Spectrum Video: Difference between revisions

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Background

Spectrum Video was a UK sub-label of PolyGram Video that focused on music-related videos. It was the sister company to the primarily-American PolyGram Music Video. It was also the name of a former PolyGram Records label that distributed primarily compilations.

In 1986, PolyGram formed a UK joint-venture with Heron Communications called Channel 5 Video, with the Spectrum brand being used as the venture's music label until it was retired in 1990.

The "Spectrum" brand was also used by PolyGram in France and Germany as well.

Not to be confused with Wizard Video's distributor from 1984 to 1986.

1st Logo (1982-1988)

Visuals: It's basically the same as the first PolyGram Video logo, but after "presents" slides in, a series of rainbow-colored bars with "spectrum" in a jumbled white Helvetica font forms one-by-one from the right.

Variants:

A French version of this exists where the text "presents" is replaced with "présente une exclusivité", and they slide word by word.
A German version also exists where it's the same as the German variant of the first PolyGram Video logo, but with the Spectrum logo zooming in from the center of the screen instead of the Arena logo wiping in.

Technique: Traditional animation.

Audio: A descending synthesized sound, followed by a synth ditty. The French variant is the same, but slightly modified.

Availability:

Check eBay for tapes that feature this logo, as it primarily appeared on UK tapes of music.
One example is The Jam: Video Snap!.

2nd Logo (1988-1990)

Visuals: On a black background is a red line "stretching", then two white arrows, representing rewind, appear in the line and behind it an white oval appears via a countdown effect, containing the letter "s" (red). The arrows then show the same letter on the line on a black color before they go out of view, then there is another set of white arrows pointing to the right, representing fast-forward, with the countdown effect then inverting the colors of the background and oval at the same time the letter "p" (orange) appears on the oval and then on the line. This process is repeated with the following letters in the same order as the colors of the rainbow alongside other VCR symbols: "e" (yellowish-orange, single arrow (play backwards)), "c" (yellow, two horizontal lines (pause)), "t" (gradient of light green and dark green, two vertical lines), "r" (dark green, triangle), "u" (gradient of green and greenish-blue, square (stop)), and "m" (gradient of greenish-blue, blue and indigo, circle (record)), at the same time adding the rainbow colors with a gradient effect to the line letter by letter. The oval then wipes out of view via the same countdown effect, and the logo fades out seconds afterwards.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A muzak-like synth tune.

Availability:

