Friths 3 typeologies

Simon Frith’s 3 typeologies

Narrative music videosNarrative music videos are those which present a sequence of events or follow a specific storyline. The most common narrative music videos tend to be those based on love. A typical structure of a narrative music video based on love would be a couple arguing, both reflecting on life without the other and then by the end of the music video the couple coming back together. An example of a narrative music video is Rapper Drake’s music video for his track “Hold on We’re Going Home.” The plot of this music video is that Drake’s lover gets kidnapped whilst he is out celebrating some type of achievement or simply just partying with his friends, he receives a phone call from the men holding her hostage, goes with his crew to where they are holding her captive and rescues her.

Watch a great example of a narrative music video on the following slide:

Drake- Hold on We’re Going Home (2013)

Conceptual music videosConceptual music videos tend to rely on a poetic form, mainly a feeling or metaphor. Instead of telling a story through a linear form conceptual music videos tend to create a feeling for the viewer by what it is they are viewing. This allows different people to have different opinions and feelings on what emotions are being created for them in a music video. An example of this would be Pharrell’s music video for his song ‘Happy.’ The song has no storyline and it is clear due to the title and lyrics of the song that the song is about the feeling of happiness and that there isn’t much else to the song.

Watch a great example of a conceptual music video on the following slide:

Pharrell- Happy (2014)

Performance music videosPerformance music videos involve the artists performing directly to the camera in order to create the experience of a concert/gig for the viewer. This form of music videos is also very useful for bands in particular as it allows them to show off their instrumental skills. A number of performance music videos will include actual footage of the artist/bands previous concert/gig and creates an aura of authenticity.

Watch a great example of a performance music video on the following slide:

Arctic Monkeys- Brainstorm (2007)