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1. Music Video Categories
Sauzanne Micael

2. Types of Music Videos
A music video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, created for
promotional or artistic purposes. During the pre-production phase, and after
the analysis of music videos, it is essential, that the type of music video being
produced is established. There are three different types of music videos that
are created. They act as the foundation for what a music video will be based on.
There three different types include:
Performance based music videos,
Narrative based music videos &
Concept based music videos

3. Performance Based Music Videos
This particular type of music video originated in the 1920s, according to my research into
the history of music videos. This was the ultimately the start of music videos featuring
the musical artist or group actually performing live for an audience or possibly just a
camera. This was particularly popular in the 1920/30s as this did not require a large
financial budget and technology was not as developed. However in contemporary times,
this type of music video is still popular as audiences are able to watch a high energy live
performance that they allows them to connect with the music watching the artist
directly perform it. The direct mode of address makes audiences feel as though they are
there in the moment of performance. Music videos within the indie folk genre are often
performance based as the demographic for this particular hybrid genre tend to enjoy
listening to the lyrics in a nice calm atmosphere.
The actual song my group and I have decided to base our music video on which is
‘Youth’ by Daughter, has a performance based music video.
This type of music video tends to be most used in the rock genre, as the instruments
used, energy of the music usually equals to a uplifting exciting performance which
audiences tend to enjoy.

4. Example of Performance Based Music
Videos
An example of a performance based music video is Lucy Rose’s music video for ‘Middle
of the Bed’. This music video involves the artist, Lucy Rose, performing the song in
various natural settings in day to day attire directly looking into the camera and singing
the song. This is effective as the lyrics of the song describe what she is going through
using words such as ‘I’ and ‘Me’. The connotation of these words makes the atmosphere
more personable, as the audience can react to the lyrics of the song. As this is song is
considered to be apart of the indie genre, it reflects a example of what we would be
trying to achieve is we chose to create a music video using the idea of performance.
Other examples within
either the Indie or Folk
genre include:
 Foo Fighters – My Hero
 Vampire Weekend –
Cousins
 Daughter - Youth

5. Narrative Based Music Videos
Narrative based music videos are simply when the video is based on a synopsis (often
reflected by the lyrics of the song). These types of music videos became increasingly
popular in the 1950/60s when musical sensations such as Michael Jackson and The Beatles
pioneering them. Having a storyline means audiences can getter a different interpretation
of the lyrics once they’re made aware of the narrative through the eyes of a protagonist
featured in the music. This illustration may make a potential audience appreciate the song
more as they can see what an artist envisioned their product to look like. Effectively making
audiences more attracted to the product. Particularly in the Indie Folk genre, narrative
based music videos are a great way of expressing the music videos as the lyrics for this
genre tend to be about important topics of discussion. As a result, it will get audiences
talking and sharing their opinions on important issues in society.
This type of video is commonly used for songs that are
featured in motion picture films with specific scenes cut
from the movie; placed in the music video. This is used
amongst a few genres. An example of this being ‘Skyfall’
by Adele titled after the James Bond franchise movie
‘Skyfall’.

6. Example of Narrative Based Music
Videos
Oasis’s music video for ‘Stand By Me’ which is based on people being wrongly seen as
being criminals simply labelled by societies stereotypes. Throughout the video what
appears to be violent acts occurring by people who are usually depicted as bad in the
media are actually helping the situation. This is a very powerful message as it reflects
not everything in society is how it looks and people should less judgemental. This
narrative highlight a real situation, thus this music video brings light to the topic
potentially making audiences go out and converse over what they have seen.
Other examples
within either the Indie
or Folk genre include:
 Damien Rice – 9
Crimes
 Bon Iver –
Holocene
 Mumford and
Sons – Lover of
the light

7. Concept based Music Videos
Concept based music videos require the foundation of the editing to be concentrated on
one particular idea or theme. Most videos have different concepts, however this type is
stuck on one form of relaying what the song means. As a result of this, the music video
focuses heavily on it use of editing; including the pace of editing depending on how upbeat
the song or the build up of the symbolism either supporting or contradicting the lyrics of
the song. This type of video tends to be very unique.
Example of Concept Based Music Videos
The music video for the Artic Monkeys hit
song ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ is edited
throughout to look like a heart rate line or
the electrical activity of a heart. This cleverly
relates to the content; finding out about your
partners activity.

8. My Music Video
My group and I have decided to focus on a narrative based music
video as we felt this would give us the opportunity to be creative
on what the potential storyline could be. Also, the song ‘Youth’ by
Daughter is about young people and the social issues of the
different pressures they find themselves facing. We wanted a
chance to portray our perspective of how this affects the potential
target audience which we essentially are apart of. Therefore we
would be creating something that we may enjoy enjoy watching.