Extra Research: Controversy in Music Videos

In the music industry, there are many stand out music videos that catch the attention of the audience and the media. This is because they are usually very unique, and therefore usually lead to some form of controversy. The issue we have in todays society is that the media has the power to portray differed versions of events, meaning they can bend stories and as a result have control over what audiences see. The media can manipulate an audience and in news stories, will often be pro-police, however as 'We Media' grows and becomes more and more popular in todays society as technology improves, multiple different versions of an event are now being published, seeing events from different sides. The same thing therefore happens with music and music videos in the media.

Examples:

Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Relax
This music video and song was banned by the BBC in 1984. This was there debut single and was banned due to the sexual lyrics. Despite the ban that the song was Number 1 for 5 weeks, and is the 7th best selling British single. This was one of the first ever record to be banned by the BBC.



Kinks, Lola
This song led to controversy due to the song lyrics and video, which detailed on a romantic encounter between a man and a transvestite or transgender. This led to speculation and anger, and the media therefore portrayed this giving the kinks a bad image. The lyrics go "walked like a woman and talked like a man" which is what caused the issues in the media and public and what led to an uproar of unhappy audiences.

Miley Cyrus copying Sinead O'Connor
In a recent event involving both Cyrus and O'Connor, rows have escalated as it appear Miley Cyrus included and even appeared to copy shots seen in O'Connor's music video for 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. The shots used were close ups of Cyrus in her 'Wrecking Ball' music video. Cyrus as a result has now been the cause of heavy controversy over the copying of the shots, and O'Connor wrote to Cyrus as a result regarding the matter and other matters too.


Overall, although standing out from the crowd is good as it means you are noticed and as a result you hope more people will see your music and music videos, it is also important to ensure that the music/music video is acceptable and suitable to be shown in todays society. This means that it is important that things such as racist views, sexist views or anything of the nature are not included, meaning when producing both song and music videos they must be thoroughly checked before being released to the public, even if no direct comment is made, sometimes a lyric or visual accompanying a lyric may be implying a view unintentionally. Therefore, when we produce our music video, it is important that we consider how our target audience and other audiences could perceive and consume it and how this could affect the sort of things we include in it. Overall, it is therefore important that the music video is clean, and does not harm any viewers or audiences in any way.