Codes And Conventions For Music Videos

1. Codes And
Conventions
Of Music Videos

2. NARRATIVE
There has been a debate in weather a music video tells a story or not,
however most videos correspond with the lyrics and the style of music, this
is considered to be the narrative; what the artists lyrics mean. Some people
think videos simply add to the song, extending the song's narrative, and
illustrating what was previously only words. The artist themselves also play
a part in the story either being the narrator (singing the song), a protagonist
( the main character in role in the music video) or both.
Music video narratives are mainly love story's with male or female artists
and actors. Action narratives are normally dominated by males and dance
videos could be dominated by both. The point of a narrative is so the
audience can relate to the music and the video, from their past experiences.
Narratives are more common in the slow, R&B love songs, not so much the
heavy metal rock.

3. An example of a narrative is R.kelly‟s duet with
Usher-Same girl. The narrative in the music video
is about R.kelly and
Usher talking about the „same girl‟. They start to
describe the girl they know and they think the is cheating on one with the other,
however they find out at the end of the music video that the „girl‟ actually has a
identical twin.
In this music video both artists are protagonists and play the main roles in the
video, as well as being the narrator. This is common with duets with music
video's. Throughout the music video they have use edits such as spit screens
(as shown above) to show that they are communicating and show there facial
expressions, they also show them together, acting. (as shown below).

4. PERFORMANCE
Performance is quiet rare when it comes to music videos. Both females and
males have performances within there music video, however female artists
seem to be more into being part of the performances in there videos whereas
males are not so engaged with the „dancing‟. Some music videos use
performance clips from a stage performance from when they was on tour or
performing at a concert. Some music videos is the whole performance and
some are clips. An example of this is Chris Brown-Take you down music video.
It is actually his performance on stage. Chris Brown-Take You Down (Official
Music Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGLOE9LVNmc&ob=av2e

5. Even though some artists aren't the „performing type‟ and prefer a narrative,
some artists dedicate there time and effort to include themselves within a
music video performance. An amazing example of this is Beyoncé. Beyoncé
is exceptionally known for her high energy and performance skills, and she
defiantly likes to express them. Here are two examples of her music videos.
Single ladies has no narrative however, because there's only girls in the
video it links to the song (single ladies). Diva is another music video where
she is continuously dancing the video (choreographed dance) again there's
no narrative but the lyrics link to the dance and clothing as being Diva.
Single Ladies DIVA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNM5HW13_O8
oRFvY &ob=av2e

6. NOTION OF LOOKING
Notion on looking focus‟ on the stereotypes and labels that are associated with different artists.
The stereotypes used in music videos are normally used to target specific audiences. This
included men and women looking seductive within videos, and also eye contact with the camera
and each other, to create a link between the person and the audience An example of this is
Beyoncé- Run The World. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U&ob=av2e
From the beginning of the music video it is clear that
women/females are the most dominate gender. The screen
shot shows a group of females. This links to the title and
song lyrics. ”who runs the world…girls!”
As the video progresses and the dancing starts there are 2
men with Beyoncé who is in the middle, this may emphasis
that she has the power and authority, over both of males.
The two males doing the same dance as Beyoncé, idolises
that they have to follow Beyoncé, it becomes almost a order.
Again this shows how dominate females are in this video
and „proof‟ that the “run the world”

7. Throughout the music video Beyoncé, and the female dancers are
dressed seductively (as shown in the screenshots) they are
continuously clothed in revealing cloths that show legs arms and
cleavage. This is part of „Notion Of Looking‟ as it connects to the
song. By dressing like this, it tells the viewer that you don‟t have to
be masculine to be in power, this also may suggest a change in
the stereotype of males being „in charge‟.
Also part of „Notion Of Looking‟ is eye contact the artist makes
with the camera. (As shown above) Beyoncé makes seductive eye
contact with the camera as the video progresses, this is to get the
viewers engaged in the video, and follows the female stereotype
of being and looking „sexy‟.

