Types of Music Videos

Types of Music Video’s

 Music videos can be characterised into 3 broad typologies:

§  Performance

§  Narrative

§  Conceptual.

These are types are categorised by the form and content of the music video which is selected by the director and the artist themselves, for which particular type will attract their target audience and portray their song in the most successful way.

Narrative Based Music Videos

Narrative based music video consists of a sequence of shots and angles to help portray storyline relating to the lyrics and genre of the song. This is used in order to engage the audience and reflect the director indirect message of the song. This technique is often used when a particular song has been feature in a well-known bestselling film, with short scenes used in the music video again to engage the audience as well as using it as a form of promoting both the film and the artist’s song.

For example Ed Sheeran’s “All of the stars”, is the used as the main soundtrack of best nominated film of the year ‘fault in our stars”, which includes extracts from the film in the music video.

Performance Based Music Videos

Performance based music videos feature the artist or band performing to a camera that is staged for the purpose of the music video or they have live footage of one of their pervious concerts.  This is the cheapest form of music video to make however it is very successful in appealing and engaging to their audience as it allows their fans and audience to see live footage of their inspiration performing live. This form of music video is very common for rock bands, as at their concert they are usually highly energetic which helps build the atmosphere of their song.

For example ‘closer to the edge’- “30 seconds to mars” video features small snippets of the band playing at each venue on their world tour.

Concept Based Music videos

Concept based music videos are known to be unusual and are based around a certain concept, and is surrounded by one idea, they rarely tie-in or have any relation to the lyrics of the song or its storyline, which is particularly different to both performance and narrative based music videos. However the audience do not have to necessarily understand the video, but they are still successful within the music industry as the video creates a memorable, unique piece. Also concept based video often have a specific editing technique which is very expensive to produce.

For example ‘Mika’- “Happy Ending” which is an eccentric, unordinary music video.