Music on Youtube
Most people think of music videos as being a product of the Eighties. While the Eighties is when the music video format rose to prominence, music video mockery reached an artisan level in 2005. In that year, the internet phenomenon YouTube was created. The website features many different kinds of videos. One of the most popular features music on YouTube. Youtube music channels are very varied in the type of videos they contain. YouTube videos can be separated into various channels based on the content of the videos. Many of the samples of music on YouTube feature videos produced by the record companies and artists themselves. However, a larger portion of the videos on the site are fan reproductions of famous videos. While some are respectful of the source material, many videos feature elements of mockery.
The proliferation of the internet and the rise of Napster lead to changes in the distribution method of many music videos. While prior to the creation of YouTube, music videos almost exclusively created by record industry, technology’s proliferation began to change that trend. Just as home video cameras made it easier for everyone to film, the proliferation of advanced home computers and editing software made it easier for anyone to create a professional looking video. A large portion of the videos on the site are fan reproductions and adaptations of famous videos. While some are respectful of the source material, many YouTube videos feature elements of mockery.
A YouTube search for “literal music video” results in almost two thousand music videos which replace the original vocal with lyrics describing exactly what is happening on screen. The videos mocked by these YouTube music graffiti artists vary from “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler, to “Anything for Love” by Meatloaf, to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. Any musician making a foolish video can expect to see their music on YouTube being made fun of in short order.
There is another strong presence of music on YouTube. Many unsigned artists place their music on YouTube in an attempt to have their YouTube music video’s attract a cult following. By posting music on YouTube many artists. Lil Wayne and Justin Beiber have had the most success due to placing their music on YouTube, although Justin Timblerlake, Jay-Z, Akon, Usher, and Jermaine Dupri, among many others have all searched YouTube for music and signed a variety of musicians to their record labels.
Just as Napster aroused the ire of some artists who music was found on it, not is happy to see their music on YouTube. Some take issue with the mockery of their work, although this is new a new development. Class clowns have been making up alternative and unflattering renditions of popular songs for years. The only difference is that when the mockery of their music is on YouTube it has a larger appearance than previous technology ever made possible in at any point in human history so far. Mockery will always find new venues to spread itself, so these complaints are unfounded.