Motown: The Marvelettes/The Velvelettes

Both these groups were popular at the time and had hits including The Marvelettes with ' Please Mr Postman' and The Velvelettes with 'He was Really Saying Something'

The Marvelettes:

This was way back in 1961 and already you can see Music Video developing with the different angles of the group etc. I'm not suggesting this as a song choice but I just really love the nostalgic feel of this video.
The Marvelettes were one of the earliest group, signing to the Tamla label and earned the company their first number 1 with 'Please Mr Postman'. They lead the way for other Motown groups including The Supremes.
After careful consideration I can say I don't think the Marvelettes will work as their sound is not right and is too true to the time and not adaptable enough.

The Velvelettes:

This video is fabulous! What can I say, the costumes are fab, the song is fab just everything about it... I love it!

I'm not sure if this would work but its a possibility...

Motown: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

They would be another choice for a girl group from Motown whose classic hit 'Dancing in the Street' is known worldwide. I don't think we should choose such a famous song as it may have connotations in peoples heads. However they have other songs which are great (and I happen to love..)



I just love this video. Although it's ridiculously stiff and forced it shows the beginnings of what was to come with fairly neat editing. It uses beauty shots and cutaways which are 2 staple things in music videos nowadays. I don't think this song however would work.

They had a few other good songs which might work such as 'Heatwave'


actually thinking about it...this is far too dated and probably wont work...

I love this song, and with an updated beat (which is what we're thinknig about...) it might sound really good...

Also there's 'Nowhere to Run' which is pretty good and fairly famous..

Motown: Supremes

Obviously if we choose a Motown song we would need to choose one by one of the many girl groups, as we are planning to be in the video ( to make things easier)

The most obvious choice would be The Supremes ( or Diana Ross and The Supremes). They have had many hits which are well known ('Baby Love' 1964, 'Stop! In the Name of Love' 1965) as well as some lesser known but still successful songs like 'The Happening' and 'Reflections'.


Choosing a song from this era would allow us to be very inventive and original as videos were either extremely boring or non-existent and (i don't think) represented the songs well enough. I want to make a video that will make Motown seem attractive for younger audiences who otherwise wouldn't listen to it. That if it was played on MTV the song and video wouldnt be out of place.


You can see in this video they are starting to experiement with editing at the beginning. This clearly is the start of music video. Also you have to take into account there was less money put into motown as there would have been for the 'rock and roll' of the time, and so they may have been behind the times.

(sorry for the bad quality...)
I really like this one because you get a great feel of the era, not only in the costumes but in the setting and music giving it that 'swinging sixties' vibe. I think this is an element we could sertainly draw in.

So clearly there is loads of choice from the Supremes for a track choice but if I was to narro it down it would be

• Reflections
• The Happening
• You keep me hanging on- This one would be good as it sounds fairly modern.
• maybe... Where did our love go

MOTOWN

Motown has had a serious influence on me and I will be seriously choosing a motown song for my track selection.

First here's a brief history:

Motown Records started of as Tamla Motown founded in 1959 as 'Tamla Records' by Berry Gordon in Detroit 'Motor City' Michigan. It played an important role in the 60s in racial intergration, getting 'black music' into 'white housholds'. Starting the careers or many famous artists including MArvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the late Michael Jackson, Motown is the epitome of popular yet contreversial music from the 60s leading the way for many other artist to follow and providing inspiration for non-Motown singers such as Dusty Springfield and The Foundations. Now owned by Universal and called 'Universal Motown' they still continue to produce stars and will remain a legacy forever.

Among some of the famous Motown artists are

• Marvin Gaye
• Jackson Five/Michael Jackson
• The supremes
• The Temptations
• Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
• Stevie Wonder