From my questionnaire for music, some people suggested that romantic films usually use songs, usually a pop song with lyrics. So i need to take into consideration all potential music that we could possible use in our opening sequence. Of course with popular music, they include lyrics so we need to acknowledge the words used and whether or not they fit with our genre/opening sequence. Another think we need to take into account is the vocals, if the gender is male or female-I feel that if we use a man's voice singing then the audience will automatically think that the concept of the song/lyrics are perceived from the male characters point of view, where a woman's vocals will indicate that it is most likely from the female characters perception.
Avril Lavigne:
The pop artist known for writing up beat, pop songs with a punk attitude. However she can create some spectacular ballads, full of emotion, passion and powerful vocals impeccably beautiful. Three of her songs would fit in well with the story of our opening sequence: 'When You're Gone', 'Keep Holding On' and the more upbeat 'Nobody's Home'. Lavigne is probably the main component of popular music that could potentially be used in our film sequence.
When You're Gone lyrics:
I always needed time on my own
I never thought I'd need you there when I cry
And the days feel like years when I'm alone
And the bed where you lie is made up on your side
When you walk away I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through
The day and make it ok
I miss you
I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do reminds me of you
And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor
And they smell just like you, I love the things that you do
When you walk away I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
And when you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
And when you're gone
The words I need to hear to always get me through
The day and make it ok
I miss you
We were made for each other
Out here forever
I know we were, yeah
And all I ever wanted was for you to know
Everything I'd do, I'd give my heart and soul
I can hardly breathe I need to feel you here with me, yeah
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
And when you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
And when you're gone
All the words I need to hear will always get me through
The day and make it ok
I miss you
When You're Gone is a piano played accompanied by strings giving a heart warming, affectionate effect, gradually introducing drums and guitars. This song -musically- definitely creates the effect i want in the opening sequence, although it lacks intensity. As you can see these lyrics refer to when somebody leaves you, you don't know who you are, or what to do, needing the person you long for. In terms of our film, the audience could understand it as the female characters 1st personality knowing what she's about to do (jump off the edge) in her 2nd personality, she can't control herself although she still loves him. You could also perceive it from both their point of views, from the male- what is he going to do without her? his soulmate, the one he expected to be with for the rest of his life.
Keep Holding On lyrics:
You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend,
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah!
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Keep holding on...
Keep holding on
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
This song begins with strings and a strumming guitar, in my opinion it somehow gives me a sense of isolation, which is how the main character feels-isolated. The perfect melody companies Lavigne's enchanting voice. The song is not too upbeat so if we used it for our film it would smoothly fit in with the opening sequence. The lyrics are about holding onto what you've got, what you love and this is partly what our film would be about, how the male character would do anything for her even in her 2nd personality, the lyrics would be directed from the mans point of view which I don't think would be a good idea to use.
Nobody's Home lyrics:
Well, I couldn't tell you
Why she felt that way
She felt it every day
And I couldn't help her
I just watched her make
The same mistakes again
What's wrong, what's wrong now?
Too many, too many problems
Don't know where she belongs
Where she belongs
She wants to go home
But nobody's home
That's where she lies
Broken inside
With no place to go
No place to go
To dry her eyes
Broken inside
Open your eyes
And look outside
Find the reasons why
You've been rejected
And now you can't find
What you've left behind
Be strong, be strong now
Too many, too many problems
Don't know where she belongs
Where she belongs
She wants to go home
But nobody's home
That's where she lies
Broken inside
With no place to go
No place to go
To dry her eyes
Broken inside
Her feelings she hides
Her dreams she can't find
She's losing her mind
She's falling behind
She can't find her place
She's losing her faith
She's falling from grace
She's all over the place, yeah
She wants to go home
But nobody's home
That's where she lies
Broken inside
With no place to go
No place to go
To dry her eyes
Broken inside
She's lost inside, lost inside
Oh oh
She's lost inside, lost inside
Oh oh, oh
Nobody's home is an upbeat song with a sense of depression or loss. We can tell from the music that although it has a fast rhythm, the choice of chords and instruments (strings) show that it is disheartening. This would be excellent for our opening sequence, darkening the mood. The lyrics spell out basically that she's lost inside, she doesn't know where she belongs-this is exact to how our female character feels. The song is sung through a third person describing another's feelings, which is how it would be perceived by the audience, from an outsider.
