STYLES AND TECHNIQUES OF MUSIC VIDEOS

STYLES
IN CONCERT AND AS LIVE:
The style of in concert and as live in music videos show the artist singing
the song live performance of the song as it was done at a real gig
performance that they did on their tour. The audience generally prefer to
watch these kind of music videos as they get to see the artist actually
performing the song not just hearing it. In some music videos the style
actually represents the feeling of being at a real concert as you get to see
how they perform at a concert. This style of music video ensures the
artists that need to sing or lip-sync to the song the same way as it was
recorded in a studio. The style of in concert and as live uses the
technique of allusion these music
videos create an allusion that the
audience watching the music
video that you are there at the
concert when they are using
footage from their previous live
gigs. An example of this style of
music video being used is in Bon
Jovis music video of Its My Life as in the video it shows Bon Jovi singing
at a concert as you can see the audience at the concert enjoying
themselves. In the video it shows the atmosphere of the concert as you
can see the musicians playing behind Bon Jovi, this makes you want to go
and see them live. Some music videos in this style uses either real footage
from real life gigs or create a staged concert gig similar to this example
from Bon Jovi. In this type style of music video they use techniques of
miming and lip-syncing as it creates an extra effect of the audience being
there at the concert. Another technique is multi-image that is used in Bon
Jovis music video which uses variety of shots to emphasise that you the
audience are there and the connection between the audience and the
artist is more intimate as in this video you can see the artist performing
from many variety of camera angles. This establishes towards the
audience the fact that you are at the concert experiencing it all and this
type of music video style encourages the audience to actually go and see
them live in a concert in order to experience the atmosphere that is
shown in the music video. As the multi-image shots include close-ups, one
shotted view from above the audiences view at the concert etc.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/150378840/Music-Videos-Styles-Conventionsand-Techniques-2#scribd

ANIMATION:

In some music videos they use animation either in parts or during the
whole of the music video. Animation in music videos can be used to create
an anti-realist version of the song. Animation can be used for enjoyable
element as they allow the video to use visual effects that would represent
the impossibilities of realities of real life such as flying and invisibility.
Animation may be used to add to the nonsense nature and atmosphere of
the video and song. For example of animation being used in music video is
by Cage The Elephants song Come A Little Closer. They use animation in
their music video in order to create a surrealist music video and also they
use a green screen throughout the whole video in order to create an
illusion that the band members are on a strange planet which is in all in
cartoon effects. In their music video they used animation instead of live
action because they wanted to create a surrealist atmosphere and create
a different effect.

INTERPRETATIVE:
An interpretive music video is a music video which will create an effect of
something to make it look like something else but with a different
meaning. Interpretive music videos typically want the audience to make
their own interpretation of the music video of what they think the music
video is about. Interpretative music videos arent always clear on what the
narrative is and it is left to the audience to decide and interpret what the
music video was about. Also the music video will be completely different
to what the song is about. An example of an interpretative music video is
Adeles music video for Hello as the video is interpreted in two different
ways as some people may interpret this music video to be about a broken
relationship with their loved one and others may interpret this music video
to be about a phone call between broken friendships that Adele tries to
mend. The reason why people might interpret this music video differently
as the song is necessarily about friends but in the music video it is
suggestive that it might be about a broken relationship between a couple
as the mood of the video is very sad and a bit dull and also in the video it
features a man in it suggesting that it was him that Adele was in a
relationship with thats broken as in the music video you see him sad
walking in the rain.
https://benray95.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/purpose-styles-andconventions-of-music-videos/

NARRATIVE:
A narrative music video consists of a linear or non-linear storyline
throughout the whole of the music video. Narrative music videos are
different to interpretative music videos as the narrative of the music
doesnt need to follow the lyrics of the song. These type of music videos
relies on the visual imagery to create a storyline of the music video. Also
these music video typically wont show the artist singing but will have a

linear narrative which consists of having a beginning, middle and an end.

