The Conventions in Music Videos

G – Eazy – Far Alone ft. Jay AntHip-Hop artists like to illustrate their past life in their music videos: memorable moments – good (partying, loyalty) and bad (struggles, building an career)

Hip-Hop artists tend to focus on the importance on having attractive , young and needy women in their music video. In today’s society, smoking weed and house partying has become even more popular within the youth generation.

In Hip-hop music videos, there are some elaborate shots of very distinctive city or state locations or even bits of very clear stage performances, to shows the beauty in the locations. The first two locations are filmed in the American state, Oakland, which is there the rapper must have been born and raised in, it is shown to be a location of nostalgia for the rapper, especially because G-Eazy filmed him and rapper artists in one the memorable locations of his. The other artists are African- American, which the majority of hip-hop artists are.

Hip-Hip music is most relatable to the majority of audience, especially those who lived in the city or towns and experienced some kind of hardship. So the songs can influence too, in positive (you can hope to succeed in some point in your life) and negative ways (smoking weed or cigarettes and partying is seen to be cool and modish)

‘‘Yeah, blue jeans, Air ones and a white tee'06 hangin' out the window like’’

‘‘Back when me and Marty was recordin' at my Mom's’’

‘‘They used to always say I couldn't go too far alone, But now I'm here bitch!’’

‘‘Girls in the crowd all swoon, Super high, I'm off to the moon’’

Hip/Hop

All American Rejects – Dirty Little Secret

This music video is performance based mostly, with some narrative of getting real people, to reveal their actual dirty little secret. The stage they perform in is very dark and the backdrop of the stage room are the secrets of the real people displayed a aligned collage the overall look is very simple and expected for an punk band.

Pop/Punk

The dirty little secret is very dark and obviously very honest, teaching the audience that its okay to be truthful and yourself, Punk songs that are about teenage angst and the issues in everyday life.

The punk rock stars’ costumes are dark, edgy and laid back, they wear a grey/khaki tops, leather jackets and dark coloured footwear and they are expected to have very bold and distinctive instruments.

‘‘Tell me all that you've thrown away, Find out games you don't wanna play, You are the only one that needs to know’’

‘‘Who has to knowWhen we live such fragile livesIt's the best way we survive’’

Pop music videos are very bold and exciting, with the vibrant and flashy colours from costume and scenery. This music video is set in an very eye catching scenery, a amusement park, with clowns, balloon men ,and roller skating which is every children’s dream. These three shots are in the beginning of the music video, immediately catching the audience’s eye. This video is aimed for teenagers and children.

Mariah Carey - FantasyPop

The bright artificial lights, huge dancing production and expensive and flashy car are expected in a pop music video, since the overall cost of pop music video are usually very high due to amounts of actors, dancers, stages and locations included in one video. The locations above seems to be a huge parking lot, with lots of cars and people dancing, making the music video seem like an little musical, which is another convention in pop music videos.Having close up, mid one shots of the artists is important in most music videos, especially in pop music videos as the artist is presented to look like a young person’s idol – pretty, trendy, innocent, cute and always joyful. The shots of Mariah Carey are displaying to always be having s good time in the amusement park or other locations. The starry and milky twilight like backdrop in the second shot below illustrates the teenage romance scenery, which matches the lyrics of the song, which is all about falling in love and feeling all hunky dory about it, making this more suitable for young people to watch and feel positive by watching the music video.

‘‘It's so deep in my daydreams. But it's just a sweet, sweet fantasy baby’’

‘‘I'm in heaven, With my boyfriend, My laughing boyfriend. There's no beginningAnd there is no end, Feels like I'm dreaming, But I'm not sleeping’’

‘‘Images of raptureCreep into me slowlyAs you're going to my headAnd my heart beats faster’’

Since a lot of R&B songs are based on romantic narrative can be very down yet relaxing and sentimental to the singer, the monochrome filming illustrates the blues that the singer is feeling in the music video, it adds to her feelings of loneliness and tension she has over arguing and having bad chemistry with her lover, the close up shot of her shows her tears and the midshot shows her upper body language all cold and vulnerable looking because she has no one to be with when she’s upset.

