Music Videos

There are three main genres of music videos; performance, narrative and abstract.

Performance Video
Performance videos are usually more suited to rock/pop music and the focus is always on the performers and them performing the song. These types of videos are the easiest to produce and require the least amount of planning.

An example of a performance video would be 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Divison. The video is simple the band performing the single in what looks like a shabby bare room in an abandoned house.

http://www.muzu.tv/joydivision/love-will-tear-us-apart-music-video/994763/

Narrative Video
Narrative videos are suited to most genres of music. As the name narrative suggests, the video is based around a story and often rarely has anything to do with the song. They generally have a unique and distinctive twist. For example The Scientist by Coldplay, the story in the video is shown in reverse.

Another example of a narrative video is 'The A Team' by Ed Sheeran. This video is unique in the sense the video directly relates to the lyrics as the video is about a prostitute trying to fund her drug addiction.

http://www.muzu.tv/edsheeran/the-a-team-music-video/974075/

Abstract Video
Abstract videos are usually detached from the music and lyrics. There are a series of seemingly unconnected images that fit the pace of the music. Abstract videos tend to suit most genres and in particular the less mainstream indie artists.

An example of an abstract video is 'Blue Monday' by New Order. The only way the video relates to the music is the pace in which it is edited and there are some images that have the lyrics on the screen. The rest of the video is made up of random and unrelated things such as a dog sat on a stack of chairs etc.

http://www.muzu.tv/neworder/blue-monday-88-music-video/994756/

Across all videos, they are generally built on money and image. The record label require a certain level of intimacy between performer and viewer.

In some cases, music videos can reference other forms of media, other videos and parodying real life. For example, R.E.M.'s 'Bad Day video' incorporates a news broadcast. Also, Shania Twain's 'Man I Feel Like A Woman' video directly links with the video to 'Addicted To Love' by Robert Palmer as it basically the same except the singer is a woman and she is surrounded by men playing instruments.