Conventions Of Music Videos

After analysing the three U2 videos, I am able to make comparisons between them and find the common features that they share. Firstly, all three videos use many close ups so that we can clearly see the performer/performers, as this is obviously what the fan wants to see. Another convention is for the performer to look directly at the camera to interact and involve the audience. Sweetest Thing is the best example of this, as Bono looks directly into the camera most of the time.

I also noticed how the editing is done so that it matches the music. In With Or Without You, there are a lot of fades and overlapping of clips which match the slow, atmospheric music. In Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, straight cuts between clips are used throughout, and the cuts are done in time with the music, for example when there is a change in the music, like from the verse into the chorus, there will be a cut to another scene.

A variety of different shot types and camera movements make videos interesting. In Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, there are long shots, medium shots, close ups, pans and forwards and backwards tracking shots. Sweetest Thing is done in all one clip, but this is effective in this particular video. The camera pans to the left and right in this video and tilts up at one point too.

The lyrics tend to match the theme of the video. Sweetest Thing is 'sweet' because it is about love. The audience see all the effort Bono has put into his apology with all the things he has bought and hired for his wife, and they think how sweet it all is.