As Jade, the female in our film is the main character, i have gathered more songs sung by female artists.
Songs by female singers
'Beautiful Together' by Betty Curse
Resting in your arms
I have found my home
Thank our lucky charms
Seldom feel alone
We should go away
It would be such fun
Make a wish today
Blowing out the sun
Tonight I'm runnin' on gasoline
Tonight I'm gonna escape the scene
Tonight has finally come
Nothing on earth could ever split us in two
Always think of me, I always think of you and me
Meant to be
We're beautiful
Nothing on earth will ever rip us in two
Always think of me, I always think of you and me
Destiny
We're beautiful
Protect you from harm
I am always there
Thank our lucky stars
Never our nightmares
Make them go away
Happiness will grow
Evaporate the pain
Burnin' in your soul
Tonight we're runnin' on gasoline
Tonight we're gonna escape the scene
Tonight has finally come
Nothing on earth could ever split us in two
Always think of me, I always think of you and me
Meant to be
We're beautiful
Nothing on earth will ever rip us in two
Always think of me, I always think of you and me
Destiny
We're beautiful together
Tonight is finally here
Nothing on earth could ever split us in two
Always think of me, I always think of you and me
By the sea
So beautiful
Nothing on earth will ever rip us in two
Always think of me, I always think of you and me
Destiny
We're beautiful together
Beautiful Together is a song by manufactured, goth pop artist Betty Curse. The music suggests a positive mood, with synth riffs and thick electric guitar chords, i feel that our opening sequence needs to include more of a negative feel so maybe it shouldn't be used, however the lyrics contradict what is happening in the opening sequence, this may be effective because it tells the opposite of what is happening, when perhaps the lyrics tell what should be happening, they should be strong a stay together, beautifully. This song explains itself- it's about how someone in a relationship feels that they'll always be together, 'nothing will ever rip us in two', it also explains how they are perfect fit for each other.
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'Catch Me' by Demi Lovato:
Before I fall too fast
Kiss me quick, but make it last
So I can see how badly this will hurt me
When you say goodbye
Keep it sweet, keep it slow
Let the future pass, and don't let go
But tonight I could fall too soon
Into this beautiful moonlight
But you're so hypnotizing
You've got me laughing while I sing, you've got me smiling in my sleep
And I can see this unraveling
Your love is where I'm falling, but please don't catch me
See this heart won't settle down
Like a child running scared from a clown
I'm terrified of what you do
My stomach screams just when I look at you
Run far away so I can breathe
Even though you're far from suffocating me
I can't set my hopes too high
'Cause every hello ends with a goodbye
But you're so hypnotizing
You've got me laughing while I sing, you've got me smiling in my sleep
And I can see this unraveling
Your love is where I'm falling, but please don't catch me
So now you see why I'm scared
I can't open up my heart without a care
But here I go, it's what I feel
And for the first time in my life I know it's for real
But you're so hypnotizing
You've got me laughing while I sing, you've got me smiling in my sleep
And I can see this unraveling
Your love is where I'm falling so please don't catch me
If this is love, please don't break me
I'm giving up so just catch me
Catch Me is an acoustic song on guitar for the majority of the song, strings weaving in and out. The thin texture and soft dynamics adds to the scene, where there's silence between the to characters-this gives the lyrics an opportunity to kind of tell the story to us. The lyrics are about saying goodbye to someone, let go 'please don't catch me' when they fall (walk away), the imagery of someone falling add to the sense of Jade jumping 'falling' off into the sea, telling the male character not to try and save her 'don't catch me'. The lyrics fit perfectly.
