YASMIN WATKINSMEDIA STUDIES: G324

Examples of Types ofMusic Video

Narrative-based video

This consists mainly of a storyline relating to the lyrics and genre of the song throughout the video. It can be performed by the artists or hired extras.

It’s known to also interlink with shots from a performance of the band, to break up the video and keep the audience’s interest.

This type of video is also used for songs that feature in films, with scenes from the film cut into the video to enhance the viewing experience. For example, Decode by Paramore was used for the Twilight film; it combined the three types of music video by using a narrative, Twilight’s concept and a performance.

Advantages VS. Disadvantages

This is a good technique to use for engaging the audience, as it enhances the viewing experience by allowing the audience to see the artist’s visual representation of the lyrics

It allows its audience to interact and discuss the meaning of the video

o The storyline is typically limited to the lyrics of the song

Narrative-based video

Performance-based video

These predominantly involve the artist or band performing the song. It uses different takes of the artists, usually incorporating costume

and setting changes, to jump to throughout the video.This type can be combined with a narrative-led video, where the

artist or band are playing their instruments in conjunction to a story narrative.

‘30 Seconds To Mars- Closer To The Edge’ is a good example of this. The video features footage of the band playing different venues on their tour edited together to make the video, effectively telling a story in a documentary-style.

It allows the audience to see the band in a typical concert setting, when they may not have the chance to see in person.

o A 3-4 minute video of just the band performing the song would lose the interest of the audience, therefore, a sideline narrative is usually cut in-between shots of the band, to create a pace in the video.

o Mediation would influence the certain shots of the artist or band that ended up in the final product, possibly portraying them a way the industry want them to, to sell more.

Performance-based video

Advantages VS. Disadvantages

This type of video may incorporate the artists performing the song

More reliant on special effects and editing techniques

It follows an unconventional theme, which ‘Everybody Hurts’ by R.E.M. uses the concept surrounding the title, and pans over very different people who are stuck in traffic with typewriter text appearing like subtitles on the screen, to tell us what the characters are thinking, occasionally matching the lyrics of the song.

Concept-based video

Has more potential to go viral and gain worldwide recognition

Typically uses original, creative ideasCan infuse with a campaign idea, in a

documentary-style video, to create an awareness through music

o It can create a ‘love/hate relationship’ with their audience. For example, ‘Gangnam Style’s popularity by South Korean artist PSY can be demonstrated by likes/dislikes on their YouTube video:

o More expensive to make (extras, costume, effects)

Concept-based video

Advantages VS. Disadvantages

Overall Preference

Through research it is clear that music videos typically infuse more than one type to keep the audience visually interested in what is going on.

I think conceptual music videos either work really well or can easily be forgotten, and would like to attempt this if I were to create my own music video.

I think a narrative-based video shot alongside with an artist performing works the best, as this provides the audience with a story to follow, while also putting the artist in the spotlight.