This is a YouTube profile done by supporters of Dub FX.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Fv0hB-R8A
We'll watch this actively. Look for key images and techniques. Train yourself to look at the way this video was composed and put together.
Take some notes of key events or themes. Write down dialogue that has meaning for you and try to capture it word for word.
Be active, not passive. You'll learn much more.
As you see in your Homework handout, the exercise is to respond to the short documentary by sharing an insight and something specific you noticed in your active viewing. Read the other Comments as they come here on the blog so we are not repeating the exact same things but rather are adding to the conversation and using many different ideas in the response to the film. You may want to add both an insight or observation, and a question, if you have one.
Have fun and we'll notice a lot more as a group than we ever could as any one person!
Mike
 |
| Dub FX, stylised also Dub Fx and DubFx, (real name Benjamin Stanford) is a worldwide street performer and studio recording artist from St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia (Wikipedia). |
 |
| With his girlfriend and performer Flower Fairy. |
P.S. Here are links to two other Dub FX videos and note the production values of these YouTube videos. Plus they are just good songs, IMHO.
https://youtu.be/WhBoR_tgXCI The song "Flow" with Mr. Woodnote
https://youtu.be/Qv7HwBe28dM "Made" with skateboarders in cameos
In the very beginning of the Dub FX video, I noticed the he had two small speakers and one board that had the ability to distort his voice in so many different ways. His talent and small amount of equipment helped him become extremely famous throughout some of the eastern European countries. I think that the beginning clip that was just a shot of Dub FX and his small amount of equipment really helped paint the picture that you can be successful not matter how much you have. We are well aware that people can become successful because they have a plentiful amount of materials to do so, but often times we over look the fact that you just have to set your eyes on what you and do it no matter what materials you have. Dub FX had very little materials that made him successful and he is proof that you can succeed no matter what you have.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if the video as a whole really embodies Dub FX as a person and a performer, his thoughts and inspirations were included in the video so the audience really feels like they know him, and can connect to his story of climbing to the top from the bottom. It also never fails to pinpoint his intended audience from the shots to the crowd to leaving the profanity in the video, it really gives viewers a look into what hes all about. Something else that I noticed is that fact that they included all the places that he's performed at, giving the message to viewers that this is the only the beginning and there's more to come in his career, he has all these places under his belt and he is willing to adventure to more to spread his music.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me most about the video has nothing to do with the actual video production or the cinematography used, it was Benjamin's message to his listeners that really stayed with me after I was finished watching. In the video Benjamin talked and really emphasized the idea that people need to start being more active in how they live their lives and less passive. He said that individuals need to start chasing their dreams and not just siting around talking about how great they would be. This is what he did, and he believes that everyone can. The reason he produces his music the way he does and the reason he performs in the streets so often is entirely his own choice. He is doing it because he wants to and not to raise money for his label on some multi-million dollar world tour. The money he does earn now enables him to work full time as a musician and focus on bringing his message to more people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cole and Ali. I think the video itself was a message from Dub FX, showing that he's doing what he loves and what he wants to do. He is making his own path and direction in life regardless what other people think and are doing. I also think it is amazing how he does all of his concerts, sound affects, and vocals himself, without help from producers or a recording studio. Dub FX is working harder than most famous artists to produce something he has his soul invested in. He is making his career for himself, by himself.
ReplyDeleteI believed that this video was to send a message that not everything in life has to be controlled by a corporation. For example, this video didn't edit out the cuss words, which made Dub FX more realistic as a person, and not as a big-shot entertainer. Also, even though he was not a part of a corporation, he still had a lot of fans, he signs a lot of people's items, and he travels a lot to sing for his fans. To me, this sounds a lot like a corporate-made star without the drama. To change the subject a little bit, I remember that Katy Perry used to sing Christian songs, but because they weren't selling very well, she decided to do what society and corporations wanted, which was modern pop and romance songs.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that this video was made to send a message and show people that they can do whatever they want to do but they have to be committed and willing to do it. Dub FX loves what he does and he is committed to it everyday. In the video Dub FX says if you don't throw yourself out there nothings ever going to happen. Dub FX lives freely he does what he wants to do he writes about what he wants to write about even if not everyone agrees with him. It’s also really amazing what he does with his music and his voice.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stuck out to me was just how passionate he was about his music. He truly is doing what he enjoys and I think that is amazing. He isn't doing it for money, or fame. He isn't trying to make a song that will reach the top 10 Hit List. He is making music that speaks to himself and a very small community of people. I think that is the appeal to his music. It is very unique and different compared to anything you would normally hear. Another thing that I thought was cool was that he just learned by going out and performing, instead of just sitting in his room and practicing until his music was perfect, he went out on the streets and learned by performing. I think that is amazing how he just went out and did what he wanted to, instead of just thinking about it. He was proactive about what he wanted to do, which I feel is a great example for all of us.
