The brief tasks participants with creating a poster for Chris Stapleton's newest single 'What are you Listening too?'. The poster will serve two main functions, to capture the essence of the song and promote the artist at the same time.
I want to collect a quick body of focused research into the song and song writer to help me understand the nature of the song, song writer and consequently how to promote it. The project needs a relatively quick turn around time due to the amount of work accumulating from other briefs. However, due to the nature of the brief and form of the outcome an in-depth body of research is not needed.
I started my research by listening to Chris' song and noting down points of importance relating to the mood, lyrics and other aspects of the single that came to my attention.
While analysing the lyrics of the song I came across certain themes that were apparent throughout the songs duration, these aspects hold relevance to the singles meaning and the messages communicated by the lyrics. As the themes are pretty definitive aspects of the song they could become a focus of the poster and used to represent and promote the single.
CHRIS STAPLETON BIOGRAPHY
I also decided to focus my research briefly on the musician himself to help me understand his origins and influences in more detail. At this stage in the brief I want to gain a complete understanding of both the song and musician as information relating to these aspects could later help to influence the posters theme and aesthetics or give the poster a new dimension.
Unfortunately, as Chris is a relatively new artist there is not much biography relevant information available online. The only available source of information was Wikipedia, a site that is renowned for misinformation. Despite this, as my only research source I decided to use the information as a rough informative guide to Chris's career.
VISUAL RESEARCH
At the bottom of the brief an inspirational portrait photograph of Chris is given to participants, I believe that this suggests that artworks submitted could be based around or focus on the artist. Therefore, I collected a brief body of secondary visual research focusing on Chris, his appearance and how he chooses to present himself.
I want to collect a quick body of focused research into the song and song writer to help me understand the nature of the song, song writer and consequently how to promote it. The project needs a relatively quick turn around time due to the amount of work accumulating from other briefs. However, due to the nature of the brief and form of the outcome an in-depth body of research is not needed.
I started my research by listening to Chris' song and noting down points of importance relating to the mood, lyrics and other aspects of the single that came to my attention.
Next, I analysed the lyrics of the song in more detail and highlighted aspects that could be utilised to visually represent the song;
I put that record on - Records and songs are mentioned throughout the song.
Girl you know what song - Insinuates that the song is about a girl, possibly an old lover.
And I let it play again and again
Holding every line
Take me back in time
Yeah tonight I'm wondering
What are you listening to - Strong feelings toward 'Gril' are obviously still apparent.
Is it a cover band in some college town bar
Where it's na-na-na's and air guitars
Or is it something to get you through
Just a sad song playing on the radio station
Tears still fall and hearts still breakin' - These links suggest that the relationship has recently ended, supporting my thoughts the song is about an ex lover.
Cause you're hanging on
Or is it a love song about someone new
What are you listening to - Unsure of whether his ex is moving on or holding on to memories of him.
I like to believe
That you're just like me
Trying to figure out how a good thing goes bad - commenting on the broken relationship.
I don't know
I can't let it go
Yeah it's about to drive me mad - Not knowing is causing him distress/anguish.
What are you listening to
Is it a cover band in some college town bar
Where it's na-na-na's and air guitars
And is it something to get you through
Just a sad song playing on the radio station
Tears still fall and hearts still breakin'
Cause you're hanging on
Or is it a love song about someone new
What are you listening to
Is it a feel good song gets you driving too fast
The one that gets you moving on pass to pass
Or the kind you can’t help singing along
Singing woh-oh-oh-oh-woh
Is it headphones on on a downtown train
Or a window seat on an outbound plane
Is it LA sunny and Memphis blue
I wish I knew I wish I knew - The type of song the girl is listening too is an indication of her mood, the fact that Chris's song has a sad undertones suggests that he is upset about the situation.
What are you listening to
Is it a cover band in some college town bar
Where it's na-na-na's and air guitars
And is it something to get you through
Just a sad song playing on the radio station
Tears still fall and hearts still breakin'
Cause you're hanging on
Or is it a love song about someone new
What are you listening to
I put that record on
Girl you know what song
And I let it play again and again
Girl you know what song - Insinuates that the song is about a girl, possibly an old lover.
