Different types of music

videos...

Performance A performance based video is the most common type of video produced in the 21st centaury and it’s main purpose is to entertain the audience by performing the song to them.

In this performance video Beyoncé uses her star iconography (dance moves) to mesmerize her fans. The camera is solely focused on her, despite the fact that there is 2 other dancers, Beyoncé's central positioning ensures that the audience will devote their attention to her. Beyoncé is performing this song to her audience as though she was on stage. The simple black and white background once again reinforces the audiences attention to her. Furthermore her bod hair and make up emphasises her facial beauty.

Single ladies is a

performance based

video by Beyoncé.

This video has a white

backdrop and focuses

solely on the

performer and her

choreography.

Narrative A narrative based video is a video which tells a story using a sequence of events. Narrative video’s are mainly used in love or emotional song because it allows the audience to visually witness the suffering that lyrics is portraying.

Trapped in the

closet is a

narrative video by

R. Kelly that has

33chapters. This

video is essentially

a mini-movie.

Trapped in the closet is a narrative video (essentially a mini movie) with different sub stories that are all interlinked with each other. In the 22 part video R. Kelly is telling a story (narrative) to the audience. He dresses up as the main character in each sub story and sings their feelings. R. Kelly may have done this because he was already a successful and established artist so he may have wanted to try something different, something unique and diverse that would appeal to his audience of different age ranges.

Abstract An abstract video is not as commonly used as performance and narrative. Indie, rock and house music tend to fit in the idea of ‘abstract’ better than any other genre. Abstract videos consist of unrelated events occurring that usually contradict the lyrics, it’s main purpose is to create a sense on uncertainty for the audience.

Move your feet is

an

abstract video by Junior

Senior. They use animation in

this music video and

although th

e cartoon

sometimes ‘m

ove their f

eet’

the majority of th

e video is

unrelated to th

e concept of

the song.

In this abstract video Junior Senior uses a variety of unconnected animations to make up his music video. It is possible to argue that because this is a dance song, the visuals on the video didn’t have to be highly connected. The contrasts of the images used create a sense of ambiguity, it confuses the audience because they are not aware of Junior’s intention behind the video. However in some parts of the song the words relate to the visual (move your feet), but on a whole the video is primarily abstract.