1. Performance, Concept &
Narrative Music Videos
Lesson Goal
To be able to identify the different types of music video.
To understand the ingredients needed for each type (and to be able to
inform others).
To effectively consider and apply justifications of creating a hybrid.

2. HOW TO SPOT A MUSIC VIDEO
music videos

3. PERFORMANCE BASED
• Many music videos include performance of
the artists as part of the video.
• It was from clips of performances that music
videos developed.

4. NARRATIVE BASED
• Often the video tells a story either that
features in the lyrics or is suggested in the
lyrics e.g. girl dumps boy
• This narrative can be like a mini film, with a
beginning, middle and end.
• Or it can suggest some links to a story.
• It can promote a film with clips from the film
including telling a story.

5. CONCEPT
• Concept videos are based around a single idea
or concept and are usually unusual or obscure,
even surreal for an audience. The unusual
content is an attraction to many consumers,
which draws them in.
• A successful concept video will keep the
audience entertained and constantly looking
at what or who is on the screen.

6. CONCEPT: THEMATIC
• There are lots of common themes in music
videos
• Depends on the genre of music
• E.g. Heavy Metal bands go for performance
dominated clips, Rap has lots of street images,
Dance routines are common in pop videos.

7. CONCEPT: SYMBOLIC
• Use of lots of symbols to build up meaning
e.g. graveyard…death
• Lots of use of montage – lots of images to
create meaning sometimes often
contradictory
• Lighting often used to suggest mood
• Fast paced – often only a few seconds per shot
to build up meanings
• Pictures can support or contradict the lyrics.

8. Performance/Concept/Narrative
What’s the difference between…?
Performance Concept Narrative
e.g. features band or artist generally an idea a storyline
Type of shots, theme, editing, audience positioning.
Artist/Band & Song
Title
Type / Category
Reasons Why /
Characteristics

9. EXAMPLES
• Watch the following music videos and decide
which category they fit in.
• You may find they are a hybrid of more than
one.
• At the end of watching you’ll need to develop
an ingredients list for each category.

10. RESULTS
Artist/Band & Title
Performance – The Living
Oasis – Stand By Me
OK Go – This Too Shall Pass
The Cranberries - Zombie
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Otherside
No Doubt – It’s My Life
Oren Lavie – Her Morning Elegance
Radiohead - Just
Type / Category
Performance
Narrative
Concept: Thematic
Hyrbid - Concept: Symbolic, Performance
Concept: Symbolic
Hybrid – Narrative & Performance
Concept: Thematic
Hybrid – Narrative, Performance &
Concept: Symbolic

11. RECIPES FOR MUSIC VIDEOS
Create a recipe for your type of music video.
Use recipe-type words (a dash of…, a pinch of…)
to inform others what they’re looking for in each
category.
Things to also consider:
• Goodwin
• Variations (hybrids) that might exist

12. What do PERFORMANCE videos
contain?
• Often contain shots of the artist performing
• Can be a live stage performance, with shots of the artist/band
and audience
• Can be the artists in ‘real life’ situations e.g. warming up,
talking, fooling around
• Often includes lots of close ups of the artist
• There can be a particular visual style that goes with the artist
(a motif) e.g. particular clothing, actions, props, type of
images.
• Often the artist can appear to perform in an unusual place –
all lip-synched e.g. a field, a rooftop.

13. What do NARRATIVE videos contain?
• Because it’s only 3-4 mins it can be
– Very fast paced, lots of shots and cuts
– Use intertextualilty (references other films, videos
or TV)
– Mimic other film and TV genres e.g. horror or sci-fi
– Sometimes the story can contradict what is seen
for effect
– Sometimes the artist is a part of the story, or an
observer or completely separate

14. What do CONCEPT videos contain?
• Often unusual elements.
• Can be anything!

15. MIXING A HYBRID
How would you plan an effective storyboard to
include narrative and performance elements?
Focus on where you think the performance
elements would be in a song. Be ready to
justify your plan.
At the start? At the end? For the chorus?
During the instrumental?

16. Homework
Andrew Goodwin
• Do you agree with Andrew Goodwin’s comment that
music videos demonstrate genre characteristics;
stage performances for metal bands, dance routines
for pop groups?
Can you think of a music video that would support this theory?
Write a short response, (no more than 500 words,)
discussing this theory.
You must refer to at least 3 different music videos