Performance Music Videos

A performance music video is one that predominantly features the artist performing the song to the camera. Usually, the artist will lip-synch the lyrics but this is not always the case. Recordings from live performances also fall under this category. This style of video uses lots of close ups of the artist, creating a direct mode of address with the audience.

Some examples of performance music videos include:

• Royal Blood - Little Monster
• We Are The In Crowd - The Best Thing
• Green Day - American Idiot
• Taylor Swift - Red

Performance music videos often use shots of the audience to emulate the atmosphere of the artist's live shows and to add a sense of involvement. It captures the energy and enthusiasm of live fans, thus promoting their performances.

Blink-182 - The Rock Show

Royal Blood - Little Monster

Performance videos often use close ups to emphasise the iconography of the video, connoting the music genre to the audience. The video for Green Day's 'American Idiot' opens with close ups of the band. This clearly demonstrates iconography associated with the punk rock genre - black clothing, dark eye make-up and guitars.

Green Day - American Idiot

Additionally, many performance videos use a direct mode of address towards the audience. Close ups of the performer looking straight into the camera engage the audience and allow them to feel connected with the artist. 

We Are The In Crowd - The Best Thing

Blink-182 - Rock Show

Green Day - American Idiot

'Behind-the-scenes' shots of the performer in real life situations are used in performance videos. These range from the artist warming up to making their way to the stage.

Royal Blood - Little Monster

Taylor Swift - Red

Shots of the artist performing in an unusual setting is also common of performance music videos. In doing so, the music video is more entertaining for the viewer while also being memorable.

Green Day - American Idiot

'American Idiot' is set in a disused warehouse, tying in with the iconography for the music genre.

We Are The In Crowd - The Best Thing

This video stands out to audiences as a desert is an unusual place to film a music video. The dust flying up also helps to create atmosphere