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'Catching Snowflakes' by Pixie Lott
Though it’s over
And I cope somehow
In the cold wind’s blow
I hear you
What is now a dream
For a while it was real
And I can’t conceal that
I miss you
But our love was like catching a snowflake
As it reached our hands
It was ready gone
Though our case is closed
I keep chasing ghosts
Every time it snows
I see you
And I feel no cold
As you lend me your coat
through the pale white glow
I feel you
But our love was like catching a snowflake
As it reached our hands
It was ready gone
This love was not ours to take
It was fated to break
Thought it was beautiful
But I lost you on the way down
Even though I tried so hard
To be with you to hold on to
You with all my broken heart
But I lost you on the way down
But our love was like catching a snowflake
As it reached our hands
It was ready gone
This love was not ours to take
It was fated to break
Thought it was beautiful
Catching a snowflake
Was like catching
It was catching a snowflake
A variety of piano riffs constantly (mostly high up on the piano) throughout the song. The high octave piano pattern gives a trickling effect adding to water imagery. Strings introduce themselves about a minute into the song, this creates huge emotion and produces a sound which the audience can decide themselves whether it's emotional in a positive a or negative way. On a downer note, although the lyrics represent the relationship between the two people -too short but beautiful- winter imagery is consistently mentioned throughout the song, we have no footage of a snow scene or to add onto the effect of the lyrics.
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'Cosmic Love' by Florence + the Machine
A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat
I tried to find the sound
But then it stopped, and I was in the darkness,
So darkness I became
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
I took the stars from our eyes, and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
So I stayed in the darkness with you
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
Harps and piano with a timpani drum and a choir. This should be the perfect combination for the opening sequence because pianos and harps were the instruments (according to my survey) you would associate the most with a romance film, and i agree, i think the choice of instruments are perfect for the sequence. The harp gives a beautiful running water effect, where the rhythm on the timpani is almost like small outburst which in a way represent schizophrenia- small outbursts into a 2nd personality. The lyrics talk about how someone has left them, and now everything has got dark, constantly having the other person on there mind 'in the shadow of your heart', like they have been left unguided in the dark with the torch. This is how our male character will feel after she commits suicide.
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'Eet' by Regina Spektor
It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song
You can't believe it
You were always singing along
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can't remember
You try to feel the beat
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, eet, eet, eet
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeteeet, eet, eet, eet
You spent half of your life trying to fall behind
You're using your headphones to drown out your mind
It was so easy, and the words so sweet
You can't remember
You try to move your feet
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, eet, eet, eet
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeteeet, eet, eet, eet
Someone's deciding whether or not to steal
He opens the window just to feel the chill
He hears that outside a small boy just starting to cry
'Cause it's his turn but his brother won't let him try
It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song
You can't believe it
You were always singing along
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can't remember
You try to move your feet
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can't remember, you try to feel the beat.
Calming piano chords at a heart beat-like rhythm, with a sweet voice. This will easily fit in with our opening sequence, however once it gets into the song a bit more, a bass drum beat enters which i don't think will suit the opening sequence. However the piano is innocent and beautiful-just like the main character. The lyircs can possibly relate well to our story line- 'It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song, you can't believe it, you were always singing along', in terms that it's talking about Jade changing from personality 1 to personality 2, forgetting your first personality.
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'Everywhere I Go' by Lissie
And I fall on my knees
Tell me how's the way to be
Tell me how's the way to go
Tell me all that I should know
And I fall on my knees
Tell me how's the way to go
Tell me how's the way to be
To evoke some empathy
Danger will follow me now
Everywhere I go
Angels will call on me
And take me to my home
Well this tired mind
Just wants to be lead home
And I fall on my knees
Tell me how's the way to go
Tell me how's the way to see
Show me all that I could be
And I fall on my knees
Tell me how's the way to be, yeah
Tell me how's the way to go
Tell me why I feel so low
Danger will follow me now
Everywhere I go
Angels will call on me
And take me to my home
Well these tired eyes
Just want to remain closed
I don't see clearly, can't feel nothing no
Can't you hear me?
And I fall on my knees
And angels will call on me
Now everywhere I go
Angels will call on me
And take me to my home
And angel will fall on me
Everywhere I walk
Angels will call on me
And take me to my home
And angels will call on me
Now everywhere I go
Angels will follow me
Now lead me to my home.
