The classic format: you film the artist performing the song, singing, playing instruments, dancing, and that is the video.
Simple does not mean boring. Where you film, how you light it, and how you edit to the beat makes all the difference. It is the most common format because it puts the artist front and centre and keeps costs manageable.
Performance video in the real world
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (1975), directed by Bruce Gowers, was shot in four hours at Elstree Studios for a reported £4,500. It was created so the band could promote the single without having to mime it live on Top of the Pops, and it is widely credited as the first major hit for which the accompanying video was central to the marketing strategy.
Related terms
Narrative videoA music video that tells a story, usually one that mirrors o…, Lip syncWhen the artist mouths the words of the song in time with th…, PlaybackThe process of playing the song’s audio through speakers on …, Hero shotThe single most important shot in the video, usually a strik…, CoverageThe range of angles and shots captured for any given scene o…