Conventions of a music video

1. Conventions of a music video Hannah Martin

2. Lyrics The tempo and genre of a song often determines which lyrics are used. Fast songs are usually meant to get people in a good mood and positive lyrics are used and slow songs usually about love have negative lyrics. For example An upbeat song (“Happy”) – “Can't nothing bring me down my level's too high” A slow song (“Someone like you”) – “"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead”

3. Music The tempo of the song drives the editing of the music video as fast upbeat songs tend to have lots of jump cuts, shots that are often no more than 1-2 seconds long and a variety of locations whereas slower songs have each shot on for a longer period of time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbGs_qK2PQA

4. Genre Rap songs are usually about money, drugs or sex and this is shown through music videos by props such as expensive looking jewellerysuch as watches and chains, female dancers and often drugs and being used by the artist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQZMaG1eO74

5. Camerawork Camera shots are different for different types of genres, for example an ‘alternative’ genre song tends to have slower camera movements, longer close-up shots and more steady shots rather than lots of camera movement and jump cuts such as rap music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE7KVkm_YFU

6. Editing Fast-cut montage is often used in music videos, especially fast tempo songs such as rap songs. Many different locations are used and the shots show a variety of people and locations that relate to the songs. For example showing cars and a variety clothes when a song is about getting money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gyLR4NfMiI