Categories of Music Videos

The three main categories of music video are:

• Performance based videos
• Concept based
• Narrative based videos

Narrative based music videos have a storyline to them, which it follows throughout the entire video. Two good examples of a narrative based music video are Hero by Enrique Iglesias and Love Song by Taylor Swift.

Narrative Based Videos - has a storyline, it usually follow the storyline throughout the entire of the video. Good examples for a Narrative based music video would be Hero by Enrique Iglesias and Love Story by Taylor Swift.

The music video 'Hero' by Enrique Iglesias was directed by Joseph Kahn. Enrique is portrayed as the 'Hero' who sacrifices his life to save the life of his loved one.

The video starts off with him driving off in the distance with a snapshot to the bag full of cash on the back seat, this suggest that he is probably on the run. Shortly after this scene his word are "would you run, and never look back" this is another hint that he is on the run.

This video has been done very well as in the lyrics it say "would you die for the one you loved .....hold me in your arms tonight" at the end of the video she is indeed holding him in her arms.

Later on in the video his has the choice to give his life for his loved one or let her die, being the hero he chooses to save his girlfriend’s life.

The director has used several different camera techniques, like soft focus for the love scene, this is to give it a more dramatic feel.

The video had a western American feel, as the main conventions of this was followed. Conventions such as dessert setting, bag full of American dollar and the American roads. This setting helps attract a larger audience. 

 The music video Love Story by Taylor Swift (directed by Trey Fanjoy) starts off with her and this guy meeting on the campus of the university and picturing themselves in a past era. She keeps having flashbacks of them two in a previous era.

The story follow the basic outline of shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, but concluding with a happy ending unlike the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet.

Throughout the hole video, the camera alternates between Taylor swift singing in an archway and then her and her boyfriend in a previous era and as the lyrics unfold so does the story. At the end of the video it goes back to the present era of them two together in the university campus.

The director has used artificial lighting and soft focus to add extra feeling to the love story between the couple.

Concept based - doesn't have a storyline, it usually based around a single concept or idea, the type of videos are generally unusual or apply specific technique. A good example of concept based would be Christina Aguilera - Dynamite.

The music video for Dynamite by Christina Aguilera starts of with her in a spaceship traveling to some kind of mystical city, then it changes to Christina Aguilera dancing with lights in the backgroundand then a huge fan in the background. After this she has magicly turn into a comic character, these three ideas are repeated throught the rest of the music video. 

Performance based - These type of music videos usually show the artists or band performing the song, some at a concert or some sort of studio setting. A good examples for a Performance based music video is We Will Rock You by Queen.

The whole video is made up of shots showing the band performing the song. It is all shot outside on some sort of stage with snow in the background. The only real change throughout the video is close-up of each individual band member.

The camera shots that have been used are mainly close-ups and wide shots; there is also the use of cut-in and mid shots.

Low angle shots have been used a lot in the video to show the power they have through their popularity.