Styles in Music Videos

Style is a specific procedure in which a video is done, which is determined by its principles. There are Four Styles of Music Videos - Narrative, Performance, Concept and Intertextuality.

Narrative:

The Narrative Music video usually tells a story, expanding on the meaning of the song and communicating with the audience.

► Illustrative

In an illustrative style video, the literal meaning of the lyrics is used to create the visuals, connecting them through a strong bond.

A good example for this is Eminem’s Video for ‘Not Afraid’. The song is about figuring yourself out and standing up for who you are no matter the obstacles and breaking out of the trans you are in. The video delivers the same message, as it shows Eminem coming out of his comfort zone and trying to escape the maze he is stuck in. While some of the illustrations of the lyrics are symbolic, most connections between the lyrics and the visuals are shown very strongly.

"You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I say them"

"Everybody come take my hand"






   "Starting today I'm breaking out of this cage"

“I shoot for the moon”                                                                                                                           

► Interpretative

In the interpretative music video, the narrative presented doesn't have a direct link with the lyrics of the song. This allows the audience to interpret the video in their own way, resulting in different connotations of what the video is about.

An example for an interpretative narrative music video is ‘We Found Love’ by Rihanna and Calvin Harris.The song is about falling in love in a difficult circumstance and standing up against it. While the video’s main narrative revolves around a couple and their adventures together, the video has drug, alcohol and sex references, crime and unlinked events and irrelevant footage. This opens the audience to interpreting the story differently depending on how they read the narrative and link it to the lyrics of the song.Some could interpret the crime, drug and alcohol references as unpleasant conditions that they have to live through and stay together, while others could see it as their way of survival and staying together despite the difficult life they are forced to live.

 

Performance:

Performance based videos include the artist performing to the camera throughout the video. It is a tool of showing personality and charisma which will impact the audience.

Dua Lipa’a ‘New Rules’ Music Video is a perfect example for a performance video, as the whole video revolves around her singing. The characters guide her as she performs to the camera for most of the video. This is done with the purpose as presenting her in some kind of trans in the beginning, fitting the lyrics, as her character develops and she starts getting used to the situation and interacting more and more with the other characters. Towards the end of the video she has changed, accepting the group’s values, sings with them more and rarely looks at the camera - a new character is introduced in the same situation she was at the beginning, but the tables have turned and now she is the one singing to the camera and being guided.

     

      

    

     

     

► 'As Live' Performance

'As Live' Music Videos include real life footage from the artist or band performing the song on stage, rather than a staged performance. Although it can be used in a lot of genres, it is predominantly used in Rock and Indie Music Videos.

An usual to its genre, however, is Chris Brown’s video for ‘Take You Down’. As ‘as live' performance videos are usually used to establish an artist and build on an image, not many R&B artists chose to use recorded performances for their official music videos. However, as this song is of a seductuve nature, a performance like this would make a greater impact, but would be harder to recreate in a staged music video. 

 

 

Concept:

Concept Music Video are based on one abstract idea, sometimes obscure and surreal. It often aims to break down the boundaries between reality and fantasy. This bizarre imagery and unusual content becomes very memorable and attracts more audience.

The Weeknd’s ‘Starboy’ is a very abstract conceptual video, which seems almost surreal and unusual. The whole video is based on an unclear symbolism, as The Weeknd plays two roles in the beginning, strangling his ‘old self’ and destroying his house with a shiny, neon pink cross.

Intertextuality:

Intertextuality occurs when a music video refers to another media text. This can be achieved by reflecting the style of the video, or done in a humorous way.

► Pastiche

Pastiche is when one music video makes a tribute to another media text, by referencing it in an affectionate way.

For Example in his video for Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson paid a homage to Fred Astaire from The Band Wagon.This is a reference to another media text - a film, brought into a music video. His costume and behavior mimic Fred Astaire, and anyone familiar with the original text would see the reference.

 

Another example of a music video paying a homage to a film is Iggy Azalea's Music Video for 'Fancy'. Which is closely linked to the 90's film 'Clueless'. Iggy and Charli XCX wear the same outfits as the main characters in the film, the video is set in settings very alike to the one in the film - school, parties etc. and a lot of key scenes from the film are paid a tribute in the music video, being recreated in the exact same way.

 

 

  

 

► Parody

Parody, similar to Pastiche is one text imitating another, but in a mocking way, instead of paying a tribute. A good example is The Key of Awesome's Parody to the video mentioned above, 'Starboy' by The Weeknd.