Performance and Narrative

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Adele, 'Hello' – performance based narrative

            Adele’s early music videos are mostly performance based narrative, usually related with the song. The beginning of this video starts with an opening scene which introduces the first actor being the singer herself, and the second actor shows up towards the middle of the video. The story has a basic story line and it revolves around their relationship and how it ended. For the audience, they could relate to the story as this is a common issue for couples. As she uses herself to be in a part of the story, this suggests that the artist have a connection with the story, and is possibly the way the artist trying to connect with the audiences. The use of old house and antique props denotes memories and reminiscences, which linked back to the video and the song. There was also laughing and crying scene – represents drama as the theme. Towards the end, there were clips of the singer lip syncing outside in the woods. The choice of location made it seem more dramatic, as usually the woods is the place where people go to clear their mind – linking back to the story of her being sad. This enables the audience to associates with the emotions presented in the song and the music video.

AlunaGeorge, 'Mean What I Mean – performance based

            The main focus in this video in the artists showing dance moves and lip syncing, which makes it a performance video as there is no narrative. Typically, in performance based video, the song would be up-beat and fun, and they would also more focus on dances and artists performances, which express the artist’s feelings reflecting in the song. Throughout the video, there are consistent changes between performance scene and lip sync scene. All performers are female, expressing the idea of feminism to the audience. It also enables audiences to get together as a group. The video has a fun and festive vibe because they wear exposing urban clothing with vibrant colours – connotes festival clothing. This could also be used to make the video more interesting to watch, since the song and the video have a correlation, and the audience could easily connect to the artist though the song.

Imagine dragons – radioactive – performance and narrative based

            The opening of the video starts with the beginning of the story, like many other typical performance and narrative based music videos. The main protagonist was introduced right at the start of the video, and the protagonist was introduced later on. The story goes as this female protagonist becomes the hero by saving the victim – it was the band – from the male antagonist.  There was a teddy bear fight, people were betting and getting entertained, which interpret a gladiator fight. This could be linked to the lyrics, “I’m breaking in, shaping up” which represents the pink teddy bear being stronger than the purple teddy. They use these connotations, such as; teddy bear as gladiator and wool as flesh makes it appropriate for audiences of different ages to watch it even though it still shows little violent action. Not many audiences may able to relate, but the artist is still able to deliver the moral of the story. The female protagonist also played by a famous actor, named Alexandra Daddario, known for playing in the ‘Percy Jackson’ film as ‘Annabeth Chase’. With the use of proliferation, it indicates that music videos could be created in a similar concept as short films. There are some clips of the singer performing and lip syncing, suggesting that’s the way the band makes a connection to the audiences.

Lemaitre, 'Playing to Lose' – narrative based

            This video is completely narrative based with a very interesting concept on the story. It engages the audience as it is about a difference between two characters that somehow have some sort of a connection. They use things around the actors as symbols. This video has a basic story line, with a beginning, middle and end which audience could follow easily. There is a link between the video and the lyrics where it says, “It’s like you’ve been slipping in to my head” which clearly associate with those unusual events. Mise en scene plays a big part for telling the story without dialogue in this video. Unsteady camera was used throughout the video, connoting their unstable situation or progress, which implies to their progress before meeting each other. The storyline in this video is somehow very unrealistic and impossible to experience, enabling the audience to escape reality and fantasise. This is a great way to gain and keep audiences’ interest, especially with the help of props and clothes that have vibrant colours.

Tinie Tempah , 'Chasing Flies' – narrative based

            The beginning of this music video is used to introduce the first male actor and his background story very briefly. Not long after, a female actor was introduced and it happens to be that they are together; suggesting that the story would revolves around relationship and their life. This video has a storyline and clips that includes real life events, enabling the audience to connect more to the actor rather than the artist. The artist uses another singer to play in this video on purpose; to promote the other singer as he needs support to be more recognised. With that, the use of narrative for a promotional video is very effective and beneficial for both the original artist and the collaborator. Perhaps, the lyrics ‘May play some grime’ linked back to the idea of promoting since the other artist is a rapper as well. This reinforces the stereotypical grime artists’ impression of bringing people together, allowing the audience to see the artist initiative. As the artist uses a simple narrative; this allows the audience to relate to the story.