Week One:What makes a good
music video?
Key Idea:The primary focus of a music video is to sell the artist not
necessarily the actual song. It creates a representation of
the artist.
What makes a good music video?
Some basic points:• Matches the song & genre well• Interesting narrative, unless it is abstract –
in that case, it needs to include wide range of and more complex editing and cinematography techniques
• Relatable (especially to teenagers, as they are the main audience)
• Edited to the beat• Wide range of cinematography• Well thought out mise-en-scene• Follows conventions most importantly
What main conventions form a
music video?• Band/artist features in it• Lip sync or performance incorporated• Edited to the beat• Use of colour and lighting to create meaning,
and reflect mood and/or genre• Wide range of cinematography – different
angles, shot types, etc.• Mise-en-scene links to genre• Conventions can depend on the genre, e.g. pop
may heavily rely on performance (such as dancing) and use bright colours, etc.
Existing Music VideosArtist Narrative Techniques & Conventions used which
make it successful
Blink 182 – ‘After Midnight’ Narrative & Performance – 2 children in a mental institution
• Wide range of cinematography• Fast paced editing – matches beat• Effect use of lighting
Lana Del Rey – ‘Young and Beautiful’
No narrative (abstract) – Lana performing with an orchestra
• Edited to beat (slow paced)• Lots of coloured lighting• Lip sync• Very simplistic• Connotations provided through mise-en-scene
Beyoncé – ‘Pretty Hurts’ Narrative – Beauty Pageants – so much effort and pain put into being beautiful – is it really worth it?
• Wide range of edits, e.g. slow motion, rewind, etc.
• Relatable for women, especially teenagers (main audience)
Haim – ‘The Wire’ Narrative – Break ups with stereotypical roles reversed – the men are the emotional ones which makes it humorous
• Edited to match beat• Lip sync• Linear format
Rihanna – ‘only Girl’ Narrative – literally only girl in the world
• Mise-en-scene links to lyrics• Special effects• Lip sync/performance based• Heavily relies on mise-en-scene• Lighting adds to meaning
Coldplay – ‘Fix You’ No clear narrative – it is not made definite
• Shot at night to reflect the mood song• Mise-en-scene matches song• Lip sync live performance