TIMETABLE
1975: Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
- Performance-based - Purpose of the music video was to promote and sell the artist
- Includes close-up shots of the singers
- Includes effects (i.e. the flames in the image above).
1980: The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
- Performance & Concept-based music video - The band is concerned about/addressing the changes within the media industry
- Close-Up shots/Animation Layovers/ An attempted futuristic mise en scene.
- A reflective, blue sheet; bright, round light, and a darkroom used in the beginning create the image of the ocean in the night - suggests imagination
1990: The Beautiful Swift - A Little Time
- Both performance and narrative-based that portrays an interesting gender representation - both sides were aggressive/involved in the fight. - Not the stereotypical video with a violent or abusive boyfriend.
- Portrays relationship problems and that both sides are involved.
- The music video cuts between the song and the narrative - similar to flashbacks.
- A simple house is used as the filming area with trashed and broken props - emphasizes the portrayal of a fight between a couple.
- Feathers and dust (maybe flour?) float to the ground - uneasy tension shown.
1999: Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way
- Performance-based with a slight hint of narrative but not much.
- Close-up shots of each individual singer as they each sing their part of the song.
- Full shots/ Wide shots of the entire band (i.e. in the image above).
- The "rise of the boy bands" - when this style began to become popular
- Inclusion of fans - the majority of them are female.
Within the past 35 years, music videos have become more performance-based with hints of a narration included. This is generally because the artists are trying to portray a message to their audience through the video - that supports the lyrics of their songs. I have also noticed that effects aren't used as explicitly as they used to be; instead, they are more subtle and fewer in numbers.
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