Band Website

This is the bands official website that appears first when you search them on Google :

http://www.rustedroot.com/

This colour scheme of this website links well with the image and feel of the band as the background has brown bohemian tones which sets effectively against the bold black foreground.

There are many useful links across the top of the site, making it quick and easy for fans to direct themselves around the site and get to the parts they want to view most. There is also a section which proves that the band are allowing fans to keep in touch in a modern way. Through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This is a great example of media changing to keep up with both the modern times and with its audience. Media convergence is demonstrated as within the "Media" link, is a videos section, that when clicked on automatically takes you to their Youtube site and all of their official vidoes.

For new fans or ones that just want to know the history of the band and their history, the site has a detailed biography. This allows a greater connection with the audience as it has quotes of things members of the band have said also.

They also go further to create that all important connection with their fans, by having a feedback/blog section where fans can actually post their views, opinions and questions and have them discussed.

A popular aspect fans expect to see on band websites now is an online store where they can access all the music, merchandise, vip tickets and more at the click of a button. Rusted Root provide this facility on their site with a desirable variety of choice and an organised format to access it all easily.

Packed full with many other features such as tour dates, recent press the band have had, a photo gallery and a method of contacting their management, their website is definately a good one. Time and effort have evidently been put in to keep the site up to date and ripe with recent information for its fans. Bands with online sites like this will notice the positive effect it has, as it provides a homebase for their audience to go to and all the information they may wish to know all in one place.

Lyric Analysis

Below are the lyrics for my chosen song Rusted Root - "Send Me On My Way" :

On my way, on my way (X 6)

I would like to reach out my hands
I may see you, I may tell you to run
(On my way)
(On my way)
You know what they say about the young

Well, pick me up with golden hand
I may see you, I may tell you to run
(On my way)
(On my way)
You know what they say about the young

I would like to hold my little hand
How we will run we will, how we will crawl we will?
I would like to hold my little hand
How we will run we will, how we will crawl?

Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)

(X2)

I would like to reach out my hand
I may see you, I may tell you to run
(On my way)
(On my way)
You know what they say about the young

Well, pick me up with golden hand
I may see you, I may tell you to run
(On my way)
(On my way)
You know what they say about the young

I would like to hold my little hand
How we will run away, we will crawl away we will?
I would like to hold my little hand
How we will run away, how we will crawl ?

Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)

(X2)

Well I would like to hold my little hand
How we will run we will, how we will crawl we will?
I would like to hold my little hand
How we will run we will, how we will crawl?

Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way

On my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way
(On my way)
Send me on my way

Way
On my way
Way
On my way

I would like to reach out my hand
I may see you, I may tell you to run
(On my way)
(On my way)
You know what they say about the young

In my opinion, these lyrics are all about growing up and being sent off into the world to live your life. I interpret it this way because of the repetition of "send me on my way". It sends the message that your loved ones are building you up to be ready for the world when they have to let you go. It also shows support, "i would like to reach out my hand". This implies that you are not alone in your journey and that you will be helped if needed. The lyrics "i may see you, i may tell you to run" are also repeated several times in the song. I believe this portrays that someone will be guiding you wherever you go in life, and warning you if theres and danger. "You know what they say about the young", this line follows afterwards, perhaps suggesting that when young, you do get into trouble and will need guiding. Regarding lyrics, this song is very simple as a lot of the lines are repeated or expressed in a similar way throughout. I think this was done purposefully, to get one clear message across to the audience, and i think it succeeded in doing this.

Original Video & Artists Background

To begin with, i knew i had to do some background research on the song i was wishing to shoot a video for and also a bit about the band themselves. This helped me understand the foundations of my project better and also gave me an insight into how the band interpreted the song for themselves when shooting the original video.

Below is the original video by Rusted Root for their song "Send me on my way" :



This video definately lives up to the liveliness of the song and embraces the genre of feel good indie. The band are wearing bright colours and bohemian style of dress, which not only shows off the personality of themselves and the band as a whole, but stands out against the mountain scenery in the background. This makes the band and their instruments the main focus throughout the video making it more of a performance rather than a narrative or particular concept. Although it is mostly a performance, there are quick shots slotted into the video which suggest a narrative also. The lyrics portray finding your way, and almost going on a journey to find yourself with the help of others. This is shown by the little boy in the video opening doors and walking around open spaces by himself, with what appears to be a native helping him on his way. I think the video is effective, tells a story and reaches out to the audience in a desirable manner.


I decided to find out a little more about the band themselves solely for general research and interest. This helped me understand the artists better and therefore assisted my project. The band Rusted Root are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and are known for their style of indie, bluegrass rock with inspiration and percussion drawn from African, latin American, Native American and Indian influences. Rusted Root formed in 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and made its indie record debut in 1992 with Cruel Sun, which was rereleased in 2002. The group's major-label debut album was 1994's When I Woke, a hit on college radio and a platinum record. The album hit the top 40 in early 1995, peaking at No. 33. Along with their live shows, Rusted Root began working on contributions to the movies Twister and Home for the Holidays. They were successful with several albums after also. Their album Welcome to My Party (2002) was criticized by fans, who are affectionately known as Rootheads. Many felt the band's departure from tribal grooves to a poppier feel was an attempt to sell out. Rusted Root's "Send Me On My Way", which hit No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995  is its most commercially popular song. It was used on the soundtracks of Matilda; Ice Age; the 1996 film Pie in the Sky; the film Race the Sun; YTV Canada's Are We There Yet?: World Adventure; and the Boy Scouts of America, Order of the Arrow Philmont Trail Crew promotional video that was released in the late 1990s. Although the band continues to tour, its hard-touring days appear to be over as the group is devoting more time apart to pursue solo projects.