Music Video Styles

All music videos come under at least one three categories: Narrative Based, Performance Based or Concept. Sometimes some music videos will come under more than one category.

Narrative Based
A narrative based music video is when the story is related to the lyrics. An example of this would be 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus. In the video, it is about a boy who is a bit of loser in his school and falls for the popular girl in school. In the end he eventually gets the girl at prom night. Another example of this would be 'Stan' by Eminem feat. Dido. This is quite a famous music video. In this video it is about a guy who is a massive fan of Eminem and keeps writing to him but gets no replies. He has a breakdown with his girlfriend and goes for a drive and eventually drives off the edge of a bridge. Most of Eminem's music videos are narrative based.

Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus

Stan - Eminem feat. Dido

Performance Based
A performance based music video is just when the artist is videoed performing their song with no story or other videos. The performance is often in an non - musical environment. An example this would be 'Can't tell me Nothing' by Kanye West. The video is just him performing his song in a desert (non - musical environment), not much happens in the video and is quite boring. Another example would be 'Undercover Martyn' by Two Door Cinema Club. There seems to be a little bit more going on in the background on this video but really they are just performing their song to the viewer.

Can' tell me Nothing - Kanye West

Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club

Concept Based

A concept based music video is when the video has no relation to the lyrics. These are usually the best music videos. An example of this would be 'Put Your Hands Up For Detroit' by Fredde Le Grand. In this video it is a lot of good looking nurses dancing around a lot of unresponsive clones of one guy and they try to wake them up. Another example would be 'Fluorescent Adolescence' by The Arctic Monkeys. The song is about a boy and a girls past relationship but the song is about a bunch of people dressed up as clowns fighting with a gang. Despite the video having nothing to do with the video it is still an enjoyable watch.

Put your Hands Up For Detroit - Fredde Le Grand

Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys