Performance, Concept & Narrative

Music VideosLesson Goal

To be able to identify the different types of music video.To understand the ingredients needed for each type (and to be able to inform

others).To effectively consider and apply justifications of creating a hybrid.

HOW TO SPOT A MUSIC VIDEO

music videos

PERFORMANCE BASED

• Many music videos include performance of the artists as part of the video.

• It was from clips of performances that music videos developed.

NARRATIVE BASED

• Often the video tells a story either that features in the lyrics or is suggested in the lyrics e.g. girl dumps boy

• This narrative can be like a mini film, with a beginning, middle and end.

• Or it can suggest some links to a story.• It can promote a film with clips from the film

including telling a story.

CONCEPT

• Concept videos are based around a single idea or concept and are usually unusual or obscure, even surreal for an audience. The unusual content is an attraction to many consumers, which draws them in.

• A successful concept video will keep the audience entertained and constantly looking at what or who is on the screen.

CONCEPT: THEMATIC

• There are lots of common themes in music videos

• Depends on the genre of music• E.g. Heavy Metal bands go for performance

dominated clips, Rap has lots of street images, Dance routines are common in pop videos.

CONCEPT: SYMBOLIC

• Use of lots of symbols to build up meaning e.g. graveyard…death

• Lots of use of montage – lots of images to create meaning sometimes often contradictory

• Lighting often used to suggest mood• Fast paced – often only a few seconds per shot

to build up meanings• Pictures can support or contradict the lyrics.

Performance/Concept/Narrative

What’s the difference between…?Performance Concept Narrativee.g. features band or artist generally an idea a storyline

Type of shots, theme, editing, audience positioning.

Artist/Band & Song Title Type / Category Reasons Why /

Characteristics

EXAMPLES

• Watch the following music videos and decide which category they fit in.

• You may find they are a hybrid of more than one.

• At the end of watching you’ll need to develop an ingredients list for each category.

RESULTS

Artist/Band & TitlePerformance – The Living

Oasis – Stand By Me

OK Go – This Too Shall Pass

The Cranberries - Zombie

Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Otherside

No Doubt – It’s My Life

Oren Lavie – Her Morning Elegance

Radiohead - Just

Type / CategoryPerformance

Narrative

Concept: Thematic

Hyrbid - Concept: Symbolic, Performance

Concept: Symbolic

Hybrid – Narrative & Performance

Concept: Thematic

Hybrid – Narrative, Performance & Concept: Symbolic

RECIPES FOR MUSIC VIDEOS

Create a recipe for your type of music video. Use recipe-type words (a dash of…, a pinch of…) to inform others what they’re looking for in each

category.

Things to also consider:• Goodwin• Variations (hybrids) that might exist

What do PERFORMANCE videos contain?

• Often contain shots of the artist performing• Can be a live stage performance, with shots of the artist/band

and audience• Can be the artists in ‘real life’ situations e.g. warming up,

talking, fooling around• Often includes lots of close ups of the artist• There can be a particular visual style that goes with the artist

(a motif) e.g. particular clothing, actions, props, type of images.

• Often the artist can appear to perform in an unusual place – all lip-synched e.g. a field, a rooftop.

What do NARRATIVE videos contain?

• Because it’s only 3-4 mins it can be– Very fast paced, lots of shots and cuts– Use intertextualilty (references other films, videos

or TV)– Mimic other film and TV genres e.g. horror or sci-fi– Sometimes the story can contradict what is seen

for effect– Sometimes the artist is a part of the story, or an

observer or completely separate

What do CONCEPT videos contain?

• Often unusual elements.• Can be anything!

MIXING A HYBRID

How would you plan an effective storyboard to include narrative and performance elements?

Focus on where you think the performance elements would be in a song. Be ready to

justify your plan.

At the start? At the end? For the chorus?During the instrumental?

HomeworkAndrew Goodwin

• Do you agree with Andrew Goodwin’s comment that music videos demonstrate genre characteristics; stage performances for metal bands, dance routines for pop groups?

Can you think of a music video that would support this theory?

Write a short response, (no more than 500 words,) discussing this theory.

You must refer to at least 3 different music videos