conventions of music videos

1. CONVENTIONS OF
MUSIC VIDEOS

2. CAMERA MOVEMENT
The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist or
band. Camera movements include Tilts, Pans, Tracking and Crane shots.

3. CAMERA SHOTS
Music videos tend to include varied long shots, mid-shots and close-ups.
This is to create emphasis on the artist, emotions and location. Also close-
ups are used to reflect the words of the song with the movement of the
artist’s lips.
George Ezra- Blame It On Me
Foo Fighters- Pretender

4. MISE-EN-SCENE
Mise-en-scene encompasses the most recognizable attributes of a
music video – the setting and the actors; it includes costumes and
make-up, props, and all the other natural and artificial details that
characterise the spaces filmed. The term is from a French expression,
meaning “put into the scene”. In other words, mise-en-scene describes
the subjects in the frame and the way they are shown and arranged.
Sia- Chandelier Limp Bizkit- Gold Cobra

5. EDITING
Jump cuts are the predominant editing technique found in music
videos. This is because it allows a sudden change from one scene of the
video to another. Similarly, transitions such as fade are very common in
music videos as they create a different effect to cuts.
Rizzle Kicks- Lost Generation

6. LIGHTING
Some music videos are black and white which help to emphasise a
particular mood and some videos have artificial lighting which helps to
put the artists style and mood of music across to an audience.
Twenty One Pilots- Holding Onto You dvsn- Hallucinations

7. SOUND
Sound is mainly the vocals of the artist or the beat of the song but in
some cases such as Joyner Lucas’ – Ross Capicchioni, the producers can
make the music video into a short film by adding different sound
effects like police sirens and shotguns enhancing the narrative in the
lyrics. This is also seen in The Weeknd’s video for False Alarm.
Joyner Lucas – Ross Capicchioni The Weeknd- False Alarm

8. PROPS
These are vital in aiding to add to a scene and create significance on
particular objects or people.
Rae Sremmurd- Swang Florida Georgia Line- Sun Daze

9. COSTUME
This matches the scenes in a song and reflects the genre. Costume is an
important factor because it has an influence on how the audience may
dress as they view the artists as role models.
One Direction- History Bring Me The Horizon- Sleepwalking

10. COLOUR
Colour tends to set the mood of the song through creating an
atmosphere. For example dark colours are used in videos such as
’Numb’ by Linkin Park. Whereas bright colours are seen to be used
more in pop or hip hop videos such as LMFAO’s ’I’m Sexy and I Know It’.
The use of colour can help to differentiate genres from one another.
LMFAO- I’m Sexy and I Know ItLinkin Park- Numb

11. CREATIVITY
Creativity is one of the most important elements in a music video.
Having a fresh and innovative video concept will make audiences want
to watch the video over again and people who weren’t already fans of a
certain artists music may become a fan because of the uniqueness
portrayed in their music videos.
OK Go- Upside Down Inside Out Joey Bada$$- Unorthodox

12. POPULAR MUSIC CONVENTIONS IN
INDIE/ROCK
• Sometimes in black and white
• The artist/band is shown throughout the video
• Use of extreme close-ups and mid shots are popular
to show audience the artist.
• Dark locations
• Fast paced
• Some use of SFX
Foals- Mountain At My Gates
Lower Than Atlantis- Here We Go
The Courteeners- Are You In Love With A Notion?

13. POPULAR MUSIC CONVENTIONS IN HIP
HOP/ RAP
• Location tends to be a party, club or on the streets
• Recognised brands and clothing are used as
iconography
• Expensive houses and cars
• Camera shots tend to be long and establishing to show
money involved. Close-ups to show jewellery and assets
the artist owns
• Women
• Artists are sometimes shown
Logic- Young Sinatra III
Drake- Hotline Bling
50 Cent- Money

14. MUSIC CONVENTIONS IN POP
• Bright and colourful
• Close-ups to show up cheerful
emotions
• Aims towards a teenage audience
• Very upbeat
Taylor Swift- Shake It Off
DNCE- Kissing Strangers ft. Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry- California Gurls ft. Snoop Dogg