Types Of Music Videos

Music videos are comprised of two types of image:
-Performance clips

-Conceptual clips (narrative and artistic)

In the majority of music videos the two are combined.

Performance Clips

-Video that shows the vocalist in one or more settings such as a recording studio.

-It shows the artist performing the song "live".

Performance Settings

-It can take place in a music studio or on a stage. However, they can also take place in a different setting, perhaps with more variety.

-The singer could be in their bedroom, singing out of their window; they could be walking down the street (common in rap videos).

Narrative Clip

-A narrative clip contains a visual story that is easy to follow.

-A pure narrative clip contains no lip-synchronised singing.

-A story has an idea, a “concept”, hence conceptual.

-The narrative usually relates to the song in some way.
-In a music video, the narrative is sometimes incomplete and is therefore fragmentary. This can help with the repeatability of the promo.

Artistic Clip

-No obvious narrative.

-Doesn’t relate to the song.

Using Narrative Effectively

-They are more meaning full.

-Easier to film.
-Contains lots of shots.
-Technical requirements for performance.
-Timing (instruments and singing need to be in time with the music).

Music Video Genres

-Homage (an acknowledgment to something from the past).

The video to 2Pac 'Ghetto Gospel' is an example of a homage music video because it is a tribute to Tupac Shakur, as this song was released ten years after he was killed. The video is a recreation of his life and the day he died.

-Animation (use of drawings to illustrate lyrics and meanings).

This video accompanies 'Good Morning' by Kanye West and it is an animation of a bears life.

-Narrative (tells a story throughout the video).

This video for Eminem 'Stan' is an example of a narrative music video because it has a story. The story is about a man who wants to talk to his favourite rapper, Slim Shady. However, this turns to an obsession and it tears his life apart.

-As live (Shows the song sung live).

This is a live performance of 'The Wolf' by Mumford & Sons, which shows the band in a big room with their instruments, lighting and a very small audience, made up of a director ad filming crew. However, there are different videos from other bands performing in front of bigger audiences at live events.

-Parody (It is created to mock a music video or artist).

This music video is called 'Gandalf Style' and it is a parody of 'Gangnam Style' by PSY. The song changes the lyrics to something funny, but keeps the same tune of the original song. The aim of the video and lyrics is to mock the original video and to create a funnier version of it.

-Influence of commercials (Uses advertisements strategies to carry the narrative).

The video to 'Gold Digger' by Kanye West is a good example of a music video influenced by commercials as it features female models posing in front of a camera for the front page of a magazine.

-Impressionist (An artists take or ‘’impression’’ of a genre or theme).

This is an impressionist music video called 'Sabotage' by Beastie Boys and it uses the inspiration of a 70's style cop shows opening credits. The band members give their own interpretation of 70's cops, through their clothing as they wear aviator sunglasses and they have big fake mustache.

-Pastiche (An imitation video).

The video to 'Walk' by the Foo Fighters is a pastiche music video, which is similar to a referencing and parody music video, but it mixes the two together. This video was influenced by the 1993 film, 'Falling Down', in which a defence engineer reacts violently to the flaws in society. This music video follows Dave Grohl doing the same thing throughout the video.

-Surreal (Shows the audience things that won't happen in real life).

This video, 'The Frog' by The Hickey Underworld, is an example of a surreal video because it is very unrealistic and would never happen in real life.

-Interpretive (It is a visual interpretation of the lyrics).

The video for 'Firework' by Katy Perry is an example of an interpretive video because it is an interpretation of the lyrics, as it is linked to the lyrics but it interoperates them in a different way.