Coca-Cola Seige
· The ad is introduced with percussion (timpani) and brass. The playing is very strong, heavy, short, detached and accentuated. The timpani provides a steady pulse for the other rhythms to work off. This pulse is played throughout the whole ad.
· The brass (trombone) plays a very low and heavy rhythm to emphasise the strong battle that is happening. Its rhythm is greatly accentuated, repeated and descending to create tension. The lower pitch range of the brass section creates this nervous feel for the ad, which is inevitably, a war.
· The suspense builds as the opposition get closer and the music creates this feel through the strings. The string family, mainly violin, plays this rhythm and due to the pitch being minor, the suspense is hence created.
· The music slows in tempo and a decrescendo is used as the ice dragon is brought out. As the real dragon breathes fire onto the ice dragon the ice melts and as this happens the violin plays a descending line which imitates the disappearance of the ice as it melts. All instruments then cease playing except for the lower strings who play the drone; this provides suspense and also a link into the next scene.
· The French horn then takes the melody for a lighter and brighter feel to the atmosphere. The dragon is happy now after drinking coke so the lightness of the French horn is well suited to this section of the commercial. The key also changes from minor to major which ensures the ‘happy’ feeling that the dragon gets from drinking coke.
· In the final scene, the violins take the melody. The play in their upper register, however, the brass still continues to play underneath to provide stability. This is contrasting between the higher pitch of the violin and the lower pitch of the brass. A crescendo is also played leading into this final scene and cymbals are added to thicken the texture. This use of dynamics and a denser texture creates a lighter and happier atmosphere, which is what coca-cola apparently does to you.
Hard Times
· Dixieland Jazz Band is used; muted trumpet, banjo, whistling, clappers, temple blocks, bass guitar, harmonica, brushes and rim clicks on snare drum, tuba and drum kit.
· Steady tempo remains throughout the commercials. However, the tempo at the beginning is quite fast and then it slows down as Mr Burns is walking through the park. The key changes from major to minor here as the tempo slows and instruments are dropped. The harmonica plays this scene and it plays a very smooth and connected rhythm that incorporates many pitch bends and slides.
· Then, as Mr Burns drinks the coke, the tuba plays an ascending rhythmic line and the texture thickens once more as does the dynamics increase. Then, it goes back into the rhythmic feel we were shown at the beginning because Mr Burns is no longer sad and lonely; he’s happy after drinking coke.
· The use of the muted trumpet helps to create that isolated feel, as it is quite dry and highly contrasts to the use of whistling.
· The use of whistling in the song is quite good as whistling is commonly associated with happiness, which is the main motive of the ad.
· The song is played in a major key which provides that ‘happy’ feel.
Sleepwalker
· The famous piece ‘Bolero’ is played in this commercial
· Maracas=accompaniment
· The instruments used help to create an airy and light sort of feeling which is suitable because the man is sleepwalking. In the beginning the flute (possibly bamboo) has the melody which allows for that airy feel as the flute has a very light and open tone. Then, as he walks through the elephant stampede the dynamics increase and the texture thickens as the whole orchestra begins to come in. This emphasises the danger that the elephants pose.
o The flute melody is very legato, repetitive and soft in dynamics. This creates a lullaby feel. The tempo of this melody is also slow
o The pitch is in the lower register of the flute.
· After the elephant stampede, the orchestra gradually comes in and a small crescendo is played. The music is quite edgy which suits the ad as he walks on the edge of a massive cliff, gets eaten by a hippo and gets trampled by elephants.
o The elephants are also the extra musical sounds; diagetic
o Texture dramatically increase which creates interest and draws the audience back to the music and the ad.
· Walking along the edge of the precipice
o Slightly faster tempo
o Increased dynamics
o Pitch range has expanded; full orchestra
· The music is made to sound ‘edgy’ through the use of instruments and the different style of music that is played; it’s not the normal. The expressive techniques used also help to create this atmosphere. Some of these include: staccato, pizzicato, smooth and connected rhythms by the orchestra in contrast to the short and accented percussion.
· The background noises at the beginning also help to create the atmosphere as they are sounds that one would usually hear in the night; they are diagetic sounds
· As he finds the coke in the fridge, the music thins out for a very short amount of time until the strings play an ascending rhythmic pattern to bring all the instruments back in once more; this creates a denser texture. The main melody is also re-introduced.
o The accompanying line is picked up by the trumpets and the piccolos.
· The flute has the melody in the beginning and then the string family takes over and it remains that way for the rest of the commercial.