Mary J Blige – Be Without YouR&B

The two shots in colour are past memories of her and her lover, the good and bad; from them hugging intimately and getting along in small gathering to them arguing viciously. Highlighting she misses all of that, as now she is lonely, these two shots of the couple are expected in a lot of R&B love songs. The fact that they are not facing the camera makes the story believable, and relating to those with love issues.

The location shot of the New York City illustrates where the love story is set, it is based on a city life for two lovers and the location is shot at night, suggesting that she is the loneliest at night time, where she needs her lover the most.

The close up of the phone shows that she has no missed calls, from which she expected from her lover, adding to her loneliness and losing that loyalty communication from him

‘‘I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you’’

‘‘Too strong for too long (and I can’t be without you baby)And I’ll be waiting up until you get home (cuz I can’t sleep without you baby)’’

‘‘Fellas tell your lady she’s the one (fellas tell your lady she’s the one, oh),Put your hands up (hands up)Ladies let him know he's got your love, Look him right in his eyes ‘’

Folk music videos tend to be more simple in costume, makeup choosing. Also the locations are at home, in a serene natural setting or it is performance based, in this case, all three in one music video.

Ed Sheeran – Lego HouseFolk

The camera movements and editing can be slow and smooth like Folk music, which is in one pace and peaceful, so the actor in the video is alone and is in his own world, it is hardly seen to be chaotic on the outside but maybe mentally. But the narrative is quite unexpected, as it is about this obsessed and lonely fan who wants to live life the singer in the actual song.

It is expected for artists to carry an guitar for this genre, since the song involves acoustics mostly and through out the song. The music video lacks in interesting or vivid locations as it mostly all on the narrative and the message of it. The relaxing songs add to the narrative, making the song have an chilling and slightly creepy meaning to it. For example, the fan is alone and surrounded by lamps and mannequins/dolls all around, to make himself feel less lonely and it all is suppose to impersonate an musical arena. This narrative is very unexpected but still goes with the song, but usually you would expect the music video to be about an timid couple who is always there for each other and living their life happily. But it is completely different from that, as it also teaches the audience an lesson, to not get to not get obsessive and having delusions an be problematic.

‘‘I'm gonna pick up the pieces and build a Lego houseIf things go wrong we can knock it down’’

‘‘I'm out of touch, I'm out of love’’

I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind

‘‘I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind’’

Hip-hop music videos are mostly known for its opportunity to show off flashy items like the stacks of money, the gold chain and muscle or sports car.

Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams – Drop it like it’s hot

Hip/Hop

The monochrome filming is used to display the tasteful and elaborate life the rapper has in the music video. The rapper is smoking either weed or cigarettes confidently is his fur hoodie, someone graffiti sprayed an silhouette of the rapper’s distinctive body shape , making him look legendary and infamous.

Usually the rapper has someone featured in their music video, song or both. Having another artist in the video or song makes the video more appealing to a wider audience and makes the song more interesting to listen to, as there is a mix of rapping and singing.

Dancing and partying with women is an necessity in all Hip-hop music video, as makes them ‘the ladies man’, it teaches the audience that women is their message that they have succeeded in life.

‘‘And I roll the best weed cause I got it going on’’

‘‘See these ice cubes, see these Ice Creams?Eligible bachelor, million dollar boat’’

‘‘See I specialize in making all the girls get nakedSo bring your friends, all of y'all come insideWe got a world premiere right here, now get live!’’

Country music is very romantic and thoughtful, so beautiful and romantic locations are ideal, locations that are suited for couples on honeymoon or quick escapes. The depiction of the women is very natural looking, the ‘no makeup’ makeup look, with an luminous tan and perfect figure, who is mostly posing, walking and looking pretty and content.

