Performance Based Videos
Performance based videos are ones which only show the band performing with their instruments. These are usually done with footage of the band playing in concert. A great example of this is "Closer To The Edge" by 30 Seconds To Mars:
This video consists of footage from the band's "Into The Wild" tour in 2010. They filmed at every 30 Seconds To Mars concert on the tour, which - as the video makes clear - occurred all around the world. It begins with fans of 30 Seconds To Mars talking about things which are relevant to the themes in their songs and, indeed, music itself. These people are slowly cut together with visuals of the band preparing themselves for a concert, some of which was clearly filmed in a studio as opposed to a concert. It brings forward the suggestion of a sentimental connection between the artists and the admirers. This is especially shown when Jared Leto is seen in the video to run amongst everybody in the crowd. The music video doesn't have a pure narrative because it is all about the music. It's all about the experience that music gives you, whether you go to a concert or not.
They have title sections for each individual band member doing things that resemble their personality. Jared is seen interacting with the audience and even jumping in with them - showing his incredibly enthusiastic nature. Shannon is seen riding a motorcycle down a road, which probably means he is the 'cool' one of the group. Tomo is only seen with a guitar, which gives him a mysterious and exciting quality. Jared Leto in particular has a specific style which suits the genre of their music perfectly. It is like David Bowie and the glam rock years, but far more modern, rebellious and dark. This darkness is highlighted in their clothing, the overall lighting and just their general style.
I don't know whether I want to involve any performance-based material in my music video. It might be ideal because the song "BRAIN DAMAGE" is about a former band member. So the environment of the band may suit the overall meaning of the song.
Narrative Based Videos
A narrative based music video is one that displays a story with the music dubbed over it. This is quite a common basis for music videos because it makes the audience more interested in the video - since it shares a convention of film and TV. A good example of this is the video for "Hysteria" by Muse:
This story follows a man suffering from a mental illness, presumably hysteria, who tries to remember what he did the previous night. He finds out through a video camera which taped his experiences. He has been stalking a woman with this video camera. It is clear that he has been doing this for a while because of the different locations he has filmed this woman in. The film jumps at certain points to a flashback, made clear by the presence and absence of the protagonist's white shirt. It is clear that the protagonist has somehow convinced this woman to spend the night with him. However, we see by random intercuts that he abuses her before any sexual activity can proceed. We can see that she escapes but not at the end. The narrative jumps backwards and forwards in order to bring us to the same level of confusion as the protagonist. It ends with the woman climbing seductively on the bed, just before the abuse from the protagonist takes place. This is the story of the music video.
I chose this one in particular because - apart from the music - the band does not appear in the video at all. There isn't even a logo or shots of them playing their instruments. The video is wholly focused on the narrative and the characters. It also seems that the music is only used to transport the audience into the protagonist's mindset, which is distorted and out-of-control. This is probably why no lip-synching is included either. The makers clearly didn't want any distraction that veers away from the story.
I believe I would want my video to fall under this category because of the subject matter of the song itself. Since "BRAIN DAMAGE" is about Syd Barrett's schizophrenia, I would want to base the video on his experiences. I think I would like lip-synching, unlike "HYSTERIA", because Barrett was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. So, essentially, music meant a great deal to him.
Concept Based Videos
These music videos are based on an idea or concept, which they stick with through the entire video. There is not usually a narrative, and even if there was one it would be rather enigmatic. This technique isn't usually used for commercial purposes because the band does not appeal to a wider audience. It is for aesthetic purposes but they must suit the style of the band.
Here is the music video for "FAKE PLASTIC TREES" by Radiohead. This definitely follows the concept-based style. The entire video takes place in a futuristic supermarket with Thom Yorke, the singer, being pushed around in a trolley by an unseen person. Yorke is clearly supposed to be portraying a baby or toddler being pushed around a supermarket presumably by his mother. There is also shots of other band members in trolleys - most notably Colin Greenwood who has his guitar with him and doesn't play it. This establishes his position in the band. The trolleys go around colour-co-ordinated canisters filled with an unknown substance. It appears that Yorke's trolley stays in one aisle, even though it is being pushed around. Many unusual characters appear in front of Yorke: the cowboy with two guns, the bald man who attempts to shave his head, and an elderly woman dressed in yellow who decides to sit on a chair in the middle of the aisle.
The director of the video has said that the video is about 'death and reincarnation'. This ideas are clearly seen when everybody has to leave the supermarket. Everyone goes toward a white light, which is indicated as being the exit. Yorke is able to break free of his trolley and exit with the others.
I don't think I want to adopt only this style into my music video. I would want to make semi-clear about what my video was about. But I would want to insert enigmatic elements like in "HYSTERIA".
