There was no promotional poster for the single 'Champagne Problems' or the album 'Last Year Was Complicated'. Therefore I decided to use the promotional poster for his joint tour with Demi Lovato.
Justin Bieber, one of the worlds best-selling music artists, is a Canadian singer/songwriter and was discovered in 2008 after uploading music covers on to Youtube. He first signed to RBMG Records and released his first EP in 2009 and a year later released his first album My World 2.0. both albums certified platinum in the us but my world 2.0 was certified triple platinum.
Justin was the first artist to have seven songs from a debut record, chart on the Billboard hot 100. he also had a 3D biopic-concert film names 'Justin Bieber; Never Say Never.'
In 2011 he released his second studio album Under The Mistletoe which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. A year later he released his third studio album Believe.
Finally in November 2015 he released his fourth studio album Purpose; containing 3 number one singles including; 'What do you mean?', 'Sorry' and 'Love Yourself'.
After the release of Purpose, Justin was also featured on several very successful collaborations; Cold Water, Despacito and I'm The One.
Bieber is now one of the most powerful celebrities according to Forbes magazine.
American record label group that was formed in 1998 and has combined over 14 record labels including the following; Island records, Def Jam Recordings and Mercury Records.
With a vast majority of genres and no particular focus, they have a large artist portfolio in the US.
The Universal/Motown Records Group split (Motown Records left) in 2011 and then The Universal Records Group decided to form an alliance with Island and Def Jam Records.
The Island Def Jam Group has just under 40 Successful artists, some examples are;
Founded in 2008, The Raymond Braun Media Group is an Ameriacan media and record company. Created by Usher Raymond (R&B Artist) and Scooter Braun (School Boy Records), the label focuses mainly on Pop, R&B, HipHop and Dance music.
It's parent companies include the Universal Music Group and The Island Def Jam Music Group. Def Jam also distribute all material by RBMG. the labels first release was Bieber's debut EP My Word.
RBMG also ventured outside of the US and signed huge Korean artists PSY and G-Dragon.
You ain't gotta be my lover for you to call me "baby"
Never been around, no pressure. Ain't that serious?
Can we, we keep, keep each other company?
Maybe we can be, be each other's company
Oh, company
It ain't about the complications
I'm all about the elevation
We can keep it goin' up
Oh, don't miss out on us
Just wanna have a conversation
Forget about the obligations
Maybe we can stay in touch
Oh, that ain't doin' too much
You ain't gotta be my lover for me to call you "baby"
Never been around, no pressure. Ain't that serious? No.
Can we, we keep, keep each other company?
Maybe we can be, be each other's company
Oh, company
Can we be, can we be, be each other's company,
Be each other's company,
Just be each other's company,
Be each other's company?
Can we, we keep, keep each other company?
Maybe we can be, be each other's company
Oh, company
The Synopsis
The 'performance' music video has no apparent storyline but is rather a montage of Justin's Purpose tour concerts. Throughout the video he is alone but once the song reaches the bridge, he is seen in footage having fun with crew, friends and fans.
Lyrics Analysis
Repetition of the phrase 'can we, we keep, keep each other company' several times during the song may emphasise the fact, that he is lonely and is craving company.
Mise-En-Scene Costume & Makeup
Justin Biebers's clothing changes throughout the music video as it is a montage of time during his tour. Therefore I chose 3 outfits he wore the most throughout the music video.
Setting
Key Shots, Camera Transitions, Edits
One of the first scenes consists of a graphic match cut and I think that this is a very effective shot and edit as it is a creative way to show how Justin's life moves at a pace just as fast. it is used as an establishing shot for those particular scenes and shows how fast time goes by.
Focus Group:
"I love how the camera is positioned behind him as you can see him and his surroundings."
"I think the transition from a dark setting to a bright, white sunlit setting looks really good as they contrast each other well."
Much of Justin's fan base like him mainly because of his looks as well as his music, as shown below. Therefore, I think starting the music video with an upwards tilt, is highly effective in showing off Justin's body and entices the viewer to keep watching.
Comments from fans on the music video for Company.
I think this is very effective use of zoom as its used to follow Justin in to the studio. Zoom is commonly used to showcase calm events taking place and here it shows part of the song making process as relaxed.
Halsey is an american singer-songwriter who focuses mostly focuses on Electropop & Synthpop.
The name Halsey is an anagram of her real name Ashley and is a reference to the Halsey Street Station of the New York City Subway.
Before signing to Astralwerks in 2014, Halsey released music herself on social media platforms. After her record deal, she was able to tour with acts such as the Kooks and Imagine Dragons, which helped her EP Room 93 gain publicity and take off.
In 2015, she released her debut album Badlands and it was later certified platinum by the RIAA. A total of four singles were released including; Ghost, New Americana, Colors and Castle. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number two.
Astralwerks
Founded in the US in the year 1993, Astralwerks mainly focuses on electronic and dance music. It's parent company Universal Music Group is considered an American Global Music Corporation.