Thomas Rhett – Happy ManCountry

The couple are doing small but memorable things together, dancing, chasing the dog, playing the guitar, horse-riding and watching fireworks by the beach is very suited for an country music video, as the music is easy going and makes the audience feel blissful and it matches with the flow of the music video.

‘‘If I never get to see the Northern lights, Or if I never get to see the Eiffel Tower at night. Oh if all I got is your hand in my hand. Baby I could die a happy man yeah’’

‘‘You're a saint, you're a Goddess, the cutest, the hottest, a masterpiece’’

‘‘I don't need no vacation, no fancy destinationBaby you're my great escape’’

Dimly lit or natural lighting in Indie/Rock music video, adds an grunge and eerie style and it goes with the raspy singing and heavy performance of the instruments.

Imagine Dragons - RadioactiveIndie/Rock

The close up shots of the eyes and the moody setting creates an serious and mysterious atmosphere. In Indie/Rock music video, there is a mix of concept (the eyes, keys, the stuffed animals, narrative (being secretly locked away) and performance (from underground)gives the audience an interest to the music video

The stuffed animals is an example of how unexpected some Indie/Rock music videos can be, as the song is quite aggressive, the stuffed animals or monsters being ‘violent’’‘ actually soften the message and music in the song.

‘‘I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust, I'm breathing in the chemicals’’

‘‘I'm waking up’’

‘’Welcome to the new age, to the new age’’

James Bay – Let it goIndie

This music video is mostly simplistic and dark since it is set from sunset to nightfall, many indie music video are associated with the themes of darkness, with subtle conceptual aspects in the narrative. For example, in the music video the artist is walking out of the house, as it set on fire, the fire could be an message of finally letting go and moving on in life.

The love interest in the music video looks very edgy like the artist himself, both wearing grungy yet simple and sophisticated clothing. Also the woman wore very simple makeup, as her facial features are very prominent and her hairstyle is bold statement, very much like the artist, who looks very moody and pale, but hi hair and hat are what creates his trademark look. The woman specifically wear a collared top/dress, whilst the man is wearing an leather jacket and they are both wearing black mostly, which is expected for someone in a indie or rock music video.

Throughout the music video, the artist is mostly by himself, a lot of indie, country, folk and rock music videos have got smallest group of actors. The audience always expects to see the artist’s face the most or some kind of interesting, chilling or meaningful conceptual narrative in the music video

In the music video, there are very slow cuts to sometimes create an peaceful yet eerie mood tot eh music video. As well as that of the similar scenes in the music video, as it goes with the pace of the slow indie songs. The audience expects the music video to match the speed of the song, especially in indie songs, where the lyrics in the songs are very insightful and personal, so the music video can be simple and big productions of choreography and acting isn’t required as the audience will only listen to the song more than the actual video.

‘‘When we're becoming something elseI think it's time to walk away’’

‘‘I used to recognize myselfIt's funny how reflections change’’

‘‘Everything that's brokeLeave it to the breezeLet the ashes fall’’

Disco genre music videos are always groovy, retro themed, for example, Michael Jackson – Don’t stop till you get enough and sometimes comical or animated such as Aha – Take on me. Whilst Electro can be futuristic, animated or supernatural or cyber based. In this music video, all these themes are in one music video since the song is categorised in two musical genres. this music video has mix of 60s because of the hairstyles (big up dos and head bands) and the flared out pants , the colours used is what you expect in an 60s themed tie dye or kaleidoscope clothing or minivan. In most videos, you would expect some form of love interest, as this grabs attention from the audience to watch the whole video. The female guitarist is romanticised by the slow cuts of her , along with some of the members. Three of the members look like expected animated versions of anime human beings, but the drummer in the 1st shot above looks different, looks more like an alien, thus linking to the fantastical theme of the music video. Or maybe suppose to look younger than the rest of the members intentionally as his facial features are more rounder and child like, unlike the rest of the members.

Daft Punk – One More TimeElectro/Disco

The audience who are interested in the electro or disco music tends like artworks that are related to space, solar systems and galaxies, so all the animated art would really appeal to the artists’ fans.