ReplyDeleteWhat really stuck out to me about Dub FX was that he only used 2 pedals to make most of his music and he was so passionate about it. I also loved that he didn't do it for the money, he did it because he loved it and he wanted to reach out to people. I also loved that his "motto" is to expect the unexpected. Kind of like don't take things for granted. Another thing is he has been all around Europe and most of his shows he does unrehearsed. He is simply just an amazing artist.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cole. The thing that most stood out to me was Dub FX's approach to the way he lives his life. He did not succeed with the mainstream music industry, so instead of tanking, he chose to continue to do what he loves and what he is passionate about. He didn't let others dictate what he is going to do or tell him otherwise. He could have easily gave up and quit on his dreams, but that wasn't the case. Dub FX's proactive personality allowed him to continue making music. He preached this attitude in his short documentary. Too often people sit around talking about doing something or talk about making a change instead of doing anything. Dub FX stresses the importance of being proactive and making the change they want to see instead of just talking about it. I learned that even street performers can produce high-quality, good sounding music. The production of this video was of high-quality, and it sounded like his music was produced in a studio.
ReplyDeleteI like that at the beginning when they are showing him more around what i'm guessing is his house. It looks as if he's not living really any sort of fancy life, he's got all these tours and everything but he's not spending all his money on his lifestyle. I like that he still seems like a down to earth guy and not all arrogant and condescending in any way. I also like that since he is making all his music for him it doesn't limit him. He could switch genres at any given time that he wants and he's not going to worry about any sort of repercussions since it was for him anyways. I also find it interesting that even though he mainly does everything in eastern Europe he still always speaks English. I know English is a common language across the world but a lot of people aren't fluent. So it Makes me wonder if people just like the beat or if they can also fluently understand him and like what he sings about?
ReplyDeleteThis short documentary was a very interesting one. Something that really stuck out to me was that Dub FX had a 'just do it' attitude. This sort of attitude is what led him to his success today. It's obvious that Dub FX isn't out to please every single person out there and that he is simply doing what he loves and enjoys. "I'm free to do what I want", is a lyric from one of his songs and really captures the idea that he doesn't feel tied down by the music industry and is truly doing what he loves.
ReplyDeleteFrom Charlie, as he posted in wrong spot so I moved this:
ReplyDeleteCharlie: I must say that the sound of Dub FX’s music is quite addicting. I’m completely hooked. A great, steady, looped beat and he’s ready to go. It was interesting to watch how he “built” the background sounds. Another effect that I liked was that he uses a change or two in the pitch of voice in the main vocals. My personal opinion is that the shifts in voice keep the audience’s attention. It’s hard to “zone out” to the beat this way. So, while he has you hooked on the beat, you hear what he’s saying. His message.
My biggest take away from the documentary was the phrase “Got a partner in life . . . wind on our back.” from his song “Flow”. The reason this sticks out to me is that I feel this way about my wife. As long as the two of us are together, we can figure out life’s challenges and joys. Two heads that are thinking and working together are always better than one, right? Another take away is the advocacy of freedom of speech. First he says that he’s pro-freedom of speech. Second a certain word was not omitted via editing in the documentary. A word that is typically omitted or “bleeped” in most documentaries to keep a lower Rating.
I noticed that as long as the video image was crisp, and the sound was clear, I was more interested in the viewing of the documentary. Not so much when the video quality wasn’t; like when they were showing a montage of his performances in different locations. I can’t comment on the sound quality changing for the quality never changed to me. All in all, this was an interesting and great watch. I also have another artist to enjoy.
Dub FX is someone who is not going to change for anyone. I noticed that he didn't dress fancy or wear nice things. He dressed like you might see someone on the street which to me makes him more like us. When you see the crowds in his videos you realize how much he is loved but lots of people. He isn't afraid to be himself in a world where we often see people trying to fit in. He also seems at peace with himself and how he lives.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this music video. It wasn't like other music videos. This guy wasn't out there to get fame or money, he was doing what he loved. He did all of his music with his voice and with his foot petals. The guy was very adamant that he had the freedom to say what he wanted, and so he was going to. He didn't wear fancy clothing, and it was very apparent that he was doing what he loved. I noticed that he did not bleep out the cuss words, and he said "If you don't throw yourself out there, nothings gonna happen. That's probably the key I've learned through out this whole thing." I think that's a very important statement because it shows that he's not some perfect star, he's just doing what he loves, and learning as he goes. I find that he can be very motivational. He went traveling around performing without having even really practiced. He just had a dream and followed it.