Performance based videos are ones which only show the band performing with their instruments. These are usually done with footage of the band playing in concert. A great example of this is "Closer To The Edge" by 30 Seconds To Mars:
This video consists of footage from the band's "Into The Wild" tour in 2010. They filmed at every 30 Seconds To Mars concert on the tour, which - as the video makes clear - occurred all around the world. It begins with fans of 30 Seconds To Mars talking about things which are relevant to the themes in their songs and, indeed, music itself. These people are slowly cut together with visuals of the band preparing themselves for a concert, some of which was clearly filmed in a studio as opposed to a concert. It brings forward the suggestion of a sentimental connection between the artists and the admirers. This is especially shown when Jared Leto is seen in the video to run amongst everybody in the crowd. The music video doesn't have a pure narrative because it is all about the music. It's all about the experience that music gives you, whether you go to a concert or not.
They have title sections for each individual band member doing things that resemble their personality. Jared is seen interacting with the audience and even jumping in with them - showing his incredibly enthusiastic nature. Shannon is seen riding a motorcycle down a road, which probably means he is the 'cool' one of the group. Tomo is only seen with a guitar, which gives him a mysterious and exciting quality. Jared Leto in particular has a specific style which suits the genre of their music perfectly. It is like David Bowie and the glam rock years, but far more modern, rebellious and dark. This darkness is highlighted in their clothing, the overall lighting and just their general style.
I don't know whether I want to involve any performance-based material in my music video. It might be ideal because the song "BRAIN DAMAGE" is about a former band member. So the environment of the band may suit the overall meaning of the song.
Narrative Based Videos
A narrative based music video is one that displays a story with the music dubbed over it. This is quite a common basis for music videos because it makes the audience more interested in the video - since it shares a convention of film and TV. A good example of this is the video for "Hysteria" by Muse:
This story follows a man suffering from a mental illness, presumably hysteria, who tries to remember what he did the previous night. He finds out through a video camera which taped his experiences. He has been stalking a woman with this video camera. It is clear that he has been doing this for a while because of the different locations he has filmed this woman in. The film jumps at certain points to a flashback, made clear by the presence and absence of the protagonist's white shirt. It is clear that the protagonist has somehow convinced this woman to spend the night with him. However, we see by random intercuts that he abuses her before any sexual activity can proceed. We can see that she escapes but not at the end. The narrative jumps backwards and forwards in order to bring us to the same level of confusion as the protagonist. It ends with the woman climbing seductively on the bed, just before the abuse from the protagonist takes place. This is the story of the music video.
I chose this one in particular because - apart from the music - the band does not appear in the video at all. There isn't even a logo or shots of them playing their instruments. The video is wholly focused on the narrative and the characters. It also seems that the music is only used to transport the audience into the protagonist's mindset, which is distorted and out-of-control. This is probably why no lip-synching is included either. The makers clearly didn't want any distraction that veers away from the story.
I believe I would want my video to fall under this category because of the subject matter of the song itself. Since "BRAIN DAMAGE" is about Syd Barrett's schizophrenia, I would want to base the video on his experiences. I think I would like lip-synching, unlike "HYSTERIA", because Barrett was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. So, essentially, music meant a great deal to him.
Concept Based Videos
These music videos are based on an idea or concept, which they stick with through the entire video. There is not usually a narrative, and even if there was one it would be rather enigmatic. This technique isn't usually used for commercial purposes because the band does not appeal to a wider audience. It is for aesthetic purposes but they must suit the style of the band.
Here is the music video for "FAKE PLASTIC TREES" by Radiohead. This definitely follows the concept-based style. The entire video takes place in a futuristic supermarket with Thom Yorke, the singer, being pushed around in a trolley by an unseen person. Yorke is clearly supposed to be portraying a baby or toddler being pushed around a supermarket presumably by his mother. There is also shots of other band members in trolleys - most notably Colin Greenwood who has his guitar with him and doesn't play it. This establishes his position in the band. The trolleys go around colour-co-ordinated canisters filled with an unknown substance. It appears that Yorke's trolley stays in one aisle, even though it is being pushed around. Many unusual characters appear in front of Yorke: the cowboy with two guns, the bald man who attempts to shave his head, and an elderly woman dressed in yellow who decides to sit on a chair in the middle of the aisle.
The director of the video has said that the video is about 'death and reincarnation'. This ideas are clearly seen when everybody has to leave the supermarket. Everyone goes toward a white light, which is indicated as being the exit. Yorke is able to break free of his trolley and exit with the others.
I don't think I want to adopt only this style into my music video. I would want to make semi-clear about what my video was about. But I would want to insert enigmatic elements like in "HYSTERIA".
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