The narrative music videos will sometimes act like a short film rather
being a music video. The popular storyline that tends to run in narrative
music videos is romantic love stories. An example of a narrative music
video is Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy music video. This music video
follows a story of a couple attending to a school dance. The lyrics of the
song matches the music video as the song is called Dance, Dance which
is set at a school dance. This is effective because the song and the music
video suggests the narrative of the story being told in both forms. As the
song and the music video compliments each other. This technique is very
effective for this song as the music video enforces the message of the
song even clearer as the song by itself might be a bit misleading on what
the overall message would be. So using a visual representation of the
song can clear up the misleading messages by conveying the message
clearer as the music video is set at a dance.
http://a2mediaparkesm.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/types-of-music-video.html

IMPRESSIONIST:
Impressionist music videos are in more of artistic form as these music
videos tend to feature soft lighting, soft edges and flow. These features
create an aesthetically-pleasing music video. Impressionist music video
can be used to make the audience feel a certain emotion in a certain way.
The camera shots used in these types of music video will often relate to
the lyrics to the song when shown and there would be a theme of synergy
being used to connect the unrelated shots together to create an obscure
and abstract music video. An example of an impressionist music video is
Back for Good by Take That as in the video features the black and white
effects mixed with slow walking in the rain makes the audience feel that
the song is a romantic sad song as it relates to the fact the someone
wants their love back as they broke up.

SURREALIST:
Surrealist music videos use absurd images that are unconventional to the
theme and the meaning to the song. Surrealist music video use the
surprise factor that will make the music video much more memorable as it
was strange and absurd to what the song is actually about. These type of
music videos may be artistic and appear to be influenced by visions or
dreams. The purpose of a surrealist music video is to immerse the
audience in to the artists world and get an insight into their creative
mind-set. An example of a surrealist music video is Coldplays Scientist
music video, which starts at the end of the story of a car crash which then
goes backward to reveal how they got into the crash in the first place this
concept makes the music video surreal in that sense. Another example of
a surrealist music video is Katy Perrys E.T music video, as it includes a

lot of imagery and stock footage that appears to have no rhythm or

reason to the song.

PASTICHE:
Pastiche music videos I when an artist will imitate someone elses style,
this is done in a light-hearted way and with respect for the artist/ band
that they are imitating. It could be a celebration of another piece of work
and imitated with respect. An example of pastiche music video is Meat
Loafs Id Do Anything for Love music video, which is a pastiche of films
like Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast and Dracula. As in
the music video features Meat Loafs main singer to be the beast acting
like Phantom and looking after the women that runs into his castle as he
grows to love her. In this music video it uses the effect of pastiche to make
the audience aware of the music video is paying homage to. In Meat
Loafs music video for Id anything for Love it copies many scenes that
come from Phantom of the Opera such as the mirror scene as the mirror
reveals the characters that Meat Loaf plays true plays.

https://seanmaguireblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/purpose-styles-andconventions-of-music-videos/

PARODY:
Parody is a music video that will take the mick out of the original source
which could be from a film, music video or a TV show. It seems that many
artists gained fame through creating their own parodies of any sort in
their own music video. Parodies can be in the form of changing or copying
existing works of others. Parody music videos can be absurd and mimics
certain conventions or the style of others work. Artists make parodies for a
humorous effect. An example of a music video is in a parody style is
White and Nerdy by Al Yankovic which is a parody of Ridin Dirty by
Chamillionaire. In these music videos the parody music video from Al
Yankovic is a direct copy from the original music video by Chamillionaire.
The idea of doing a parody of someone elses content is to make fun of
their music video or from another platform in order to be doing it in a
humorous way.

http://www.slideshare.net/lclarkhfc/parody-pastiche?related=1

HOMAGE:
Artists can use their music video to pay homage, respect or a tribute to
their favourite celebrity or film etc. They may be influenced by who or
what they are paying homage to in their music video. The homage
reference can be noticed by mise-en-scene, costumes or a type of film
style or music video that their music video is paying homage to. An
example of a homage music video is 2Pac music video of Ghetto Gospel
which is a homage music video to Tupac Shakur as the music video was
released ten years after his death, so this music video is a tribute towards
Tupac as the actor in this video plays the part of Tupac. This video is a
tribute towards Tupac from 2Pac as he was his legend and his music also
the music video was 2Pac acknowledging his death as his hero. In this
music video it shows what Tupac did on his last day before he was shot
dead and the music video builds it up to his death. As the music video
pays Tupac a farewell and creates a tribute to him.

http://drewburdakyting.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/different-genres.html

INFLUENCE OF COMMERCIALS:
Many music videos in the market are influenced by commercials to
interpret the style or narrative from existing commercialism either
humorous way or for the allusion technique. Some music videos can be
shown as an advert to glamourize a certain lifestyle that the artist wants
you to live. Also many music videos use product placement into their
music video as another sector to extend their income as the artist gets
paid to advertise a product from a brand in the music video, this is done
by simply placing the product into their music video. The use of product
placement is effective for the brand because if the artist uses the product

in their music video then it promotes the product to the audience to buy
the product because the artist use the product in the music video. For
example Fergies Glamourous music video uses the effect of allusion in
the form of advertising in her music video as in her music video it
promotes towards the audience a glamourous lifestyle. As in her music
video it advertises to the audience that if you had a lot of money you
would have this glamorous lifestyle and the fact that you should life it.
Another music video that uses the influences from commercials is Ellie
Gouldings Starry Eyed music video which features product place as in
her music video it features the beats headphones and Mini Cooper car.
The product placement that she uses in her music video means that she
earns some more income from these two companies as she features these
two products in to her music video.

