Music Video Styles and Viewing Notes

1. Homage- This is a very effective yet

infrequently used music style as it is extremely
distinctive and has its very own content. It is
essentially paying a tribute towards someone
who has died and it celebrates their life and
the legacy they have left. An example of this
would be the song see you again by Wiz
Khalifa, which became a huge, hit in recent
months in the music industry, it
commemorates the death of actor Paul Walker.

2. Animation- This is a music style that usually

tells a story and the video will illustrate the
song. Daft Punks song one more time uses
this style, and they are also renowned for
hiding their faces, making the animations even
more effective.
3. Narrative- Similar to a book or story, a song
with a narrative tells a story, which increases
the intensity and meaning of the song itself.
The song find your love by Drake is an
example of this music style and it involves a
man and women throughout who feature in
the narrative and in turn feature in producing
the story and meaning of the song.

4. As Live- This is
becoming even more
commonly used in
modern day music
and this is when an artist will perform their
current song in front of a live audience. This
will then be turned in to there own music
video. This will usually include, the artist
himself, the audience as well as any other
member involved in the group or band
performing. However, this copy will sound
different to the album version due to the fact
that is has not been edited. An example of this
would be Jay Z and Linkin Park performing
Numb Encore.
5. Referencing- This is used by certain artists as
it usually attempts to tell a story and gives the
viewer more information and ideas about the
artist themselves. An example that is often
talked about is the song foolish by Ashanti,
this references the
film Goodfellas and it
follows the idea of the
film yet uses a
different video.

6. Parody- This is created and produced to mock

and joke about a certain topic or subject. An
example of this would be the song Great Day
by Lonely Island, which is one of many,
produced by them. It is an effective style to

use as it attracts the viewers and audiences

due to its level of humour.
7. Influence of Commercials- A video that uses
this music style is Gold Digger by Kanye West
which features Jamie Foxx. This is
an example of this as the video
displays girls posing in front of a
magazine that was around in the
1950s. This will also use hardly
any props yet will however, use
various different font styles and
colours.
8. Pastiche- A very rarely used music style, this is
does however, have similarities to a parody
video and also a video that uses referencing.
The Foo Fighters song Walk does display just
this as it combines with the film Falling Down
which was produced in 1993. As it shows the
lead singer David Grohl struggling on his
journey in
life and it
ends up
with the
band
performing
in a
warehouse,
this is as
mentioned, similar to the film.

9. Surreal- this music video style is the idea of

imagination being used to create a fantasy or
dream. The song Heart-Shaped Box by

Nirvana is evidence of this; due to the colour

of the sky being used in the video would never
be possible in real life. Finally, the video also
uses imagery from the film Wizard of Oz
which outlines even more the music style that
is being used.
10.
Interpretive- This is the music style that
creates a visual interpretation of the song that
is in the video. Katy Perry and the song
Firework is proof of this. The lyrics used help
create the plot and this allows her to express
herself in the video. The video leads to her
signing at night with fireworks emerging form
her chest which in turn leads to her inspiring
people in the world to take
courage and do something
that they would never
have done before.