Uptown Funk

Mars and Ronson

Bruno Mars is a global pop star who's video for Uptown Funk, released November 2014, has had over 3 billion views on YouTube. He created it in synergy with Mark Ronson.

Mark Ronson

Bruno Mars worked in synergy with Mark Ronson to create the song and video for Uptown Funk.
Mark Ronson is a British producer who has worked with other famous artists such as Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.

Records

The song Uptown Funk reached number 1 in several countries and stayed at number 1 for 14 weeks in the US Billboard charts.
The song broke a British record when it was streamed 2.3 million times in a week.

Atlantic Records

Bruno Mars is signed to Atlantic Records which is part of the Warner Music Group.
Atlantic Records have managed global superstars such as Dusty Springfield, Albert King and Aretha Franklin.
Bruno Mars helped to produce the video alongside Cameron Duddy.

Sony

Working in synergy benefited both Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson.
Mark Ronson is signed to Columbia UK which is also a subsidiary of Sony music.
It would be beneficial for the conglomerate Sony if two of their signed artists worked together and produced a global hit.

X Factor

Fleur East, an X Factor contestant who was working with Simon Cowell who owns Syco, another subsidiary of Sony, sang the Uptown Funk song during one of her live performances before the song's official release date.
Fleur East’s version of the song topped the iTunes chart and forced the original by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars to be released 5 weeks before schedule.

Number 1

The original still reached number 1 and already had a buzz for its release due to this unconventional synergy with Syco and X Factor.

Uptown Funk

The video for Uptown Funk pays homage to the 60s where Motown flourished and the 70s macho era. Bruno Mars creates a sense of realism in the location by using real American urban locations.

Motown

Motown is significant as it was the first record label owned by African Americans which has cultural significance.
The genre of funk is referenced in the song Uptown Funk and James Brown is often referred to as the founding father of funk, again paying homage to black artists who helped to change the industry.

References

Although Motown was a record label, the style associated with the label helped to break down cultural barriers within America.
The song Uptown Funk includes the iconic guitar, bass, synthesizers and horn instrumentals that are associated with funk.
The references to previous eras can help to represent Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson as real artists.

Realism

Mars creates a sense of realism in the location by using real American urban locations.
There is intertextuality of ‘the street’ which looks iconic as it has been used repeatedly in American TV and films.
The use of a variety of editing transitions such as whip pan and fades helps to create an authentic and 'older than the video is' feel to it.

Casting

The choice of casting of a predominantly ethnic minority cast helps to reflect and celebrate diversity within America.

'Uptown'

The word ‘Uptown’ in the name of the song can represent the formation of American cities such as New York, where Ronson spent time growing up as a child.
Uptown New York is associated with being wealthy and sophisticated, which could contradict representations normally associated with R n B music which Bruno Mars is most famous for.

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Pride

2.1.3Pride 2

2.2GQ

2.2.1Context

2.2.2Narrative

2.2.3Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements

2.4.1Quality Street

2.4.2This Girl Can

2.5Film Posters (Marketing)

2.5.1Spectre

2.5.2The Man with The Golden Gun

2.5.3The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.6Newspapers

2.6.1Ownership & Regulation

2.6.2News Selection

2.6.3Media Language

2.6.4Genres

2.6.5Newspaper Conventions

2.6.6Representation

2.6.7Audience

2.6.8Theories

2.6.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.7The Sun

2.7.1Context

2.7.2Narrative

2.7.3Language & Images

2.8The Guardian

2.8.1The Guardian

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Language & Images

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Film

3.2.1The Big Six

3.2.2Technology

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.3Radio

3.3.1The Radio Industry

3.3.2Categories of Radio Station

3.3.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.3.4Theories

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.4No Time To Die

3.4.1Context

3.4.2Narrative

3.4.3Representation

4Component 2: Section A

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Michael Jackson

5.2.1‘Black or White’

5.3Taylor Swift

5.3.1Bad Blood

5.3.2Intertextual References

5.3.3Media Theories

5.3.4Representation

5.3.5Social Media

5.4Bruno Mars

5.4.1Uptown Funk

5.4.2Analysis

5.4.3End of Topic Test - Music Videos

5.5Lizzo

5.5.1Context

5.5.2'Good as Hell'

5.5.3Media Language

5.5.4Representation

5.5.5Audience

5.5.6Industry

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