This song hasn't got much relevance to our film lyrically, however it could perhaps be appropriate in the sense that danger follows the main character around everywhere she goes because of her 2nd personality and she can't guaranty that she'll be safe at all. The acoustic guitar that is played throughout the whole song comes across meaningful and creates a smooth, comforting sound which will play well with the opening sequence. It is a track that is easy to listen to and it most probably won't distract the audience from what is happening in the opening sequence. There is also another version including Ellie Goulding, which is faster and more powerful vocally.
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'Good Enough' by Evanescence
Under your spell again
I can't say no to you
Crave my heart and it's bleeding in your hand
I can't say no to you
Shouldn't let you torture me so sweetly
Now I can't let go of this dream
I can't breathe but I feel
Good enough
I feel good enough for you
Drink up sweet decadence
I can't say no to you
And I've completely lost myself and I don't mind
I can't say no to you
Shouldn't let you conquer me completely
Now I can't let go of this dream
Can't believe that I feel
Good enough
I feel good enough
It's been such a long time coming
But I feel good
And I'm still waiting for the rain to fall
Pour real life down on me
'Cause I can't hold on to anything
This good enough
Am I good enough
For you to love me too?
So take care what you ask of me
'Cause I can't say no
Good Enough is a piano song with a string orchestra following it. The singers astonishing and impressive vocals, engrosses the passion to the meaning of this song, the feeling of being good enough. This relates to the story as the main characters supportive lover always treats her like she's more than good enough, but she doubts the thought of it, she believes that she doesn't deserve him because of the change in personality. This indicates that actually when she commits suicide, she could actually be in her original personality rather than her 2nd one, we're leaving the audience to wonder about it.
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'Nicest Thing' by Kate Nash
All I know is that you're so nice
You're the nicest thing I've seen
I wish that we could give it a go
See if we could be something
I wish I was your favourite girl
I wish you thought I was the reason you are in the world
I wish I was your favourite smile
I wish the way that I dressed was your favourite kind of style
I wish you couldn't figure me out
But you'd always wanna know what I was about
I wish you'd hold my hand
When I was upset
I wish you'd never forget
The look on my face when we first met
I wish you had a favourite beauty spot
That you loved secretly
'Cause it was on a hidden bit
That nobody else could see
Basically, I wish that you loved me
I wish that you needed me
I wish that you knew when I said two sugars,
Actually I meant three
I wish that without me your heart would break
I wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake
I wish that without me you couldn't eat
I wish I was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep
Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen
And I wish that we could see if we could be something
Yeah I wish that we could see if we could be something
This song consists of only acoustic guitars and a solo violin. The solo violin represents loneliness adding to the fact that the main character feels isolated. I honestly cannot explain how emotional this song, musically and lyrically. In some way, it's depressive and quite disheartening, the singers accent is quite blunt and to the point making it more dramatic. I don't know how it's so emotional but it will fit our sequence very well. The lyrics describe how someone wishing for another person to feel the same way about them, Jades 2nd personality blatantly doesn't feel the same as the 1st personality and these lyrics would be perceived from the man's point of view towards Jade.