And I let it play again and again
Holding every line
Take me back in time
Yeah tonight I'm wondering
What are you listening to - Strong feelings toward 'Gril' are obviously still apparent.
Is it a cover band in some college town bar
Where it's na-na-na's and air guitars
Or is it something to get you through
Just a sad song playing on the radio station
Tears still fall and hearts still breakin' - These links suggest that the relationship has recently ended, supporting my thoughts the song is about an ex lover.
Cause you're hanging on
Or is it a love song about someone new
What are you listening to - Unsure of whether his ex is moving on or holding on to memories of him.
I like to believe
That you're just like me
Trying to figure out how a good thing goes bad - commenting on the broken relationship.
I don't know
I can't let it go
Yeah it's about to drive me mad - Not knowing is causing him distress/anguish.
What are you listening to
Is it a cover band in some college town bar
Where it's na-na-na's and air guitars
And is it something to get you through
Just a sad song playing on the radio station
Tears still fall and hearts still breakin'
Cause you're hanging on
Or is it a love song about someone new
What are you listening to
Is it a feel good song gets you driving too fast
The one that gets you moving on pass to pass
Or the kind you can’t help singing along
Singing woh-oh-oh-oh-woh
Is it headphones on on a downtown train
Or a window seat on an outbound plane
Is it LA sunny and Memphis blue
I wish I knew I wish I knew - The type of song the girl is listening too is an indication of her mood, the fact that Chris's song has a sad undertones suggests that he is upset about the situation.
What are you listening to
Is it a cover band in some college town bar
Where it's na-na-na's and air guitars
And is it something to get you through
Just a sad song playing on the radio station
Tears still fall and hearts still breakin'
Cause you're hanging on
Or is it a love song about someone new
What are you listening to
I put that record on
Girl you know what song
And I let it play again and again
SONG THEMES
While analysing the lyrics of the song I came across certain themes that were apparent throughout the songs duration, these aspects hold relevance to the singles meaning and the messages communicated by the lyrics. As the themes are pretty definitive aspects of the song they could become a focus of the poster and used to represent and promote the single.
- Records and songs are mentioned throughout the song.
- The song is about Chris' ex-girlfriend/wife.
- Chris is unsure of whether his ex is moving on or holding on to memories of him.
- His Strong feelings toward the ex-lover are obviously still apparent.
CHRIS STAPLETON BIOGRAPHY
I also decided to focus my research briefly on the musician himself to help me understand his origins and influences in more detail. At this stage in the brief I want to gain a complete understanding of both the song and musician as information relating to these aspects could later help to influence the posters theme and aesthetics or give the poster a new dimension.
Unfortunately, as Chris is a relatively new artist there is not much biography relevant information available online. The only available source of information was Wikipedia, a site that is renowned for misinformation. Despite this, as my only research source I decided to use the information as a rough informative guide to Chris's career.
- Chris Stapleton is an American country musician signed to Universal Music Group Nashville.
- Chris is an established songwriter with four number one songs.
- As a writer for Sea Gayle Music, over 150 of Stapleton's songs have appeared on albums by such artists like Adele.
- Stapleton was born in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, but raised in Paintsville, Kentucky.
- His father was a coal miner.
- Stapleton moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 to focus on songwriting and pursue a music career.
- He was the lead singer and guitarist of the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers from 2008–2010.
- Stapleton left The SteelDrivers in April 2010[2] and founded a rock band called The Jompson Brothers.
- In 2013, Stapleton signed to Mercury Nashville as a solo artist.
- His first single, "What Are You Listening To", was released on July 1, 2013.
VISUAL RESEARCH
At the bottom of the brief an inspirational portrait photograph of Chris is given to participants, I believe that this suggests that artworks submitted could be based around or focus on the artist. Therefore, I collected a brief body of secondary visual research focusing on Chris, his appearance and how he chooses to present himself.
The photo given on the brief.
A noticeable trait of his appearance is his long hair and admirable beard.
After collecting a body of research into the meanings and themes communicated by Chris' single I felt informed enough about the songs concept and Chris' music to start generating my initial responses to the brief.
Design Practice blog link - Chris Stapleton Poster.
No comments:
Post a Comment