ALBUM COVER

PHOTOSHOOT

When Loren and I went to the dance studio for our reshoot we decided to capture images for our album cover on the same day. We used the bar as this is a known signifier of a dance room- something our music video is based around. Here are a few photos we took:

Album cover

LADY GAGA ALBUM COVER


ALBUM COVER

- A shot from a scene in the music video of the hit single 'poker face'. Fans would've watched the video over and over and therefore automatically know the album is Lady Gagas'
- Extreme close up of the singer facing the camera. This creates impact and draws in the audience
- 'The fame' (the album name) is clearly visible as it is types in white. It is illustrated by Lady Gaga's huge sunglasses, and the collection of diamond in one of the reflected in them. This shows the glamours, rich, famous life she lives.
- The only other font is 'Lady Gaga' leaving no room for the audience to get distracted by anything else that is going on the album cover.


THE BACK

- Colour scheme is similar to the colour of the diamonds on the front cover, making a connection between the two.

- Follows the typical conventions of the artist websites/institutions and the bar code.

- The low key lighting, make-up, costume and hair style makes her look very glamourous - anchoring the album name 'The fame'

- The signer and album name is written again on the left side of the back cover, read from left to right and typed vertically. This prevents the audience from getting distracted from the main image and the track names.

- The track names are written towards the left of the album back, with an extra bonus track 'I like it rough.' This encourages fans to buy the album as they know they'll hear her forthcoming release before everyone else, making them feel special.

Album cover

GIRLS ALOUD - tangled up

- Play on words, girls are trapped their small frames of the CD

- All singers are directly addressing the camera, enticing the audience.

- Shows the importance of each singer - they all have an equal amount of space on the album cover, showing they're a band with equal roles.

- White strappy tops with ties up hair, making them look sexy yet sophisticated

- Trapped with a rope/string. Again, play on words with 'tangled up'

Analysing Album covers

- Black and white colour scheme. This gives the impression that the singer is a 'classic, well known, all time' singer.
- An image of one of Michael Jackson's well known dance steps. Fans will automatically know the CD album is his by this image even though it doesn't show the singers face
- Black shoes, white socks. Iconography of Michael Jackons dress sense.

- 'Michael Jackon' is the first thing you read on the album. This is because he himself will help sell the album.

- The song names are typed in a small font, preventing the audience from getting distracted from the main image.

- Breaks the typical convention of the track names being at the back of the album.
- The feet are in a spotlight, this shows the significance of the singer
- The famous signature dance move features in other Michael Jackson products,(i.e posters) linking all of his merchandise together.

- The black, white and red colour scheme is also evident in most of his album covers

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1. What are the typical features that an album cover has? Make a list of all the elements they have in common.
A typical album cover has, most importantly the name of the singer/band and the name of the album. These are essential as it is their unique selling point. There is also a main photo which is usually is placed in the centre - this photo is either of the singer/band themself or of something that relates to them. On the back of the album cover is a list of songs.
3. Album covers serve many different functions. What do you think these are (ie what is their purpose?)
Album covers are there to set each album apart. It portrays the type of genre the song is and who the singer is.