The colour of danger is red in the music video. The rest of the colours are used to create the intergalactic theme of the land. However the colour grey is rarely used, only to draw the army group in the music video, to illustrate an concerning revolution in the lively retro/ intergalactic land.

‘‘One more time, We're gonna celebrate, Oh yeah, all rightDon't stop the dancing’’

‘‘Music's got me feeling so free, We're gonna celebrate, Celebrate and dance so free’’

Funk/boogie songs are associated around the 70s era, a time to more partying and music becoming a good vibe to the audience. Funk/boogie music video are usually and live performances and with comically and smoothly choreographed and also involves a group of musicians and singers in the video. Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five videos are good examples of Funk/Boogie music videos too because some are performed live on a TV show or convert or they are filmed in the open streets (studio or actual ones). This music video is very similar to Michael Jackson and also the carton series, Top Cat, in terms of the slapstick type musical numbers and messing around in the streets. The artists are depicted to be confident ladies men, as they enjoy staring at beautiful women and maintain their hairdo

Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsFunk/Boogie

The costume is very flashy, confident and vivid. The woman wore burgundy heels with beige fur coat and short dress and big hoop earrings. The male artists and musicians wore gold chains, top hats and pastel yet bold coloured blazer with casual/smart pants and flashy shirts. This is what you expect in a funk/boogie music video, as this genre is very 70s and the clothing has to suave and funky like the song itself.

Since the song gives an lively reaction from the audience, the music video has to meet that expectation too. The artists are walking and sitting on top of an expensive white car, to add that free and calm mood to the music video. Also the artists are relaxing in the hairdressers, getting their done and enjoying their life.

‘‘Called a police and a firemanI’m too hot (hot damn)Make a dragon wanna retire manI’m too hot (hot damn)Say my name you know who I am’’

‘‘If you sexy than flaunt itIf you freaky than own itDon’t brag about it, come show me’’

‘‘Fill my cup put some liquor in it, Take a sip, sign a checkJulio! Get the stretch!, Ride to Harlem, Hollywood, Jackson, Mississippi’’

The title of the song immediately catches the audience’s eye as wings are associated with angelic beings and having innocence, kind heart and bravery. The fact that the song is in the Alternative Hip-Hop genre means that the song is a rap, with other elements of music that makes the song different from just a regular Hip-Hop, the alternative appeals to an wider audience. The song is about the rapper’s traumatic past as an school kid. A lot of Hip-Hop artists like to talk about their past life in their rapping verses because the song itself is more than a song, it’s a part of them and their singing career is what them successful by learning from past mistakes and trauma like bullying. The main and nostalgic symbol in the music video is trainers, an relic from the rapper’s past, the trainers have given him ‘wings’ and was a part of his identity until issue were caused, making the rapper see that the trainers are unimportant and the children are so caught up on the trainers as it is their hope to fly and survive in life.

Macklemore X Ryan Lewis - WingsAlternative Hip-Hop

The music video has concept and narrative, making the overall clip to be like an film, with the artist rapping out his story, acting as an narrator too. The directors films in the school, neighbourhood or at home, making the music video seems very realistic to everyday life in America. The locations are filmed very cinematically, to make the watch the music video like an short film.

The rapper wear very stylish yet urban themed clothing with the fur coat,

trainers and baggy clothing. This sis expected for an hip-hop artist to dress

like this, because they dress so casual on their more serious songs, The rapper is

filmed more in mid shots, as some rappers tend to use very swift hand

gesture to match the speed or rhythm of the rapping, making them seem very serious and devoted to their rapping

talent.

‘‘I stitch my wingsAnd pull the stringsI bought these dreamsThat all fall down’’

‘‘I was seven years old, when I got my first pair, And I stepped outside. And I was like, "Momma, this air bubble right here, it's gonna make me fly"

‘‘This dream that they sold to youFor a hundred dollars and some changeConsumption is in the veinsAnd now I see it's just another pair of shoes’’