All the material generated by Astralwerk's Artists are distributed by The Capitol Music Group. Astralwerks have a wide variety of artists including; Nervo, Mat Zo and Porter Robinson.
Colors
The Synopsis
The video starts off with Halsey taking photographs of what appears to be her 'high school crush'. It shows Halsey spending time with his mother and they all have lunch together at the tennis club. As the video progresses, it is clear that their relationship is growing. It shows them all having a good time at dinner, playing tennis and just spending time together. Throughout the video it shows the mother focusing on her flaws, showing she is insecure but Halsey is shown to be empowered and comfortable in her own skin. Towards the end of the video, it is revealed that Halsey is not interested in her 'high school crush' but rather his father. Soon after a montage shows all the times we thought she was lovingly looking at her "Crush" but instead was looking at his father. The "High school crush" finds out and is distressed and an argument follows.
The Lyrics
Your
little brother never tells you but he loves you so
You said your mother only smiled on her TV show
You're only happy when your sorry head is filled with dope
I hope you make it to the day you're 28 years old
You're dripping like a saturated sunlight
You're spilling like an overflowing sink
You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece
And now I'm tearing through the pages and the ink
Everything was blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now I'm covered in the colors
Pulled apart at the seams
And makes me blue
And makes me blue
Everything was grey
His hair, his smokes, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
Doesn't know what it means
And makes me blue
And makes me blue
You were a vision in the morning when the lights came through
I know I've only feel religion when I'm lying with you
You said you'll never be forgiven 'til your boys are too
And I'm still waking every morning but it's not with you
You're dripping like a saturated sunlight
You're spilling like an overflowing sink
You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece
And now I'm tearing through the pages and the ink
Everything was blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now I'm covered in the colors
Torn apart at the seams
And makes me blue
And makes me blue
Everything was grey
His hair, his smokes, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
Doesn't know what it means
And makes me blue
And makes me blue
Everything is blue
Everything is blue
Everything is blue
Everything is blue
You were red and you liked me because I was blue
You touched me and suddenly I was a lilac sky
And you decided purple just wasn't for you
Everything is blue
His pills, his hands, his jeans
And now I'm covered in the colors
Torn apart at the seams
And makes me blue
And makes me blue
Everything is grey
His hair, his smokes, his dreams
And now he's so devoid of color
Doesn't know what it means
And makes me blue
And makes me blue
Everything was blue [2x]
Lyrics Analysis
There is often a relationship between Visuals and Lyrics as suggested by Andrew Goodwin in his Dancing in the Distraction Factory (1992, Routledge). The title of the song 'Colors' makes you think the video will feature a wide variety of bright colours. However this could not be further from the truth. The video features pastel, dull colours with dim light. In some scenes she surrounded just by the colour white (as you can see below). Pastel colours are often seen as relaxing and are often equated to sanity. Dim lighting is often associated to hope or knowledge. Both codes are ironic as she could be seen as insane by some because she is in love with the father and knowledge is something we as viewers think we have but we are cunningly misled.
Halsey is surrounded by the colour white only.
The main colour tones are blue and grey.
"Everything is Blue, His Pills, His Hands, His Jeans."
Blue connotes calm, characterises trustworthiness and security. Again, this is ironic as there is no security in the relationship she wishes to have. It also comments on the love interest, 'pills' which can indicate that he's old, after watching the video once, the lyrics start to make more sense.
Her costume indicates that she is a high school cheerleader. cheerleaders are often stereotyped as; dumb, popular, mean and obsessed with boys.
His varsity jacket indicates that he is a high school jock; often an ideal relationship in high school. It is very common in teenage movies for a jock and cheerleader to date and be a couple.
From both of their costumes, You can see where they are in social cliques at school. when watching the music video, jocks and cheerleaders are often equally popular in American high school, therefore the viewer automatically thinks that it is meant to be, or they are a couple. Often, the head jock and head cheerleader get together. this is shown in teen movies; Mean Girls. But others films show a jock and 'outcast' fall in love, for example; The Duff, High School Musical and Picture This.
The following gif is a key shot and a great edit. Although only cuts have been used, they have been used effectively as it displays match on action and is symbolic. The mother putting on her lipstick and then her daughter doing it straight after; shows they are more alike then they seem, at least in this sequence.
Key Shots & Camera Movements & Edits
Using a tracking shot to show he is running as opposed to a long shot, is very effective as it feels as if we are running with him. it looks much more lifelike and realistic.
This gif shows the moment before, Halsey was caught taking photos of her 'love interests' dad. fast cuts, quicken the pace and makes the viewer nervous for her.
As you can see in the gif above, Halsey is caught gazing lovingly at Tyler's Dad; her 'Love Interest'. This is the first time you see her looking at him romantically, and its almost as if she's got caught. The fast cuts show that she's been cut off abruptly as well as creating a fast pace..
