Styles and

Techniques

Styles of Music Videos

There are many different styles of music videos varying with
different approaches visuals and how they are constructed. The
styles are Inconcert & as live; Animation; Interpretative;
Narrative; Impressionist; Surrealist; Pastiche; Parody; Homage;
Influence of commercials.
There are many conventions that go alongside the different styles
which are Allusion;Green screen; Lyric interpretation and
consolidating songs meaning; Links to other artists.

In Concert and Live

When an artist decides to have a live music video of from a concert, it can be used for
different reasons. Id say the main reason would be that the artist is trying to prove
their qualities and talent, showing they are raw talent that they can perform in live
performance and not auto tunes and edited. For example Beyonc - I Was Here (United
Nations World Humanitarian Day Performance Video) - https://youtu.be/i41qWJ6QjPI
Back when Rock & Roll was at its peak live concerts used to be massive with face of
Elvis Presley, these concerts used to be such a massive occasion that when some new
artists try to music vidoes of concerts they can be trying to allude or imitate the role
that Elvis Presley has. https://youtu.be/MMmljYkdr-w
Different reasons can be due to the individual image, for example certain artists can
have a massive audience reaction due to sex appeal for example Nicki Minaj. Another
reason could be to show how successful an artist is by performing in front of massive
audience with amazing live production effects. Live performance videos can promote a
artist image and doesnt follow the normal conventions of a music video so is not
mainstream. Jay Z and Kanye West did this with Ni**as in Paris music video (can not
access music video as is restricted).

Animation (Green screen)

Animation is the rapid display of sequence of images to create an illusion of movement.
Animation or CGI is computer created video footage which can be used to make
something not real come to life. This allows for certain non real narratives to be made.
For example Coldplay Adventure of a Lifetime https://youtu.be/QtXby3twMmI

Interpretative
This means it allows the audience to make their own interpretation of what they think
the music video is about. Music videos always have denotative meanings but only
some have connotative meanings, and interpretation music videos have more than one
meaning which the audience translates in their own way.
For example Micheal Jackson - Black or White https://youtu.be/F2AitTPI5U0

Narrative
If a music video has a narrative it means the plot or the storyline. That it isnt just a
random selection of videos and that there's a start middle and end. This gives the
advert actual meaning and can give the song another meaning to go be watched and
seen alongside the audios.
For example Nelly ft Kelly Rowland Dilemma
The Narrative structure stars with Kelly Rowland moving into a new home opposite
Nelly. Kelly has a boyfriend but she struggles with dilemma as she falls in love with
Nelly. Even the time of day progresses through the advert.
https://youtu.be/8WYHDfJDPDc

Impressionist
Impressionist is very similar surrealism, which takes you away from reality. Can be very
experimental and abstract. More important on the connotations of the visuals maybe
than the denotations.
For example Ultravox Vienna
https://vimeo.com/126197914

Surrealist
Surreal music videos are dream like. Or unreal elements featured in the advert which
makes the plot not realistic. Music videos can very extreme in being outgoing or
different to the normal. This can attract attension.
For example Loose Tape - https://youtu.be/flXwv-FxFbs

Pastiche
Adaptions of other, previous music videos
The original by Massive Attack Unfinished sympathy lyrics does not match up with the
video. She is singing about a love story of where she has fallen in love with a mad that
has cheated on her which has taught her for further on in life.
So the music video is just her being a strong independent woman walking out of the
hood (probably where this disloyal man was) out on the side walk and along the street.
Whereas The Verve Bitter Sweet Sympathy music video despite imitating and copying
the style of Massive Attacks. Actual denotes its visuals worth the lyrics as the lyrics are
about the world he's living in.

Parody
Mick taking out of existing music videos for humorous effects
For example the original being Michael Jacksons massive hit Beat it, Weird Al Yankovic
Fat. Instead of this chorus line beat it, hes changed it to eat it. The Weird Al tune
semantic field is all just about food, and it used for humours effect.
https://youtu.be/t2mU6USTBRE

Homage
Homage is to show or demonstrate respect to previous actions. Or dedications to
someone/something.
An excellent example of a music video that uses homage is The Kill by 30 Seconds to
Mars. This video uses locations, themes and iconography from the popular classic
horror film The Shining. The band perform in a hotel very similar to The Overlook hotel
featured in The Shining and the lead singer sits at a typewriter just as Jack Nicholsons
character who is a writer does in the film.

Techniques of Music Videos

There are many different techniques used also in music
videos. The main techniques used are Lyric
Interpretation, Extending or consolidating songs
meaning, Allusion, Links to other artist, Cutting to the
beat, Miming and lip sync and Multi-mage.

Lyric Interpretation
How the audience interpret the lyrics.
The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AWBENDJDk8

Extending or consolidating songs

meaning
Changing a songs meaning to a more suitable one for
the listener.

Allusion
Anallusionis a figure of speech that makes a reference
to a place, person, or something that happened.
When the audience is under the allusion something is
happening then turns out to be not as it first seemed.

Links to other artist

Referencing another by visually adding them in the
video or lyrics.
Eminem Without Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkUvmDQ3HY&li
st=RDYVkUvmDQ3HY

Cutting to the beat

When the shots in the video cut to the next in time with
the beat.
The Offspring Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzY2Qcu5i2A

Miming and lip sync

Wording the lyrics on the video to give the allusion of
singing the song.
Azelia Banks - 212
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Jv9fNPjgk

Multi-mage
The use of multiple shots on the same screen.
Example Kickstarts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9yGcKlYAiw