:

To advertise the contents of the music product.
To convey the artistic aspirations of the original artists ( Alex Steinweiss' Cover Art).
In reproductions of the artwork, to serve as a primary image in the promotional efforts surrounding the product, as an identifiable image associated with it.
Also, in the case of all types of records, it also serves as part of the protective sleeve.

In today's lesson I've been surfing the web in search of potential designs for 'Tribal Man Skank'. So far I've noticed that the genre 'Funky House' isn't mainstream but it is popular in underground music and therefore its difficult for me to find design. However I've found blog posts similar to mine with albums covers and designs. Even though there aren't many album covers that i think i can relate to Ive found many promotional flyers which are very colourful which depict the 'Funky House' theme.

High School Musicals

I've been doing some research on up beat high school musicals and Ive come across three videos:

Lip Gloss- Lil Mama (click here)

High School Musical 1 and 2 (click here)

These videos are all set in a school with routine dances, except HSM 3.

What I like about these videos is that they all relate to the theme song! They are filmed within the hall way, gym and playground. I will be filming my video in a class room and the main action will be on the playground where the routine dances would be happening. In the High School Musical video, the red theme is kept very consistent. Red links to the basketball theme, I will consider adopting this technique in my media product also.

However on the contrary to the videos I've been looking at, my music video isn't going to relate to the theme of the song. Tribal Man is raving song but I'll be capturing it in school. So the costumes will be school uniforms and the main dancers/characters will be wearing (red, blue and white) tops. I've chosen to do this so that the audience would be able to distinguish the difference.

Tribal Man Skank Costumes- Linking to school setting

The complete school uniform.

Tribal man uniform (red)

TRIBAL MAN SKANK- Lyrics

SIRENS!

YES! YEH! IT’S THE FUNKIN SEASON. IT’S MAGZ. FUNKIN KOFI
IT’S THE TRIBAL SKANKS! WHAT?

I BE THE TRIBAL MAN, BUSSIN THE TRIBAL SKANKS
I BE THE TRIBAL MAN, BUSSIN THE TRIBAL TRIBAL
I BE THE TRIBAL MAN. YES MAN!

YES YES TRIBAL TRIBAL YES GIV THEM THE TRIBAL TRIBAL
YES GIV THEM THE TRIBAL TRIBAL...IT’S THE FUNKIN DANCE!

NAH! I BE THE TRIBAL MAN SKANK!!!, BUSSIN THE TRIBAL SKANKS DANCE!!!
I BE THE TRIBAL MAN BUBBLE!!! BUSSIN THE TRIBAL TRIBAL
NAH! NAH! TRIBAL MAN SKANK!!! BUSSIN THE SKANKS DANCE!!!
I BE THE TRIBAL MAN BUBBLE!!! BUSSIN THE TRIBAL TRIBAL

GO LOW (X4) I SAID…GO LOW (X3)
OKAY! PREPARE TO RELOAD
GO HIGH (X3) TO THE SKY…GO HIGH (X3)
OKAY! PREPARE TO REWIND. NOW STOP! WHAT?

STRIKE A POSE, HOW WAIT, NOW…DANCE (X4)
STOP! GHEEZE! STRIKE A POSE, NOW WAIT. NOW…DANCE (X4)

SKIP TO THE LEFT AND DANCE, SKIP TO THE RIGHT AND DANCE
SKIP TO THE MIDDLE AND DANCE, NOW…DANCE (X4)
SKIP TO THE LEFT AND DANCE, SKIP TO THE RIGHT AND DANCE
JUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND DANCE, NOW…DANCE (X4)
NOW INSIDE, OUT (X3) THEN YOU’LL SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT
NOW FORWARD, AND BACK (X3) THEN YOU’LL SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT

GO LOW (X4) I SAID…GO LOW (X3)
OKAY! PREPARE TO RELOAD
GO HIGH (X3) TO THE SKY…GO HIGH (X3)
OKAY! PREPARE TO REWIND. NOW STOP! WHAT?

NAH! I BE THE TRIBAL MAN SKANK!!! BUSSIN THE TRIBAL SKANKS DANCE!!!
I BE THE TRIBAL MAN BUBBLE!!! BUSSIN THE TRIBAL TRIBAL
NAH! NAH! TRIBAL MAN SKANK!!! BUSSIN THE SKANKS DANCE!!!
I BE THE TRIBAL MAN BUBBLE!!! BUSSIN THE TRIBAL TRIBAL


Click here for the Tribal Man Skank Video!



Analysis
Tribal Magz' lyrics are not standard English "I BE THE TRIBAL MAN". This use of non standard English signifies to the audience that he 'Tribal Magz' is one of them. One of them, being the target group 'Teenagers'. The lyrics give the target audience I sense of identification because it is exclusive,"I BE THE TRIBAL MAN" is also the dancing instructions for the video and the raves. Tribal Magz is of an African decent, he uses a Ghanaian pathos in his lyrics which other African countries such as Sierra Lean and Nigeria can also relate to . Even though it can be argued that Funk House attacks more Africans because of the rhythm, drums and dances which are uses to compose the music it also attracts Caribbeans, Whites, Asians and Portuguese teenagers in London also.