ReplyDeleteWhat really stuck out to me was before his street performance in the beginning of the video, he was truly nervous and doubted his abilities. That made me connect more with him because you would think after being as popular as he is, he wouldn't be nervous at all or lack confidence. Its a normal human emotion that you think as a performer, he wouldn't have but he does and it makes people respect and understand him more. Also, I like the fact that he told the audience how he was inspired to use the machine/pedals after hearing someone else do something similar. He is being truthful with the audience which is making his fans like him even more. I enjoy that he is open to trying and learning from his failures, and really pushes that towards his fans. He wants his listeners to pursue their dreams even if they have doubt and are afraid of putting themselves out there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cole and the fact that Dub FX is making music because he wants to, not just because he has to. Because of that, I admire his love for what he does. From the video, he seemed like a normal person that you could meet walking down the street and have a conversation with. I didn't really notice that the profanity was left in the video until it was brought up in discussion. I guess it slipped by me because vulgar language is a part of day-to-day life, and the fact that it wasn't cut out made him even more relatable. I enjoyed watching the video itself. The quality of the film and his music was surprising. I really enjoyed the music. It was crazy to me that he could do all of these special effects to his music just by his foot board. The thing that I took most out of the video was him saying that people need to chase their dream. If we stay in the mindset that we can't achieve our dreams, then they'll never happen. I thought that was really inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed this video and Dub FX's music. He is very passionate about his music and you can easily see that. His message is simple but very meaningful, do what you love and don't let anyone tell you that you cant. My favorite thing from the video was at the very beginning when you can see him setting up his paddle bar on his roof. This shows how creative he really is, showing us that it doesn't take an expensive set or instruments to be something that people enjoy and love. Dub FX isn't trying to be just another musician, he is more focused on being himself. He goes to the streets just for people to hear his songs, how many artist would do that for free? Seeing his passion and hearing his songs can cause goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteActually from Jenny but posted in wrong place:
ReplyDeleteJenny: I really enjoyed watching the Dub FX Documentary. I was a very creative and new way to produce music. The guy performing also had a purpose behind the music he was playing. He wasn't just doing it for the money he was doing it because it is his love for music and I feel like there has been a lack of passion from a lot of todays preformers. I would like to watch more of his stuff and see any new ideas he comes up with.
What I took from the short documentary about DubFX is that he chooses to be an individual when it comes to the creation of his music, relying on nobody but himself. Aside from the solo-performance, the song that is featured in the documentary represents this character trait. He refuses to be handled by anyone, in terms of music production, and preferably goes by his own way in what he thinks is real music compared to the songs of today. He knows he could get much more than what he normally gets considering the music industries current business model, but he knows that he could be controlled by his superiors and subtly become censored. With his undying love of music and his will to become a phenomenon, he ends up turning to street performances and becoming the Dub FX that many people across the world know.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I definitely agree with you on how Dub FX chooses to take his own route and doesn't let anybody handle his terms of music and production like you said.
DeleteDub FX is a very impressive musical artist. He is finding international success despite taking a non-traditional route for his career. He uses word of mouth and live performances to spread his music rather than radio hits and album sales. Despite his lack of mainstream efforts, he's still known in countries all over the world. This tells me that the way of the world isn't so set in stone. You can have great success without adhering to regular standards. Dub FX has a huge dedication to his craft and the way he spreads his art, which is why he's found so much success doing things the way he does.
ReplyDeleteWhat I took from Dub FX was his audience. His audience in my opinion epitomizes the free spirit approach when it comes to life because they dress uniquely to their own styles. I find this synonymous to what Dub FX embodies because his music is his own unique style as well and this translates to his audience. Dub FX mentions that his music talks about freedom of speech and take notice that most of his performances take place in Easter European countries. What I do know about history is that some European countries were controlled by the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, which I take this as probably a residual effect that still in a way might affect certain countries due to their particular history. I feel that I need to listen to Dub FX more than 10 times to fully comprehend his subtle messages in his songs...for example in one of his lyrics he states "I'm a prisoner of my dreams" and I know music is subjective, but what I interpreted by this is that some government establishments inhibit an individual to their dreams thus being a prisoner in this particular establishment.
ReplyDelete