Types of music video including examples

1. Music Video’s
By Olivia Doherty

2. There are two main types of music
video:
• Performance clips
• Conceptual clips - narrative and
artistic

3. Performance
Performance based videos consist mainly of singing along to the lyrics of the
song. The videos also don’t really have a story line and therefore to keep the
audience engaged they use a variety of different camera shots. In addition to
this they have a few different settings and changes in mise-en-scene to make
it more interesting and gain the audience’s attention. Performance based
video’s often show the vocalist(s) in multiple settings, such as the recording
studio or on stage at a concert. Artists that are bands are often shown playing
their instruments and dancing.
An example of this is Greenday – American Idiot.

4. Examples
Another example of a performance based video would be Kylie Minogue –
can’t get you out of my head.
This clip uses a variety of camera shots mainly for short periods of time. The
mise-en-scene also changes throughout the video to keep the audience
entertained.
The picture below demonstrates 4 different parts of the video where the singer
has changed location and outfit. The lighting throughout the scenes is also
different and this change in mise-en-scene is what grabs the audience’s
attention and stops the clip from becoming tedious.

5. Advantages and
Disadvantages
• Allows you to sell the artist because they are more involved in the video
and shows them as a performer
• Easier because not as much thought has gone into the video. You could
just stand in front of a green screen and change costumes throughout the
clips.
• Needs to fit with the genre–typically pop music uses this
• More shots and costume changes have to be use to keep it interesting and
this could be time consuming

6. Narrative
Narrative based videos consist of a storyline that often relates to the music. This is
normally a visual story that is easy to follow. A pure narrative video will involve no lip-
syncing at all. The shots are longer than those used in performance based videos.
The main artist doesn’t always star in Narrative based videos and they are typically
associated with slower songs.
An example of a Narrative based video is A Team by Ed Sheeran
This video consists of the same character and costume throughout. The setting
changes as the journey continues but the general look of the video stays the same.
This narrative based video shows a story that fits in with the lyrics and shows off the
music as opposed to the artist.

7. Advantages and
Disadvantages
- Captures the audiences attention – there is a story and a journey and this
could keep the audience watching as they want to know what’s going to
happen
- Some viewers could get bored because there is no performance clips and the
only mise-en-scene change is the setting
- Shows the audience the feelings involved with the song and maybe the
reason behind writing it. This allows you to sell the song rather than the artist
because people are interested in the music and not the person who made it.

8. Combination Videos
Combination videos are those which consist of both Performance and
Narrative videos. This means they involve a storyline as well as performance
based clips where the artist is seen singing along to the lyrics.
An example of this would be Don’t stop by 5SOS
This video shows the story of 4 superheroes and this shows the narrative side
of the clip. The video then cuts to them playing instruments and singing along
to the lyrics on top of a building. This represents the performance side of the
clip.

9. Advantages and
Disadvantages
- Grabs the audience’s attention
- Allows you to promote both the song and the artist
- Isn’t specific enough - could be confusing to watch and follow the storyline

10. Others (Less common)
Artistic Clip
- These are not very common - mainly used in electronic or experimental
videos
- They are used to enhance the overall piece
- Some videos are purely artistic since they show sequences with no obvious
narrative or singing.
Combining clip
• Having a performance with cuts to flashbacks which links to the lyrics
• E.g Coldplay – God put a smile on your face