Genre Conventions in Music Videos- Rock

Performance-based Music Videos

Rock artists and bands like to show off their talents in performance-based videos.

For example Royal Blood’s Little Monster the band have completely focused the video on a performance the song. It is edited in a fast pace to match the tempo of the song, emphasising the beat. The flickering image gives the video a grungy look, and the clips of the crowd show them enjoying the music. Some shots are filmed from the crowd; the viewer feels involved and watches the video from the perspective a member of the crowd while also seeing close up shots (evoking feelings of intimacy). The images in general are fairly unclear; as we don’t get a coherent view of band members’ faces, Royal Blood show that they are not trying to use their physical appearances to sell their music and promote the band. This is one way rock music videos differ greatly from pop videos.

Green Day also use many performance based music videos, like this one for 21 Guns. Unlike Royal Blood close up shots of the artists, especially Armstrong, show their trademark black eyeliner, dark hair and pale skin. While they aren’t exploiting their appearance to attract fans, they are creating a brand for themselves. This shows that artists don’t always stick entirely to their genre conventions and image can be important in all genres. In the small narrative scenes, the actors both have dark hair and pale skin- fitting with the look of the band. The violence of the bullets, tattered wallpaper and falling feathers make the video very grungy and shabby. Green Day also use the protagonists to create synergy with the album. The actors appear in other videos from 21^st Century Breakdown as it is a rock opera. When they kiss they also recreate the image from the album cover. The use of a handheld camera also gives a chaotic effect.

 

Paramore’s Misery Business is also performance based. Unlike many other rock videos, Paramore use a lot of bright colours. This sets them apart from other bands and artists, and also links with Williams’ hair and make-up. Behind the band playing, “Riot!” (the name of their album) is scrawled across the wall. This is promotes the album to new listeners. The high school setting suggests a fairly young target audience, especially compared to most rock listeners. Paramore use rock conventions to target rock fans, but bring in a wider range through techniques like these. Despite Williams being very beautiful, she doesn’t wear revealing clothing or use sex appeal to draw in listeners. This shows that she is talented enough to not need to act like that.

Dark Lighting

In Linkin Park’s Numb, the band use a muted lighting to reflect the emotions in the song. This is very common in rock music videos. This video has both narrative and performance elements. In the latter we see Linkin Park recording their song in a church. This creates a sense of intimacy with the band. By being set in a church the video suggests that while the song has rather angry elements, the band are good people. The narrative strand shows a teenage girl who is being bullied and it self-harming. This reflects the dark emotions of the music. We see her feeling hopelessly alone, but resisting conformity in order to fit in. We are also shown her talent for art, suggesting that she is an extremely under-appreciated girl.  At the end the two elements come together as the protagonist runs into the church to find it empty. The fact that an actress is used shows that, like so many other rock artists, the band isn’t excessively self-promoting.

 

The Pretty Reckless have also chosen to use dark lighting in the video for Heaven Knows. Like Lincon Park, TPR have used the lighting to reflect the emotions in the song. The video features many rebellious teenagers in a dark, claustrophobic classroom. This could suggest the band’s attitude towards school and rules in general. This will appeal to most of their listeners, as their music is targeted at rebellious young people. Unlike many rock artists, Momsen does reveal her naked body, only partially covered by some kind of black paint or tape. This may be to draw in a wider, mostly male, audience by using her physical appearance. However it could be Momsen empowering herself; deciding to give her fans what they want rather than having it taken from her. The way that she throws her robe open, Momsen suggests that she is completely in control. This also fits with the lyrics of the song which state that she is sinful and rebellious.

Evanescence’s Bring Me To Life is set at night, so the lighting is very dark with the only bright lights coming from windows. The video follows Lee walking along the side of a building in a nightmare. The danger of the video suits the tone and tempo of the song, and appeals to the band’s listeners who are likely to be quite rebellious. The nightmare suggests that she has some internal confliction- possibly a fear of being let down since the dream ends when her boyfriend cannot save her from falling off the side of the building. With her hair and dress billowing in the wind, Lee looks almost like a ghost, giving the video a gothic tone.