RESEARCH IN MUSIC GENRE R&B AND FINAL SONG SELECTION

Leting Chen
Oct 11, 2022
7 min read

Updated: Mar 24, 2023

KATIE (THE ORIGINAL MUSIC ARTIST)

Final Birth name:Kim Seo-Hyeon

Stage name: Katie

Birth date: December 10, 1993 (age 28)

Birth place: Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Hometown: New Jersey, USA

Katie is my final music artist choice, whenever I listen to her song 'Thinkin bout you' it transmits me tranquility due to the rhythm accompanied by the use of keyboards and synthesizers.

At first, I was unsettled with the song selection so I asked for the opinion of my media classmates and teachers, and I came to the decision of producing a music video with this R&B song. Within the lyrics, she expresses the emotion of constantly thinking and being obsessed with someone, although it is an unrequited love. My purpose is to meet clear codes and conventions of the contemporary R&B music genre and communicate the genre to my targeted audience (teenagers and young adults), indeed surpassing expectations by producing a music video full of aesthetics, good editing, and iconic fashion as this is my biggest area of interest

KATIE, is a South Korean-born American singer who won first place in the Korean talent show K-pop Star 4, her performance reached 4 million views on the Korean site and since then lots of K-pop companies wanted to hire her as a trainee. Katie eventually joined YG entertainment which is one of the biggest music labels in South Korea where successful artists and groups have debuted under the name of the company such as Sechs Kies, Big Bang, AKMU, Winner, 2NE1 iKon, Blackpink, Treasure, G-dragon, CL, etc. However, Katie was set to debut under YG Entertainment, but in the process, the executive in charge of her debut left YG Entertainment to set up an independent agency. Katie decided to follow through, therefore, breaking the contract with her previous agency and signing with AXIS. On the 6th of june 2018, Katie debuted as a solo singer with her first single Remember, a future R&B track that expresses the emotions of the desire of falling in love. Then, Katie did a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign and released together a new version of the song Remember. This music collab boosted up her popularity and a few months later Katie released her first EP album called 'LOG' with 'Thinkin bout you' as the titular song of the EP.

R&B HISTORY

SOME R&B WELL KNOWN ARTISTS DIFFERENT NEGERATIONS

ELVIS PRESLEY

ALICIA KEYS

LIONEL RICHIE

ALL GREEN

MARIAH CAREY

BEYONCÉ

WITHNEY HOUSTON

MICHAEL JACKSON

R&B stands for Rhythms and blues, this music genre was developed by Black Americans back in the 1940s and was intended for black audiences mainly. R&B traditionally is a combination of jazz, gospel, and blues, the instruments complimenting the voice used to be the piano, guitar, drums, bass, and saxophones. In the early 20th century, many Africans emigrated to urban cities and brought their culture and ideas with them, perhaps, sophisticated urban music started to develop in the 30s. Early on the term "rhythm and blues" was used for boogie-woogie, African American swing, jazz, and blues. All of these styles influenced the development of what is called rhythm and blues today. Louis Jordan is a saxophonist who composed a song called ''Is you is or is you ain't my baby' in 1944, he became one of the first artists to use elements that characterize the genre of R&B. The migration of African Americans to urban centers helped to bring various regional styles of African American music together to influence one another.

Contemporary RNB: This is a new and more modern version of ‘rhythms and blues’ in which the rhythm and melody is driven by a number of different musical instruments both traditional and modern such as: keyboards, synthesizers, drums beats, Electric guitar, Double bass, Drums, electric organ, Saxophone, Piano, Horn, etc. ‘Contemporary R&B’ was delivered in the earlies 70s and late 80s. R&B then became a mix with some elements of jazz, pop, hip-hop, funk, and African music, which confused people with the genre of Neo-soul, which is really similar to R&B but it illustrates more meaningful lyrics than contemporary R&B. An example of a successful female R&B is Mariah Carey, she has sold well over 100 million records since debuting in 1990, she is also the daughter of an Irish mom and an African-American and black Venezuelan dad, as I said before R&B is a music genre originated by black Americans and many black people use this music genre as their main music genre for their career and as well as other music genres. R&B is constantly being refined and nowadays there is also a newer version of contemporary R&B which is called 'future R&B' It's the unexpected mash-up of electronic and rhythm and blues genres. It plays with eccentric rhythm, heavy bass, and soulful voices.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF R&B MUSIC VIDEOS LATE 90S AND EARLY 00S

Contemporary R&B music videos have a wide range of codes and conventions that shape their visual and thematic style. One of the most prominent aspects of R&B music videos is the objectification of women through the male gaze. This is often achieved through the use of revealing clothing, provocative dance moves, and close-up shots of their bodies. Women are often portrayed as objects of desire, and their sexuality is used as a tool to attract the attention of both male and female viewers.

