Type 2: NARRATIVE BASED

Videos that are narrative based, focus on the actual lyrics of the song, usually creating a story demonstrating the feelings behind the words in the song. Most narrative based music videos are for slower/sad songs. This type of video related directly to one of the points in Andrew Goodwin's theory, about there being "a relationship between lyrics and visuals", most being illustrative. They often don't feature the actual singer in the story but actors that act out the story that the singer/writer of the song trys to tell.

Beyonce's video to "Halo" is an example where the song is slow and emotional but has a positive message rather than most which are negative. From this video it becomes evident how much the characters love eachother which matches how she explains her feelings for him in the song, referring to him as an angel as she can "see his halo" because she sees him as being perfect.
To add to this halo effect, the whole film is shot in bright light, illuminating the white in all the sets and the colour is also slightly drained to exaggerate the white, like heaven, even further. The close ups on both of their faces mean we can see clearly in their expressions their happiness and their perfection in it.



In "Ed Sheeran - A Team", he sings about a girl who has a bad life and we are introduced to this character he desribes. This effect means that the audience can connect to the song and understand the meaning behind it, people may even be able to relate to it if they are in a similar situation or know someone that is, creating an emotional link with the person to the song and maybe ensuring a particular audience.
The video has been edited to be black and white to add to the graininess of the scene; the depressing tone to the story and the characters situation. A lot of wide shots are used to establish the setting as she is shown sat in the street, capturing the element of business around her and the oblivious passers-by. It explains a representation of class, being that the upper class have no care for the lower, being satistifed in their own lives and not trying to help.

Another sad song with a narrative based video is by Eminem and Rihanna, "Love The Way You Lie". In this video the aim is to get a reaction from the viewer, making a big impact by showing sensitive images of violence and domestic abuse.

After the release of this video it was made clear that it worked as it became an issue and caused contraversial opions in the press and public. Rihanna got involved in this song because, as stated in the Eminem Talks Love The Way You Lie Video article on the MTV website, the lyrics appealed to her, relating to her current state and story as being recently beaten up by her boyfriend Chris Brown; a metanarrative of what she had been through.