Narrative in music promos

classical narrative structure follows a particular structure

synaesthesia " a condition in which one type of simulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of colour. "

 

narrative in music promos

we automatically look for a beginning, middle and an end in a narrative, however in a song it can sometimes not run to how we think it will. In songs the narrative rarely is completed and is fragmented



Andrew Goodwin suggests that music promos can interpret/ use the meanings created in the some lyric in one of the following ways:



illustration:  the promo illiterates the idea/ narrative in the song lyrics, which means that it follows the same idea that the song is portraying.

amplification: uses a key idea/ image from h lyrics and develops into a concept within the promo. a link remains between the lyric and the promo



disjuncture; the promo bears no resemblance to the lyric or its meaning, abstract, often seen as unconventional, arty videos, creates a  new range of meanings for the song.

Stacy's mom essay

At the beginning of this music promo there are a series of slow pans to show Stacy’s mum pulling up in her car. The common use of slow pans is to show the audience that the object or person in shot is desired/ lusted after. These emotions are clearly shown by the boys that Stacy is with by the expressions on their faces. There is also the use of a two shot showing Stacy handing the boy a drink and behind her is her mum getting undressed. This two shot represents that Stacy is getting between the boy and her mum but she still needs to be there because otherwise the boy would have no way of getting to his fantasy.

The cuts between the pan shots in the beginning of the music promo are to the beat of the music. This helps to make the music promo relate back to the band rather than cut to them playing the song, a common convention in music promos. To further relate back to the band and the song they are shown playing several instruments on posters above the Stacy’s bed. This is a good use of editing because it shows that the band is fashionable and cool but also fits in with the pop art theme of the music promo.

The performance part of this music promo is very conventional. It switches between clips of the band playing but unlike other music videos where the bands are usually seen playing in an abandoned building or blacked out room, the performance element of this music promo links to the narrative and does not tend to go off to performance often.

Red is a colour that connotes lust and desire. This is why has been used during this music promo. Stacy’s mum is often shown wearing red whether it be her clothes or the colour of her lip stick, this suggests to the audience that she is desired by the boy in comparison to Stacy who is rarely seen in red and is not lusted after by the boy.