Another key element of R&B music videos is the use of fashion and accessories to create a sense of luxury and opulence. Heels, full makeup, and expensive jewelry are commonly used to showcase the artist's high social status and fashion sense. This is often accompanied by a specific mise-en-scene that features luxurious locations, such as mansions or exclusive clubs, to further emphasize their wealth and success.

In terms of iconography, R&B music videos often portray women as powerful and dominant through the use of seduction. This can be seen in the way that women use their bodies and sexuality to control the narrative of the video and assert their dominance over male characters. However, some R&B artists have also challenged traditional gender roles and stereotypes by subverting these codes and conventions. For example, Ciara's music videos often feature her performing choreography traditionally associated with male R&B artists, thereby breaking down gender barriers and challenging societal expectations.

Other notable elements of contemporary R&B music videos include fast-paced editing to match the beat of the music, a focus on close-up shots to showcase facial expressions and emotions, and the use of dark colors and lighting to create a sense of mood and atmosphere. Body language and lip-syncing are also important components of R&B music videos, as they help to convey the emotions and message of the song to the audience.

MY MUSIC VIDEO IS GOING TO BE INSPIRED BY KPOP MUSIC VIDEOS AESTHETIC

K-pop music videos have a unique style that sets them apart from other genres, including R&B. One of the key features of K-pop videos is the use of elaborate choreography that is synchronized with the music. These dance routines often involve large groups of performers, and are a key element of the visual style of K-pop music videos. The use of intricate and synchronized dance moves creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience for viewers. Another distinguishing feature of K-pop music videos is their use of storytelling and narrative elements. K-pop videos often tell a story that is woven into the lyrics of the song, creating a cohesive and immersive experience for viewers. This is achieved through the use of elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects, which work together to create a distinct visual style.

K-pop music videos are also known for their use of fashion and styling. The artists are often styled in unique and creative outfits that are designed to make a statement and grab attention. These outfits often feature bold colors, patterns, and accessories that are both visually striking and culturally significant.

In Kpop music videos female artists are portrayed as delicate and feminine, wearing modest clothing and using coy gestures and facial expressions to convey their sensuality and rromantic feelings. In contrast, American R&B music videos often feature more overt sexualization and objectification of female artists. Women may be depicted wearing revealing clothing and engaging in suggestive dance moves The focus may be more on physical attraction and sexual gratification, rather than romantic relationships. Of course, these are generalizations and there may be exceptions and variations within both Korean and American R&B music videos. It's also worth noting that both industries have faced criticism for objectifying and exploiting artists, regardless of cultural differences.

As someone who is passionate about the world of fashion, I am eager to create a music video that captures the essence of this industry. My vision for the video is to showcase the artist as the focal point, highlighting her as the central figure in the story.

To achieve this, I plan to use a combination of close-up shots and medium shots that will keep the focus on the artist throughout the video. By doing this, I want to convey the idea that she is the center of attention and the driving force behind the fashion world portrayed in the video.

My goal is to create a music video that not only showcases the artist's talents but also celebrates the beauty and creativity of the fashion industry.

WHAT IS A CONCEPT MUSIC VIDEO: There are many types of music video, so mine is going to be a concept music video not narrative.

A concept music video is a music video that has a specific theme or concept that is related to the lyrics or overall message of the song. It goes beyond just showing the performers singing or performing the song and aims to visually represent and enhance the meaning of the song.

Here are some of the characteristics of a concept music video:

Visual storytelling: A concept music video is often used to tell a story or convey a message visually, using images and symbols to enhance the meaning of the song.
Creative visuals: A concept music video often features creative and artistic visuals that may be abstract, surreal, or have a cinematic quality.
Coherence with the song: The concept music video should be coherent with the lyrics, mood, and overall message of the song, creating a unified and complementary experience for the viewer.
Attention to detail: Concept music videos often have intricate details that add layers of meaning to the video, such as hidden messages, symbolism, or references to other works of art.
Production value: Concept music videos often require high production values, including elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects, to create a visually stunning and engaging experience for the viewer.