Music Video StylesBy Harry Denn

Performance

• Performance videos primarily focus on the artist or band performing their song on their own or in fornt of a crowd. They never usually do not have any kind of narrative, and consist of a wide variety of camera shots, and regulary repeat certain shots throughout the video. These

Some examples of performance vidoes are:• Sick Puppies - Your Going Down - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liW-kWFiXtQ• Linkin Park - In The End - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yw1Tgj9-VU• Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk• These three videos are good examples of performance videos as they primarily

show members of the band playing, and have very little if any cut aways to any narrative.

Narrative

• A narrative music video usually consists of a little bit of performance showing the artist singing, mixed with a story being told throughout most of the video. This style of video is common among hip hop artists as they show little performance and show what the song is about, the story.

Some examples of narrative music videos are:• Avicii - Hey Brother - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cp6mKbRTQY• Bastille - Pompeii - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90Cw4l-8NY• Ella Henderson - Ghost - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA8AfQaUnXM• The videos have a story in which they are trying to portary to the viewer whihc

is not just about the song. They are usually closely related to the song, and usually are used if the song is over 4:30 minutes long.

Cameo

• This style of video occurs when other artists or famous people appear in a video, but do not actually get involved with the singing. This involves the artist singing through the video with cut backs to them performing, whilst almost doing a narrative video.

Some examples of cameo music videos are:• Michael Jackson - Black or White -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2AitTPI5U0• Aerosmith - Cryin' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K5gCGpcddQ• The video follows a narrative based around the guest appearances with the

video cutting back to the artists. the people involved can easily relate to the video and people know who they are.

Notion of Looking

• Notion of looking videos are usually apparent when the audience is watching the artist or characters in the music video do something, for example watching TV or another person.

Some examples of notion of looking music videos are:• Simple Plan - Your Love Is A Lie -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN4N5MKPAVo• Go Audio - Made Up Stories -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLUBuY1EMeI• These are both good examples as they show the artist looking as their lover

cheats on them. The videos consist of mostly long shots, which make it look like a point of view shot.