Conventions of Narrative in Music Videos

Not all music videos have a clear narrative, some are much more abstract in design. However, I will be discussing music videos that do contain a narrative here. This is relevant, because, in the music video I will be creating it will have a narrative focus.

Music video's story can either be linear, or non linear. Both are used almost equally in music videos, as opposed to in film where the narrative is mostly always linear (apart from a few exceptions, such as some of Quentin Tarantino's films). Linear narrative is when the story is in chronological order, the easiest way for an audience to understand. Because of the nature of music videos and their lyrics this is not always the case. The visuals usually respond to the lyrics, being created after the song. Therefore the story has to be made to fit around the lyrics, so non linear narrative is sometimes easier. In music videos lyrics are usually repeated, which is sometimes a point in a narrative to change the ordering. For example, every time the chorus is sung the clip shown may be of present day with the artist singing, then the other lyrics may be complemented with footage from the past.




Maroon 5's 'Sugar' is an example of a linear narrative music video.

Montages are a common feature of narrative based music videos. The reason for this, is because music videos are only short in length. Therefore, there is not a long space of time to show a narrative, so ways of speeding through it are used. In addition montages are used with the pacing of the music. When the music becomes faster and louder a montage may be used. Sometimes the whole of a music video is a montage of clips, cut in time with the music. Jump cuts are also a feature used in music videos, nearly as often as montages.

Wiz Kahlifa's 'See You Again' is an example of a non linear music video. This is because the shots are constantly changing from present day, to shots from the Fast and Furious franchise. Montages are shown throughout the video of footage from the film, primarily of Paul Walker. This song is a tribute to Paul Walker who died in a car crash during the filming for the film Fast and Furious, hence why the montage of him is shown.