8. Mise-en-scene
Like music magazines, mise-en-scene focus‟ on lighting, costume, setting,
characters, props and colours, which are all prerequisite when creating the right
setting and ambience for a successful music video. Mise-en-scene is know to
be one of the most important convention for any music genre, as it links
ideology to the specific genre and social group. For instance Dark lighting
would be seen in Gothic or some music videos whereas lighter lighting would
be shown in R&B. Here are examples of the different lighting used in different
genre of music.
Dark Lighting. „Gothic Girl‟ Lighter Lighting. „Pretty Girl Rock‟
See the difference

9. Setting
Trey Songz- Your side of the bed, is a music video which uses elements of
mise-en-sene for example the setting. This music video is set in a home,
which is made to be seen as a happy family household with both parents
happily married and a daughter. The setting of the music video links to the
lyrics and the genre of the music video. “Our bed, our sheets, our pillow's
gettin' lonely” + “And I don't know if she's gone for good or returnin' in the
mornin„” these lyrics connect to the meaning of the song; his wife Is in the
army and when she leaves its lonely and scary because he does‟nt know if
she is going to return, because of the army conditions. However at the end
of the video he find out that his wife had passed when she was at war.

10. Editing
Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz- I can transform
ya‟. Is a music video that is well know for the editing used.
Throughout the music video there are people „transforming‟ into
vehicles, however to do this there had to be some editing. Editing
such as fast cuts and special affects are crucial in music videos as
they create a futuristic video that draws the audience in to watch
the video. Bright light, animations are also a key element for
targeting to your target audience.
B.O.B ft Hayley Williams
Aeroplanes

11. Editing Techniques
Editing includes, transitions, different lengths, filter and effects and also sound effects. These are all essential for a music video
because they attract the viewers or their specific target audience. An example of good use of editing is Beyoncé‟s music video
Sweet dream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlxByc0-V40. A number of edits are used throughout. By using a lot
of editing links to the song of it being a „sweet dream‟ as we know, dreams are not real and things may happen in them that do
not happen in real life, this is the whole point of editing, to emphasis the futurist side of the songs narrative.
There is a wide range of camera angles used in the music video from long shots to close ups, and this links to the indulgence
of the narrative. This dream-like video also uses different contracts, colours and brightness to emphasis the meaning. The
colour white and silver are used frequently which suggest that Beyoncé is in the dream. As the lyrics mention „sweet dreams or
a beautiful nightmare‟ the phrase beautiful nightmare is shown through costumes and colour, darks colours however beautiful
shining costumes and cloths.
Parallel sounds are used, the use of backing vocals, however instead of cuts being used there's the constant repetition of „oh‟.
This adds to the movement of the music video that livens up the sound/vocals keeping the audience engaged.
Sound editing is also used. the voice clips and harmonies that give the music a certain sound are overlapped to infuse the
song and lyrics. The overlapping draws attention to the constant use, this makes the audience feel like there's part of the song,
the dream that is being explained throughout the video.
Use of the white background and silver costumes;
emphasis' the dream atmosphere.
Different Camera Angles Used.

12. Costume And Crops
I thought Keri Hilsons Song Pretty Girl Rock was an excellent example of the way costume and
crops are used in music videos, how they link to the song and the massive effect they can create.
Pretty Girl Rock is dominated and targeted at a female audience, its message is that no matter
what you wear, how you act, all females are pretty in their own way. To express this meaning
different outfits and crops were used thought the video as examples. This is very effective
especially how it is targeted at the female audience. http://youtu.be/HtXOVKNazYU

13. Sound
Sound is one of the most effective elements within a music video as it can
create a different perspective, and image on the video itself, it is also important
because it is the main reason other then the video why people listen to the
music.
Sound is split in to two types, diegetic and non- diegetic sound. Diegetic sound
is any sound presented as originated from source within the video, such as
voices and sounds made by objects. Diegetic sound can be either on screen or
off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the
frame. Non-diegetic sound is Sound whose source is neither visible on the
screen nor has been implied to be present in the action, examples of non
diegetic sound would be, narrator's story telling, sound effects which is added
for the dramatic effect, or a mood which improvises with the music and what's
going on in the video.