TECHNIQUES
FOCUS GROUP:
From the focus group, it was agreed that the technique of cutting to the
beat is very effective as it links the song more smoothly to the video. As
this effect connects the two forms of format for the song which is the
visual music video and the audio of the song together. An example of this
type of technique discussed in the focus group was Hardest Button to
Button by the White Stripes. This example was effective to use cutting to
the beat technique as the technique allowed the style of the video to
match the song. As in the music video it showed the video shot cutting in
time with the drum beats heard in the song.
During the focus group, it was discussed of how effective the use of
effects in music videos, it was agreed that the technique of effects in
music videos are effective in a way of the use of effects adds to the
surrealism nature of many music videos in the market. An example given
in this focus group on the effectiveness of effects used in music videos is
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. As the effects in the music video added
to the surrealist nature of the song.
It was discussed in the focus group that the use of lip syncing and miming
in music videos are effective in a way of them adding to the performance
and create a connection between the audience and the artist. The
example given on this subject discussed in the focus group is Basket

Case by Green Day, which in the video showed the band lip syncing along
to the lyrics of the song in the video which creates an impact upon the
audience to make them feel that they are watching the performance that
Green Day are doing in the video. The use of lip syncing may make the
authenticity of the artist performing more real than it actually is.
Multi-image in music videos was agreed to be effective depending on the
type of music video. The example given was I Bet You Look Good on the
Dance Floor by Artic Monkeys, which includes a variety of different
camera shots on one focus in the music video. This technique was
effective in this music video as it gives the audience a proper insight into
what the focus of the music video is on also what the song is about and its
importance to the song. Also in the focus group it was discussed that the
use of split screen in multi-image technique is effective as you can see
two different point of views at the same time. You can get two different
meanings as the split screen allows you to show the audience different
scenarios or a reality vs expectation sense which is the most popular way
of using the split screen effectively.
In the focus group, it was discussed that the technique of camera
movement is effective in trying to convey the other techniques such as
cutting to the beat as in a music video you can have lots of interesting
camera movements rather than having just one camera shot throughout.
This techniques is effective as it makes the music video seem much more
interesting and different to the viewer. An example of this technique used
is Sabotage by Beastie Boys, which features lots of different camera
shots in order to keep up the fast paced tempo that the nature of the song
is as well as keeping the music video interesting towards the viewer.
It was agreed in the focus group that different camera angles are
extremely effective in music videos as it makes the music video indeed
more interesting than the music video being in one camera angle
throughout and having different camera angles in music videos makes it
more artistic.

SURVEYS:
From the results of the survey I sent out, majority of the people answered
that the technique of cutting to the beat is effective because it connects
the song and the music video together effectively.
People responded that special effects and effects are effective technique
in music videos as they allow the freedom to make something seem
impossible in real life possible also the use of effects can be used to fit in
with the type of song or song genre that would have an idea of surrealism
in the music video which possibly could relate to the lyrics of the song.
Some people thought that the use of effects is effective in terms of
making the music video stand out from all of the other music videos
within the same genre.

Majority of the people responded to the survey thought that the idea of
artists lip syncing in their music videos is effective as it makes the artists
performance in the music video seem more intimate and so the artist can
focus on creating a meaning to the music video more than if them just
focusing on singing the song in the music video. However some other
people disagreed upon the idea of the artists lip syncing along to the song
in music videos as they believe that they should make the artist singing
much more believable to be their own voice.
Everyone I asked that responded to the survey said that the use of multiimage in music videos are very effective as it shows the audience more
clips of the object in the music video. Also everyone agreed that the use
of camera angles are very important in music videos.
Majority of the people responded that they agree that the use of camera
angles work in a different context in music videos than in TV programmes.
They think that camera angles are more effective in music videos as the
music videos have less time to capture the audiences attention as the TV
does also they said that for TV you would need less artistic shots than you
need in music videos.
Majority of the people whom answered my survey said that camera
movements are effective and important to portray emotions and
meanings in each shot as you can show emotion much clearer with closeups rather than wide shots. However some disagreed with camera
movements not being effective in conveying emotions as they think that
the use of effects are much more effective in conveying emotion.