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'The Writer' by Ellie Goulding
You wait for a silence, I wait for a word
Lie next to your frame, girl unobserved
You change your position and you are changing me
Casting these shadows where they shouldn't be
We're interrupted by the heat of the sun
Trying to prevent what's already begun
You're just a body, I can smell your skin
And when I feel it, you're wearing thin
But I've got a plan
Why don't you be the artist
And make me out of clay
Why don't you be the writer
And decide the words I say
'Cause I'd rather pretend
I'll still be there at the end
Only it's too hard to ask
Won't you try to help me
Sat on your sofa, it's all broken springs
This isn't the place for those violin strings
I try out a smile and I aim it at you
You must have missed it, you always do
But I've got a plan
Why don't you be the artist
And make me out of clay
Why don't you be the writer
And decide the words I say
'Cause I'd rather pretend
I'll still be there at the end
Only it's too hard to ask
Won't you try to help me
You wait, I wait, casting shadows, interrupted
You wait, I wait, casting shadows, interrupted
You wait, I wait, casting shadows
Why don't you be the artist
And make me out of clay
Why don't you be the writer
And decide the words I say
'Cause I'd rather pretend
I'll still be there at the end
Only it's too hard to ask
Won't you try to help me
Why don't you be the artist
And make me out of clay
Why don't you be the writer
And decide the words I say
'Cause I'd rather pretend
I'll still be there at the end
Only it's too hard to ask
Won't you try to help me
This song is exceedingly full with glowing emotion-the perfect cadences, the beautiful piano riff and the soaring violin synths presenting such affection and happiness. Ellie's soft hush-like voice creates a soothing and calm atmosphere, just like our opening sequence is. The lyrics consists of metaphors describing how either person in the relationship rely on each other parallel to the relationship in our film.
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'6 Months' by Hey Monday
You're the direction I follow to get home
When I feel like I can't go on, you tell me to go
And it's like I can't feel a thing without you around
And don't mind me if I get weak in the knees
'Cause you have that effect on me, you do
Everything you say, every time we kiss
I can't think straight but I'm okay
And I can't think of anybody else
Who I hate to miss as much as I hate missing you
Months going strong now, and no goodbye
Unconditional, unoriginal, always by my side
Meant to be together
Meant for no one but each other
You love me, I love you harder so
Everything you say, every time we kiss
I can't think straight but I'm okay
And I can't think of anybody else
Who I hate to miss as much as I hate missing you
So please, give me a hint
So please, give me a lesson
On how to steal, steal a heart
As fast as you stole mine, as you stole mine
Oh and everything you say
Every time we kiss, I can't think straight
But I'm okay and I can't think of anybody else
Who I hate to miss as much as I hate missing you
So please, give me a hint
So please, just take my hand
This is an acoustic song played on guitar, calm strumming keeping the mood comfortable. With deep, meaningful and expressive lyrics belted out by an attractive high pitched voice. The song would comfortably fit very well mostly lyrically but also musically.
Of course copyright is a huge issue here, most of these artist will most likely have copyright on the music which means we would not be able to use their music. Looking into lyrics and music- how they set the atmosphere and how it can easily be manipulated by small factors of the music/lyrics- it has given me an insight on what type of things i would be looking for in the certain type of genre of a film/opening sequence for a song. Doing this, I have also grown an interest in analysing, analysing music/lyrics and how it affects a moving image- I'm sure in someway this will also be helpful towards my analytical task in the exam on the basics of analysing representation and more.
Thankyou to; Elyrics for providing lyrics; Youtube for providing videos; Google images for providing images.
A Chinese pianist aged 28, extremely well known in Europe and North America. The song that i have looked at, and love is called 'Time For Dreams' (featuring Schiller), it is a fantastic piano piece accompanied by synths timpani's and other percussion. Although these instruments create quite a modern up beat sound, this could challenge the usual, romantic tragedy films. This piece of music portrays quite an adventurous, spontaneous mood. You could say it is quite an enthusiastic composition creating a variation of positive moods, however it is intense, a lot is going on in the piece, the texture is thick. This could somehow link in with our opening sequence, keeping the atmosphere less depressing. We need to look at what classification our film is as this type of music will be more suited to the younger.
Editing wise, i used the same effect, creating a shallow focus effect on the flower, tinting everything else grey. However, i enhanced the colour on the flower itself, so the beauty of the forget me not is presented well. I thought that within the image, all attention needed to be focused on the flower to help create the impact on the flower imagery, how the flower links in with the story and the character. The image is a shot from behind jade, looking out to sea. The white font representing the character and also complimenting the background like in the front cover. The titles of the peice of music were completely originally made up by myself with a tiny bit of help from some of the other members of my group, we just choose names that sounded like they associated with the film well. One thing i didn't take into consideration was where a barcode would go, they are usually in the bottom right corner of the back cover, which in my cover, would go ontop of the name of the composer which is an important part of information, although it is also on the front cover.