14. “Stepped up in the party like “Step up in the party like my
my name was “that *****”. name was Mr. T “
This is two parts of the song were the voice of Nicki Minaj (on the left) and WILL.I.AM (on the
right) is edited to create an robotic futuristic sound as the theme of the music video is a
futuristic live music video in Japan. By adding the effects on the voice it links the song more
with the theme of the video and attracts the audience.
This type of sound is non-diegetic because they don‟t „actually‟ sound like that buts edited for
a dramatic effect.
I couldn‟t find a video version with appropriate language but I found an audio link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THSRIjQfhY0&feature=related

15. Because I could not find an music video for WILL.I..AM ft Nicki Minaj-Check
it out music video only an audio here is some screen shots of the music
video, which will hopefully confirm what I wrote about the theme of the song
and the edited lyrics.
As you see, all the editing techniques, costumes, crops and light link to the theme of the music video: futuristic live
music video, and we know this because the slightly larger screenshot on the right shows a group of women
dressed the same, good posture and special effect glasses on emphasises that the video they see music video is
edited with effects such as mirror image and creating more the one of one thing (picture on the left). So the non
digetic sounds that is edited on the artists voices tie well together with the video itself to create and successful
edited dramatic sound. Diegetic sound such as voice editing is also catchy and easy to remember when watching
the video this can increase the viewers as well as the fans.

16. Camera Angles, Movement & Composition
Like the other elements of mise-en-scene, camera angles, movement and composition are
key to a successful music video as it portrays different genres and points out how one genre
differs another. For example, R&B and Hip-Hop usually use a lot of mid-shots and long shots
showing costume body movements and expressions, on the other hand rock, gothic and
punk usually use low camera angles which shows the power and level that they portray
through there music.
Movement is important as it also emphasis and lives up to the stereotype of that certain
genre, for example hip hop artist (male&female) use hand gestures and hand movements
when rapping, its apparent that is something that automatically happens when rapping, but if
an artist of a different genre was to use the same movements its wouldn‟t link. Camera
angles also express mod and themes with in the music video. For instance if it‟s an upbeat
energising happy song, then it is common that a lot of quick cuts are used to emphasis the
excitement. However is less upbeat and unhappy sad songs will stay on an camera angles
for a longer time, extending the feelings expressed though the lyrics and video. In conclusion
camera angles, and movement play a big part in music and there music video stereotypes.

17. An good example of a music video that includes camera movement and composition is Willow Smith-
Whip My Hair. Throughout this video a various of shots are show to create and effect and a storyline
for the audience. The camera angles link in with the beat on the music, this technique is effective
when making a song and the video catchy and easy to remember, because it is easy to remember a
beat and with the beat you will remember any actions or dance routines. The illusion also connects
with the lyrics and the dancing. This emphasis the effect that camera angles have on the atmosphere
in the video. For example a still camera would represent a depressing gothic video whereas a camera
with lots of movement and jump cuts will emphasis the happy, fun, upbeat R&B or hip-Hop video.
In the music video Whip My Hair another effective composition is used where you can see the artists,
actors or dancers through other angles that have been overlapped and any other detail. The purpose
of this is so you can see all people/figures at one time by having then translucent.
Throughout the music video the majority of camera shows are close up and low shots. The close up
shows the expressions on her face while singing and the low shows demonstrate the power Willow
Smith has despite her age. The lighting the comes from the corner of the video enhances her
dominance, so she shines/sparkles in front of the plain white background. the light helps her stand out
attracting the viewers to look at her and no were else. Both the close ups and the low shots that are
continuously used within the video, flows well with the lyrics and the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKLymvwD2U&ob=av3e