Type of Music Video: Performance

"Music videos can be categorized into three different categories- concept -based, performance-based or narrative-based" - Firth's theory of Music Videos (1998)

2. Performance-based 

This type of music video is pretty self-explanatory. It involves an artist(s) performing an aspect of the music to which the video has been created, whether that be vocals or instruments. However, some have argued previously that a dance sequence performed to the music can also be considered a performance, although the performers aren't performing an musical aspect of the song they are nevertheless performing something. I think I can both agree and disagree with this, depending on to who is performing and how they are performing whatever the performance may be. For example- if an artist were to be playing an instrument or singing to their own track, I would consider that performance based. In relation to dance- if say someone was dancing knowingly they have an audience (suggested either through an audience in the video or eye contact) I would regard that also as performance based. However if this isn't the case, I think it can be argued that the video isn't performance based but narrative or conceptual. Dance can also tell a narrative through the way a person expresses themselves through the movement of their body, at the same time dance can also be conceptual based- perhaps this can have something to do with what type of dance they're performing and the relation of this to the music. 

Going back to this particular example, this was the best performance music video that I thought was effective pre-21st century. I think the reason it works as a performance is how well it demonstrates the simplicity of the song. Considering this is pretty much the most non-rock track of Extreme the video had to fit to the conventions of the music and strayed a little from the punk established image of the band. The slow movement of the camera and fairly steady editing pace reflects the mood perfectly, and the elegancy and down-to-earthness (for lack of a better word) of the black + white shades fits also. This video fits in perfectly with Firth's theory as there is no trace of narrative or non-related concept evident. 

(to be finished)