A music video that tells a story, usually one that mirrors or extends the emotional world of the song. Think short film energy: characters, plot, scenes, drama.
The narrative does not have to follow the lyrics word for word, but it should feel connected to what the song is saying. It is one of the most engaging formats because it gives viewers something to follow.
Narrative video in the real world
Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1983), directed by John Landis, ran nearly 14 minutes and featured a full horror story arc with actors, sets, and zombie choreography. It was the first music video inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry and helped turn Thriller into the best-selling album of all time.
Related terms
Performance videoThe classic format: you film the artist performing the song,…, Concept videoA video built around a single creative idea or visual theme,…, Hybrid videoA video that blends two or more formats, like a narrative wi…, TreatmentA document a director puts together to pitch their creative …, StoryboardA series of sketched panels showing the key shots or scenes …