Music Videos- Styles, conventions and techniques.

Music Videos- Styles, conventions and techniques.By Daryl GilhamPopular Music GenresRizzle Kicks Mama do the humpThe genre of the video is aligned with the genre of the music to enhance the video.In-concert and as live FootageMetallica - Wherever I May Roam.This music video contains images of the band performing live to their fans, this means that even people that cannot afford to see the band live can still experience some of the live flavour.Animation (stop motion & digital)Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.This music video contains mostly animated sequences, constructing a music video in this way can make the video more interesting and more visually appealing. It can also open up more possibilities for the content of the music video.InterpretativeR Kelly - Trapped in the Closet.Music videos like this one allow the lyrics to literally narrate the story of the music video, the videos provide a visual accompaniment. NarrativeDepeche Mode PeaceVideos such as these depict a story that the viewer can become interested in as the music progresses.ImpressionistVillagers Becoming A JackalImpressionist music videos often take a more arty approach to their videos, often featuring shimmering, glitzy visuals designed to entrance.SurrealistSoft Cell - Sex DwarfThis music video contains highly unconventional imagery, it was banned but this only served to increase public interest.

PasticheMichael Jackson ThrillerThe video is pastiche in the sense that it imitates the archetypical horror genre were all familiar with.ParodyWeird Al Yancovic - FatThis song is an example of a parody as it pokes fun at the notion of the original song.ReferencingWill Smith Men in Black This video contains numerous references to the original film of the same name, it was released in conjunction with the film in order to promote it.HomageThirty Seconds To Mars - The Kill (Bury Me) This music video is an example of an homage, it copies a lot of shots and location styles from the Stanley Kubrick Film The Shining

Influence Of CommercialsKanye West Gold DiggerSometimes it is even apparent that advertising has had an impact on the world of music videos.Lyric InterpretationRihanna - Russian RouletteLyric interpretation is what we do as viewers when we try to work out the meanings of songs. It is often used by directors on music videos in order to help accompany the music or to deliberately clash with it.Extending songs meaningPink Floyd - Learning To FlyThis is used in songs to broaden the meaning of the song to leave it open to interpretation, this can mean a song with a more straightforward narrative can suddenly become more mysterious.Consolidating songs meaningBeastie Boys- SabotageThis technique is implemented into songs to emphasise the meaning of the song and add a visual flourish to the song.AllusionFoo Fighters - WalkAllusion is used in music videos to reference either an already existing text or a person. Sometimes the allusions are so vague few will even understand the reference.Links to other artistsRed Hot Chili Peppers Dani CaliforniaMusic videos can be made which reference other artists within them, this is commonly done either by homage or parody.Cutting to beatThirty Seconds To Mars - The Kill (Bury Me)

Cutting music to the beat in music videos often helps to establish a greater sense of pace in music videos, this is a technique used in many music videos.EffectsBonnie Tyler Total Eclipse Of the HeartVisual effects are incredibly common in music videos, these effects are often used to impress the viewer or stimulate an emotional response from them.Miming and lip syncRihanna - CheersIn live videos artists are often required to lip sync so the video can be synced to the audioPlayback and lip syncColdplay The ScientistThis is lip syncing in the studio, sometimes this is implemented to create interesting visual effects in some music videos.Multi- ImageMegadeth Sweating BulletsMultiple images are shown in the music video depicting different things to achieve a visually pleasing effect within the video.Camera MovementsPink Floyd Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2This is using different camera techniques such as pans and tilts to enhance a music video and give it a flowing feel.Camera anglesThe Cure - LovecatsDifferent camera angles and shot types are often used in music videos and can add whole new dimensions to the piece. Many different angles are used in music videos to establish many different moods for a video.Chroma keyJarvis Cocker Dont let him waste your timeThe chroma key technique is used to underlay a second image behind the primary image, directors use this technique to open up new possibilities for their videos.