Shooting Schedule

Schedule Location(s):
1. Inside a classroom
2. Locker Hall way
3. The playground- Basketball court

Actors/ Characters:
1. Sarah- Class Teacher
2. Five year 10 students

Costume (make-up):
1. School Uniform/shirt, kilt and jumper
2. Red top, socks and cap
3. Doors
4. Tables/chairs/Cupboards
5. Books/paper/pens
6. Fire Alarm
7. Mobile phone
8. Clock/watches
9. White board
10.Dust Bin
11.Health and Safety Rules

Equipment:
1. Camera
2. Tripod
3. Stereo set and speakers

Shooting Sequence by number:
1. Close-up shot of the door (Detention)
2. Establishing shot of the teacher entering the class room
3. As she speaks to the class a medium shot is taken
4. Back-to-back shot from the teacher to the class (pupils) then back to the teacher
5. Panning shot of the teacher walking toward the students
6. Shot reverse shot of teacher confiscating the student's mobile phone and giving her work to do 7. High angle shot from a side view of the conversation between the teacher and the student
8. Panning shot and medium shot of the students leaving the class room
9. Extreme close up of the teacher's face and her fingers as she warm the students
10. Back to back from students to teacher then over the shoulder shot from the teacher back to the students.
11. Long following shot through the locker hall and into the playground as the students run through
12. As the students dance a range of shots will be used: medium shot, extreme close up, zoom in and zoom out from front and side view

Tribal Man Skank Animatic

I drew up simple ideas for my music video, stick men and detailed facial features including actions that will be executed and directions also. I create an animatic so that I will be able to have a visual idea of what shot would be appropriate and more affective in order to make my music video a success. So far so good the animatic syncs perfectly with the sound track. I now need to film the video.

What makes a good music video?

A music video is a motion picture produced to accompany a song, frequently for promotional purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings.

I think originality (thinking outside the box) makes a good music video.

In terms of promotional purposes, the video must firstly capture and engage the audience then convey their message be it direct or indirect. The audience is the most important aspect of a music video as it is being direct to them. 'Thriller' title's font stands out because it is red, the letters looks like daggers as the edges are sharp and the font is bold.

My definition of a good music video which is very successful, is 'Thriller'.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9DEkFWt3ig .The reason for my choice is that I watched it at the age of 10 and I still remember it to this day. When I watched Thriller, it immediately drew me in because Michael Jackson was in the video and he had a cheeky yet creepy look on his face as he watched the film in the cinema. The title 'Thriller' is also captured me as the font was red and creepy looking.

It can be argued that 'Thriller' is a good music video due to the recent death of Michael Jackson. However, 'Thriller' has been imitated many times before his death because people like a lot. The dance moves are catchy and the song is simply scary. The video depicts the title very well by the costumes, make up and special effects used to create tension and a thrill.


The Director of Thriller
John Landis

About
John Landis aged 59 was (born August 3, 1950 in Chicago) is an American movie actor, director, writer, and producer.
Although he is mostly known for his influential comedies, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson Landis has also done many horror related projects.

Career
Century Fox. He starred in Schlock (1976), which he also wrote and directed. He also directed:
The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
In 1978, Landis directed his first film for Universal Studios, the critically and financially successful National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
The Blues Brothers (1980) which he co-wrote with Dan Aykroyd
An American Werewolf in London (1981), which he also wrote 1981. American Werewolf was perhaps Landis's most personal project, a film which he had been planning to make since 1969.
Landis also directed the opening teaser and first segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).
That same year saw another Landis-directed film, the Prince-And-The-Pauper style comedy Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy.
His career began as a teenager, working as a mail boy at 20th


Films Directed By John Landis
Family (Masters of Horror episode) (2006)
Deer Woman (Masters of Horror episode) (2005)
Slasher (2004)
Susan's Plan (1998)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
The Stupids (1996)
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
Innocent Blood (1992)
Black or White (music video) (1991)
Oscar (1991)
Coming to America (1988)
Spies Like Us (1985)
Disaster at Buzz Creek (1985)
Into the Night (1985)
Thriller (music video) (1983)
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Trading Places (1983)
Coming Soon (1982)
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
Schlock (1973)

Research on Tribal Magz (Interview)

The single’s called Tribal Man Skank. Where did the name come from?

It actually came from Ras Kwame! I sent him the track but forgot to put the name on it, so when he first played it on BBC 1Xtra he actually made the name up. I saw him at an event after and went over and introduced myself and thanked him for naming my track!

Did the huge underground success for acts like K.I.G Family with Head, Shoulders, Kneez & Toez and Gracious K with Migraine Skank, inspire you to write Tribal Man Skank?

My cousin, Gracious K sent me the Migraine Skank and when I saw how that blew up it just inspired me to do something similar.

Your raise to fame came off the back of YouTube with hundreds and thousands of views for the Tribal Man Skank video. How does it feel to do PAs and watch the crowd singing and dancing along to your song?

Ahh it’s mad! At the first few performances when everyone was singing and dancing along it was madness.

The entire interview can be viewed on this link.