Music videos can be an effective medium for artists to reach their fans and gain popularity. But creating one can also prove quite challenging for both creators and directors.
Thankfully, there are some amazing music video directors who can take any wild idea and make it work. Here are a few of their best works!
Symbolism
Symbolism is the technique an artist or singer uses to convey a particular meaning through images, colors and general expressions. Depending on what they are conveying, this can either be beneficial or detrimental for the message they wish to convey.
Including symbolism in to a music video is important, as it gives viewers an understanding of what the artist or singer is attempting to communicate. Not only that, but having lots of symbolism also serves as an incentive for people to pay attention and increase its popularity – leading to more sales!
For instance, Beyonce’s song “Heaven” incorporates religious symbolism throughout. This can give viewers insight into what the artist is trying to convey or their attitude toward religion.
Another way to gain insight into what an artist wants their music video viewers or listeners to convey is by studying its lyrics. Many artists utilize symbolism heavily in their compositions, which can provide helpful insight into what the song is about.
Madonna’s “Fall From Grace” is an excellent example of how an artist can incorporate symbolism into their artwork. This can give viewers or audiences insight into what the artist is feeling or their attitude toward religion.
This music video conveys a lot of religion symbolism. This can be an effective way for those who are not particularly religious to understand what the song is about, as there are various things that can be said within a song and they all hold great meaning.
As with Beyonce’s “Heaven” and Madonna’s “Fall From Grace”, Gambino’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” serves as an exemplary example of how an artist can use symbolism to convey their message. Not only does this make viewers or listeners more cognizant of what the artist wishes to communicate, but it also increases its popularity due to its powerful music video.
Narrative
Music videos are an opportunity for musicians to connect with their fans, and one popular way is through narrative content. Narrative music videos provide viewers with a captivating narrative experience and create an emotional bond with them.
Music video can take many different forms, but most pop videos fall under three main genres: Performance, Narrative and Concept. Sometimes these elements are combined together in a video to form something unique – this hybrid is known as disjuncture.
Performance music videos are the classic type of video, featuring a band or singer performing their song in front of the camera. These are often easier to film than other types of videos and also more cost-effective to make.
Narrative music videos strive to tell a story through their visuals, often drawing inspiration from either the lyrics of the song or an overarching theme that they wish to convey.
Music directors have three primary techniques to choose from when creating narrative music videos: illustration, amplification and disjuncture. Illustrative music videos use visuals to directly illustrate the lyrics of a song. They may include various scenes that correspond with its themes. This technique also serves to amplify its impact by showing different scenes that match up with what the words have written.
This style of music video is ideal for artists who need to quickly convey a lot of information. It also serves as an effective tool in stimulating conversation about pressing issues such as gun violence or racism.
Narrative music videos often take the form of comic books, with lyrics displayed as text bubbles on top. Another popular style is animated music videos where the visuals change as the song progresses.
Music videos can convey a range of messages through song narratives, from upbeat ones to depressing ones that reflect on the negative consequences of certain lifestyles or situations. Some even use it for promotion of an issue – like Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”, which emphasizes youth empowerment.
Visuals
Music videos rely on visuals to tell a story or create atmosphere. They may also serve to convey an important message or add depth to the song itself.
Music videos come in a variety of styles and aesthetics. Examples include:
Pop – In this genre, the video serves to promote both the song and artist, as well as making it appealing to a broad range of viewers. Generally bright and colourful, pop videos aim to captivate attention.
Rock – In this genre, the video is more gritty and raw. It also includes various dance routines as well as focusing on the band’s performance.
R&B – In this genre, the video tends to be sensual and romantic in order to engage its viewers. Additionally, it often features intricate dance routines as well as various costumes.
Hip-hop – This genre features fast-paced video clips with intricate dance routines. Additionally, they often showcase different costumes and a compelling storyline.
Country – In this genre, the video is usually more subdued and intended to showcase an artist’s connection to their music, as well as draw attention to their background and culture.
Classical – In this genre, the video usually showcases the song’s beauty and emphasizes its storyline.
Talking Heads – This genre often features bizarre video elements. They may include religious rituals or reenactments, as well as an eclectic range of styles and sounds.
tUnE-yArDs – This genre uses color and movement to tell a story. They use face-painted children to choreograph their dancing, with some wild moments (cue the dancing zombies!).
Gotye – This genre features blue and contented visuals as well as eerie sculptural elements to propel the song along.
Thee Oh Sees – This genre features vibrant and abstract shapes that move and shift, giving the effect of a dreamlike landscape.
Audience
Audiences are a central aspect of media studies and can be found across all forms of art – music, film, theatre, literature, video games and academia alike. Furthermore, audiences play an integral role in production as they influence both content and aesthetics of works of art.
Pop music video viewers tend to be young adults with an affinity for fashion and identity. Therefore, it is essential that the visuals and performances in your video appeal to this target audience so they’ll stay engaged throughout the duration.
Traditional music videos were only accessible via television or cinemas. But with the digital transformation of this medium into an online environment, viewers can now watch and download them directly from their computers or mobile devices – providing artists with a new platform to sell their products.
Furthermore, audiences can now share links to their favourite music videos with friends and family, increasing the visibility of each song. As a result, music videos have seen an unprecedented surge in popularity.
Successful music videos typically incorporate elements that appeal to a broad range of viewers, such as animation, visual effects and live action shots of performing bands in various contexts.
Another popular technique is lip-synching. This technique works great for marketing a song, as it allows the singer to express their lyrics while sounding authentic.
Finally, music videos often incorporate captivating visual effects to further emphasize the impact of lyrics. This is especially true for hip-hop and pop music videos, which have been proven to possess some of the most visually captivating songs and videos.
Music videos typically serve to advertise a song and its artist, but more recently they have become vehicles for socializing and communicating political messages. For instance, Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” music video uses her platform to express her views on immigration reform law and policy.