Research: Performance videos.

So I've been looking at several different types of music video and the main video types that have been established is that of Performance, concept and narrative. I'm going to talk a little bit about what makes a performance video a performance video.
Performance

Performance music videos are pretty self explanatory. They consist of the artist or people performing the track that's being played on top of the video. Performance videos rely a lot on the 'frontman'. Whoever is fronting the video is usually attractive and usually the performer of the song. This is known to increase their record sales and to promote their popularity. In terms of 'Goodwins six' rules of music videos, it applies to the rule that there are lots of 'close-ups of the artists to promote themselves and the record company'. Performance videos can be used for any genre of music, but the two main genres that use performance videos are hip-hop and rock music. For hip-hop, it's more to promote the artist and the artists popularity whereas for rock music it's more to promote the sale of the song. However, alike with the song I have chosen as an example, the performance aspects in rock video can also display another of Goodwins six, a 'link between lyrics/music and visuals'. In the example I've chosen, 'Smooth Criminal' by Alien ant farm, there are lots and lots of references to Michael Jackson and his choreography. This is an entirely performance based video as it is always someone performing in the shot, and there is no story being displayed. So for a link between michael Jackson and this song, is the fact that 'Smooth criminal' is originally a Michael Jackson song that has been covered by this band. In terms of relating to his choreography, the video shows the band lighting up the pavement when they step on it, which is the main aspect of Michael Jackson's groundbreaking video for 'Billie Jean'.

   As well as this aspect linking both of the videos, there is also the famous 'lean' move that Michael Jackson performs in his version of Smooth Criminal. In Alien ant farm's version, they also perform the lean move.

This can draw two different types of audience in. Firstly, it can draw a rock and metal audience as this is a rock/metal song. However, this can also draw in an audience that enjoys Michael Jackson and his choreography as it has specific links to the dance moves and to his song 'Smooth Criminal'. This in many ways, is what most performance videos are like. It shows many close-ups of the artist, and the performers are often shown in order of hierachy within the band, with the lead singer being at the top and usually the drummer being at the bottom, as he is shown the least on screen. Performance videos are often used to promote the artist, the song and the record company. Here is Alien Ant farm's version of 'Smooth Criminal':

Also here is Michael Jacksons very famous dance move, 'the lean':


Watch this space for posts about concept and narrative videos. More to follow! :)