Appeared on later music tapes from the company.
It also appears on the 1988 UK VHS release of Foxy Fables: The Crow and the Fox.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{PageCredits|capture=Logoarto and NotPurpleHoodieBoi|video=bethelarmerfisch and Vidéo passion}}
-Background: Spectrum was a UK sub-label of [[PolyGram Video (UK)|PolyGram Video]] that focused on music-related videos. It was the sister company to the primarily-American [[PolyGram Music Video (UK)|PolyGram Music Video]]. It was also the name of a former PolyGram Records label that distributed primarily compilations.
+===Background===
+'''Spectrum Video''' was a UK sub-label of [[PolyGram Video]] that focused on music-related videos. It was the sister company to the primarily-American [[PolyGram Music Video]]. It was also the name of a former PolyGram Records label that distributed primarily compilations.
+In 1986, PolyGram formed a UK joint-venture with [[Heron Communications]] called [[Channel 5 Video]], with the Spectrum brand being used as the venture's music label until it was retired in 1990.
-st Logo (1982-1988)
+The "Spectrum" brand was also used by PolyGram in France and Germany as well.
-{{YouTube|id1=z6f_TWuRVqI</youtube><youtube width=240 height=185>clGM7MVWDeQ}}
+Not to be confused with [[Wizard Video]]'s distributor from 1984 to 1986.
-Nicknames: "Spectrum Pixie Dust & Red Line"
+=== 1st Logo (1982-1988)===
-Logo: It's basically the same as the 1st PolyGram Video logo, but at the very end the logo is extended to make way for a series of rainbow-colored bars with "spectrum" in a jumbled white Helvetica font to form one-by-one from the right side of the screen.
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
+File:Spectrum Video (1982), Version 2.gif
+File:Spectrum (French version).png
+File:Spectrum Video (1982), Version 1.png
+</gallery>
+{{youtube|id=7pyeRAZbqEk|id2=clGM7MVWDeQ|id3=p05RWaTyveg}}
+'''Visuals:''' It's basically the same as the first [[PolyGram Video]] logo, but after "presents" slides in, a series of rainbow-colored bars with "spectrum" in a jumbled white Helvetica font forms one-by-one from the right.
+'''Variants:'''
-German Variant: Same as the German variant of the 1st PolyGram Video logo, but with the Spectrum logo zooming in from the center of the screen instead of the Arena logo wiping in.
+*A French version of this exists where the text "presents" is replaced with "présente une exclusivité", and they slide word by word.
+*A German version also exists where it's the same as the German variant of the first [[PolyGram Video]] logo, but with the Spectrum logo zooming in from the center of the screen instead of the Arena logo wiping in.
+'''Technique:''' Traditional animation.
-FX/SFX: Same as the 1st PolyGram Video logo, with the Spectrum animation.
-Music/Sounds: A descending synthesized sound, followed by a synth ditty.
+'''Audio:''' A descending synthesized sound, followed by a synth ditty. The French variant is the same, but slightly modified.
+'''Availability:'''
-Availability: Extremely rare. Check eBay for tapes that feature this logo, as it primarily appeared on UK tapes of music. One example is The Jam: Video Snap!. It is unknown if this appeared on Roadshow Home Video's early releases of PolyGram material such as King of the Mountain, Endless Love, and Deadly Blessing.
+*Check eBay for tapes that feature this logo, as it primarily appeared on UK tapes of music.
+*One example is ''The Jam: Video Snap!''.
+===2nd Logo (1988-1990)===
-Editor's Note: None.
+[[File:D4NPJP8rWh7V-e-GmtCl8A95890.png|center|350px]]
+{{youtube|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RQEYxyeDgY}}
+'''Visuals:''' On a black background is a {{color|red}} line "stretching", then two white arrows, representing rewind, appear in the line and behind it an white oval appears via a countdown effect, containing the letter "{{color|red|'''''s'''''}}" ({{color|red}}). The arrows then show the same letter on the line on a black color before they go out of view, then there is another set of white arrows pointing to the right, representing fast-forward, with the countdown effect then inverting the colors of the background and oval at the same time the letter "{{color|orange|'''''p'''''}}" ({{color|orange}}) appears on the oval and then on the line. This process is repeated with the following letters in the same order as the colors of the rainbow alongside other VCR symbols: "{{color|gold|'''''e'''''}}" ({{color|gold|yellowish-orange}}, single arrow (play backwards)), "{{color|gold|'''''c'''''}}" ({{color|gold|yellow}}, two horizontal lines (pause)), "<span style="background:linear-gradient(180deg,lightgreen,darkgreen); -webkit-background-clip:text !important; -webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;">'''''t'''''</span>" (gradient of {{color|lightgreen|light green}} and {{color|darkgreen|dark green}}, two vertical lines), "{{color|darkgreen|'''''r'''''}}" ({{color|darkgreen|dark green}}, triangle), "<span style="background:linear-gradient(180deg,green,turquoise); -webkit-background-clip:text !important; -webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;">'''''u'''''</span>" (gradient of {{color|green}} and {{color|turquoise|greenish-blue}}, square (stop)), and "<span style="background:linear-gradient(180deg,turquoise,blue,indigo); -webkit-background-clip:text !important; -webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;">'''''m'''''</span>" (gradient of {{color|turquoise|greenish-blue}}, {{color|blue}} and {{color|indigo}}, circle (record)), at the same time adding the rainbow colors with a gradient effect to the line letter by letter. The oval then wipes out of view via the same countdown effect, and the logo fades out seconds afterwards.
+'''Technique:''' 2D computer animation.
-nd Logo (1988-1990)
+'''Audio:''' A muzak-like synth tune.
-{{YouTube|id=4RQEYxyeDgY}}
+'''Availability:'''
-Nickname: "The Rainbow Countdown in Letters"
+*Appeared on later music tapes from the company.
+*It also appears on the 1988 UK VHS release of ''Foxy Fables: The Crow and the Fox''.
+{{Home Entertainment-Navbox}}
-Logo: In a black background, we see a red line "stretching", then two white arrows, representing rewind, appear in the line and behind it we can see an white oval appearing via a countdown effect, containing the letter "s" (red). The arrows then show the same letter on the line on a black color before they go out of view, then we see another set of white arrows pointing to the right, representing fast-forward, with the countdown effect then inverting the colors of the background and oval at the same time the letter "p" (orange) appears on the oval and then on the line. This process is repeated with the following letters in the same order as the colors of the rainbow alongside other VCR symbols: "e" (yellowish-orange, single arrow (play backwards)), "c" (yellow, two horizontal lines (pause)), "t" (gradient of light green and dark green, two vertical lines), "r" (dark green, triangle), "u" (gradient of green and greenish-blue, square (stop)), and "m" (gradient of greenish-blue, blue and indigo, circle (record)), at the same time adding the rainbow colors with a gradient effect to the line letter by letter. The oval then wipes out of view via the same countdown effect, and the logo fades out seconds afterwards.
+[[Category:British music entertainment logos]]
+[[Category:United Kingdom]]
-FX/SFX: The countdown-like animation and the VCR symbols. Very nice 2D computer animation!
+[[Category:Music entertainment logos]]
+[[Category:British home entertainment logos]]
-Music/Sounds: A muzak-like synth tune.
+[[Category:Home entertainment logos]]
-Availability: Even rarer than the previous logo. Appeared on later music tapes from the company.
-Editor's Note: None.