Old Town Road

Question 1

When was OTR released?

Answer 1

December 2018

Question 2

when was the “official film” released?

Answer 2

May 2019

Question 3

who directed the “official film”?

Answer 3

Calmatic

Question 4

who feature in the music video (4)?

Answer 4

• Lil Nas X
• Billy Ray Cyrus
• Chris Rock (sheriff)
• HaHa Davis (flabbergasted)

Question 5

what place was OTR in the charts and in what genre?

Answer 5

19 on Billboard’s “hot country songs” chart before being disqualified - touched on in the music video when Cyrus says “your with me this time” in response to LNX’s “they weren’t too welcoming”

Question 6

why was OTR disqualified from the charts?

Answer 6

“incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery” but does not “embrace enough elements of todays country music”

Question 7

give examples of OTR fitting the country music genre

Answer 7

• spirit of independence in chorus “ride till i cant no more”
• reference to horse and bull riding
• reference to broken relationship (common theme in country)

Question 8

what award did the song win at the grammy’s?

Answer 8

Billy Cyrus remix won Best Pop Duo/Group (however, Lil Nas X defines the genre as country trap)

Question 9

what is the genre of the OTR music video?

Answer 9

Both performance (lip syncing to camera) and narrative (storyline of robber falling through time)

Question 10

what western film codes and conventions are in the OTR music video? (6 points)

Answer 10

• wide shot of “wild west”
• Western font
• whip sound effect
• costume codes (hats)
• cowboy theme (robbery)
• follows narrative (outsider eventualy accepted)

Question 11

apply Toderovs theory to OTR

Answer 11

Equilibrium = Old Town Road 1889 (chase)
Disruption = jumps through mine and is propelled through time into 2019
Attempted Repair = competing in race
New Equilibrium = wins the hearts of the bingo club (is accepted)

Question 12

What is the significance of Lil Nas X changing clothes?

Answer 12

• Propps characters - hero often given new clothes to recognise triumph (LNX = hero)
• traditional to contemporary connotes the musicians transformation

Question 13

Comment on the representations of masculinity

Answer 13

• western style reinforces combative notions of masculinity with competition and lyrics “I’ve been in the valley, you ain’t been up off that porch.”
• dress codes remind audience of performativity of masculinity by using feminine colours (pink and other bright colours)