Week One:What makes a good

music video?

Key Idea:The primary focus of a music video is to sell the artist not

necessarily the actual song. It creates a representation of

the artist.

What makes a good music video?

Some basic points:• Matches the song & genre well• Interesting narrative, unless it is abstract –

in that case, it needs to include wide range of and more complex editing and cinematography techniques

• Relatable (especially to teenagers, as they are the main audience)

• Edited to the beat• Wide range of cinematography• Well thought out mise-en-scene• Follows conventions most importantly

What main conventions form a

music video?• Band/artist features in it• Lip sync or performance incorporated• Edited to the beat• Use of colour and lighting to create meaning,

and reflect mood and/or genre• Wide range of cinematography – different

angles, shot types, etc.• Mise-en-scene links to genre• Conventions can depend on the genre, e.g. pop

may heavily rely on performance (such as dancing) and use bright colours, etc.

Existing Music VideosArtist Narrative Techniques & Conventions used which

make it successful

Blink 182 – ‘After Midnight’ Narrative & Performance – 2 children in a mental institution

• Wide range of cinematography• Fast paced editing – matches beat• Effect use of lighting

Lana Del Rey – ‘Young and Beautiful’

No narrative (abstract) – Lana performing with an orchestra

• Edited to beat (slow paced)• Lots of coloured lighting• Lip sync• Very simplistic• Connotations provided through mise-en-scene

Beyoncé – ‘Pretty Hurts’ Narrative – Beauty Pageants – so much effort and pain put into being beautiful – is it really worth it?

• Wide range of edits, e.g. slow motion, rewind, etc.

• Relatable for women, especially teenagers (main audience)

Haim – ‘The Wire’ Narrative – Break ups with stereotypical roles reversed – the men are the emotional ones which makes it humorous

• Edited to match beat• Lip sync• Linear format

Rihanna – ‘only Girl’ Narrative – literally only girl in the world

• Mise-en-scene links to lyrics• Special effects• Lip sync/performance based• Heavily relies on mise-en-scene• Lighting adds to meaning

Coldplay – ‘Fix You’ No clear narrative – it is not made definite

• Shot at night to reflect the mood song• Mise-en-scene matches song• Lip sync live performance