Branding of a Song

Although not completely the same, this poster and C.D cover for Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s Telephone follow a very similar branding style. I feel that both of these products are created in a retro style, which easily links them together as few artists follow this unique approach. This retro impression is created firstly through the layout of each product, how the artist’s names are placed at the top of each, and the name of the song at the bottom. Although the font is different in each piece of material, both are very 1970’s with the large shadow and earthy colours. This shadow effect is also used behind the cut out images on the C.D cover, which gives the impression that this is computing at its best. However the poster is produced through a water colour painting of different scenes throughout the music video, I feel this creates the most retro vibe. The watercolour painting gives the impression that technology and computer animation was not an option when this song was produced, and that each individual poster is hand painted as it was created before use of photography. This retro/1970’s style creates the impression that the song ’Telephone’ will be a 1970’s disco/pop type song, as this was the genre of music which arose near the end of the 1970’s.

The fact that the brand image of the song ‘Telephone’ is very unique and strange, implies that the song and music video will also follow this style. This impression is shown through the eccentric costumes shown in these products, such as Lady Gaga wearing a 1970’s telephone, and Beyoncé also wearing an unusual outfit. The jail bars and Police chase scene in the poster also imply that the music video especially; will be extremely unconventional and alternative to the common music video. This impression is definitely true of the music video for Telephone, as it is very unique and unusual. This is because although the song and lyrics do not give the impression of two ex convicts, the video tells a story of two convicts (played by Beyonce and Lady Gaga) being released from jail and then poisoning all the customers at a local Diner.

Much like the clothing and hairstyles being the same in both poster and C.D cover, they are also consistent in the music video, as I feel that the images used in the C.D cover are even taken from the music video. To connect the ‘Telephone’ brand to the music video, the story of the music video is also shown in the watercolour poster; from the jail, to the Diner and Police chase.

Overall both the poster and C.D cover give the impression of a 1970’s retro style, which implies that this song and music video will be like nothing else on the market, something that’s unique and memorable. It also implies that the song, and even some of the mise-en-scene within the music video, could be taken from the 1970’s era, with the type of song, costume and technologies.